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Official Class B Watchlist

15 Dec

Some of the top players in Class B.

Brandon Allen 5’10” junior guard Haslett

Jaton Gunn 6’3″ junior guard Benton Harbor

Curtis Dawson 5’10” junior guard Benton Harbor

Austin Davis 6’10” junior forward Onsted

Latin Davis 5’10” senior point guard Milan

Nick Perkins 6’7″ senior forward Milan

Lance Lewis 6’3″ senior guard Milan

LaMonta Stone 5’10” senior point guard River Rouge

Jalen Gibson 6’7″ senior forward River Rouge

Luster Johnson 6’2″ junior guard Detroit Consortium

Mykel Tyson 6’6″ senior forward Detroit Consortium

Terrance Sewell 6’2″ junior guard Detroit Northwestern

Daniel Jeffries 6’4″ senior guard Detroit Central

Christian Littlejon 6’7″ senior forward Detroit Osborn

Alex Burney 6’8″ senior forward Detroit Osborn

Nikeem Merchant 6’0″ senior point guard Detroit Osborn

Terrace Drew 6’0″ junior point guard Melvindale

Kobe Boynton 6’2″ sophomore guard Melvindale

Jalin Martin 6’4″ forward Harper Woods Chandler Park

Nazir Wallace 6’6″ senior forward Detroit Country Day

Josh Davis 6’4″ senior guard Detroit Henry Ford

James Towns 5’9″ junior point guard Detroit Henry Ford

John Phillips 6’1″ junior guard Detroit CMA

Jaylin Hairston 6’2″ junior guard Detroit CMA

Tony Poljan 6’7″ junior forward Lansing Catholic

LJ James 6’7″ senior forward Wayland

Dilon Aten 6’1″ senior guard Wayland

Delaney Blaylock 6’4″ senior wing Wyoming Godwin Heights

Mike Williams senior Wyoming Godwin Heights

Seth Dugan 6’11” senior center Otsego

AJ Atwater 6’2″ senior point guard Otsego

Austin Bykerk 6’8″ senior forward Hudsonville Unity Christian

Sam Vandersluiss 6’7″ senior forward Holland Christian

Dylan Carl 6’9″ junior center Alma

Neshua Wise 6’4″ senior guard Flint Southwestern

Tanner Eubank 6’3″ guard Paw Paw

Innocent Nwyoko 6’11” junior center New Haven

Jerry Ben 6’10” junior forward New Haven

Austin Sherrell 6’6″ senior wing New Haven

Josh Harris 6’6″ senior guard New Haven

Dmonta Harris 6’4″ senior guard New Haven

Class D Top 5

8 Dec

Southfield Christian has decided to move up to Class,C, leaving Class D wide-open.

1. Adrian Lenawee Christian

2. Baldwin

3. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist

4. Cedarville

5. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes

Pre-season Statewide Rankings (20-16)

6 Dec

The countdown to the state’s best team continues.  

20. River Rouge (Class B)- After years as an assistant coach in the college ranks, LaMonta Stone returns to River Rouge for the 2014-2015 season.  As the head man for the Panthers in 1999, Stone won the  Class B state championship.  Coach Stone brings with him to River Rouge son LaMonta III, who was regarded as one of Ohio’s best guards in the upcoming senior class.  At 5’10” LaMonta III will pair with 6’7″ Jalin Gibson, a bouncy, athletic hidden gem to give the Panthers a solid inside-outside presence.  If the Panthers are going to make a deep run this season, then senior guards Amir Poole, Tracy Freeman, and Mateeya Jones will have to make contributions as well to go along with 6’5″ junior forward Javon Lawrence, who will be eligible in January.  Rouge will be tested this season, with games scheduled against Muskegon, Consortium, Romulus, Flint Beecher and Allen Academy.

