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www.macombdaily.com DETROIT >> Romeo Weems and New Haven interrupted the Catholic League’s basketball domination at Calihan Hall. Weems had a triple-double with 33 points, 10 assists and 14 rebounds, and three other Rockets scored in double figures to lead the defending state Class B-champion Rockets to an 82-62 victory over De La Salle in the Calihan Challenge at the University of Detroit Mercy on Sunday Ashton Sherrell scored 18 points, Tavares Oliver 16 and Ronald Jeffery II 10 for New Haven in its season-opening game that was witnessed by Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann. Kole Gjonaj scored 18 points, Luke Pfromm 17 and Jordan Winowiecki 13 for De La Salle (0-1). The game matched the two coaches that have led Macomb County teams to state championships. The Pilots’ Greg Esler led Lake Shore to the Class B crown in 1994, and Tedaro France guided New Haven to its crown last March. New Haven outscored the Pilots 27-11 in the fourth quarter to break open a close game. Ascaun Johnson’s 3-point field goal and Weems’ dunk off an alley-oop pass from Oliver gave the Rockets a 62-53 lead with 5:57 to play, and New Haven was on its way to its 28th consecutive victory. “We locked in on defense,” Weems said, referring to the fourth quarter. “We got after it and we went on a run. “We increased our intensity.” MSU and OSU are among universities that have offered scholarships to Weems, a 6-foot-7 junior. Sherrell, a senior, had 12 rebounds and Johnson had seven. Oliver and Weems had six assists apiece. Weems scored his 29th and 30th points on a breakaway dunk, and he completed a three-point play after being fouled making a layup with 61 seconds left. He then left the game. New Haven plays its home opener Friday against Dakota. Catholic League teams won the first three games at Calihan Hall against opponents from the MAC. Jonny Heller
www.pittsburghsportscastle.com Sometimes, in the world of recruiting, you need to get lucky, especially for a first-year coach hired in close proximity to the spring signing period. While Coach Keith Dambrot was unable to keep any of former coach Jim Ferry’s signees, he was able to secure rich talent in the spring of 2017. The first guy to take a leap of faith and sign with the Dambrot and the Dukes was 6-foot-5 swingman Eric Williams Jr from New Haven, Michigan. Dukes fans are well acquainted with Williams now, but he was a complete unknown during the spring signing period. Periodically, you hear about kids flying under the radar and then blowing up on the AAU circuit going into their senior seasons. This wasn’t the case with Williams. Despite putting up video game-like numbers (20.9 ppg, 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists & 3.5 steals) at New Haven High, he flew under the radar and stayed there until his freshman season began this fall on ‘the Bluff.’ Williams admits he plays with a chip on his shoulder, “I had a great senior season and coaches still didn’t know if I was good enough or not, I used that as a tool to get through and it helps me out now. It helped me become more mature and helping me learn the game. I’ve gotten a lot better since I arrived at Duquesne.” Going into his freshman season, Williams was not sure what his role on the team would be. “I didn’t know I was going to play this much and I was just trying to work my way up to get minutes. I just came in trying to learn and I had to learn quick, but I’ve been a pretty good learner beforehand so it’s helped me out a lot now.” The most polished part of Williams game is his rebounding as he has been a beast on the boards so far for the Dukes this season. Williams is averaging 10.6 boards per game to go along with his 15.3 points per game. His numbers speak for themselves. He’s one of six freshmen in the nation — four of which were five-star recruits on ESPN.com — to average a double-double starting out the year. Duquesne Basketball✔@DuqMBBDuquesne's 6-5 Eric Williams Jr is one of six NCAA Division I freshmen currently averaging a double-double // of the six, four are 6-11 or taller http://ESPN.COM -rated 5-star recruits 1:50 PM - Dec 7, 2017 “The whole game I literally go for rebounds, that and most of the time I can see where the ball is going. I have that knack of knowing where the ball is going.” Williams says him and coach Dambrot have a terrific relationship. “Off the court, he’s a great guy. On the court or at practice he’s always on us. Sometimes I get mad, but I know he’s doing it for my betterment. He brings the best out of everybody.” In my own personal opinion, I’ve compared Williams to former Dayton Flyer Chris Johnson and also Los Angeles Laker Kyle Kuzma. The scary thing is that at 6-5 & 190 pounds Williams will more than likely fill out and become an even more dangerous weapon for Dambrot and the Dukes. Talking with Williams was a pleasure and a great testament to the type of student-athletes that Coach Dambrot is recruiting. The sky is the limit for him and I fully expect him to reach it. David Goricki
www.detroitnews.com Foster Loyer exploded onto the high-school basketball scene as a freshman at Clarkston during the 2014-15 season, leading his team to its first unbeaten regular season in more than 20 years. And Loyer continued to improve over the years, helping Clarkston earn its first state championship last season, when he scored 29 in a 75-69 victory over Grand Rapids Christian in the Class A title game at Breslin Center. Loyer was giving the fans in East Lansing a glimpse of what they are going to see in the future since the 6-foot point guard will play for the Spartans after completing his senior season. “I expect to get great effort, great leadership out of him, that’s just who he is and has always been,” Clarkston coach Dan Fife said. “He’s been a three-year captain with us. He has an understanding of every position, what the kids are doing and what they should not be doing. Really, he’s a coach on the floor.” Loyer is one of many outstanding players throughout the state, including several who could be considered for Mr. Basketball, when that winner is announced in March. Brandon Johns, a 6-8 senior forward, averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and three assists to help East Lansing to a 24-0 record before a regional loss to Kalamazoo Central and Mr. Basketball award winner Isaiah Livers. Johns will be joining Livers at Michigan, leaving East Lansing to play for Michigan State’s biggest rival. “Brandon Johns has improved so much from last March,” East Lansing coach Steve Finamore said. “He’s matured, has improved his ball handling and he’s focused in on his senior season. He has been dominating in practice. He’s making threes, from deep, which makes him a multi-purpose player. John Beilein is getting an incredible player.” And don’t forget 6-10 senior small forward Marcus Bingham of Grand Rapids Catholic Central, who has grown by leaps and bounds both on and off the court in the last two years, using his 7-4 wing span to average 16 points and 10 rebounds to help his team to a regional-final appearance. Bingham will be joining Loyer at MSU. “He can play inside or outside and he’s a good kid who is working really hard to get better every day,” said coach TJ Meerman, who ran CMU’s offense when 7-footer Chris Kaman played in 2003 before a long NBA career. Catholic Central will open its season at Detroit Country Day Saturday night and Bingham can’t wait. “I want to lead my team to a state championship and just be a great leader,” Bingham said. “We’ve worked hard and can’t wait to start the season. I hope it ends with me being named Mr. Basketball, then helping my team win a state championship. “I didn’t even play basketball my freshman year, then started my sophomore year at Ottawa Hills. I’ve transformed myself into a big wing. I’m really long so I can shoot, dribble, guard any position, I can play defense, block shots, rebound. When I was younger and shorter I worked on a lot of ball-handling skills so it really just tied into the growth spurt.” THE BEST OF THE REST 4. Romeo Weems, 6-7, Jr., G-F, New Haven Weems averaged 18.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and four steals last season to help New Haven win the Class B state championship. “Romeo is a great leader both on and off the court,” coach Tedaro France said. “He also had a great summer, winning a gold medal as a starter on the USA (U16) national team. He has stayed in the gym and has really taken his game to another level. He has improved his shooting; he can step out and knock down the 3-point shot with consistency and ease.” Weems already has multiple offers, including Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and Missouri. 5. Gabe Brown, 6-9, Sr., F, Belleville Brown has the size of a post player and skills of a guard where he can take the ball to the basket or make the perimeter shot. He averaged 15.9 points and 5.7 rebounds last season, shooting 60 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3-point range. “Gabe Brown emerged last season and has practiced well and he’s completely healthy -- no issues with the knee or anything,” coach Adam Trumpour said of Brown, who suffered a knee injury during the summer while playing AAU ball. “He’s continued to elevate his game, which is exciting for all of us.” Brown will play at Michigan State. 6. David DeJulius, 6-1, Sr., G, Detroit East English DeJulius averaged 25 points and six assists last season and showed his ability to take over a game on several occasions, including a 46-point performance in which he was 9-of-11 on 3-pointers against Macomb Dakota to get an offer from Michigan coach John Beilein. He has signed his letter of intent with the Wolverines. “He’s a great example of hard work, always trying to outwork people to become the complete player,” coach Juan Rickman said. 7. Trevion Williams, 6-8, Sr., C, Henry Ford Academy Williams is a physical 6-foot-8, 260-pound post player who is a strong rebounder, can score inside and pass the ball well, too. He averaged 18.6 points and 24 rebounds last season and signed with Purdue last month. 8. Thomas Kithier, 6-8, Sr., F-C, Clarkston Kithier showed the ability to dominate at each end of the court during his junior year at Macomb Dakota, averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help his team repeat as MAC Red champion while advancing to the regional semifinals, where it lost to Clarkston. Kithier, a great defender and shot blocker, will play at Michigan State. Clarkston's Taylor Currie enjoys a lighter moment during a recent workout. (Photo: Max Ortiz, Detroit News) 9. Taylor Currie, 6-9, Sr., F-C, Clarkston Currie elevated his game during the postseason of his sophomore season to help Clarkston win the Class A state title, contributing double-doubles in the semifinal (10 points, 16 rebounds vs. West Bloomfield) and the state-title game (16 points, 10 rebounds vs. Grand Rapids Christian). He re-classified this past summer and is now a senior. “Taylor has come a long way,” Fife said of Currie, who has put on 10 pounds and will now play at 220. Currie committed to Michigan this summer, then decommitted and will play at Wisconsin. 