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Rocket Alum 6-11 center Innocent Nwoko will transferring from Central Michigan University

3/28/2019

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I want to say thank you to Central Michigan University program for contributing to my growth and development not only as a player but as a young man. Moving forward

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Mr. Basketball Romeo Weems adds AP honor to laurels

3/28/2019

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George Pohly, www.macombdaily.com

CLINTON TOWNSHIP (AP) — Romeo Weems didn't hide from expectations. He met them head-on.

A touted ninth-grader when he enrolled at New Haven, whose stock rose when the Rockets won a state championship in his sophomore season, Weems improved his game every year and capped his prep career by winning the Mr. Basketball award for Michigan.

He has since added a third consecutive state Player of the Year awards from The Associated Press, winning the Division 2 honor in a vote of sports writers from across Michigan.

"Romeo expected more from himself than any other person could have," New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. "He continued to work hard, staying in the gym and weight room, studying film and working on his game both physically and mentally."

The 6-foot-7 Weems, who has signed with DePaul, averaged 26.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.5 assists while helping New Haven to a 24-2 record and a berth in the state quarterfinals.

His scoring average rose every season, and Weems had a career total of 2,151 points, more than any other player from Macomb County, according to a list compiled by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

"Almost every night," France said, "he would face double and triple teams, and every junk defense in the book to try to stop him, but his ability to be the ultimate teammate and make the right reads and plays over and over made teams realize they couldn't use those defenses because he would hurt them in so many ways.

"He did not have to score to greatly impact the game. To put up the type of numbers he has despite being every teams' main focus every night shows how great he is and the trust he has in his teammates and in our system."
New Haven routinely played before large crowds. Fans sometimes directed unflattering chants at Weems, and some sought him out for autographs.

The attention, he often said, made him work harder.

"I'm just enjoying it all," he said while signing for a young fan after a regional victory over Pontiac.
New Haven did not lose a district or regional tournament game in Weems' four seasons. The Rockets made two state final-four appearances and won 99 games with Weems on the roster.

"Romeo brought to every practice the same passion, energy and hunger to compete that he brought to every game," France said. "He loves to practice and he loves to compete, which led to one of the greatest high school career performances I have seen as a coach."

Weems was joined on the All-State first team by 10 players, including senior Tyler VanKoevering of state champion Hudsonville Unity Christian and senior Nigel Colvin of state finalist River Rouge.

Also named by the writers' votes were SirQuarius Ball of Bridgeport; Austin Braun of Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Zach Goodline of Coloma; Carlos Johnson of Benton Harbor, Sean Cobb of Williamston; Brady Swinehart of Ionia; Charlie Woodhams of Otsego, and Sudi McElroy of Ferndale.

Johnson and Woodhams are juniors. The other first team players are seniors.
Scott Soodsma of Unity Christian was named Coach of the Year.
​
Division 2 All-State

The 2019 Associated Press Division 2 boys basketball All-State team as selected by a panel of nine Michigan sportswriters.

