Braeden Proctor
​www.prephoops.com

The 2017 Prep Hoops All State Teams were selected by several contributors with knowledge of the entire state of Michigan, taking into account: how valuable they were to their team’s success, on court performance, statistics, record, strength of schedule, postseason success and recommendations from coaches.
*There is a reason Romeo Weems is not on the list. Similar to Ellison, he will be on a article posted in the near future.*
Class B Player of the Year:Eric Williams- 2017 6’5 SG New Haven
He and Romeo Weems led New Haven to places they have never gone, winning their school’s first state championship. Williams was fantastic all season, especially on the biggest stage. In the semifinals, Williams was on another level, outscoring Benton Harbor alone in the first half. He made perhaps the most exciting play of the state finals weekend as well, throwing down a huge dunk from the B1G logo in the state title game. Williams was committed to a D2 school, but wisely decommitted. He is now picking up interest from a host of D1 schools, including Ohio State. Williams had several huge scoring outbursts this year, including  50, 40 and 38 point games this season. He averaged 21 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.9 steals and likely will play Division one basketball next year.
1st Team
Darian Owens-White- 2017 5’11 PG River Rouge
Lamar Norman- 2018 6’2 G Godwin Heights
Trevion Williams- 2018 6’8 PF Detroit Henry Ford Academy
Mario Whitley- 2018 6’4 SF Frankenmuth
Avery Hudson- 2017 5’9 PG Wayland (Davenport)
Carlos Johnson- 2020 6’6 F Benton Harbor
Reece Castor- 2019 6’4 G Gladstone
Jalen Miller- 2017 6’3 SF Lake Fenton
Zack Nieuwkoop- 2017 6’8 PF Wayland (Davenport)
2nd Team
Mark “Rocket” Watts- 2019 6’2 G Old Redford Academy
Troy Summers- 2018 6’8 C Grayling (NMU)
Drequan Bell- 2017 6’3 G River Rouge
Markeese Hastings- 2018 6’6 F Godwin Heights
Quinn Blair- 2018 6’6 SF Divine Child
Jacob Polakovich- 2018 6’8 PF Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Kylan Shipp- 2017 5’8 PG Detroit Collegiate Prep
Christian Rodriguez- 2017 5’10 PG Godwin Heights (Cornerstone)
Kenneth Holloway- 2017 6’4 PF Detroit Osborn
3rd Team
Sy Barnett- 2017 6’3 SF Williamston (Ferris State football)
Cole Kleiver- 2018 5’11 PG Williamston
Zach Goodline- 2019 5’10 PG Coloma
Demetri Martin- 2017 6’4 SG Big Rapids (Northwood)
Steve Pearson- 2020 6’2 G Detroit Collegiate Prep
Nick Dekkenga- 2017 5’10 G Coopersville
Armonee Felder- 2017 5’10 PG Detroit Osborn
Skylar Lipinski- 2017 6’6 F Onsted (Siena Heights)
Darius Young- 2017 6’4 SF Flint Northwestern
4th Team
Bryce Drews- 2018 6’3 G Hillsdale
Zervhontae Smith- 2017 5’10 G Sexton
Ben Davidson- 2018 6’3 G St. Clair (Ferris State)
Calvin Hackert- 2017 6’1 G Ludington
Luke Toliver- 2018 6’2 G Paw Paw
Goliath Mitchell- 2018 6’2 G Goodrich
Elijah Baxter- 2018 5’9 PG Benton Harbor
Carl Bow- 2018 6’2 G Hazel Park
Charles Garrett- 2018 6’3 G Bridgeport

www.mhsaa.com

Romeo Weems New Haven sophomore –

Basketball Weems, considered by many the top sophomore in Michigan, played a starring role as New Haven won its first MHSAA boys basketball championship Saturday, earning the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week” as the Rockets downed Benton Harbor 78-49 in the Semifinal and Ludington 45-36 in the Class B title game.

The 6-foot-6 sophomore forward averaged 17.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, and just under four assists, blocks and steals per game this winter in being named the Class B “Player of the Year” by The Associated Press. He had 14 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Semifinal win, and 19 points, 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals in the Final as New Haven scored its fewest points this season but shined defensively.

The Rockets finished 27-1 thanks not just to Weems, but also star senior Eric Williams, Jr., and a strong supporting cast. Last week’s Semifinal also was the first in program history, but Weems has plans to add to the legacy over the next two seasons before likely having his choice of major college programs for which to continue his career. He's also a standout football player, quarterbacking New Haven to a share of the Macomb Area Conference Bronze title in the fall.