10. Rocket Watts, 6-2, Jr., G, Old Redford Academy Watts is nicknamed the Rocket for a reason with tremendous quickness to go along with his ball-handling skills and ability to score in multiple ways. He averaged 26.4 points and 5.3 assists last season and is considered a four-star recruit by 247Sports. Watts already has received offers from Michigan State, Michigan, Iowa, Alabama and Georgia Tech. 11. Harlond Beverly, 6-4, Jr., G, Southfield Christian Beverly averaged 14 points, including 20 points and 10 assists during the second half of the season after returning from an ankle injury, to help Southfield Christian advance to the Class D Final Four. He then put on a show in the state semifinal game when he showed his ability with an outstanding all-around effort (22 points, seven assists, six rebounds, six steals) in a 84-83 double-OT loss to Powers North Central. Beverly, a four-star recruit, has offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Baylor, Missouri and Xavier. 12. Brandon Wade, 6-2, Sr., G, Ann Arbor Skyline Wade had an outstanding junior season, averaging 21.4 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds to help Skyline win its first SEC Red Division title in school history. He had his top performances against the best teams, coming up with a 35-point, 12-assist effort in a loss to eventual Class A state champion Clarkston. “Brandon is an outstanding all-around player who I feel should be a candidate for Mr. Basketball,” coach Mike Lovelace. Wade will play at Duquesne. 13. Lamar Norman, 6-4, Sr., G, Wyoming Godwin Heights Norman had a strong junior season, averaging 21.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists to lead Godwin Heights to a 22-2 record and district championship. “Lamar is a very dynamic athlete who can score from all over the court,” coach Tyler Whittemore said. Norman will play at UTEP. 14. Mario Whitley, 6-4, Sr., G, Frankenmuth Whitley put up huge numbers, averaging 25 points and 14 rebounds, to help Frankenmuth earn a district championship and a share of the Tri-Valley Conference East Division title. He showed the ability to score from the perimeter or by taking the ball to the basket. Whitley decided to stay close to home and will play at Saginaw Valley State. He also had offers from Oakland, Toledo and Detroit. 15. Davion Williams, 6-2, Sr., G, Belleville Williams averaged 12.5 points to help Belleville to a 20-3 record and district final appearance. “Davion is a four-year varsity player for us, obviously locked up with Michigan State for football,” Trumpour said of Williams, who will play football for Mark Dantonio. “He’s quick, athletic and very versatile.” 16. Kavon Merriweather, 6-2, Sr., G, Belleville Merriweather averaged 16 points and six assists to help Romulus win district and regional championships, defeating U-D Jesuit in a state quarterfinal for the right to play in the Final Four at Breslin Center. There, it lost to Grand Rapids Christian in a state semifinal. “He is a tremendous player and competitor who is going to be a college point guard, just a great kid and a great addition,” said Trumpour, whose team lost to Merriweather and Romulus in the district finals. Merriweather has multiple Division II offers and is getting interest from Division I schools including Western Michigan for basketball and Purdue for football. 17. Bryce Washington, 6-3, Sr., G, Southfield-Christian Washington showed his ability to put up big numbers last season to help Southfield Christian reach the Class D state semifinals. He averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds. 18. Rashad Williams, 6-2, Sr., G, Wayne Memorial Williams averaged 24 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds to help Wayne earn its first KLAA championship. He is an outstanding perimeter shooter, making 78 3-pointers, including 7-of-11 while scoring 29 in a district final loss to Romulus. Williams will play at Cleveland State. 19. Markeese Hastings, 6-8, Sr., F, Wyoming Godwin Heights Hastings has the ability to score inside, from the perimeter or by taking the ball to the basket. He averaged a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) last season and will play next year at Butler. “He’s 6-foot-8, very versatile and impacts the game greatly on both sides of the court,” coach Tyler Whittemore said. T20. Carlos Johnson, 6-6, So., C, Benton Harbor Johnson was a freshman phenom last season, using his physical style to help put Benton Harbor back on the map. He averaged 14.2 points, 14.1 rebounds and three blocks to lead the team to a state semifinal run. T20. Pierre Mitchell, 6-0, Sr., G, Detroit Edison Mitchell helped Edison reach the Class C state semifinals a year after he led Detroit Loyola to a Class C Final Four appearance the previous year. He has great ball-handling skills and will play his college ball at Central Michigan. david.goricki@detroitnews.com twitter.com/DavidGoricki New Haven's Romeo Weems works the ball down court during an MHSAA Class B state basketball final Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Michigan State University. (Photo: JEFFREY M. SMITH, TIMES HERALD)
www.freep.com Mick McCabe 1. Clarkston (27-1) Should be the first school to repeat as Class A champ since Kalamazoo Central in 2010 and ’11. Point guard Foster Loyer (Michigan State) is a flat-out winner and terrific leader who doesn’t have to score to be effective. Taylor Currie (Wisconsin), 6-feet-9, reclassified to make himself a senior, is stronger and playing facing the basket more than before. Under the radar has been guard CJ Robinson, who can play either guard spot and has long arms make him an outstanding defender. Nick Wells is shooting better and should have an increased role. Sophomore Scott Nicholson, 6-10, adds size and rebounding to the front line. Freshman Garrett Dellinger, 6-7, will become a factor as the season progresses. Tournament road: The Wolves should not be tested through districts and regionals. A quarterfinal game at Grand Blanc could bring a matchup with Saginaw Arthur Hill or Saginaw High and then it is on to the Breslin Center. 2. Detroit Cass Tech (20-5) The Technicians should be the class of the always-tough Detroit Public School League, and that alone makes them a Class A contender. Point guard Tyson Acuff, 6-3, is one of the top players in the sophomore class. Randy Gilbert, 6-6, is a punishing physical presence inside and he can pop out and hit shots. Jalen Tobias, 6-5, is the team’s best rebounder and he adds a degree of toughness. Matthew Richmond is a combo guard who is a good shooter. Christopher Murry can score from the perimeter, from mid-range and on the block. Junior Kahlil Whitehead, 6-5, is a catch-and-shoot specialist and junior Tyland Tate, 6-6, grew four inches over the last year and is a true perimeter player. Tournament road: With teams like East English Village, King and host Western, it won’t be easy to advance out of the district to regional. The winner of the Renaissance district — U-D Jesuit or Renaissance — will be the biggest challenge in regional before a likely quarterfinal date with Warren De La Salle. 3. East Lansing (24-1) This is the year the Trojans have been waiting for to make a run at the Class A title. Brandon Johns (Michigan), 6-9, is a tremendously talented player, has improved his ball-handling and passing abilities, and is an excellent weak-side shot blocker. Point guard Malik Jones (Aquinas) can speed up the game and has the knack of getting the ball to the right people at the right time. Justin McAbee, 6-5, is the team’s best rebounder and defender and brings energy to the court. The top perimeter shooter is Noah Schon. Freshman Marcus Wourman has a remarkably high basketball IQ for someone his age and he will add depth to the point guard spot. Tournament road: With host DeWitt, Grand Ledge and Lansing Waverly in the group, getting out of the district won’t be automatic. In the past, the Trojans have had difficulty getting out of the regional that features the best teams on the southwest side of the state. Should the Trojans survive that, someone like Muskegon could be waiting in the quarterfinal at Lansing Eastern. 4. Belleville (20-3) If Clarkston doesn’t win the Class A title, the Tigers just might. Gabe Brown (Michigan State), 6-7, is recovered from a partially torn ACL that sidelined him this summer. He has improved his skill level and is playing better defense. Davion Williams (MSU football) is terrific in transition and attacking the basket. Kaevon Merriweather, a transfer from Romulus, is a pass-first point guard who can score. Devin Alverson, recovering nicely from a detached tendon, can hurt you as a catch-and-shoot guy. Cameron Smiley, 5-8, is small, but don’t get in his way as he moves to the basket. Sophomore Connor Bush, 6-4, a transfer from Plymouth, will add reinforcements when he becomes eligible in the second semester. Tournament road: Ypsilanti will be the biggest foe in the Ypsilanti district and then a showdown with highly regarded Wayne should come in the Dearborn regional. A Calihan Hall quarterfinal opponent could be Ann Arbor Skyline, which has some outstanding shooters, but will have difficulty matching Belleville’s size. 5. Detroit Edison (14-12) It was a young Edison team that lost to state champ Flint Beecher in the Class C semifinals last March. This team will be good because point guard Pierre Mitchell Jr. (Central Michigan) is as selfless a player as you will find, always looking for a better shot. Gary Solomon (LIU-Brooklyn), 6-5, is a stat stuffer who lives at the free-throw line because he attacks the basket so well. Deante Johnson (Cleveland State), 6-8, will protect the paint and add inside points. Junior Brian Taylor, 6-6, scores in transition as well as in catch-and-shoot situations. Dominik Thomas and Tim Stewart Jr. will each get starter minutes even if they find themselves coming off the bench. Tournament road: There should be no competition in the district, but that changes in a hurry in the regional when a loaded Pershing team should be the opponent. Things get worse in the quarterfinals at West Bloomfield where defending champ Flint Beecher should be waiting. 6. New Haven (27-1) It is surprising how young the defending Class B champion is heading into the season. Junior Romeo Weems, 6-7, is one of the top players in his class nationally. He averaged 18.