Player of the Year
  • Romeo Weems, New Haven, Sr.
First-Team All-State
  • Romeo Weems, New Haven, Sr.
  • SirQuarius Ball, Bridgeport, Sr.
  • Austin Braun, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sr.
  • Tyler VanKoevering, Hudsonville Unity Christian, Sr.
  • Zach Goodline, Coloma, Sr.
  • Carlos Johnson, Benton Harbor, Jr.
  • Sean Cobb, Williamston, Sr.
  • Brady Swinehart, Ionia, Sr.
  • Charlie Woodhams, Otsego, Jr.
  • Sudi McElroy, Ferndale, Sr.
  • Nigel Colvin, River Rouge, Sr.
  • Coach of the Year
  • Scott Soodsma, Hudsonville Unity Christian
  • Second-Team All-State
  • Reece Castor, Gladstone
  • Joshua Laman, Ludington
  • Kobe Bufkin, Grand Rapids Christian
  • D'Quarion Cole, Pontiac
  • Pierre Brooks II, Detroit Douglass
Coach of the Year
  • Joel Schroeder, Pontiac
Honorable Mention
Markele Garrett, Bridgeport; Jarrett Kelley, Chesaning; Jayce Bourcier, Freeland; Cam Sutherland, Alma; Brec Alward, Alma; Riley Bugg, North Branch; Gerrid Rutledge, North Branch; Spencer Eves, Hillsdale; Clay Sampson, Ida; Travis Hill, Onsted; Ethan Alderink, Holland Christian; Cory Ainsworth, Wayland; Jamaal Bailey, Godwin Heights; Brad Osborne, Hamilton; Luke Schrotenboer, Grand Rapids South Christian; Solomon White, Forest Hills Eastern; Noah Wiswary, Hudsonville Unity Christian; Logan Karnemaat, Fremont; Connor Swinehart, Newaygo; Mason Docks, Williamston; Mitchell Mowid, Haslett; Logan LePage, Corunna; Liam Thompson, Ovid-Elsie; Jeremy Luciani, Marshall; Parker Ellifritz, Three Rivers; Isaac Davis, Plainwell; Karsen Barnhart, Paw Paw; Blake Lund, Linden; LaTa'Vius Vaughter, Clio; Logan LePage, Corunna; J.D. Rawls, Mt. Morris; Owen Lobsinger, Flint Powers; Ronald Jeffery III, New Haven; Drew Davis, Richmond; Teonta McKeithen, Ferndale; Alex Finney, Cranbrook; Jacob Martinson, Big Rapids; Nathan Burk, Parma Western, Derrick Bryant Jr., Harper Woods Chandler Park; Devon Bryant, Detroit Henry Ford; Parker LePage, Dearborn Divine Child; Micah Parrish, River Rouge; Tyland Tate, Harper Woods Chandler Park, Tyson Davis, Goodrich.Coach of the Year
Don Spencer, Carleton-Airport; JT Cleveland, Alma; James Scott, Harper Woods Chandler Park.

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Romeo Weems named 3 time Class B/Division 2 Associated Press Player of the Year and 4 time 1st Team AP All-State

3/28/2019

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Thank you to our AD Orlando Medina & NH administration presenting Head Coach Tedaro France with this awesome gift last night reaching 200 wins this season

3/27/2019

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Coach Tedaro France II
  • 209 Wins
  • 11 years
  • 19 wins a season

Championships
  • 5 League
  • 7 District
  • 6 Regional
  • State Final Four
  • State championship ​
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Romeo Weems Associated Press Division 2 Player of the Year and Ronald Jeffery named Honorable Mention All-State. Meet the Associated Press Division 2 Boys Basketball All-State Team

3/27/2019

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Jared Purcell, www.mlive.com
​
The Michigan Associated Press has released its Division 2 all-state teams, and MLive has the first and second teams, along with honorable mention players below.

New Haven senior Romeo Weems added Associated Press Division 2 Player of the Year honors to his Mr. Basketball award. Weems, a 6-foot-7 forward averaged 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.1 steals, 3.7 assists and 2.2 blocked shots a game during his senior season.

The 6-foot-7 forward has signed to play for DePaul and led New Haven to the Division 2 quarterfinals, falling to Harper Woods Chandler Park to finish with a 24-2 record. Weems, who owns the New Haven scoring record, led the team to a state title in 2017 and to the semifinals in 2018. In his four seasons, New Haven was 99-7.


