ALL-EAST
First team
JOSEF GJONAJ
6-4, Sr., G, Warren De La Salle
Gjonaj had a solid senior season, averaging 16.5 points, seven rebounds and three assists to lead De La Salle to a 13-8 record and district final appearance.
“Joe could create his shot anytime and was a great defender,” coach Greg Esler said. “He drew double teams all year.”
JAVAUGHN HANNAH
6-3, So., G, Mount Clemens
Hannah was a sophomore sensation, scoring 60 in a game and averaging 31.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks for Mount Clemens, which finished 11-10, second to Harper Woods Chandler Park in the Charter School League.
“His work ethic is second to none, not only saying he wants to play in the NBA but is working hard to one day make his dream come true,” coach Pete Trammell said. “His drive to be great every play, every game is what makes him special, and I’m proud how he attacked the season. He has played AAU ball with Emoni Bates the last three years and that has pushed him to play at an elite level.”
Hannah already has offers from Texas A&M, Washington State and DePaul.
DAVION HOLLOWAY
6-1, Sr., G, Eastpointe
Holloway showed his ability to score in multiple ways, averaging 20.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals to lead Eastpointe to an 18-4 record and a Macomb Area Conference Silver title while being named MAC Silver Player of the Year.
“Davion played as hard as he possibly could every single day. He is a true competitor that absolutely hates to lose,” coach Nate Minnoy said. “He broke several school records, including single-game scoring with 46 points and 3-pointers in a game with nine.”
RYAN ROLLINS
6-4, Sr., G, Macomb Dakota
Rollins had an outstanding senior season as a combo guard, averaging 25.5 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals to lead Dakota to an 18-3 record, a MAC Red title and a MAC Red/White tournament championship.
“Ryan is a very special player that plays the game the right way always,” coach Paul Tocco said. “He’s unselfish — a team player that makes everyone around him better.”
Rollins will play next year at Toledo.
JAVIER WHITAKER
5-9, Jr., G, Hamtramck
Whitaker showed his ability to score in multiple ways while playing tough defensively to help Hamtramck to a 17-3 record, averaging 17 points, two assists and two steals. He scored 28, making 8-of-16 3-pointers in a district semifinal win over Grosse Pointe South.
“Javier could always score the basketball, even coming in from middle school,” coach Dennis Foster said. “He has led us in scoring each year he’s been in our program. His freshman year I would always challenge him to be more than just a scorer and I would tell him that he has potential to be a really outstanding basketball player, but he would always give me a blank stare afterwards. I knew he really began to understand that he could be special after his sophomore year when he began to call me and would ask me to pick him up to go work him out, break down his game film and send tapes on college point guards. I no longer had to push him or motivate him. He wanted it for himself.”
Coach of the Year
DENNIS FOSTER, Hamtramck
Foster guided Hamtramck to a 17-3 record and a district final appearance against Detroit King, putting itself in position to go after its first district title since 1985 when the season came to an abrupt end.
“Our kids played with a ton of energy and enthusiasm all season,” Foster said. “They put in a ton of work in the offseason to get better as individuals, while also still buying into playing as a team. They prepared and played with a chip on their shoulder all year because they knew that they were one of the top teams in the state, but no one else did so they wanted to prove it. I also have to give a lot of credit to my coaching staff and administration who put in a lot of time and effort to help make this season happen.”
Second teamAmari Allen, 6-1, Fr., G, Hamtramck; Anthony Benard, 5-11, Fr., G, Grosse Pointe South; James DeLong, 5-11, Sr., G, Port Huron Northern; Josh Hines, 6-0, Jr., Macomb Dakota; Jayland Randall, 6-4, Jr., G, Harper Woods Chandler Park.
Third teamTamario Adley, 6-2, So., G, Harper Woods Chandler Park; Anthony Cukaj, 6-3, Sr., G, Roseville; Tyler Jamison, 6-4, Fr., Port Huron Northern; Nolan Julio, 5-7, Sr., G, Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Cedric Poole, 6-2, Sr., G, Eastpointe.
Honorable mentionEthan Balon, Port Huron; Nick Bastian, Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Deion Black, Warren Collegiate; Jon Bolden, Clinton Township Chippewa Valley; Gabe Bourdeau, Almont; Ryan Brown, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse; Terrence Brown, Harper Woods Chandler Park; Donavan Brownlee, Warren Woods Tower; Noah Burns, Hamtramck; Michael Clark, Grosse Pointe Woods Liggett; Matthew Coffey, Mount Clemens; Anthony Danno, Sterling Heights; Larry DeDalis, Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Amaree Dixon, St. Clair Shores Lakeview; Sean Donaldson, St. Clair; T.J. Ferguson, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; Tyree France, New Haven; Xavier Glenn, Macomb Dakota; Anthony Green, Grosse Pointe Woods Liggett; Caleb Hardies, Macomb Lutheran North; Daveyon Henderson, Richmond; Linden Holder, Warren De La Salle; Austin Hosmer, Sterling Heights Parkway; Jason Hunter, Roseville; Jalen Jackson, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; Jordan Johnson, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse; Micai Johnson, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North; Nick Johnson, Warren Collegiate; Will Johnson, Grosse Pointe South; Marsse Joseph, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse; Jack Kammer, Marine City; Jemari Mack, Macomb L’Anse Creuse North; Tyler Mack, Warren Cousino; Jacob Mann, Utica Eisenhower; Jacob Marshell, Marine City Cardinal Mooney; Mik’Qwon McClain, Warren Collegiate; Tommy McNelis, Fraser; Johnny Mistretta, Marine City; Colin Moldenhauer, Macomb Lutheran North; Rory Montreuil, Utica; David Mueller, Macomb Lutheran North; Nick Olmeda, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore; Angelo Patsalis, Marine City; Cam Perrino, Grosse Pointe North; Hasson Posey, Warren Woods Tower; De’Ovion Price, Port Huron; Ahmaryon Rice, Center Line; Jacob Robinet, Sterling Heights Parkway; Justin Schweiger, Richmond; Alex Shaheen, Grosse Pointe South; Jordan Shepherd, Grosse Pointe North; Matt Skiba, Utica Ford; Will Smythe, Warren De La Salle; John Stricker, Sterling Heights Parkway; Cameron Strong, Grosse Pointe Woods Liggett; Jahiem Swaizey, Roseville; Greg Tarr, Romeo; Stephan Teasley, Warren Lincoln; Taveon Thompson, Utica Eisenhower; Troy Tiseo, Macomb Lutheran North; Mark Tumpkin, Fraser; Andre Turner, Sterling Heights Stevenson; Jaeden Valadez, St. Clair Shores Lakeview; Darrell Walker, Clinton Township Clintondale; Davion Watkins, Eastpointe; Artez Weathington, St. Clair Shores South Lake; Brent Wiles, New Haven; Caron Williams, Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse; Bryce Williamson, Warren Cousino; Evan Woodard, Marysville; Ryan Zimmer, St. Clair.