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.2 blocks as a sophomore, and his ball-handling has improved. Junior Ashton Sherrell, 6-7, averaged 12 points and 8.1 rebounds. Tavares Oliver will keep defenses honest with his 3-point shooting. Junior Ronald Jeffrey is coming off a good summer and should blossom into a complete guard. Ascaun Johnson, 6-5, junior Jamie Farrior and junior Malcom Lewis, 6-5, are all capable of landing the fifth starting spot. Junior Jasaan Gantt, 6-8, will provide depth in the paint. Tournament road:There is no one in the district that can beat New Haven when it matters, and then the Rockets host the regional. Frankenmuth appears to be the best bet to face New Haven in the quarterfinals, but the Rockets would have several matchup advantages. 7. Detroit Pershing (10-11) With six seniors returning, the Doughboys will be good, especially for a Class C team. D'Juan Seal, 6-4, averaged 22 points last season and is a high-motor guy who scores on slashing moves to the bucket. The team will revolve around the standout play of Ron Hill, who is a fourth-year starter at the point. Johnny Davis, 6-8, loves playing on the perimeter and has a fine 3-point shot, but he will need to grab rebounds if Pershing is going to be successful. Charles Brown, 6-6, is a highly skilled player who can play every position but the post. The premier shooter on the squad is junior Pierre Hill, who is money from three-point land. Tournament road: The district should not be a problem for the Doughboys, but a regional first-round game against Detroit Edison will be a classic. Things get worse from there because a trip to the West Bloomfield quarterfinal will likely bring a game against defending state champ Flint Beecher. 8. Wayne (18-4) Rashad Williams (Cleveland State) averaged 24 points, seven assists and four rebounds in leading Wayne to the KLAA title last season and is one of the most dynamic guards in the state. The Zebras don’t have much size, but they are not trying to win a half-court game. Terence Williams, who can be a lockdown defender, and junior Isiaah Lewis will try to make this a track meet — the more possessions the better. The Zebras will try to wear you out with their speed and overall depth. If Wayne hopes to get to East Lansing, it will need good inside play from Cartier Muse-Suber, 6-5, Kobe Price, 6-4 and Va'shawn Ward. Tournament road: The Zebras don’t have to worry about Romulus in their district anymore. But a game against rival Westland Glenn is looming. That should be the toughest game until a regional final against highly-regarded Belleville. 9. Detroit King (16-7) Four starters return to the PSL runner-up, and when you add Cass Tech transfer Marcus Gibbs, you’ve got the makings of a contending team. Gibbs’ shooting ability will help King stretch the floor. The Crusaders will rebound like crazy and play excellent team defense. Antonio Marshall, 6-4, is a wing who can play the point and play solid inside defense. Jordan Whitford is a junior point guard who can neutralize the opposing point guard. Junior John Massey Jr., 6-6, plays dynamite inside defense and is a rebounder deluxe. Tournament road: The Crusaders begin in the toughest district in the state - at Detroit Western, where they will have to get past Cass Tech and East English Village. The regional will be against either Renaissance or U-D Jesuit just to get a chance at a quarterfinal game. 10. Novi (18-7) Don’t sleep on these Wildcats. Traveon Maddox Jr. (Oakland) is a superb athlete who averaged 20.4 points and six rebounds, and can score from the perimeter and at the rim. Junior Giovanni Miles is the team’s most consistent 3-point shooter and is a solid rebounder. Point guard Trendon Hankerson will do a good job running the point when he returns after Christmas from a foot injury. Blake King, 6-4, is the garbage guy who will pick up points and rebounds on sheer hustle. The missing piece could be 6-9 Tariq Hardy, a transfer from Plymouth, who will clean up on the boards and knock down an occasional perimeter shot. Tournament road: Canton will be a formidable district foe and then it will be off to the regional in which Milford will be good. Another good opponent will come from the Skyline district, either Skyline, Pioneer or Romulus. That could lead to a quarterfinal game against an excellent Belleville team. 11. Wyoming Godwin Heights (22-2) Markeese Hastings (Butler), 6-7, averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season, and has a knack of getting himself in the right place at the right time. Lamar Norman Jr. (Texas-El Paso), a hero of the 2015 championship game, is a natural scorer who is rebounding and playing defense at a higher level. David Kellah’s growth spurt to 6-3 has made him an even more effective ball-handler. Aleal Jimenez, 6-4, is a shooter who can also score in the post. Susu Davenport is the guy who will lead the team in loose balls gathered up and turned into baskets. Tournament road: The 2015 Class B champs could wind up in the Breslin Center again. Host Kelloggsville, with a strong returning cast, and Grand Rapids South Christian will be formidable foes in the district. A showdown with Grand Rapids Catholic Central will follow in the regional final. 12. Flint Beecher (23-5) Sophomore point guard Jalen Terry is a terrific player. He averaged 10.5 points last season, but he nearly doubled that in must-win situations. He does a little bit of everything and does it all well. Another sophomore, 6-3 Earnest Sanders, excels at rebounding and defense and has improved his shooting. Freshman Kion Minnifield is quick and has a high basketball IQ. Theatrice King, 6-2, a transfer from closed Flint Northwestern, is a solid shooter and will add stability to the lineup. Dominique Williams, 6-4, will be a force inside and Chris Long, 6-5, is sneaky athletic and will help in the paint. Tournament road: The bid for a fourth straight Class C state title, and sixth in seven years, begins with a district showdown against a good Flint Hamady team. The regional should not be difficult , but a West Bloomfield quarterfinal against Beecher or Detroit Edison or Detroit Pershing awaits. 13. Williamston (21-5) The Hornets have enough talent to be legitimate Class B contenders. Point guard Cole Kleiver (16 points, four assists) does a good job running the team and picking his spots to score. Junior Sean Cobb (13 points, seven rebounds), 6-7, is coming off a solid season and can play either forward spot and in the post. Frankie Toomey is a glue guy who can help with rebounding despite being only 5-11. Sophomore Mitchell Cook became a starter in the state tournament last season and responded with some big games. Caleb Smith, 6-5, is an inside pounder. Help in the paint will come from 6-7 juniors Casey Conley and Joseph Hahnenberg. Tournament road: The Lansing Eastern district will offer some stiff competition for the Hornets. But if Williamston can get past Lansing Catholic and Haslett, it should be smooth sailing until a quarterfinal game against Benton Harbor. 14. Benton Harbor (22-4) Any team with 6-6 sophomore Carlos Johnson (16 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three blocks) is going to be pretty good. Johnson continues to improve his jump shot. Elijah Baker (11 points, seven assists) is an outstanding point man. Shawn Hopkins, 6-4, helps inside, and Dennie Brown is a strong guard who can be a lockdown defender. The Tigers added Devan Nichols and T.J. Jones from Berrien Springs and 6-7 junior Chris Conway and 6-6 junior Justin Brown from Stevensville Lakeshore for some incredible depth. Nichols, Conway and Justin Brown will become eligible on Jan. 18. Tournament road: The Class B semifinalists' season could come down to a quarterfinal game against Williamston. 15. Detroit East English Village (18-5) Guard David DeJulius (Michigan) averaged 27 points in the rugged PSL. He is a jet up and down the court and scores from everywhere except the post. Junior Tariq Shepherd is another quality guard who is a good shooter and brings toughness to the court. Zavon Godwin, 6-6, is the most athletic player on the team and he will be an inside-out contributor. Junior Sudi McElroy, 6-6, will also play on the wing, but he will have to be one of the main rebounders. Sophomore Jayshawn Moore is the team’s top perimeter defender and freshman Simon Wheeler will add depth to the backcourt. Tournament road: There are a number of roadblocks between the east side and East Lansing. It begins at Detroit Western, which includes Cass Tech, King and Western. From there you head to a regional that could include Renaissance, U-D Jesuit and Southfield. 16. Flint Carman-Ainsworth (19-2) Ja’Kavien Lewis (14 points) is a four-year starter at the point and the unquestioned leader of this outfit. Omari Duncan is a high-energy guy who can rebound, score and play outstanding defense. Junior Michael Fletcher, 6-7, is the main rim protector, andChris Ballard, a transfer from Flint Southwestern, will score a lot of points on offensive rebounds. Sophomore Dustin Fletcher, 6-4, can help a team in many ways with his knowledge of the game and his passing. Tournament road: The Cavs host a district that includes Grand Blanc, which will be a much better team at the end of the season. Then it is off for a regional semifinal game against the winner of Saginaw and Saginaw Arthur Hill. Surviving that would mean a likely quarterfinal game against defending champ Clarkston. 17. Ann Arbor Skyline (15-6) Point guard Brandon Wade (Duquesne) is a scorer (20.2 points) who isn’t shy about giving up the ball (6.6 assists) and getting his teammates involved. Jack Ammerman (16.6 points) hit 48.2% of his 3-point shots last season. Junior Ryan Wade will defend the opponent’s best player and should be an active scorer and rebounder. Junior Christian Knox is another solid 3-point threat whose quickness can create defensive havoc. Junior DeSean Munson, 6-6, will have to control the interior and play good defense. Sophomore Kabir Bergin, 6-5, will provide perimeter shooting off the bench. Darius Hall, 6-4, will help with rebounding and help get his teammates open. Tournament road: With Ann Arbor Pioneer and Ann Arbor Huron, the district was going to be difficult enough for host Skyline, but it recently became more difficult with the addition of Romulus, which opted up to compete in Class A. Should the Eagles advance, they will find themselves in a regional with quality teams like Canton, Novi or Milford. 18. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (19-5) CC will go as far as its dynamic inside duo of 6-10 Marcus Bingham Jr. (Michigan State) and 6-8 Jacob Polakovich can take it, although neither of them is exclusively an inside player. Bingham (16 points, 10 rebounds) is a good shooter and a fine passer. His jump hook is a work in progress and could become unstoppable at the high school level. Polakovich can also hit shots from the perimeter. CC also features a pair of talented junior guards — point guard Austin Braun and Darrell Belcher, who is outstanding in transition. Sophomore Mykel Bingham, 6-6, has grown four inches since last season and he could become a crucial contributor. Tournament road: CC should have little difficulty advancing through the district as well as the first game of the regional.The regional championship should be a game against an outstanding Wyoming Godwin Heights. 19. Warren De La Salle (14-10) The Pilots may finally be able to unseat U-D Jesuit as Catholic League champion, although they won’t look like it early on. It may take some time for 6-6 Luke Pfromm and 6-5 Blaine Flanigan to get into basketball shape after helping the football team win the state title. This team will revolve around Pfromm, as it did last season when he averaged 15.5 points and took all of the tough shots. The size of point guard Justin Fischer, 6-4, gives him good passing angles. Kole Gjonaj, 6-5, is a three-point threat and a good defender. Jordan Winowiecki, 6-5, is also good from the deep perimeter and helps with the rebounding. Easton Sikorski and Keith Larson can also drain three-pointers and are smart with the ball. Flanigan will be needed to provide defense and rebounding in the paint. Tournament road: Hosting its district should send the Pilots to the regional at Dakota. A first-round regional game against Chippewa Valley is likely and the regional title game against Dakota seems reasonable. Cass Tech could loom in the quarterfinals.The toughest test could come in the quarterfinals where a matchup against Cass Tech is looming. 20. River Rouge (24-4) The Class B semifinalists lost a bundle of points and rebounds from last season’s team, but there is some quality talent on the horizon. Jayvien Torrance-Jackson, the lone returning starter for the Class B semifinalists, will play everywhere but in the post and is an outstanding defender. Junior Donavan Freeman, 6-5, will have to be a bold defensive presence in the paint and have a big year on the boards. Junior Nigel Colvin will add to a talented backcourt. Freshman Legend Geeter, 6-6, has to be a force inside. Tournament road: The Panthers should have no competition through the district, but a regional final against a team like Frederick Douglass, Old Redford Academy or Detroit Henry Ford would be a good test. The only competition in the quarterfinals may come from a team like Dearborn Divine Child or Henry Ford Academy. Detroit Free Press: Michigan high school basketball: Meet the Top 100 players in the state12/8/2017 Mick McCabe
www.freep.com Free Press special writer Mick McCabe ranks the Top 100 boys basketball players in Michigan: 1. Foster Loyer, 5-11, Sr., Clarkston 2. Brandon Johns, 6-9, Sr., East Lansing 3. Romeo Weems, 6-7, Jr., New Haven 4. Thomas Kithier*, 6-9, Sr., Clarkston [Clarkston transfer Thomas Kithier ruled inelgible by MHSAA] 5. Trevion Williams, 6-8, Sr., Detroit Henry Ford Academy 6. Marcus Bingham Jr., 6-10, Sr., Grand Rapids Catholic Central 7. Taylor Currie, 6-9, Sr., Clarkston 8. David DeJulius, 6-0, Sr., Detroit East English 9. Gabe Brown, 6-7, Sr., Belleville 10. Markeese Hastings, 6-7, Sr., Wyoming Godwin Heights 11. Rashad Williams, 6-3, Sr., Wayne 12. Brandon Wade, 6-2, Sr., Ann Arbor Skyline 13. Lamar Norman Jr., 6-3, Sr., Wyoming Godwin Heights 14. Mark Watts, 6-2, Jr., Detroit Old Redford 15. Carlos Johnson, 6-6, So., Benton Harbor 16. Harlond Beverly, 6-4, Jr., Southfield Christian 17. Davion Williams, 6-2, Sr., Belleville 18. Traveon Maddox Jr., 6-5, Sr., Novi 19. Pierre Mitchell Jr., 6-0, Sr., Detroit Edison 20. Quinn Blair, 6-7, Sr., Dearborn Divine Child 21. Luke Pfromm, 6-6, Sr., Warren De La Salle 22. Jalen Terry, 6-2, So., Flint Beecher 23. Mario Whitley, 6-4, Sr., Frankenmuth 24. LaTravian Jackson, 6-8, Sr., Detroit Western 25. Tyson Acuff, 6-3, So., Detroit Cass Tech 26. Pierre Brooks II, 6-4, Fr., Detroit Douglass 27. Luke Hyde, 6-5, Sr., DeWitt 28. Caleb Hodgson, 6-9, Jr., Dansville 29. C.J. Haut, 6-8, Sr., Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 30. Carl Bow, 6-2, Sr., Hazel Park 31. Carrington McCaskill, 6-7, Jr., Detroit Renaissance 32. Drew Lowder, 5-11, Jr., Ann Arbor Pioneer 33. Isaiah Jackson, 6-8, So., Detroit Old Redford 34. Myron Gardner, 6-5, Jr., Detroit Loyola 35. Blake Verbeek, 6-10, Sr., Grandville Calvin Christian 36. David Hearns, 6-2, Sr., Hazel Park 37. Jarvis Walker, 6-1, So., Muskegon Mona Shores 38. William Dunn, 6-8, So., Quincy 39. Jacob Boonyasith, 6-3, Sr., Jenison 40. Wendell Green, 5-10, So., Birmingham Detroit Country Day The next 60 (alphabetical order) Jack Ammerman, 6-0, Sr., Ann Arbor Skyline Leon Ayers, 6-4, Sr., Troy Caleb Bates, 6-5, Jr., St. Clair Shores Lake Shore Tyler Bosman, 6-5, Sr., Holland West Ottawa Denver Cade, 6-2, Sr., Buckley Maliq Carr, 6-6, So., Oak Park DeAndre Carter, 5-10, Jr., Muskegon Sean Cobb, 6-7, Jr., Williamston Nate Davis, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek Ben Davidson, 6-3, Sr., St. Clair Jason Dietz, 6-4, Sr., Troy Daniel Everhart, 6-0, Sr., Marine City Cardinal Mooney Michael Fletcher, 6-7, Jr., Flint Carman-Ainsworth Latrell Fordham, 6-4, So., Goodrich Daniel Friday, 6-2, Jr., U-D Jesuit Tyler George, 6-2, Sr., Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central Marcus Gibbs, 5-11, Sr., Detroit King Randy Gilbert, 6-6, Sr., Detroit Cass Tech Mavrick Gildyard, 6-5, Sr., Sterling Heights Stevenson Zach Goodline, 6-0, Jr., Coloma Gunnar Gustafson, 6-7, Jr., Milford Austin Harris, 6-5, Sr., Buckley Hart Holmgren, 6-5, Sr., Ishpeming Jayvien Torrance-Jackson, 6-1, Sr., River Rouge Dylan Jergens, 5-11, Jr., Howardsville Christian Deante Johnson, 6-8, Sr., Detroit Edison Cole Kleiver, 5-11, Sr., Williamston Danny Kolp, 6-8, Sr., Petoskey Ja’Kavien Lewis, 6-0, Sr., Flint Carman-Ainsworth Matt Loney, 6-3, Sr., Frankfort Jeremy Luciani, 6-7, Jr., Marshall Nelson McCauley, 6-4, Sr., Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills Gage McGuire, 6-6, Jr., Coldwater Mark Mettie, 6-10, Sr., Livonia Franklin Seth Milner, 6-6, Sr., Grand Rapids Christian Joe Moon, 6-0, Jr., Westland Glenn Donavan Moore, 6-3, Jr., West Bloomfield Vern Nash, 5-9, So., Muskegon Xander Okerlund, 6-4, Jr., Maple City Glen Lake Jacob Polakovich, 6-8, Sr., Grand Rapids Catholic Central Jayden Perry, 5-7, Sr., Manton Cass Phillips, 6-9, Sr., White Lake Lakeland Mason Pline, 6-7, Sr., Fowler Kevin-David Rice, 6-3, So., Goodrich Earnest Sanders, 6-3, So., Flint Beecher D'Juan Seal, 6-4, Sr., Detroit Pershing Gary Solomon, 6-5, Sr., Detroit Edison Brad Spindler, 6-2, Sr., Gladstone Jalen Tobias, 6-5, Sr., Detroit Cass Tech Luke Toliver, 6-3, Sr., Paw Paw Chandler Turner, 6-6, Jr., Detroit Renaissance Xavier Wade, 6-2, Sr., Holland West Ottawa Aiden Warchzeka, 6-2, Sr., Milford Josh Warren, 5-8, Jr., Woodhaven Bryce Washington, 6-4, Sr., Southfield Christian Wyatt Waterbury, 5-7, Jr. Bellevue Terence Williams, 6-1, Sr., Wayne Zach Winston, 6-2, Sr., U-D Jesuit Jacob Witt, 6-7, Sr., Ewen-Trout Creek Tariq Woody, 6-9, Sr., Novi *ruled ineligible www.statechampsnetwork.com
TJ Kelly Class A Clarkston won its first state title last season and, with the majority of its team returning, the Wolves are the favorite to repeat. Look for Clarkston to meet Belleville in the finals after defeating Cass Tech in a semifinal with Belleville getting by East Lansing on the other end. Cass Tech will have a tough district which includes No. 4-ranked Detroit East English Village Prep and No. 7 Detroit King. Belleville will more than likely have to get by No. 6 Ann Arbor Skyline in a quarterfinal and East Lansing’s road could very well have Kalamazoo Central, Muskegon or Holland West Ottawa in regional or quarterfinal games. Clarkston will more than likely have a second matchup with No. 8 Flint Carman-Ainsworth, a team the Wolves play at home this Friday. King might have a few more losses than others in this top ten as the PSL’s Division I-East is the state’s top division with four ranked teams between Class A and C. No. 9-ranked Novi is no slouch and a regional matchup with Skyline is a strong possibility. No. 10-ranked Troy was a quarterfinalist last season and return three key seniors who will have to be on their game to beat Clarkston or West Bloomfield if the Colts are to take that next step. In Class B New Haven is the defending champ but that won’t bring back Duquesne freshman Eric Williams who had a dominant senior season. The Rockets do have the state’s top junior, Romeo Weems, and return key players. River Rouge, however, will win a state title for the first time since 1999. Both will be tested in the semifinals when Rouge faces last year’s runner-up, No. 3-ranked Benton Harbor. New Haven will have to get by No. 5 Wyoming Godwin Heights in a semifinal. Godwin Heights’ front line matches up very well with the title holders. Look for Benton Harbor and No. 4 Williamston to meet in a quarterfinal. Godwin Heights and No. 7 Grand Rapids Catholic Central should make a great regional matchup. No. 6 Detroit Old Redford Academy might be a year away from becoming a serious challenger and will more than likely meet with Rouge in a regional game. No. 8 Detroit Henry Ford won the 2016 title and the Trojans have the guard play and depth to make another run. No. 9 Dearborn Divine Child will challenge for the Catholic League championship. No. 10 Ludington was last season’s state runner-up and the Orioles also return key players. A Class C semifinalist last season, Detroit Edison will take the next steps for its first boys’ basketball championship. Edison is in the state’s top league (PSL) so don’t expect an unblemished record despite the talent. No. 2-ranked Flint Beecher has won five of the last six state titles and the Bucs need their talented sophomores to have the poise of the graduated players who won previous championships. Don’t expect No. 3 Detroit Pershing to repeat last season’s record. Playing in the PSL Division I-East along with Edison, a team the Doughboys will probably face three if not four times by mid-March. Manton will start at No. 4 and the Rangers fell to preseason No. 8 Grand Rapids Covenant Christian in a state semifinal. Look for No. 5 Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic Central to make a semifinal run where the Falcons will more than likely meet Edison. No. 6 Grandville Calvin Christian and Covenant Christian will more than likely meet again in March. No. 8 Flint Hamady’s nemesis has been Beecher, a team Hamady has seen in the districts more times than they would like to remember. No. 9 Quincy is a youthful but talented group. No. 10 Dansville has solid pieces and might be a year away from a trip to the Breslin Center. Powers North Central had a three-year run for the ages and strange circumstances would have to occur if it were to win their fourth straight Class D championship. No. 1 Southfield Christian will once again lift the championship trophy like it did from 2012-2014 and many would say its Christian’s to lose. Buckley was last season’s runner-up in a battle of undefeated teams and the No. 2-ranked Bears have a strong group returning. There have been three Class D champions to three-peat since 2003. Sprinkled in between those semi-dynasties is Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, which begins at No. 3. Frankfort is tough, too, and the Panthers have the talent to uphold their No. 4 ranking. No. 5 Fowler was a quarterfinalist a year ago. Southfield Christian ended Fowler’s season. Hillman will start off at No. 6 and when March rolls around, North Central shouldn’t end Hillman’s season as it did in last year’s quarterfinals. Muskegon Heights made the move to Class D from C where things won’t be any easier for the No. 7-ranked team. Benton Harbor Dream Academy might be a one-player team but its starts at No. 8. Oakland Christian is No. 9 and it’ll be battle tested as it faces Southfield Christian twice in the regular season. Ewen-Trout Creek is a sleeper to make the semifinals where Southfield Christian should be waiting. No. 10 Trout Creek last won a state title in 1972. New Haven's Romeo Weerns (23) hugs teammate Ascaun Johnson (20) moments before defeating Ludington 45-36 to claim the Class B state final at the Breslin Center at Michigan State University in East Lansing on Saturday, March 25, 2017. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)
By Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com The boys basketball season has arrived and with it, an exciting offering of top teams and Mr. Basketball favorites. There is a lot to watch as the journey toward March and the Breslin Center begins. As the boys basketball season starts, here are 10 storylines hovering around the hardwood to usher in the exciting winter ahead. Will Clarkston repeat? Is Kithier eligible?Well, the biggest storyline heading into the boys basketball season around these parts is the transfer of former Macomb Dakota standout forward Thomas Kithier to Clarkston, the defending Class A champions. Last year, Kithier (6-8) averaged 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks per game as he helped lead Dakota to a 20-4 record. His transfer to Clarkston in August would put the Wolves over the top. A Mr. Basketball candidate himself, Kithier would join Mr. Basketball favorite Foster Loyer (6-0). Both are Michigan State commits too. Then, there is Taylor Currie, the 6-9 power forward who reclassified to the class of 2018, making him a potential Mr. Basketball. He is committed to Wisconsin. After losing sharpshooter Dylan Alderson, the pickup of Kithier could actually make Clarkston better than the 27-1 team that won the program's first state title last year. However, Kithier has not gotten the OK to play from the MHSAA as his transfer is under review. According to The Detroit News, the MHSAA is currently reviewing Kithier's transfer to see if it is allowable within state rules. Why it is being looked at now and not sooner is up for debate but it could mean Kithier will sit out the remaining semester and be eligible in January or have to sit out the entire season. Yet, if Kithier is deemed not eligible to play, it would not derail Clarkston's championship chances. All it will do is make Clarkston one of the the favorites instead of being the clear-cut favorite. Loyer, the best guard in the state, was the MLive Detroit Player of the Year last winterwhen he averaged 25.1 points, 6.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals. In the regular season, he shot an astonishing 95.7 percent (135-for-141) from the free-throw line. He went through the regular season shooting 53 percent from the field and 46.9 percent from 3-point range. Currie averaged 7.3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks last year but really found a new level in the state tournament. There is no reason to believe he will continue to build on that. CJ Robinson is a guard who was one of the best defenders for Clarkston down the stretch last season and he is back for his senior season. He is also a clutch scorer too -- as if Loyer's clutch abilities were not enough. Nicholas Wells returns who was a key starter last year that took care of the basketball. Also, Tristen Mysen (6-7) also has strong talent and is back for his senior year. So, yeah, if Kithier can't play this season, the Wolves will be just fine. In fact, they will be more than fine. More on Kithier: Fife makes a statementIn light of the MHSAA investigation into Kithier's transfer, Clarkston coach Dan Fife read a statement in the above video that he wrote following the 65-55 win over Wayne Memorial on Tuesday night. New Haven is still a top contender in Class B Clarkston was not the only team to win its first state last year as New Haven made history by winning the Class B championship. After 20 district titles and five region titles, New Haven finally claimed the throne. Now, overthrowing New Haven will not be easy. Led by highly-touted junior Romeo Weems (6-6), New Haven has a lot of talent to work with. Last year, Weems averaged 18.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.9 steals, 3.6 assists and 2.8 blocked shots. Although the graduation of Eric Williams leaves a crucial hole to fill in the starting lineup, 6-7 shooting forward Ashton Sherrell (12.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2 blocks) will look to do more to fill the scoring gap. Also, Tavares Oliver and Ronald Jeffery are two players with starting experience that return to the floor with good shooting skills. This team is going to be alright and built to defend a title. This is probably Belleville's best shot at its first state titleBack in 1998, Belleville made it to the Class A state championship for the first time ever but it lost, 63-47, to Detroit Central. Belleville has not been back to the state's biggest stage since then. Yet, if there was ever a team that could get Belleville back to the title game and finish the job, it would be this year's team. With so much and experience and talent in its roster, it really is Breslin or bust for the Tigers. Led by the return of future Michigan State Spartan Gabe Brown (6-8), Belleville's entire starting lineup is back. Brown (15.9 points) and guards Delvin Alverson and Davion Williams (Michigan State football commit) each averaged in double figures for scoring last winter. Oh, and Belleville also added sharpshooter Kaevon Merriweather, who transferred in from arch rival Romulus. Merriweather is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state and he was a star in Romulus' state semifinal run last year and he should help push Belleville over the top. In a field of many Class A contenders, Belleville has all of the ingredients to separate itself from the field. Not having to face any tough opponents in the tournament run until potentially the region championships, Belleville could make history winter. This team should be worth the price of admission as it looks to learn from and erase last year's disappointment of falling to Romulus in the region semifinals. Cass Tech many not have to wait long to repeat as PSL champCass Tech is coming off of a season that saw it claim its first PSL title since 1998 last winter, bringing back some solid depth after graduating some key guys like Leonard Silas and Micheal Green. Yet, Cass Tech returns six players that had starting experience as three-year starters Randy Gilbert (6-6), Jalen Tobias (6-6) and Matt Richmond (6-2) are all back and each averaged between 10 and 11 points last year. Also, Chris Murray (6-2) returns for his senior year after adding 11 PPG last year as well. Sophomore Tyson Acuff should get in the starting lineup too while juniors Josh Powell, Tyland Tate and Kalil Whitehead are all potentials leaders of the team as well. Although coach Steve Hall was proud of the accomplishments of last season, he was already referring to this one as "the year" back in April. Although Cass Tech is a favorite, PSL is still a dogfightAsk any coach or player in the PSL, its a long, tense season. After beating each other up in the regular season, PSL teams often meet again in district and regional play. It really is a grind. While Cass Tech is in the PSL DI West, the PSL DI East is loaded with Detroit East English Village, Detroit Edison Public School Academy, Detroit Martin Luther King, Detroit Pershing and Detroit Osborn. East English returns only two starters but one of them is a potential Mr. Basketball front-runner David DeJulius (Michigan). A clear favorite for Mr. PSL this winter, DeJulius returns after averaging 26 points last winter alongside star guard Greg Elliott, who is now at Marquette. Junior guard Tariq Shepherd is the other returning starter for the Bulldogs after having a very productive season last winter. After a great offseason, Shepherd should give East English an excellent duo in the backcourt once again. Overall, East English had to develop a lot of players last year so the Bulldogs should be more polished this season. Don't forget about Edison. Joining the PSL for the first time last winter, DEPSA made it all the way to the Class C semifinals. Despite going 14-12 last season, the tough PSL payed off in the Class C run. Although key scorer Jamal Keesee and starter Amari Hudson graduated from last year's team, the cupboards are far from bare for the Pioneers. Point guard Pierre "PJ" Mitchell (Central Michigan) will return for his senior season after transferring from Loyola to play at DEPSA as a junior. Also, 6-foot-5 All-State guard Gary Solomon is back. A key paint presence returns as well as 6-foot-8 Deante Johnson (Cleveland State) is be back for his senior season. Don’t be surprised if Edison makes it back to the Breslin Center again and wins it all. What about PSL finalist King or Pershing? Yep, they will be making plenty of noise as well. King picked up Marcus Gibbs, a player who blew up off of the bench for Cass Tech last winter. He will be a difference maker from the start, joining fellow talented senior Antonio Marshall and junior John Massey on a solid scoring roster. Pershing returns four starters and nine players, including senior guard Ron Hill (17 points) and senior forward Jaylen Benning (11 points, 7 reb.). State is full of Mr. Basketball potentials, especially Detroit regionTrying to narrow down the field to five or six finalist for Mr. Basketball may prove more difficult than ever this season as the senior talent across the state is staggering. The Detroit area only adds to the issue with as many talented individuals have the potential for great seasons.