FIRST TEAM
  • SirQuarius Ball, Bridgeport, Sr.: The 6-foot-5 forward eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for a Bridgeport team that put together an undefeated regular season. Ball, who will play football at Grand Valley State, averaged 21 points and eight rebounds.
  • Austin Braun, Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sr.: The 5-foot-11 guard led Catholic Central to the state championship game in 2018 and the regional final in 2019, averaging 17 points and 7.5 assists. He will play at Grand Valley State.
  • Tyler VanKoevering, Hudsonville Unity Christian, Sr.: The 6-foot-5 senior led Unity Christian to the Division 2 state title, averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
  • Zach Goodline, Coloma, Sr.: The 6-foot point guard signed to play for NAIA power Huntington after eclipsing the 2,000-point career mark as a senior, averaging 28.4 points, 6.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 steals.
  • Brady Swinehart, Ionia, Sr.: The Ionia guard averaged 21.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 steals, setting the Ionia school record with 515 points during the season. In a January win over January, Swinehart scored 25 points in the first quarter, the eighth most in one quarter in MHSAA history.
  • Carlos “Scooby” Johnson, Benton Harbor, Jr.: The 6-foot-6 forward has offers from Michigan State, Michigan and Missouri after averaging 26 points and 13 rebounds for a Benton Harbor team near the top of Division 2 during the regular season.
  • Sean Cobb, Williamston, Sr.: ­The 6-foot-7 power forward averaged 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds for 20-2 Williamston. Cobb will play for Grand Valley State next season.
  • Charlie Woodhams, Otsego, Jr.: The 6-foot-3 junior led Otsego to an undefeated regular season and a district title, averaging 17.6 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
  • Sudi McElroy, Ferndale, Sr.: The 6-foot-6 forward, who transferred from Detroit East English, averaged 25 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists for a 16-9 Ferndale team that won a district title.
  • Nigel Colvin, River Rouge, Sr.: The 6-foot-1 guard led River Rouge to the state title game and a 23-3 record, averaging 13.5 points per game.

COACH OF THE YEAR
  • Scott Soodsma, Hudsonville Unity Christian: Unity Christian won its final 22 games, including the Division 2 state championship game over River Rouge. Soodsma led the Crusaders to the OK Conference Green title, with their only losses coming in non-conference games to Hudsonville and Grand Rapids South Christian.

SECOND TEAM
  • Joel Schroeder, Pontiac
HONORABLE MENTION
  • Don Spencer, Carleton Airport
  • J.T. Cleveland, Alma
  • James Scott, Harper Woods Chandler Park

SECOND TEAM
  • Reece Castor, Gladstone, Sr.
  • Joshua Laman, Ludington, Sr.
  • D’Quarion Cole, Pontiac, Sr.
  • Pierre Brooks II, Detroit Douglass, So.
  • Kobe Bufkin, Grand Rapids Christian, So.

HONORABLE MENTION
  • Ronald Jeffery III, New Haven
  • Markele Garrett, Bridgeport
  • Jarrett Kelley, Chesaning
  • Jayce Bourcier, Freeland
  • Cam Sutherland, Alma
  • Bec Alward, Alma
  • Riley Bugg, North Branch
  • Gerrid Rutledge, North Branch
  • Spencer Eves, Hillsdale
  • Clay Sampson, Ida
  • Travis Hill, Onsted
  • Ethan Alderink, Holland Christian
  • Cory Ainsworth, Wayland
  • Jamaal Bailey, Godwin Heights
  • Brad Osborne, Hamilton
  • Luke Schrotenboer, Grand Rapids South Christian
  • Solomon White, Forest Hills Eastern
  • Noah Wiswary, Unity Christian
  • Logan Karnemaat, Fremont
  • Connor Swinehart, Newaygo
  • Mason Docks, Williamston
  • Mitchell Mowid, Haslett
  • Logan LePage, Corunna
  • Liam Thompson, Ovid-Elsie
  • Jeremy Luciani, Marshall
  • Parker Ellifritz, Three Rivers
  • Isaac Davis, Plainwell
  • Karsen Barnhart, Paw Paw
  • LaTa’Vius Vaughter, Clio
  • J.D. Rawls, Mount Morris
  • Owen Lobsinger, Flint Powers
  • Drew Davis, Richmond
  • Teonta McKeithen, Ferndale
  • Alex Finney, Cranbrook
  • Jacob Martinson, Big Rapids
  • Derrick Bryant, Harper Woods Chandler Park
  • Devon Bryant, Detroit Henry Ford
  • Parker LePage, Dearborn Divine Child
  • Micah Parrish, River Rouge
  • Tyland Tate, Harper Woods Chandler Park
  • Tyson Davis, Goodrich
  • Nathan Burk, Parma Western
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Congrats to Romeo Weems on being name the Associated Press Division 2 Player of the Year. This is Romeos 3rd consecutive AP Class B/Division 2 Player of the year honor.

