The Prep Ball Report

While many Michigan teams left the state for Indiana, the Warrior Jam Fest is still a quality field of competition.

Brandon Johns 6’7″ forward Triple Threat 16u (pictured)-

Arguably the best freshman in Michigan, Johns met little setbacks in a 66-42 rout of the Macomb County Cougars.  Brandon stuffed the stat-sheet, 15 points, seven rebounds, five steals, four assists, and two blocks.  He was highly efficient doing so, every time he had the ball, it felt as if he was going to make the right play.  He can handle to ball well for player his size, step-out to the perimeter and shoot, and find open teammates with a stellar IQ and vision.  On defense, his long arms challenge shots when he’s in the paint, but also can defend the perimeter and even guard the middle of the floor when in a pressing situation.  Johns’ permanent position is yet to be determined, his length indicates even more growth in the future, and upside should rise as well.

Jordan Graham 6’5″ forward Michigan Warriors 16u-

Graham is just so silky smooth.  Even when it seemed he wouldn’t be the team’s leading scorer, Jordan still contributed a team-high 17 points in an opening night win.  Jordan is playing more of a power forward role now compared to the high school season.  However, he excels on the wing attacking the rim and getting to the basket.  Graham will be a double-double machine by June.

Daijon Parker 6’6″ forward Michigan Warriors 16u-

The Westland John Glenn big man played behind a future division one commit in the regular season, but in less than a month on the circuit Daijon has shown what he can do as well.  Parker’s calling card is rebounding.  He’s not jumping out the gym for rebounds, but Parker is very fundamentally sound on the glass, boxing out, and aggressively challenging for boards with two hands.  Parker scored just six points on the night, but his 13 rebounds resulted in various second-chance opportunities for teammates.  Rarely gets out of position on defense, and is a quality weak-side shot blocker.

Kaevon Merriweather 6’1″ guard Michigan Warriors 16u-

It’s been well documented Romulus is a guard factory, producing division one guards in three of the last four years.  Merriweather is next in line.  Kaevon, a freshman, plays up one level.  However, physically Merriweather does not resemble a freshman.  Thick shoulders, and the ability to play above the rim.  Similar to any Eagle, Kaevon competes relentlessly on defense.  In a span of two minutes when ASAP cut a once double-digit lead to six, Merriweather forced three turnovers in less than a minute which generated points for his team and a lead the Warriors would coast the rest of the way for a victory.

Today, we are taking a look into the future of Metro Detroit basketball and I am seeing some special talent in the Class of 2019. These are the players to watch and remember, you heard about them first here at The Prep Ball Report!

Beginning with 235 pounder, 6’5” Chad Lorkowski, from Gross Pointe who is also the #1 8th grade baseball pitcher in the state. Chad has some serious size and girth, has good foot work, a soft touch around the basket and also can step out and shoot from 18-20 feet.

Daniel Friday is the floor leader 5’10” point guard at University of Detroit Jesuit Academy. He has great court vision and could be the second coming of Cassius Winston. Daniel has played with the Playmakers since the 4th Grade where he played center at the time. He has worked and developed his all-around game and is also able to shoot from 18-21 feet.

Lorne Bowman from Pontiac led the team in scoring for the Playmakers last year averaging 15 points a game. He is a 5’6” slender kid with probably the best 3 point shot in the stats. He also can finish around the basket with the best of them. As evidenced by the fact that he cracked the top 30 all-star team at the Buckeye Prep this past fall!

Khalil Rozier is a 5’10” scrappy, tough run through a wall for you kind of kid. He has a complete skill set. He will back smaller defenders down and bring bigger defenders out and attack them out of the dribble. He has been with the Playmakers since the 4th grade. Khalil is a mentally tough kid who will excel in high school and beyond because of it.

John Massey is 6’3” forward. With his size and athleticism, John blocks shots and finishes around the basket consistently. His upside is huge as he’s looking forward to going to King High School next year.

6’0” Jalen Graham, a three-sport star and academic standout at Detroit Country Day Middle School, has been a Playmaker since the 2nd grade and is one the best 8th grade athletes in the State. He’s a starting quarterback and a born leader. On the basketball court, he gives the Playmakers all the versatility in the world. From guarding the point guard to the center. Not to mention scoring around the basket with either hand and making good decisions setting his teammates up on the court.

Keenan Stolz 6’2” from Brighton, has the best mid-range game on the Playmakers team, is highly skilled and has a great touch around the basket. Keenan will be a star in the KLAA and the state in the next four to five years. Keenan is also a star on the football field where it runs deep in his genes as his dad, Scott, played football at The University of Wisconsin.