Southfield Christian will be back at the Breslin in Class DAfter falling in double overtime in the Class D semifinals to eventual champion Powers North Central, the Eagles will be more motivated than ever to return to the Breslin Center this year and complete the job. Although all-round presence Brock Washington is gone, his high-flying brother, Bryce, returns for his senior season. Also, junior guard Harlond Beverly (12.5 points) returns after an excellent season last year and can be considered the top junior in the state in Class D while fellow junior teammate Caleb Hunter -- the third son of former Pistons star Lindsay Hunter to play for Christian -- is right up there with him. Also, sophomore DaJion Humphrey is shaping up to be the next future star for the Eagles as well. It looks like the Eagles' dynasty is still alive and well. Wayne Memorial is looking to build on historic seasonLast year, the Zebras rose to prominence by winning the KLAA division, conference and association titles. Wayne saw its season end with an 18-4 record, falling against eventual semifinalist Romulus in one heck of an entertaining district final. Although Wayne graduated star forward Keion Epps, there are a lot of key players coming back, including senior point guard Rashad Williams (Cleveland State), who developed into one of the area's top scorers, especially from 3-point range, where he drained over 70 last year. He has already been mentioned as a possible Mr. Basketball candidate and was an All-State First Team selection by the Associated Press last winter too. Senior Terrance Williams is another guard who averaged double figures scoring as well, giving Wayne plenty of depth at the position. Also returning is junior guard Isaiah Lewis, who averaged double-figures scoring last year in a great sophomore campaign. He will be asked to have a breakout season to compliment the two Williams as much as possible. This is a deep team that no one can sleep on. Scott Elliot
www.pittsburghsportsnow.com PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Eric Williams Jr. has quickly endeared himself to Duquesne basketball fans. Three double-doubles in your first six games and a rolling highlight reel of high-flying dunks will have fans rocking your jersey in a hurry. The Michigan native has embraced Duquesne and the city of Pittsburgh but disagrees with locals on one tiny, little thing: Primanti Brothers is a no go. “Not a fan,” Williams Jr. said of the famous Yinzer staple. Everything else, though, in the Steel City has agreed with the 18-year old freshman, especially on the basketball court. Through six games, he’s averaging 16 points and 9.7 rebounds—the second-best mark in the Atlantic 10, and he’s coming off arguably his most-complete performance of the season Monday night. Williams Jr. poured in a career-high 24 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and handed out three assists in the Dukes’ 86-61 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore. He took 14 shots and missed just five. Young players might skip putting in extra work the next day following such a performance but not Williams Jr. He was working through shooting drills with head coach Keith Dambrot at the conclusion of Tuesday morning’s practice. “I feel like the key is going to be how much better he can get,” Dambrot said of his freshman guard. “And that’s challenging him everyday in practice to be what he should be. He’s been good.” Despite scoring 50 points in a high school game and leading his team to a state championship, Williams Jr. was under recruited. Dambrot swooped in last April after taking the job at Duquesne and secured a commitment. In order to turn a program around quickly, coaches need players of Williams Jr.’s caliber—an ultra-athletic wing who can impact the game in so many ways. Williams Jr. credits his parents for shaping who he is on and off the court. “They got me here,” Williams Jr. said. “Always staying on me with school because without school I don’t think I would be here. That’s the main thing that has stuck with me all my life.” It’s a five-hour commute one-way from New Haven, Michigan, but his parents have made the trip three times already to see him play. He talks with his mother everyday, and both his parents are always honest about his performance after games. “I think it’s good they give me constructive criticism,” Williams Jr. said. Off the court, Williams Jr. enjoys his thinking and writing and philosophy classes. He’s yet to declare a major but admits the school’s academics are a lot stronger than he anticipated. Scott Elliott@MiddlenameScottEric Williams Jr. has another double-double--his third of the season. 21 points and 10 rebounds. He ranks second in the A-10 with nine boards a game. #a10mbb #duqmbb “They’re harder classes for me, so just to do something I’ve never done in my life,” Williams Jr. said of his challenging schoolwork.He spends a lot of his free time in the gym but has made friends outside of the basketball team, adding, “It’s great to have people I know besides basketball players.” Among his teammates, Williams Jr. lists upperclassmen Renee Castro-Caneddy and Chas Brown as his favorites. “They’re funny guys, and they tell me when I’m doing something wrong,” Williams Jr. said. Castro-Caneddy and Brown must not have much to say lately, because Williams has done a lot right for the Dukes. Steve Bell
Bankhoops.com PICKING FOUR STATE CHAMPIONS The state finals are three-and-a-half months from now. Here are the teams most likely to be holding the MHSAA hardware in all four classes. Class A Clarkston (27-1): The rich get richer. The 2017 state champion graduated Dylan Alderson to Toledo, but now inherit Michigan State signee 6-8 Thomas Kithier a transfer from Macomb Dakota and Hank Schemmel a 6-6 senior from Maryland. The returning senior backcourt is elite. Foster Loyer was the 2017 Bank Hoops player of the year and is headed to Michigan State. CJ Robinson is another future college point guard who checks the opponent’s top guard. Up front is more Big Ten talent. 6-8 Taylor Currie who is headed for Wisconsin, a tough defensive presence in the paint who has improved his shot. Size isn’t lacking as 6-7 senior Tristen Mysen is a future college 4 and 6-11 sophomore Matt Nicholson is already getting high-major attention. Nick Wells is the fourth returning starter a wing guard who fills in the blanks with shooting and smart decisions. 6-5 Chase Wasilk is another member of the state’s stronger senior class, a lanky wing with upside. Defending champion: See above. Challengers: Belleville, East Lansing, Ann Arbor Skyline, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Detroit Cass Tech, Detroit East English Village. Class A All-State MVP Foster Loyer 5-11 Sr Clarkston Michigan State Jacob Boonyasith 6-3 Sr Jenison Gabe Brown 6-7 Sr Belleville Michigan State Taylor Currie 6-8 Sr Clarkston Wisconsin David DeJulius 6-1 Sr East English Village Michigan Brandon Johns 6-9 Sr East Lansing Michigan Drew Lowder 5-11 Jr Ann Arbor Pioneer Traveon Maddox 6-4 Sr Novi Oakland Joe Moon 6-1 Jr Westland John Glenn Brandon Wade 6-2 Sr Ann Arbor Skyline Duquesne Rashad Williams 6-2 Sr Wayne Memorial Cleveland State Class B Williamston (21-5): The Hornets have knocked out loaded Godwin Heights teams from the past two state tournaments. Last season they ended up losing to River Rouge by three in the quarterfinals and in 2016 fell in the semifinals to state champion Detroit Henry Ford. They have a talented guard trio led by senior Cole Kleiver, who can go shot-for-shot with anyone in the division, senior Frankie Thomey and sophomore Mitchell Cook. There are various frontcourt options with 6-7 junior Sean Cobb a walking double-double, 6-6 Case Conley long, versatile and dangerous from the corners and 6-6 Joseph Hahnenberg the glue guy winning teams need as he works the class, runs the floor and makes smart decisions with the ball. Defending champion: New Haven. Challengers: Benton Harbor, Godwin Heights, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, New Haven, River Rouge. Class B All-State MVP Romeo Weems 6-6 Jr New Haven Marcus Bingham 6-10 Sr GR Catholic Central Michigan State Quinn Blair 6-7 Sr Divine Child William & Mary Zach Goodline 6-0 Jr Coloma Markeese Hastings 6-6 Sr Godwin Heights Butler Carlos Johnson 6-6 So Benton Harbor Lamar Norman 6-2 Sr Godwin Heights UTEP Jacob Polakovich 6-8 Sr GR Catholic Central Mark Watts 6-2 Jr Old Redford Academy Mario Whitley 6-4 Sr Frankenmuth Trevion Williams 6-8 Sr Detroit Henry Ford Academy Purdue Class C Detroit Edison (14-12): Don’t look too far into Edison’s record. It was a much different team in the second semester once Cass Tech transfer Gary Solomon became eligible. DEPSA made it all the way to the state semifinals, losing by 10 to now three-time defending champion Flint Beecher. A blue-collar throwback who doesn’t play to make friends, Solomon is one of three Division I signees. He’s headed East to LIU, while senior point guard Pierre Mitchell committed years ago to CMU and 6-8 Deante Johnson, Bank Hoops Class C Defender of the Year in 2017 for his ability to check all five positions, signed with Cleveland State. Mitchell especially has a score to settle with