19. Belleville (Class A)- Head coach Adam Trumpour made great strides for the Belleville Tigers program his first year on the sidelines, from 7-13 in 2012-13, to 14-7 a year ago.  The Tigers will be led by 6’3″ junior guard Mike Bruce, a do it all point guard in Michigan’s class of 2016.  Aiding Bruce in the backcourt, will be 6’0″ freshman Davian Williams.  Williams made a name for himself in the Summer AAU circuit playing up an age division.  Davian is extremely athletic, and has improved tremendously his perimeter jump shot when he’s not attacking the basket, and has the skills to become a promising defender.  6’5″ Arlington Hambright, also a standout on the football team, will give the Tigers a aggressive/physical inside-presence.

18. Flint Beecher (Class C)- The Bucs followed a 2012-2013 state championship with a 22-4 overall record and trip to the state quarterfinals.  After their first seasons on varsity a year ago, standout sophomores Malik Ellison and Levane Blake will be only more experienced and hungry to carry on the pride and prestige the Flint Beecher program carries.  Ellison is a 5’7″ quick and elusive lead guard that excels in the open floor.  While the 6’7″ athletic, high-motored Blake and his wide wing span allow him to control the paint, with rebounds and blocks.  Not to be outdone is 6’4″ forward Aquavis Burks, a junior that has been on varsity since he was a freshman.  Burks and his defensive lineman built frame is a defensive anchor for Coach Mike Williams, who is never low on hustle and energy.

17. Detroit Allen Academy (Class C)- Coach Craig Covington will look to build after an impressive first season at Allen Academy, the Wildcats went 20-3, which included a district championship.  Allen will be led by juniors Danny Pippen and Jason Williams, the only two returning starters from a year ago.  Pippen is a 6’7″ size 20 shoe wearing stretch four-forward that can hurt opponents just as much on the perimeter as in the paint.  Williams is an attacking scoring guard that will handle most of the point guard duties as well.  Allen also adds quality sophomore guards Drequan Bell and Juwan Snoody to the program, who could be the missing pieces of a championship team once eligible after a few games.

16. Detroit Renaissance (Class A)- Another second year head coach, Venias Jordan Jr. enters the upcoming season with arguably the best scorer in Michigan, Justin Turner.  The 6’2″ Turner is a dynamic offensive threat that can fill up the bucket from anywhere on the court.  Turner is not the only member of a strong Phoenix junior class.  As 5’10” guard Richard Talley is a quick and aggressive on-ball defender who will produce a plethora of takeaways this season, and 6’6″ Alaric Jackson will see his first full season of high school basketball to go along with 6’6″ fellow lane-clogger Mike Jacobs.  Detroit Community transfer 5’10” senior point guard Darryl Smith will add depth off the bench, while 6’4″ sophomore guard LaRonde Lucas and 6’5″ freshman forward Jalen Tobias could be the breakout underclassmen the Phoenix need to make a run at Class A.

Pre-season Statewide Rankings (25-21)

6 Dec

High school hoops is near.  So the countdown begins to found out who are some of the best teams in the state for this upcoming season.  

25. Westland John Glenn (Class A)- The Rockets enter the 2014-2015 season with a new coach, Rod Watts, formerly of Lansing Eastern.  Coach Watts inherits a John Glenn teams that won their KLAA division and conference from a season ago.  Glenn will be lead by senior 6’3″ guard Mychael Bradley, and 6’9″ forward Mike Edwards, who could be the best duo in the KLAA.

24. New Haven (Class B)- Size impacts games, and that is what New Haven has.  The Rockets have four players over 6’6″, including two greater than 6’10.”  6’11” Central Michigan junior commit Innocent Nwyoko will pair with fellow 11th grader 6’10” Jerry Ben to give New Haven a dynamic front court presence.  6’6″ senior Austin Sherrell, a transfer from Waterford Mott, will give the Rockets a versatile perimeter defender, and classmate 6’6″ Josh Harris will add a scoring presence on the wing.

