Tag Archives: Detroit Pershing

Creating a “Havoc” Pershing’s Justin Tillman

2 Sep

Justin-Tillman-photoOne of Michigan’s top prospects decided on where he will continue his basketball career over the weekend, and that is Detroit Pershing’s 6’8″ forward Justin Tillman, who gave a verbal commit to the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth.

Tillman made a name for himself on the AAU circuit competing with the Reach Legends AAU team during the July evaluation period playing in tournaments in Las Vegas, Wisconsin, and Indiana.  Justin had double-digit offers, the majority of which were mid-majors with interest coming from several Big Ten schools,  but shrunk the list to three with the schools being Iowa, Xavier, and VCU.

One of the main reasons why Justin picked the Rams was the relationship he started to build with the coaches and players on his official visit to the school just a few weeks ago.  “Just talking to the coaches and getting to know them and them getting to know me and how well it would fit me and going there seeing everything for my self.”  Tillman went onto say that he enjoyed the company of the current players on the roster, which was another bonus for VCU with his decision,  “Meeting the players on the team, they made me feel like I was apart of the team, getting to know them and them showing me around the campus, I just thought everything about VCU was great.”

Tillman is quite an intriguing prospect.  Many do not know what to position to label him as when he begins his college basketball career.  He is too tall and athletic for a small guard, but too fast and has a constant motor running for a big man.  With that being said, Justin will work excellent in Coach Shaka Smart’s “Havoc” style attack.   “I will adapt to it really fast,” Tillman said, “it will be easier for me to get comfortable and be a great player from the start as a freshmen.”

Tillman wants to make the most out his one remaining season of high school basketball at Pershing, he and his fellow Doughboys have high expectations for this upcoming season.  With the stress of recruiting out of the way, Justin has now set team goals he wants to accomplish before he graduates high school, which include winning a PSL City Championship and a Class A state championship.  Look for Justin to be a finalist for the state’s Mr. Basketball by the time March comes along.

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Detroit Lefty Wing Chooses Texas

30 Apr

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Today, Detroit Pershing wing Martez Walker gave a verbal commit to become a University of Texas Longhorn.  Walker was recruited by schools such as Temple, Providence, Oakland, and UCF before ultimately deciding on Texas.  The lefty had a tremendous senior season, averaging a double-double en route to helping Pershing capture a City Championship.  The key turning point in Martez’s recruitment came just a couple weeks ago when Walker took a visit to Texas to tour the campus.  Walker said that the visit was fun, and enjoyed the relationship with the coaches he had while on that visit.

Walker will bring a high-volume shooter that excels in coming off any type of screen, as well as a solid scorer to Austin this upcoming season.  Some of the up-and-coming portions of his game will be to improve upon athleticism, as well as going right to create offense for himself.  No doubt Martez will have to work if he wants to receive playing time at a school that produces tremendous players like Kevin Durant.  Martez expects to work hard, play his style of game, and not try to do anything he can’t to in an attempt to impress the coaches.

As an avid supporter of the high school basketball, it makes me feel good when a kid accepts high major scholarship to continue their sport.  And this is Pershing High School we are talking about.  The school is an absolute basketball factory.  From the greats of Steve Smith to the recent products of Keith Appling and Derrick Nix, few schools in the area can compete with the Tradition of Pershing basketball.  Martez is now writing a chapter of his own to that story of success and will look to make a name of his own.

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Kahlil Felder’s Game Winner

14 Mar

Once again, Pershing survives a upset in the playoffs.  This time being senior Oakland commit Kahlil Felder Jr. saving the day against U of D Jesuit in the regional finals.

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Pershing’s Lefty Wing On The Rise

12 Mar

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Martez Walker might be one of the best shooters in the State of Michigan.  The lefty has the potential to go for twenty points on about any night.  Just about a near make whenever Walker gets his feet set.  Contains somewhat of a unorthodox release but the shots still seem to fall.  Martez is a big time player who plays with emotion and feeds off the crowds energy.  Evident by the game winning shot against Cass Tech.  With that being said, it has resulted in him getting some major recognition at the next level.  Martez is said to have offers from Temple, Providence, Xaver, Nebraska, Iowa State and Iowa.  Walker has also said that some schools that are still going after him are Baylor, Michigan State, Michigan, and Oakland.  Bound to make his decision a couple days after the season, Martez says that he is open to any school right now, no matter who the coaches are, as long as Martez gets quality playing time, he will consider any school right now.

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Detroit Pershing 78 vs. Cass Tech 76

9 Mar

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Beating a good high school team in the State of Michigan  is never easy.  Especially when you have the mentality    going into the game think that it is going to be another cakewalk like it was before.  The MHSAA equivalent of March Madness was on display Friday at Western International in the district final contest between Pershing and Cass TECH.  What seemed to be an upset  throughout most of the game that would have shocked the entire state was changed in 10.8 seconds.  DeAngelo Stewart just tied the game up for the Technecians with 1:08 to go in the fourth quarter.  Pershing’s Kahlil Felder smartly evading CT defenders and calling a time-out with 10:8 seconds to go.  Now on that play, Martez Walker did the rest.  Hitting an off-balanced shot with maybe one second on the clock remaining with two CT players in his face.  It was a big moment for Pershing.  Because earlier in the game, Cass lead by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter.  But you can never count out the undefeated Pershing Doughboys.  Cass Tech lead throughout most of the game.  For each Pershing run it seemed as if Cass upped them on it.  Taking control in the second and third quarters.

Players

Florida Atlantic point guard commit D’Andre Johnson had 25 points for CT, while fellow senior DeAngelo Stewart had 16, most coming in the second half.  It seemed as if Charles Key, nine points, had nearly every offensive rebound for Cass Tech.  The junior is a high energy player that allows for second maybe even third offensive opportunities.  For Pershing, Justin Tillman had 14 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.  Martez Walker had 24 points, Kahlil Felder chipped in with 12.  While the x factor in this game was junior guard Darsean Woodson.  Woodson scored five of the Doughboys last 10 points in the contest, and finished up with 18.

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Interview with Justin Tillman

10 Feb

Having to sit out for more than half the season is not easy.  But watching Justin Tillman for Detroit Pershing play for the first time this year, it made me think how much more dominant Pershing would be if Tillman was healthy for the whole year.  Tillman is a true glass eater down low.  But at the same time, he did knock down some perimeter jump shots for the Doughboys.  Think about it, they already have a true point guard in Kahlil Felder, a pure scorer in Martez Walker, and a knock down shooter in Lorenzo Collier.  This team will now be able to take on teams with dominant big men, because of the fact that Tillman is back now.

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