Buctown, as he’s now lost twice in the semifinals to Beecher, last season and on a last-second shot when he was a sophomore at Detroit Loyola. After seeing some times as a sophomore, 6-5 junior Brian Taylor brings a versatile skill set and will fit in well in Edison’s starting line. Defending champion: Flint Beecher. Contenders: Beecher, Covenant Christian, Calvin Christian, Pershing, Manton, Glen Lake, Monroe St. Mary. Class C All-State MVP Blake Verbeek 6-10 Sr Grandville Calvin Christian Myron Gardner 6-5 Jr Detroit Loyola CJ Haut 6-8 Sr Monroe St. Mary Air Force Deante Johnson 6-8 Sr Detroit Edison Cleveland State Caleb Hodgson 6-9 Jr Danville Pierre Mitchell 5-10 Sr Detroit Edison Central Michigan Xander Okerlund 6-4 Jr Maple City Glen Lake Jayden Perry 5-7 Sr Manton D’juan Seal 6-4 Sr Detroit Pershing Gary Solomon 6-5 Sr Detroit Edison Long Island Jalen Terry 5-11 So Flint Beecher Class D Southfield Christian (21-6): Southfield Christian’s return to Class D ended dramatically, dropping an 84-83 double-overtime state semifinal on a last-second shot to Powers North Central. All-stater Brock Washington has matriculated from that team to MSU but there’s ample talent returning on Lahser road. Junior guard Harlond Beverly has emerged as a high-major recruit and fellow wing Bryce Washington, a senior, has double-digit mid-major offers. Junior point guard Caleb Hunter is a confident gunner at the point and yet another 6-3 athlete, sophomore DaJion Humphrey, saw solid minutes as a freshman. 6-5 senior Jacob Fergan could emerge as a tough role player in the frontcourt. Defending champion: Powers North Central. Contenders: Buckley, Muskegon Heights, Fowler, Benton Harbor Dream Academy, Dollar Bay, Tri-Unity Christian. Class D All-State MVP Harlond Beverly 6-4 Jr Southfield Christian Denver Cade 6-2 Sr Buckley Blake Dockery 6-2 Sr Baldwin Daniel Everhart 6-0 Sr Marine City Cardinal Mooney Austin Harris 6-5 Sr Buckley Dylan Jergens 5-11 Jr Howardsville Christian Matt Loney 6-3 Sr Frankfort Matt Malcolm 6-4 Sr Plymouth Christian Mason Pline 6-7 Sr Fowler Ferris State Bryce Washington 6-4 Sr Southfield Christian Jacob Witt 6-7 Sr Ewen Trout Creek Michigan Tech www.detroitnews.com David Goricki Clarkston – Dan Fife was in his comfort zone last Thursday, directing practice for his defending Class A state champion Clarkston basketball team. Fife wanted to make sure the Wolves were ready for Tuesday night’s season opener at Wayne Memorial. Clarkston is The Detroit News’ No. 1 team heading into the season, returning Michigan State-bound point guard Foster Loyer, along with 6-foot-9, 220-pound Taylor Currie, who is headed for Wisconsin and possibly 6-8 Thomas Kithier (MSU) who transferred over from Macomb Dakota. Kithier’s transfer status is in jeopardy, with the MHSAA expected to make a decision if he will or will not be eligible to play. Clarkston, 27-1 last season, will be the favorite to repeat as state champion, with a roster loaded with talent that also includes guards C.J. Robinson and Nick Wells. “We also have some size with Matt Nicholson, a sophomore, Matt Dellinger, a freshman, and a versatile player in Hank Schemmel, who has the ability to play multiple positions,” Fife said. Nicholson is 6-10; Dellinger also will provide a physical presence at 6-5 and 250 pounds; and Schemmel is a transfer from Maryland. “Last season we had a lot to celebrate, but now that things are moving on, we have to buckle down because last year doesn’t mean anything,” said Loyer, who averaged 25.1 points and 6.4 assists, contributing 29 points, five rebounds and three assists in the 75-69 state championship win over Grand Rapids Christian. “We have to go into every practice and every game with the mindset of getting better, and we know we have a lot of work to do as a team. “Sure, last year meant everything to us, but we know now that we’re going to go into each game knowing that the target went from being big to a lot bigger, and you know we embrace that, we love that. Each game, we’re going to go in with the mindset that we have a chip on our shoulder and have to take care of business. “We have big expectations this year. We have a lot of size, a lot of skilled bigs, as well. They can really pass and shoot. We also have a lot of senior guard play, including myself and C.J. We know what it takes to get to that state championship game and play in that atmosphere and we want to get back.”' Currie, who re-classified and is now a senior, saved his best for the state title game, connecting on 7-of-10 shots and scored 16 with 10 rebounds while making things tough for Xavier Tillman, who is now at MSU. It was the first state championship for the 68-year-old Fife, who recently had his 50th year reunion at Clarkston and is now in his 36th season of leading the program, ranking fourth all-time in state history in wins (677-169). BEST OF THE REST 2. Belleville (20-3, Class A) Michigan State-bound 6-9 forward Gabe Brown and 6-2 senior guard Davion Williams return from a regional semifinal team and will be joined by 6-2 senior point guard Kaevon Merriweather, a transfer from Romulus, where he helped his team to the Class A Final Four last season. Brown injured his knee during the AAU season this summer, but has returned to full strength. He averaged 15.9 points and 5.7 rebounds last season while shooting 60 percent from the field, including 41 percent from 3-point range. Williams is a dynamic player who can handle the ball and score from the perimeter or by taking the ball to the basket. Merriweather averaged 16 points and six assists for Romulus. Sophomore Connor Bush is another transfer, playing for Plymouth last year where he also won the high jump state title (6-6) in track as a freshman. “Gabe Brown has practiced well and has no issue with his knee and has continued to elevate his game,” Belleville coach Adam Trumpour said. “Davion Williams is a four-year player for us. Kaevon Merriweather is a tremendous player and competitor who will be a college point guard, just a great addition. Those kids will all be good, and then we have an athletic three-year player in Devin Alverson. And (guard) Cam Smiley is the most improved guy for us.” 3. Detroit Cass Tech (19-5, Class A) Coach Steve Hall returns an experienced group back from last year’s PSL championship team, which advanced to the Class A regional final. “We have some veterans back and our JV team was 19-1 with 13 sophomores on it so we have some experience, and that usually goes a long way,” Hall said. Hall returns six players who started at one time or another last year, led by 6-6 Randy Gilbert (Ferris State); 6-3 sophomore point guard Tyson Acuff, who is being recruited by North Carolina State, Purdue and Michigan; along with perimeter threat in 6-2 Matthew Richmond, 6-2 guard Christopher Murry and 6-5 junior guard Tyland Tate. Jalen Tobias, a 6-5 senior forward, brings toughness, and 6-5 junior Kalil Whitehead is possibly the team’s best athlete. Richmond scored 20 in a regional final loss to U-D Jesuit, making 6-of-10 3-pointers. 4. East Lansing (24-1, Class A) East Lansing has one of the premier players in the state in Michigan-bound power forward Brandon Johns, a 6-8 senior, who averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to help his team to 24 consecutive wins before a regional loss to Mr. Basketball Isaiah Livers and Kalamazoo Central. Johns earned a spot on The Detroit News Dream Team and is expected to be a Mr. Basketball frontrunner this season, trying to help East Lansing advance to the Breslin Center in front of the home fans for the Final Four in his senior year. “We have an experienced group back despite losing three seniors from last year,” said coach Steve Finamore. “We have four starters and six total returners, an excellent freshman point guard in Marcus Wourman, and two solid players up from the JV team will add depth.” Johns will be joined by 6-4 senior guard Noah Schon, 6-4 senior forward Justin McAbee, 5-7 senior guard Malik Jones, 6-2 junior guard Jack Morse and 6-7 senior forward Ben Zeka, with Wourman running the offense for East Lansing, which has won 31 straight conference (CAAC Blue) games. 5. New Haven (27-1, Class B) Romeo Weems will try to lead New Haven to a second straight Class B state championship. Weems, a 6-7 junior wing/point guard/center, averaged 18.1 points, 12.6 rebounds and four steals last season, coming up with a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) in a 45-36 state title win over Ludington. Ashton Sherrell, a 6-7 senior forward, joins Weems, along with 6-0 senior guard Taveres Oliver and 6-1 junior guard Ronald Jeffery II, who split time as starters last season. “The kids are getting better every day and it’s like we return four starters with Romeo (Weems) and Ashton (Sherrell) both having outstanding seasons last year and Tavares (Oliver) and Ronald (Jeffery) splitting starting duties,” coach Tedaro France said. “Romeo is a great leader on and off the court; Ashton can handle the ball and shoot the 3. I feel Tavares is one of the top shooters in the state and Ronald is one of our most skilled overall players.” 6. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (19-5, Class B) Michigan State-bound 6-9, 200-pound forward Marcus Bingham and 6-8, 230-pound senior Jacob Polakovich return from a team that lost to Spring Lake in the regional finals. Bingham (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Polakovich (14 points, 10 rebounds) each averaged double-doubles last season for former CMU guard TJ Meerman, who is now in his fourth season as head coach. GRCC has a pair of solid point guards in juniors Austin Braun and Darrell Belcher, who returned from Arizona after playing his freshman year for GRCC. Look for Bingham’s younger brother, 6-6 sophomore Mykel Bingham, to emerge this season. “He gets the advantage of playing against two of the best post players in the state every day and it helps that he’s grown four inches in the last year,” said Meerman of Mykel Bingham, who is expected to play at the small forward spot. 7. Wyoming Godwin Heights (22-2, Class B) Godwin Heights has an outstanding duo in 6-4 senior guard Lamar Norman (UTEP) and 6-8 senior Markeese Hastings, who will play at Butler. Norman averaged 21.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season to help Godwin Heights advance to the regionals. Hastings averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds. “Lamar is a very dynamic athlete who can score from all over the court and Markeese is very versatile and impacts the game greatly on both sides of the court,” said coach Tyler Whittemore. 8. Ann Arbor Skyline (15-6, Class A) Skyline has one of the top backcourts in the state in Duquesne-bound point guard Brandon Wade and 6-0 senior Jack Ammerman, who has preferred walk-on offers from Central Michigan and Miami of Ohio. Wade averaged 20.1 points, 6.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds to help Skyline earn its first SEC Red Division title in school history, finishing with a 9-1 conference record. He was at his best in the biggest games, coming through with a 35-point, 12-assist effort in a loss to eventual state champion Clarkston. Ammerman averaged 16.6 points and shot 48 percent from 3-point range. Juniors Christian Knox and Ryan Wade will also be key contributors. Elijah Collins (Photo: Bryan Mitchell, Special to Detroit News) 9. U-D Jesuit (20-4, Class A) U-D Jesuit was dealt a blow when point guard Julian Dozier moved to Arizona following last year’s run to the state quarterfinals, along with the graduation loss of 6-9 post players Greg Eboigbodin and Ike Eke. Still, the five-time defending Catholic League champions return standout senior guard Elijah Collins, 6-2 senior guard Zachary Winston – younger brother of MSU point guard Cassius Winston – and 6-4 Daniel Friday. “We will be a small, athletic, hard-nosed, fast-paced team,” said coach Pat Donnelly. 10. Wayne Memorial (18-4, Class A) Cleveland State-bound guard Rashad Williams will be among three starters back from last year’s KLAA championship team, which lost to Romulus in the district championship game. Williams, a 6-2 senior guard, averaged 24 points, 6.7 assists and 4.2 rebounds, making 78 3-pointers to earn first-team all-state honors by The News. Williams will be joined by first-team all-conference senior guard Terrance Williams, three-year starting guard Isaiah Lewis, who has an offer from Wayne State, 6-4 senior wing Kope Price, 6-4 senior Keshawn Hayes and 6-5 junior Cartier Suber Muse. “We won the KLAA title last year and we’re a deeper team than last year,” coach Nkwane Young said. “We have a lot of guys that can play many different positions and I feel we have the best backcourt in the state.” 11. Detroit Edison (14-12, Class C) Edison – which joined the PSL and split series with East English and King – had a postseason run to remember after starting it with a sub-.500 record before advancing to the Breslin Center to compete in a state semifinal game. Don’t expect a sub-.500 regular season record this time around, not with an experienced group back, led by Central Michigan-bound point guard Pierre Mitchell, 6-5 guard Gary Solomon and physical 6-8 Deante Johnson, who will be a force inside at both ends of the court, showing his ability with a 17-point, nine-rebound effort in a 76-68 semifinal loss to Flint Beecher. 12. Benton Harbor (22-4, Class B) Benton Harbor returns 6-6 Carlos Johnson, who was a freshman phenom a year ago (14.2 points, 14.1 rebounds, three blocks) to help his team reach the Breslin Center for the state semifinals. Johnson will be joined by returning starters in senior point guard Elijah Baxter (10.5 points, 6.3 assists) and senior forward Shawn Hopkins (13.2 points, 6.3 rebounds). East English Village's David DeJulius (Photo: David Guralnick, Detroit News) 13. Detroit East English (16-5, Class A) Michigan-bound guard David DeJulius returns to lead East English after averaging 25 points and six assists. DeJulius and junior guard Tariq Shepherd are returning starters. Senior forward Z’avon Godwin, sophomore forward Jayshawn Moore and junior forward Sudi McElroy will also be key contributors. “We’ll be in the thick of it as usual competing for a city and state championship,” coach Juan Rickman said. “Freshman point guard Simon Wheeler will have a huge role in how successful we are this season.” 14. Troy (21-5, Class A) Troy returns an experienced group from last year’s team that advanced to the state quarterfinals. Troy has a strong trio in 6-3 senior Jason Dietz (16.7 points), 6-4 senior Leon Ayers (12.8) and 6-6 senior Danny Sully (11.5 points, 10.5 rebounds). Rob Banas, a 6-3 senior, and 6-0 junior Clay Sebastian will also be key contributors, with depth coming from 5-8 freshman Brody Parker, 6-1 junior Matt Johansson, 6-0 senior Cheikh Diop and 5-7 junior Nikola Palincas. 15. Detroit Pershing (10-12, Class C) Pershing returns nine players, including four starters from a team that pushed East English to the limit before falling 82-80 in a PSL semifinal game. “We return nine guys, six seniors, so we should be good,” coach Wydell Henry said. “I think experience is our strength, having six seniors being in a lot of games. We lost a lot of close games and we should know what we have to do to win those games now.” Senior guard Ron Hill (17 points), 6-4 senior forward D’Juan Seal, 6-8 senior Johnny Davis (seven points, 10 rebounds) and 6-6 senior forward Jaylen Benning (11 points, seven rebounds) are the returning starters. Seal, who averaged 22.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, has multiple Division II offers, along with Cleveland State, while getting interest from Detroit. 16. Southfield Christian (21-6, Class D) Southfield Christian has a talented group, including three starters back from a state semifinal team that pushed eventual state champion Powers North Central to the limit before falling 84-83 in double-overtime. Bryce Washington, a 6-3 senior guard, averaged 18.5 points and seven rebounds, contributing 23 points and seven rebounds in the state semifinal game. Junior guard Harlond Beverly (12.5 points) and Caleb Hunter also return. Beverly had 22 points and seven assists in the semifinal and Hunter, son of former Pistons guard Lindsay Hunter, 11 points and seven assists. “We’ll be solid,” coach Josh Baker said. “Our perimeter game will be our strength.” 17. West Bloomfield (17-9, Class A) West Bloomfield lost the bulk of its starters from last year’s state semifinal team, but returns standout senior guard Tre Harvey (15.2 points, 74 3-pointers). He will be joined by 6-6 senior Chris Oviasu, 6-4 senior James Faulkner and 6-4 senior Zach Isenberg. Sophomore guard Shamar Mathews, Chase Glover and Sterling Miles will also be key contributors, along with transfers in 6-4 Donavan Moore, Jalen Kelso – son of Ben Kelso – and Rob Johnson. 18. Warren De La Salle (13-9, Class A) Luke Pfromm and Justin Fischer are among three starters back from a De La Salle team that finished second in the Catholic League Central Division. “Justin Fischer is a 6-foot-4 point guard who has great vision, is a great passer and can defend,” Coach Greg Esler said. “Fischer might be one of the top three guards in the state in the open court. Luke Pfromm is a 6-5 and a great one-on-one player who is super strong and can hit the long three. He has the ability to dominate a game. He knows how to win.” Pfromm was the star of the Division 2 state championship football game last month at Ford Field, throwing for 207 yards and two TDs in a 41-6 victory over Livonia Franklin. 19. Saginaw Arthur Hill (14-7, Class A) Arthur Hill returns talented point guard Jokwani Moore (17 points, six assists) and a big man in 7-footer Jimmy Bell from a team that finished second to state quarterfinalist Saginaw in the Saginaw Valley North Division. 20. Flint Beecher (23-5, Class C) Outstanding guard Malik Ellison has graduated and moved on to Eastern Michigan, but three-time defending state champion Beecher still has a lot of firepower with Jalen Terry showing his potential as a freshman guard in last year’s state championship run. Terry, a four-star sophomore with an offer from Iowa, scored 15 in a state semifinal win over Detroit Edison. He will be joined by a talented group that includes sophomore Earnest Sanders, who can score in multiple ways. david.goricki@detroitnews.com twitter.com/DavidGoricki |
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