23. Detroit Henry Ford (Class B)- The Trojans are members of the always competitive Detroit Public Schools League.  However, as soon as the state playoffs begin, Ford could make a run to the Breslin Center.  6’4″ Western Michigan commit Josh Davis is one of the best perimeter shooters in the state, and 6’0″ James Towns is an aggressive floor general that finds ways to impact games on the defensive and offensive ends of the floor.

22. Detroit Consortium (Class B)- The reigning Class C state champs have moved up to Class B this season.  With the loss of Josh Jackson, the Cougars must find ways to fill the scoring void gone from a year ago.  6’0″ junior combo guard Luster Johnson figures to handle most of the scoring load this season for Consortium, and will pair with senior Keyon Rainey in the backcourt to give the Cougars a high-tempo attack.  6’6″ lane clogger Mykel Tyson is back for his senior season, Tyson did most of the dirty work last season, getting rebounds and playing tough defense, but will develop into a go-to low-post scorer as the season develops.

21. Warren De La Salle (Class A)- The Pilots won 16 games last season, and return their leading scorer in 6’5″ forward Kevin McKay.  McKay is a division one prospect with a back to the basket type style and fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game.  With the departure of last season’s starting point guard Chris Rollins to East English, the Pilots must add a secondary scorer, and 6’7″ forward Jack Ballantyne will see an added role this season.  Ballantyne is a mobile forward that can stretch the floor with his shooting abilities, and will rebound the ball as well.

Showcases and Invitationals to Start of the Season

6 Nov

basketball-hd-wallpapers-cool-desktop-backgroundsThe first month and a half of high school basketball in Michigan is routinely loaded with premier events featuring the best teams, and players in the state.  As the season quickly approaches, the list below will grow significantly.  Check back soon for the latest information on games and times.

Derrick Coleman’s Midwest Tip-off: Monday, December 8th @ Detroit Mumford High School

Horatio Williams Foundation Tip-off Classic: Saturday, December 13th @ Detroit Edison High School

Oakland County Invitational: Friday, December 12th through December 14 @ North Farmington High School

East vs. West Battle of I-96 Classic: Friday, December 20th @ Grand Rapids City High School

Romulus Winners’ Circle Classic: Friday, December 20th through December 21st @ Romulus High School

Best of the Best: Saturday, December 21st @ West Bloomfield High School

SVSU Cardinal Classic: Friday, December 20th through December 21st @ Saginaw Valley State University

Battle Creek Central Turner Classic: Monday, December 22nd @ Battle Creek Central

Detroit PSL Holiday Hoops: Thursday, December 26th through December 27th @ Detroit Renaissance

20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic: Thursday, December 26th through December 30th

Don Jackson Invitational: Saturday, December 27th @ Kalamazoo Central

Cornerstone University Invitational: Friday, December 26th through December 27th @ Cornerstone University

Derrick Coleman Best of the Best: Saturday, December 27th through December 28th @ Detroit Mumford.

Benton Harbor Christmas Tournament: Friday, December 26th through December 27th @ Benton Harbor

DC Elite Tip-off Classic Schedule Announced

29 Oct

NhrkZyUe.jpg-smallHigh school basketball competition begins in Michigan on Monday, December 8th, the same day as the Derrick Coleman Midwest Tip-off Classic.

2014-2015 will be the second year of the Tip-off Classic’s existence.  It’s founder, Derrick Coleman, was raised in Detroit.  He attended Northern High School, and eventually went onto star at Syracuse University before becoming the number one overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the New Jersey Nets.

This year’s Classic is a two day event.  Day one features four teams venturing in from Chicago, Harlan Academy, Marshall Metro, Bogan Academy, and Morgan Park, winners of two straight Illinois 3-A state titles.

Detroit King, Western International, Romulus, and University of Detroit Jesuit, in order, will combat the visitors from the windy city for Michigan.

In last year’s event, Chicago teams went a combined 3-1 vs. Detroit competition, Orr bettering Southeastern, Bogan topping Frederick Douglass, and Morgan Park outlasting Pershing.  Only Mumford seized victory over Hyde Park.

