(Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com)
MILFORD, MI -- Out of about the 100 high school basketball players that were in attendance at the Reaching Higher basketball camp at Milford High School this July, there was player in particular that was getting attention as college scouts silently roamed the sidelines watching him.
That athlete was Romeo Weems.
Standing 6-feet-6, Weems is used to getting attention. Last year with New Haven, he burst onto the prep basketball scene by averaging 16.1 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Along the way, he had four triple doubles. What makes his stats all the more impressive is that he was only a 14-year-old freshman last season. Yet, some people are already pegging him as Michigan's Mr. Basketball winner in 2019.
Weems' abilities at his young age have scouts raving about what he brings to the floor. With experience at ever spot on the floor, Weem's skill and versatility have him ranked as the No. 13 recruit in the 2019 class, according to ESPN, which has given him a five-star rating as well.
Recent five-star recruits produced by the state of Michigan include Josh Jackson -- the nation's top 2016 recruit who spent his final two prep years in California -- and James Young of Rochester, who was a one-and-done at Kentucky before getting drafted by the Celtics.
Could Weems really live up to the hype? Is he the next great athlete when it comes to basketball talent in Michigan? New Haven coach Tedaro France certainly thinks so.
"He's a great, great talent and a special kid," France said. "The sky is the limit for him. With him, he continues to get better day by day. If he continues to work and he continues to get better, he's going to do great things."
Weems is not oblivious to the hype that surrounds him, either. He knows exactly what he brings to the court, which is a bit of everything.
"Hustle, rebounds, blocks and then my shot development," Weems said. "I can step out and shoot the 3-pointer now. I can dribble, push, get the rebound and go -- and I'm 6-6."
In reality, it is still early in Weems' prep basketball journey. Having just turned 15 in June, he is still waiting on his first college offer. In fact, scouts are still trying to figure out whether or not to call him a guard or a small forward. Weems occasionally calls himself a small forward prefers being called a wing player in general.
"At the wing, I feel like I can excel more," Weems said. "I have the ball in my hands more than if I was at the post. You can move more ... You get on the wing, you can drive, attack, kick it or get the layup. I don't think too many people can stay in front of me."
Despite the hype, rankings, attention and so on, Weems does not have a lot to say about the spotlight. When basketball is the topic of conversation, however, Weems immediately becomes more engaged in the conversation.
"I just feel like, whenever I get on the court, I'll outwork everybody and play hard," Weems said. "I stand out because, if you’re the hardest one working out there on the court, you stand out."
For Weems, it is more about the walk on the court than the talk off of it.
"(Ranked) one, 10, 100 — I'm going to be the same guy," Weems said. "Play and work the same, I'm going to be in the gym every day, the same way."
The Complete Package
As an AAU football player in fifth grade, Weems made his way to the court for the first time the summer before sixth grade when his football teammates got a basketball team together. All it took was one game against The Family -- a program that carries a prestigious reputation on the AAU basketball circuit -- for Reems' talent to be noticed.
By the summer after his sixth grade year, Weems joined The Family AAU program and has not looked back. Since then, he has been able to rub shoulders with the likes of Jackson and recent Michigan State signees Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston. He also likes to hang out with current three-star Michigan target Jamal Cain of Detroit Cornerstone as well.
As he watched the best, he learned from them as well, always trying to apply what he can to his own skill set. Last year, he put his skills and knowledge on display when he led New Haven to a 22-3 record, losing in the Class B quarterfinals to eventual state champion Detroit Henry Ford.
"People come up to me and ask me, 'he's only 14?'" France said. "To be 14, his IQ of the game is so high. When you're 14 and the leader of your team, a freshman, that shows a lot about his character and who he is. He really was a key leader to our team."
Naturally, some schools have already reached out to France with interest in Weems, including Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland, Ohio State and Xavier. As far as getting Weems to admit a school of preference or a school he is a fan of, he had an unexpected answer.
"I don't even watch college basketball," Weems said, admitting that he tends to only watch NBA and is a big LeBron James fan. In fact, Weems wears No. 23 when playing at New Haven because of James, not Michael Jordan.
However, with so many of his older peers at the next level, he thinks his basketball TV viewership will extend to college play.
"I'll watch it this year, though, because of (Michigan) State," Weems said. "Miles and Cassius playing -- I like Josh too so I'll watch Kansas."
Eventually, Weems is hoping to get offers across the country but he also hopes that the in-state schools are a part of it. Yet, is Weems prepared for a potential rush of offers from across the country?
"I don't know," Weems admitted.
However much the spotlight grows on Weems, however, France believes that his rising star will be able to handle it.
"He's a very, very humble kid," France said. "You ask him if he's good and he'll say no, that he's got to keep working. You can tell by how much time he continues to put in at the gym. For me, to see a kid get that much attention now, he's very, very humble. His parents do a great job of keeping him grounded. He's just a kid that doesn't just care about himself."