3/27/2019

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Jared Purcell, www.mlive.com

​Romeo Weems didn’t hide from expectations. He met them head-on.

A touted ninth-grader when he enrolled at New Haven, whose stock rose when the Rockets won a state championship in his sophomore season, Weems improved his game every year and capped his prep career by winning the Mr. Basketball award for Michigan.

He has since added a second consecutive state Player of the Year awards from The Associated Press, winning the Division 2 honor in a vote of sports writers from across Michigan.

“Romeo expected more from himself than any other person could have,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. “He continued to work hard, staying in the gym and weight room, studying film and working on his game both physically and mentally.”

The 6-foot-7 Weems, who has signed with DePaul, averaged 26.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 3.5 assists while helping New Haven to a 24-2 record and a berth in the state quarterfinals.

His scoring average rose every season, and Weems had a career total of 2,151 points, more than any other player from Macomb County, according to a list compiled by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

“Almost every night,” France said, "he would face double- and triple-teams, and every junk defense in the book to try to stop him, but his ability to be the ultimate teammate and make the right reads and plays over and over made teams realize they couldn’t use those defenses because he would hurt them in so many ways.

“He did not have to score to greatly impact the game. To put up the type of numbers he has despite being every teams’ main focus every night shows how great he is and the trust he has in his teammates and in our system.”

New Haven routinely played before large crowds. Fans sometimes directed unflattering chants at Weems, and some sought him out for autographs.

The attention, he often said, made him work harder.

"I'm just enjoying it all," he said while signing for a young fan after a regional victory over Pontiac.

New Haven did not lose a district or regional tournament game in Weems’ four seasons. The Rockets made two state final-four appearances and won 99 games with Weems on the roster.

"Romeo brought to every practice the same passion, energy and hunger to compete that he brought to every game,"

France said. "He loves to practice and he loves to compete, which led to one of the greatest high school career performances I have seen as a coach."

Weems was joined on the All-State first team by 10 players, including senior

Tyler VanKoevering of state champion Hudsonville Unity Christian and senior Nigel Colvin of state finalist River Rouge.
Also named by the writers' votes were SirQuarius Ball of Bridgeport; Austin Braun of Grand Rapids Catholic Central; Zach Goodline of Coloma; Carlos Johnson of Benton Harbor, Sean Cobb of Williamston; Brady Swinehart of Ionia; Charlie Woodhams of Otsego, and Sudi McElroy of Ferndale.
Johnson and Woodhams are juniors. The other first team players are seniors.

Scott Soodsma of Unity Christian was named Coach of the Year.
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Special night honoring our team & 4 year varsity players at the New Haven annual winter sports banquet

3/27/2019

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Special night honoring our team & 4 year varsity players

  • Romeo Weems
  • Ronald Jeffery III 
  • Malen Lewis 

99-7 Record

Championships:
  • 4 League & League Tournament
  • 4 District
  • 4 Regional State
  • Final Four
  • State Championship
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Congrats to Romeo Weems, Ronald Jeffery III and Brent Wiles on making the Steve Bells Bank Hoops All-State Teams

3/26/2019

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Steve Bell www.bankhoops.com

Bank Hoops Division 2 All-State


This is the second of five Bank Hoops All-State teams, for all four divisions and the overall all-state team. Players are chosen solely for their high school season performance, not for college prospect rank.