Day two spotlights various local programs across Metro Detroit.  Detroit CMA vs. Edison, Cass Tech vs. Chandler Park, Henry Ford vs. Loyola, and Mumord vs. Highland Park Renaissance Academy.

In addition to a premier boys event, December 6th and 7th feature a multitude of girls games.  As teams from Flint, Toledo, Saginaw, Detroit, Romulus, Wayne, Oak Park, River Rouge, Chicago, and Grosse Pointe set the stage for another highly anticipated winter of high school hoops.

 

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Michigan Players in the NBA to Start 2014-2015

27 Oct

nba-logoBasketball season is back, and the NBA tips-off first. Michigan has had a long tradition of producing pros, and this season in the association, for at least opening day, there are eleven players who are from Michigan, or played in the state as an amateur on a team’s roster. From Grand Rapids, stretching all the way across to Detroit, Saginaw, and every town in between, here are the players representing the mitten for 2014-2015.

James Young Rookie: 6’6″ 215 lbs Shooting Guard, University of Kentucky (Rochester High School) Boston Celtics

Shayne Whittington Rookie: 6’11” 250 lbs Power Forward, Western Michigan University (Lawrence High School) Indiana Pacers

Roy Devyn Marble Rookie: 6’6″ 200 lbs Shooting Guard, Iowa (Southfield-Lathrup High School) Orlando Magic

Willie Green Twelfth Year: 6’3″ 201 lbs Shooting Guard, University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit Cooley High School) Orlando Magic

Draymond Green Third Year: 6’7″ 230 lbs Small Forward, Michigan State (Saginaw High School) Golden State Warriors

Christ Douglass-Roberts Sixth Year: 6’7″ 210 lbs Shooting Guard, Memphis (Detroit Cass Tech/Detroit Northwestern High School) Los Angeles Clippers

Ray McCallum Second Year: 6’3″ 190 lbs Point Guard, University of Detroit Mercy (Detroit Country Day High School) Sacramento Kings

Christ Kaman Twelfth Year: 7’0″ 265 lbs Center, Central Michigan University (Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian High School) Portland Trail Blazers

Wilson Chandler Eighth Year: 6’8″ 225 lbs Small Forward, Depaul (Benton Harbor High School) Denver Nuggets

JaVale McGee Seventh Year: 7’0″ 270 lbs Center, Nevada, (From Flint) Denver Nuggets

Jason Richardson Thirteenth Year: 6’6″ 225 lbs Shooting Guard, Michigan State, (Saginaw Arthur Hill High School) Philadelphia 76ers

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Michigan Class of 2013 Receiving NBA Caliber Recognition

17 Oct

matthewsIn Michigan’s class of 2013, more than twenty players committed to division one schools.  With just one year of college on their resume, a few have appealed to become very promising NBA prospects in the future.

According to NBADraft.net, three members of the class of 2013 are ranked top 50 sophomores for the national class of 2017.  Rhode Island’s EC Matthews, Iowa State’s Monte Morris, and Michigan’s Derek Walton.

The highest was EC Matthews at number 7, a 6’5″ 190 pound combo guard.  In his freshman season, EC averaged 14 points, and four rebounds a game for the Rams while playing more than 30 minutes each contest.  Matthews guided Romulus High School to the 2013 Class A state as a senior.

 

Coming in at 30, was Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr.  Walton started 36 of the 37 games for the Wolverines his freshman campaign, averaging 7.9 points a game, and three rebounds and assists as well.  Walton attended Chandler Park Academy for high school and played under his 20131203_Derrick_Walton_shoots_against_Jabari_Parkerdad.  A four year varsity participant, Walton received the Michigan Gatorade National Player of the year award his senior season, where he averaged  26 points, seven points and steals a contest.

Number 45 on the list is Monte Morris.  Morris played in all 36 games for the Big 12 champions Iowa State, starting the last 17 contests.  Morris averaged seven points, three rebounds a game his freshman season, and broke the record with 4.79 assist to turnover ratio.  Morris came to Iowa State after a successful prep career at Flint Beecher, capturing two consecutive Class C titles his junior and senior campaigns, culminating with the state’s Mr. Basketball Award his senior season.