MILFORD, MI -- Out of about the 100 high school basketball players that were in attendance at the Reaching Higher basketball camp at Milford High School this July, there was player in particular that was getting attention as college scouts silently roamed the sidelines watching him.
That athlete was Romeo Weems.
Standing 6-feet-6, Weems is used to getting attention. Last year with New Haven, he burst onto the prep basketball scene by averaging 16.1 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Along the way, he had four triple doubles. What makes his stats all the more impressive is that he was only a 14-year-old freshman last season. Yet, some people are already pegging him as Michigan's Mr. Basketball winner in 2019.
Weems' abilities at his young age have scouts raving about what he brings to the floor. With experience at ever spot on the floor, Weem's skill and versatility have him ranked as the No. 13 recruit in the 2019 class, according to ESPN, which has given him a five-star rating as well.
Recent five-star recruits produced by the state of Michigan include Josh Jackson -- the nation's top 2016 recruit who spent his final two prep years in California -- and James Young of Rochester, who was a one-and-done at Kentucky before getting drafted by the Celtics.
Could Weems really live up to the hype? Is he the next great athlete when it comes to basketball talent in Michigan? New Haven coach Tedaro France certainly thinks so.
"He's a great, great talent and a special kid," France said. "The sky is the limit for him. With him, he continues to get better day by day. If he continues to work and he continues to get better, he's going to do great things."
Weems is not oblivious to the hype that surrounds him, either. He knows exactly what he brings to the court, which is a bit of everything.
"Hustle, rebounds, blocks and then my shot development," Weems said. "I can step out and shoot the 3-pointer now. I can dribble, push, get the rebound and go -- and I'm 6-6."
In reality, it is still early in Weems' prep basketball journey. Having just turned 15 in June, he is still waiting on his first college offer. In fact, scouts are still trying to figure out whether or not to call him a guard or a small forward. Weems occasionally calls himself a small forward prefers being called a wing player in general.
"At the wing, I feel like I can excel more," Weems said. "I have the ball in my hands more than if I was at the post. You can move more ... You get on the wing, you can drive, attack, kick it or get the layup. I don't think too many people can stay in front of me."
Despite the hype, rankings, attention and so on, Weems does not have a lot to say about the spotlight. When basketball is the topic of conversation, however, Weems immediately becomes more engaged in the conversation.
"I just feel like, whenever I get on the court, I'll outwork everybody and play hard," Weems said. "I stand out because, if you’re the hardest one working out there on the court, you stand out."
For Weems, it is more about the walk on the court than the talk off of it.
"(Ranked) one, 10, 100 — I'm going to be the same guy," Weems said. "Play and work the same, I'm going to be in the gym every day, the same way."
The Complete Package
As an AAU football player in fifth grade, Weems made his way to the court for the first time the summer before sixth grade when his football teammates got a basketball team together. All it took was one game against The Family -- a program that carries a prestigious reputation on the AAU basketball circuit -- for Reems' talent to be noticed.
By the summer after his sixth grade year, Weems joined The Family AAU program and has not looked back. Since then, he has been able to rub shoulders with the likes of Jackson and recent Michigan State signees Miles Bridges and Cassius Winston. He also likes to hang out with current three-star Michigan target Jamal Cain of Detroit Cornerstone as well.
As he watched the best, he learned from them as well, always trying to apply what he can to his own skill set. Last year, he put his skills and knowledge on display when he led New Haven to a 22-3 record, losing in the Class B quarterfinals to eventual state champion Detroit Henry Ford.
"People come up to me and ask me, 'he's only 14?'" France said. "To be 14, his IQ of the game is so high. When you're 14 and the leader of your team, a freshman, that shows a lot about his character and who he is. He really was a key leader to our team."
Naturally, some schools have already reached out to France with interest in Weems, including Michigan, Michigan State, Oakland, Ohio State and Xavier. As far as getting Weems to admit a school of preference or a school he is a fan of, he had an unexpected answer.
"I don't even watch college basketball," Weems said, admitting that he tends to only watch NBA and is a big LeBron James fan. In fact, Weems wears No. 23 when playing at New Haven because of James, not Michael Jordan.
However, with so many of his older peers at the next level, he thinks his basketball TV viewership will extend to college play.
"I'll watch it this year, though, because of (Michigan) State," Weems said. "Miles and Cassius playing -- I like Josh too so I'll watch Kansas."
Eventually, Weems is hoping to get offers across the country but he also hopes that the in-state schools are a part of it. Yet, is Weems prepared for a potential rush of offers from across the country?
"I don't know," Weems admitted.
However much the spotlight grows on Weems, however, France believes that his rising star will be able to handle it.
"He's a very, very humble kid," France said. "You ask him if he's good and he'll say no, that he's got to keep working. You can tell by how much time he continues to put in at the gym. For me, to see a kid get that much attention now, he's very, very humble. His parents do a great job of keeping him grounded. He's just a kid that doesn't just care about himself."
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