​
  • MVP Romeo Weems  6-7  Sr  New Haven: This 2017 state champion and 2,000-point career scorer won Mr. Basketball by the largest margin in the award’s history. As a senior Weems averaged 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.2 blocks and 4.1 steals per game and had a quadruple-double game. He signed with DePaul.
  • Andre Bradford  6-3  Sr  Harper Woods Chandler Park: He led CPA to an undefeated regular season and state semifinals appearance. Bradford averaged 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game.
  • Nigel Colvin  6-1  Sr  River Rouge: He was the Panthers’ leading scorer the past two season, as a senior averaging 13 points her game for River Rouge’s state runner-up team while shooting 48 percent from three-point range.
  • Zach Goodline  6-0  Sr  Coloma: He’s a 2,000-point career scorer who as a senior averaged 28.4 points on 51 percent field goals and 85 percent free throws, 6.8 assists, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 steals per game. Goodline signed with Huntington University.
  • TJ VanKoevering  6-5  Sr  Hudsonville Unity Christian: He was the two-way stalwart for the state champion Crusaders. VanKoevering averaged 14 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocked shots and 2.8 steals per game.
  • Charlie Woodhams  6-3  Jr  Otsego: He led Otsego to an undefeated regular season. Woodhams averaged 17.6 points shooting 58 percent field goals and 89 percent free throws, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game.
​
​Second team
  • Cory Ainsworth  6-8  Sr  Wayland
  • Austin Braun  5-10  Sr  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
  • Pierre Brooks  6-6  So  Detroit Douglass
  • Da’veaun Cole  6-4  Sr  Pontiac
  • D’Quarion Cole  6-4  Sr  Pontiac
Third team
  • Kobe Bufkin  6-3  So  Grand Rapids Christian
  • Isaac Davis  6-1  Sr  Plainwell
  • Ronald Jeffrey  6-1  Sr  New Haven
  • Brady Swinehart  6-0  Sr  Ionia
  • Ken Thomas  6-5  Sr  Harper Woods
Fourth team
  • Sean Cobb  6-7  Sr  Williamston
  • Chris Conway  6-7  Sr  Benton Harbor
  • Joseph Hahnenberg  6-7  Sr  Williamston
  • Micah Parrish  6-6  Sr  River Rouge
  • Luke Schrotenboer  6-4  Sr  Grand Rapids South Christian
Fifth team
  • Reece Castor  6-5  Sr  Gladstone
  • Connor Kok  6-6  Sr  Grand Rapids South Christian
  • Josh Laman  6-5  Sr  Ludington
  • Jeremy Luciani  6-7  Sr  Marshall
  • Tyland Tate  6-6  Sr  Harper Woods Chandler Park
Sixth team
  • Ethan Alderink  6-6  Jr  Holland Christian
  • Elijah Belle  5-10  Sr  Detroit Voyageur
  • Parker LePage  6-2  Sr  Dearborn Divine Child
  • Sudi McElroy  6-6  Sr  Ferndale
  • Noah Wiswary  6-1  Sr  Hudsonville Unity Christian
Seventh team
  • Addison Atwater  5-11  Sr  Otsego
  • Nate Burk  6-2  Sr  Jackson Western
  • Chandler Collins  6-5  Sr  Hudsonville Unity Christian
  • Ryan Corner  6-10  Jr  Allendale
  • Jackob Martinson  6-5  Sr  Big Rapids
Eighth team
  • Sir’quarius Ball  6-3  Sr  Bridgeport
  • Tyson Davis  5-9  So  Goodrich
  • Blake Lampman  6-1  Sr  Haslett
  • Quinn Starkey  6-1  Sr  Chelsea
  • Latavius Vaughter  6-5  Jr  Clio
Ninth team
  • Devon Boyd  6-1  Jr  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
  • Devon Bryant  6-0  Sr  Detroit Henry Ford
  • Jack Hannon  6-7  Sr  Pontiac Notre Dame
  • Teonta McKeithen  6-4  Sr  Ferndale
  • Calvin Miller  6-5  Sr  Fremont
10th team
  • Jamaal Bailey  6-0  Sr  Godwin Heights
  • Derrick Bryant  5-8  Sr  Harper Woods Chandler Park
  • Donavan Freeman  6-4  Sr  River Rouge
  • Owen Lobsinger  6-7  So  Flint Powers
  • Liam Thompson  6-4  Sr  Ovid-Elsie
11th Team
  • Brec Alward  5-10  Sr  Alma
  • Markele Garrett  6-1  Sr  Bridgeport
  • Logan LePage  6-4  Sr  Corunna
  • Jared Nash  6-5  Sr  Escanaba
  • Vince Overway  6-4  Sr  Holland Christian
12th Team
  • Ty Andrades  5-11  Sr  Haslett
  • Carter Chase  5-11  Jr  Grant
  • Dan Few  6-6  Sr  River Rouge
  • Jack Luciani  6-7  Sr  Marshall
  • Drew Weber  6-3  Jr  Hopkins
Underclassman All-State
  • Mason Docks  5-11  Fr  Williamston
  • Legend Geeter  6-6  So  River Rouge
  • Orlando Lovejoy  6-1  Fr  Romulus Summit North
  • Zac Velthouse  6-2  So  Hudsonville Unity Christian
  • Colin Weber  6-5  So  Hopkins
Second team
  • Trey Cottingham  5-11  So  Jackson Western
  • Mak Manciel  6-2  So  Detroit Country Day
  • Jayland Randall  6-4  So  Harper Woods Chandler Park
  • Brent Wiles  6-4  So  New Haven
  • Jace Williams  6-3  So  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
Sophomore All-State
  • Ke’ontae Barnes  5-10  So  Muskegon Orchard View
  • Zach Dassance  6-2  So  Eaton Rapids
  • Cameren Friend  5-9  So  Tri-County
  • Parker Lewis  6-4  So  Imlay City
  • Cole Mielke  5-9  So  Corunna
Freshman All-State
  • Genesis Kemp  6-5  Fr  Grand Rapids Catholic Central
  • Peyton Lacombe  6-7  Fr  Ludington
  • Demarcus Lee  5-9  Fr  Big Rapids
  • Jay Wallace  6-2  Fr  Williamston
  • Alex Watters  5-11  Fr  Lansing Catholic
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State Champs: BURNEY'S BYTES: Burney unveils his MIchigan boys basketball all-state squad for 2019