Coach Tedaro France II said: “Because he’s unselfish, that’s why we’re the Class B state champions. He gets his teammates involved. He can play the one through five; he does so much for us. He makes each person around him better. He can pass, he can defend, and one thing about him is he can score, but he takes pride in playing defense.”

Performance Point: “We went to our man-to-man press trapping, and they called a timeout because they didn’t know what to do,” Weems said. “I got long, started giving everything I had left. Got scrappy, started rebounding more, got more aggressive. ... I think we just had to step up big, get our teammates ready to play, get people’s nerves out get everybody going. We had to play big."

Getting defensive: “I hate to lose. The object of the game is to score more points to win. If I stop them from scoring, I win. I don’t like people scoring. It’s my paint, so I try to get every blocked shot, every rebound, play my heart out.”

Williams showed the way: “Just teaching the little things. Like on the court, if I miss a free throw, he lets me know if it looked good or if I need to get it up higher. Stay low when I’m jumping, a lot of stuff like that.”

All together: “I like to get my teammates involved. One person can’t win all by himself. I can be off, and I need my teammates to be on, and they get me going. So I get them involved, I get involved, and me and E, it’s hard to stop us when we're on fire.”

Thanks, Coach: “Coach loves us. It’s more than basketball with him, really. Even if we’re just outside playing or something, he’ll come hang out with us. He’s a great guy. If we need something he’s there… . We needed tutors, he got us tutors this year. It’s more than basketball for Coach.”

- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2016-17 school year, Second Half and the Michigan National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.

The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster. 

David Goricki of The Detroit News selects the top players in each class in this year's state tournament.

​www.detroitnews.com 

Class A

Foster Loyer, Jr., G, Clarkston
Loyer scored 29, including three 3-pointers in the opening quarter, to lead Clarkston to a 75-69 win over top-ranked Grand Rapids Christian to hand Dan Fife his first state title in 35 years of leading the program. Loyer scored 32 in a 78-35 semifinal rout of West Bloomfield.

Class B

Romeo Weems, So., G-F, New Haven
​
Weems blocked two shots and slammed home a putback dunk during the second quarter to turn a 15-7 deficit into a 23-19 halftime lead. Weems, who has offers from Michigan State and Ohio State, finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks to help New Haven to a 45-36 victory over Ludington, giving Macomb County its first state championship since St. Clair Shores Lake Shore in 1994.

Class C

Malik Ellison, Sr., G, Flint Beecher
Ellison, who recently received his first Division I offer from Eastern Michigan, scored 32 to help Beecher win its third consecutive state championship with a 73-58 victory over Grand Rapids Covenant Christian. Beecher forced nine fourth-quarter turnovers while outscoring Covenant, 11-0, from the line during the last eight minutes.

Class D

Dawson Bilski, Sr., G, Powers North Central
After finding Seth Polfus for the winning basket as time expired in the 84-83 double-overtime victory over Southfield Christian in a semifinal showdown for the ages, Bilski set the tempo in the 78-69 championship-game win over Buckley by scoring 18 in the opening quarter, including 7-for-7 shooting (4-of-4 on 3-pointers) to help his team set a state-finals record for points in a quarter (38). Bilski finished with 25 points for the three-time state champion.

Scott Burnstein

www.statechampsnetwork.com

FIVE FOR FIGHTING – The Top Individual Performances In The 2017 Boys BBall State Finals Saturday At The Breslin Center In East Lansing
 
1 Foster Loyer (Clarkston) – What doesn’t this kid do?  MSU-commit Foster the Phemom went HAM again on the comp in the Wolves 75-69 win over Grand Rapids Christian in Class A, dropping 29 points, five assists and five rebound on a bigger, more athletic GRC backcourt
 
2 Malik Ellison (Flint Beecher) – To quote a popular hip hop anthem of recent years: All he does is WIN, WIN, WIN…..Malik the MARVELOUS bagged yet another state-title ring with a 32-point effort in the Bucs 73-58 bopping of Grand Rapids Covenant Christian in the C finals
 
3 Romeo Weems (New Haven) – Lets just call this young man ‘The BLUEPRINT,’ he’s the total package on the hardwood…..Romeo rocked and rolled to a double-double of 19 points and 10 boards in New Haven’s 46-36 defeat of Ludington in the B finals
 
4 Dawson Bilski (Powers North Central) – UP POWER!!! Bilski broke loose for a 25-point spot in the Jets 78-69 victory over Buckley in the D finals
 
5 (tie) Xavier Tillman (Grand Rapids Christian) – The MSU-signee in the frontcourt was his usual MANCHILD self in his squad’s loss, muscling his way to 25 points and 8 rebounds on his future college floor
 
5 (tie) Denver Cade (Buckley) – Made like an arCADE game Saturday at Breslin, firing in 25 points in defeat