5’9” Noah Stamps is an example of what the Playmakers promote – a hard nose, tough in your face defender. Noah has been a Playmaker since the 3rd grade. He is a floor leader and continuously sets his teammates up. Defensively, he gets his hands on a lot of balls and disrupts opposing teams’ offensive continuity. Noah plays at University of Detroit – Jesuit Academy and has excelled at youth football for the past seven years. He is a mentally tough kid with good leadership skills.

Robert Johnson 5’8” from Northville also a two-sport star (football) and has to be if not the best, one of the best finishers around the basket in the state for his age. Robert has the ability with his outstanding ‘ups’ to finish in traffic around the basket with either hand. He also has a solid mid-range jump shoot which combined with his speed give opponents’ nightmares. Defensively, Robert’s quick feet and hands allow him to average three to four steals a game. He also shot 50% from the field last season, which is exceptional for a guard. Robert has been with the Playmakers since the 3rd grade and has worked tirelessly on his game. Robert also will be a star in the KLAA and the state in the years to come.

5’7” A.J. Gilbert is a great spot up shooter with a good bit of athleticism which allows him to finish around the basket. A.J. is a scrappy defender who plays with an edge. He has a high basketball IQ which will take him far in the future. Also a two-sport athlete, he thrives on the baseball diamond. The coaches have tremendous confidence in A.J.’s ability to make plays in crucial moments, whether knocking down a big three or playing solid disciplined defense. His future is bright!

Two “X factors” for this season are newcomers, 6’1” Matthew Rookstool from Rochester, and 6’4” L.J. Napier from Detroit. Matthew is a hard nose player who can score inside and out. Matthew brings a lot of experience and toughness to the Playmakers and will be a great addition. L.J., who has a six to seven foot arm span, resembles a young Josh Jackson physically and in the face has a huge upside. He is all over the rim and very versatile. He’s a presence on the floor at all times: blocking shots, causing havoc with his wing span and finishing around the basket. L.J. has a nose for the ball and potentially could be a high achieving major athlete if his commitment continues.

Michigan Playmakers also have some of the best upcoming talent in future years:
2020 – Wendell Green Jr
2021 -Julian Roper II
2022 – Kareem Rozier
2023 – Ryan Hurst

The Playmakers will play all over the country this upcoming spring and summer and only time will tell how good the class of 2019 can be, but they show great potential!

Upcoming Schedule for the Playmakers at the Next Generation Basketball League is:

January 17th vs Detroit Showtime and Common Bond

January 24th vs The Family

January 31st vs Grand Rapids Storm and Lansing Prospectors

These are some of the players I’ll be watching in the upcoming years and their names and faces are sure to become familiar to everyone who loves high school basketball!

Monday January 12th

North Farmington @ Southfield 5:30 PM

Tuesday January 13th

Detroit Henry Ford @ Detroit Cass Tech 4:00 PM

Detroit Renaissance @ Detroit Western 4:00 PM

Detroit Pershing @ Detroit East English 4:00 PM

Romulus @ Fordson 7:00 PM

West Bloomfield @ Warren De La Salle 7:00 PM

River Rouge vs. Allen Academy 7:00 PM @ Henry Ford College

Detroit Consortium @ Detroit Country Day 7:00 PM

Taylor Kennedy @ Melvindale 7:00 PM

Wednesday January 14th

Detroit Community vs. Detroit Southeastern  3:00 PM @ Palace of Auburn Hills

Thursday January 15th

Oak Park @ North Farmington 7:00 PM

Allen Park Inter-City Baptist @ Southfield Christian 7:30 PM

Friday January 16th

Grand Rapids Christian @ Lowell 6:00 PM

Ann Arbor Pioneer @ Ann Arbor Huron 7:00 PM

Belleville @ Dearborn Fordson 7:00 PM

Detroit University Prep @ Southfield Bradford 7:00 PM

Benton Harbor @ Stevensville-Lakeshore 7:00 PM

Ypsilanti @ Ypsilanti Lincoln 7:00 PM

Canton @ Plymouth 7:30 PM

Dearborn Divne Child @ Pontiac Notre Dame Prep 7:30

Saturday January 17th

Floyd Mayweather Classic @ Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills

Horatio Williams Freedom Games Classic @ Warren Fitzgerald

In a game delayed by one day due to inclement weather, the Ann Arbor Skyline Eagles evened their overall regular season record at 3-3 with over city rival Ann Arbor Pioneer 62-54.

The Eagles led from tip-off to final whistle, starting the game on an 8-1 run within the first six minutes of the contest. Skyline’s lead would never be less than four points in the first half of action, and would gain a 35-27 advantage after 16 minutes.

Pioneer would continue to trail through much of the second half, but would cut Skyline’s lead to as few as 2 points in the fourth quarter after sophomore point guard Chris McGaughy nailed a three pointer with 5:34 left.