3/25/2019

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BY: SCOTT BURNSTEIN MAR 25, 5:00PM

The Dream Team — Burney’s 2019 All-State Boys Basketball Team
  • G Joe Moon (Westland John Glenn Sr.) — Cash money moves as a combo guard extraordinaire.
  • G B. Artis White (Canton Sr.) — Iron will, explosive first step, steely presence at the point.
  • G Jalen Terry (Flint Beecher Jr.) — Lightning in a bottle at the helm of an offense.
  • G Dylan Jergens (Howardsville Christian Sr.) — The state’s top scorer, sick range.
  • G Noah Wiswary (Hudsonville Unity Christian Sr.) — Savvy, efficient floor general with a killer’s mentality on the court.
  • F Romeo Weems (New Haven Sr.) — No. 1 overall player in the state, the Mitten’s very own LeBron James.
  • F Emoni Bates (Ypsilanti Lincoln Fr.) — Total FREAK OF NATURE, will be one of the MHSAA’s all-time greats when it’s all said and done on his schoolboy career (we’re talking MHSAA Mt. Rushmore potential here folks!!).
  • F Carlos “Scooby” Johnson (Benton Harbor Jr.) — Ther-A-Flu Special in spades, complete and utter SICKNESS!!
  • F Chandler Turner (Detroit Renaissance Sr.) — Tireless grinder with a refined skill set and a winner’s attitude.
  • F Foster Wonders (Iron Mountain Soph.) — Might wind up being the best player the UP has ever had on the hardwood. In other words: Legen … wait for it … Dary!!
  • G/F Daniel Friday (Detroit U-D Jesuit Sr.) — A Terrance Howard Special: His game oozes Hustle & Flow, so much heart and deceptive athleticism.
  • G/F Da’Jion “Bubba” Humphrey (Southfield Christian Jr.) — Fearless competitor, ferocious talent, fierce finisher, feathery touch.
  • Head Coach: Jesse Davis (Ypsilanti Lincoln)
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A star in the making: New Haven alum Eric Williams Jr. ascending at Duquesne University

3/23/2019

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Joseph Hayes, The Times Herald

You could just hear it in his voice. 

Port Huron native Eric Williams Jr. really wishes he was on the court playing, instead of watching the NCAA Tournament on television this week.

"It's tough, man," Williams said in between a deep breath when reached over the phone from Pittsburgh. "That's my main thing right now. I want to do everything I have to do to get into the tournament." 