 

 

 

 

8030804For a complete list of the t0p 50 sophomores in NCAA division one basketball, please click here

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John Glenn’s Mike Edwards Fastest Rising Prospect in Michigan

9 Oct

Westland John Glenn senior Michael Edwards is one of the most coveted prospects in Michigan currently. The 6’8″ Edwards currently has offers from U of D Mercy, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Akron, and UC-Davis just to name a few.  However, several High Major programs such as Michigan and Iowa State have all been at John Glenn open gyms this year.  Even with the constant attention of schools and recruiters, Edwards is enjoying the process and knows he is blessed with the opportunity.

“It feels great!” Edwards had to say of the attention.  “I love it alot, and now I get to make a right decision to go to the right school.”

At 6’8″, it’s hard to miss Edwards when he is on the basketball court.  However, much of the recent recruiting attention can be attributed to the month of July AAU he had for Michigan United in front of college coaches.  According to Edwards, he says college coaches have shown interest in his ball handling abilities, mid-range jump shot, attacking the glass, and taking defenders off the bounce to the basket.

Edwards is open to all schools at this point.  He has visited Ball State this Fall, and plans to take a few more visits before the high school season starts.  When he decides on a school, it will be because of the “campus, the way the teamates are, head coach, the majors, and feel of it.”

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Recruiting News from 8/25-9/1

1 Sep

Starting now and every Sunday/Monday, we will give a full week write up about recruiting news across the state.  From offers, to interests, and visits, check back weekly for up to the minute news.

Allread Picks up Two Offers

West Bloomfield 2015 forward Zach Allread picked up two new offers this week, one from NAIA Madonna located in Livonia, Michigan, and the other from D2 Malone from Canton, Ohio.

Big Week for Sophomore Xavier Tillman

The biggest recruiting news this week came when it was announced that Grand Rapids Forest Hill Central star forward Xavier Tillman picked up his first offer, from Purdue.  Tillman, with the departure of Donnie Tillman to Nevada, by many is considered the best forward in the rising sophomore class.  Tillman is also said to have interest from in-state powers Michigan, and Michigan State, and is also in contact with basically the whole Big Ten Conference.  The 6’6″ Tillman visited MSU on Friday for an open gym session and football game, and then quickly headed south for an unofficial visit to Kentucky on Saturday.

Various Visitors Across The Country

2016 Cassius Winston of U of D Jesuit took two unofficial visits this weekend, to MSU and Michigan respectively.  One of the hottest names in the midwest, Winston is fresh off a Summer collecting offers from Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Maryland, and Boston College, just to name a few, and visiting the campus’ of the previously mentioned Maryland, VCU, Georgetown, and Davidson.

Joining Winston on a visit to Michigan was AAU teammate Brian Bowen.  Bowen, the number one player in the class of 2017, has been on the college coach radar well since entering high school.  He already has an offer from Michigan, in addition to several high-major offers across the country.

Under the radar and visiting Michigan as well was rising junior point guard Justin Turner of Detroit Renaissance.  Turner isn’t as heralded as Winston or Bowen, but a standout junior season could possibly bring greater interest coming from Ann Arbor.

The number one player in 2015 point guard Eric Davis of Saginaw Arthur Hill took an official visit to Texas this weekend, number two for him visiting UNLV in late August.  It was also said Davis dropped UCLA and only to replace the Bruins with the Tigers of LSU on his list of top seven, who he plans to take an official visit to.

Also from the westside of the state, 6’4″ guard Deleon Brown took an official visit to Northern Illinois.  Although Brown just picked up a football for the Eagles of Grand Rapids Christian, basketball is more of his cup of tea.  6’6″ Brent Hibbitts of Hudsonville took an official visit to Lehigh this past weekend as well.

 

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