However, Skyline senior Jon Muir-Cotton and freshman Jack Ammerman scored consecutive buckets and defensive holds to regain the lead for good. Fellow senior guard Marshal Alexander-White scored a game high 23 points, including two 3s in the fourth, and was 9-10 from the free-throw line on the day and hit four crucial foul shots within the final seconds of play.

Along with Alexander-White, freshman 5’9″ guard Jack Ammerman scored 17 points for Skyline off the bench. Ammerman scored 11 points in the first half, two threes, and made the first five shots he took on the night.

“Jack is a special player,” said Muir-Cotton. “He is a freshman, but he’s playing at a very high level.”

The win for Muir-Cotton is special, he scored seven points and hauled in the same amount of rebounds. As a senior, the feeling to beat a rival never gets old.

“I have only lost to Pioneer once,” John added, “and that was on the JV level.”
“So it means a lot to keep my record perfect vs. Pioneer in varsity.”

After winning their first two games of the season, Skyline sputtered into losing their next three. Cotton is hopeful the win will aid the Eagles in learning what it takes to win in the SEC this season.

“I think we can take away how we need to play to win games at beginning of the game,” John noted. “Coach Lovelace wanted us to set the tone because for all of our other games we had to adjust to the other teams tempo.”

“We have another game Tuesday vs. Monroe, and we know that they will be hungry and ready to play, so we will have the same keys to build on from what we did tonight.”

Pioneer was led by sophomores Jorsan Currie with 15 points 8 rebounds, and classmate Deric Murray with 14 points.

The last time Billy Thomas was in Michigan for high school basketball, he was a sophomore starter for the 2014 U of D Jesuit team that reached the Breslin Center for the first time in school history.

Immediately following the end of second semester classes, Thomas left the state for Genesis Academy, a prep school in Lynchburg, Virginia. After 5 months of games, and receiving division one offers, Thomas has returned to Michigan this time relocating to North Farmington.

Thomas stated he is back in Michigan for personal family related reasons. He lives in the North Farmington school district, and despite reclassifying in Virginia to the class if 2017, he is a junior now and will be eligible immediately for the Raiders.

North Farmington is currently undefeated at 6-0, led by Cleveland State commit 6’7″ forward Jeron Roger. In addition to Rogers, Thomas reunites with AAU teammate and long time friend Jacob Joubert, a fellow junior and starting point guard.

The pieces are in place for North Farmington this winter on the hardwood. Thomas expects a return to the Breslin Center, and is ecstatic to be back at home.

“I am very excited to be back,” Thomas said, “there’s nothing like home.” “I did not come back because I was home sick, because I missed friends, I came back because of family obligations. “I was doing extremely well at prep school but things happen.”

It’s been a rough first month for Romulus. The Eagles lost their first game of the year in a prime time affair to Chicago Bogan at Detroit Mumford, and then a ten point set back to Detroit Western on the opening day of Romulus’ Winners’ Circle Classic.

Desperate for a signature victory, the Eagles defeated previously unbeaten University of Detroit Jesuit 56-53, a team they had lost to twice last season, including the state quarterfinals.

“This game was huge,” senior center Rio Washington said. “Coming in as the underdogs and playing hard, and finishing the game strong, and finally getting over are hump.”

Washington is listed as Romulus’ tallest player at 6’8.” However, he didn’t start the contest, but finished the game with 15 points, and seven points. Rio’s greatest impact on the game was seen on the defensive end of the floor. He held U of D’s two 6’7″ sophomore forwards to a combined nine points.

“I just was hungry,” Washington added, “and so ready to play the past year.” “They beat us every time so I felt like this was the rematch to get them back.”

Romulus held a brief two point lead at the beginning of the contest, but found themselves trailing throughout much of the first half, and a 25-20 defecit at intermission.

In the third was where Romulus made their surge. Senior guard and Kent State commit Jaylin Walker scored 13 over his team high 23 points in the stanza, including a three pointer to knot the game at 35 with three minutes left. Romulus would take the lead on their very next possession on a Rio Washington basket, a lead the Eagles would never relinquish the rest of the game.

“It was big,” junior point guard D’Angelo Hansbro said of Walker’s performance. “I always tell him he has to be big time for us to win every night, but I expected it out of him.”

U of D junior floor general Cassius Winston did all he could, he scored 15 of his points in the fourth to keep the Cubs in contention. But with Winston the only one getting his shot off consistently in the period, Romulus was able to take away U of D’s role players. Only three players scored more than one point for the Cubs, and were led by Winston with a game high 33 points, compared to Romulus who had five players eclipse the one point mark.

The Eagles missed six team free throws in the final period of action, but a win is a win for Romulus and they will take it any way they can get it now.

“It’s big,” Hansbro added, “gives us a lot of momentum. “We just have to stay hungry and know we are good as any team in the state.”

Romulus improves to 4-2, while the Cubs fall to 5-1.