Instead of playing a first-round tournament game, Williams, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard, is working out behind the scenes preparing for his junior season. The Port Huron native and New Haven High School graduate just concluded what amounts to a breakout sophomore campaign at Division I Duquesne University.

By all accounts, Williams has been an instant sensation. 

"At the end of the year, he was playing really well," Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot said. "He got on a roll and played like he's capable of playing. He's probably the best offensive rebounder I've ever coached.

"And I've coached four NBA players, including Lebron James. He just likes to get after it. Now he has to take that same passion and apply it to the things he really doesn't like." 

Williams led the Dukes (19-13) in scoring (14 points per game) and rebounding (7.6), while finishing second on the team in 3-point percentage (.371) and playing 30 minutes each game as a shooting guard and wing.

"I'm just trying to do my best to know my role," Williams said. "It was to score and rebound and defend. I played at the three and the four at times. I had never played (power forward) before. But for us, it was like a bigger guard. I was able to use it to my advantage, having a bigger guy on me trying to guard me. 

"I still have a lot to work on. I'm becoming more composed. I'm becoming a better me every year. I've been working a lot on shooting and defending and jumping. I'm trying to get better every year and I'm still not there yet."

Throughout the season, Williams continued to show flashes of his vast potential. Late in the season, he set a new career high of 40 points in a game against St. Louis. In the game, he shot 15 of 20, including 7 of 9 from 3-point range.

"Every wing player I get, I always compare to Lebron James," said Dambrot, who coached James to state championships as a high school freshman and sophomore. "I compare Eric to him. Eric is still very young. He came into college as a 17-year-old. He still has a lot of room to develop. He has NBA athletic ability. Now what he has to do is he has to get better at all of the little things. 

"He's capable of being an excellent defender. He has excellent feet. He has to continue getting better at making players better. Some times kids think they have to be better scorers when really they have to make their team win." 

Going along for the ride with Williams has been his mom, Clarice. She hit the road for several games this season to take in the act and watch her son's progression. 

"I've known since Eric was 4 or 5 years old that he was going to do something special," Clarice said. "Even back when I put him in Biddy Ball at the YMCA. You just know. He didn't want to put the ball down. 

"I think he's going to do very well for himself. He's going to be one of the people where they say, 'Wow, he made it.' I've been believing in him a long time. I love the game as much as he does." 

Now with his sophomore season behind him, Williams is intent to go right back to work strengthening his game. Even if that means early morning workouts in the gym. 

"I'm working on all of it," said Williams, who is majoring in integrated marketing communications. "The biggest difference right now is we still work out and go to classes but we don't have practices.

"My focus right now is on the postseason. It's a priority. I know there is a fine line between becoming a pro going to the NBA and going overseas. The pressure's on, even if it's really not. I'm going into the home stretch and it's make it or break it."
​
Contact Joseph Hayes at (810) 989-6268 or at jahayes@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Joseph_Hayes11. 

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Congrats to Romeo Weems and Ronald Jeffery lII on being invited to participate in the 2019 Mitten Classic

3/23/2019

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Coach Tedaro France II named coach of the year and Romeo Weems named MVP to highlight many Rockets collecting ALL-League Honors for the Macomb Area Conference MAC White Division

3/22/2019

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MAC White League Honors

League Champions 10-0 Red/White Tournament Champs

MVP:
  • Romeo Weems

1st Team:

  • Ronald Jeffery III

Coach of Year:
  • Tedaro France II

Honorable Mention:
  • Malen Lewis
  • Jamir Farrior
  • Trenell Payne
  • Brent Wiles
  • Tyree France
  • Darrius Brooks
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Romeo Weens honored after the 3rd quarter of the Division 1 State Championship by Al Synder and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan BCAM for being named Mr. Basketball. #MrBasketball

3/16/2019

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Our season came to an end last night but the bonds built, the records broken, the championship won and all the memories shared will last a lifetime. So proud of this group of seniors & all they have accomplished on & off the court. To God be the Glory

3/12/2019

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Come out tonight and support your New Haven Rockets as we battle Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy in the State Quarter Finals at Ortonville Brandon High School 7:00pm #WintheDay #FAMILY

3/12/2019

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