|
0 Comments
MAC White League Honors League Champions 10-0 Red/White Tournament Champs MVP:
1st Team:
Coach of Year:
Honorable Mention:
 Jared Purcell www.mlive.com DETROIT -- Romeo Weems had his options to play for various prestigious high school basketball programs this season. Schools like Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, La Lumiere in Indiana and SPIRE Academy in Ohio all made efforts to recruit Weems away from New Haven High School, the school he attended since his freshman year. A 6-foot-7 forward that carries a four-star rating from 247Sports, Weems is the top-rated recruit in Michigan and signed to play at DePaul next year. He was also recently selected to play in the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic high school all-star game in Las Vegas this April. Weems certainly had the talent and credentials to be a prep school star. However, Weems decided to say thanks, but no thanks to the prep schools and elected to spend his senior season at New Haven. After being announced as the 2019 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball winner on Monday, it is safe to say his decision to stay home paid off. Mentioning that he wanted to win the Mr. Basketball award since leading New Haven to a Class B state championship as a sophomore, Weems said winning the prestigious honor played a role in him staying at New Haven. “I wouldn’t it was a big part (in deciding to stay) but it definitely wasn’t a small part,” Weems said. “It definitely factored in. I really wanted this. This was a goal of mine ... It definitely factored in.” As honored as Weems was to win Mr. Basketball, he mentioned that his main reason for choosing to stay at New Haven was one thing: loyalty. With his collegiate future already set, Weems saw no other reason to leave town. “I mostly stayed for the loyalty with my coaches,” Weems said. “I love my coaches, my teammates. I pretty much stayed for them.” New Haven could not have been happier that Weems stayed. After all, the Rockets are playing in the Division 2 state quarterfinals on Tuesday night against Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy and are just three wins shy of claiming the school’s second state championship. New Haven is 99-6 since Weems joined the team as a freshman. “We were good before but he just took us to a whole new level,” New Haven coach Tedaro France said. “Just what he brings, he brings out the best in everybody -- his teammates, us as a coaching staff -- he makes us work harder. Just him being here has really transformed not just our school but the county and how he made history.” Weems is the first Mr. Basketball winner from Macomb County and he was the first finalist from New Haven. The state championship that New Haven won in 2017 was the first in school history and only the second for a Macomb County program. Although France knew about the schools trying to get Weems to transfer away, France also knew where Weem’s loyalties were. “We were aware but we were just trying to build that bond,” France said. “Knowing him, he’s a loyal kid. He wanted to be a part of this program here and be a part of his teammates because they worked hard for four years and he wanted to finish what he started.” Weems celebrated at the ceremony with his teammates, family and friends that made the trip into Detroit. However, Weems said he will not spend too long celebrating because he still has a state championship to go after. Before he wraps up his high school basketball career, he still has his teammates and the community of New Haven on his mind. As much as New Haven appreciates Weems staying, Weems appreciates his community just as much. “The community, it means a lot,” Weems said. “They come out to all our games, show love (and) support us a lot. They travel. They’ve been travelling everywhere with us. I really appreciate it.” BY: MATTHEW B. MOWERY STATE CHAMPS MAR 11, 1:30PM
DETROIT — He was the presumptive favorite for the Mr. Basketball award, and the voting turned out that way. New Haven’s Romeo Weems was named the 39th winner of the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award winner on Monday at the offices of the Detroit Free Press, having won the voting in a landslide. Weems finished with 3,689 points, well ahead of Canton’s B. Artis White (1,789), Detroit Renaissance’s Chandler Turner (1,520) and Westland John Glenn’s Joe Moon (1,372). Weems averaged 28 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals for a 24-1 New Haven team that plays Harper Woods Chandler Park in Tuesday’s Division 2 quarterfinals. The DePaul-bound Weems helped lead New Haven to the Class B championship as a sophomore, and is looking for his second ring later this week. “I feel like we’ve got a chance to win it. If we keep playing hard, keep working, getting better every day, keep playing like we played tonight … we’re going to do it,” Weems said after the Macomb Area Conference A/B title game against Division 1 quarterfinalist Roseville. Weems loved playing on that big stage, and others, where the spotlight is on him. “I love the stands being packed, the crowd saying ‘overrated,’ booing and all that stuff. I love that,” Weems said, noting that he also doesn’t mind being a facilitator for teammates. “It just shows you that you don’t have to score 1,000 points per game to affect the game. I’m getting double-teamed, triple-teamed, but I can still affect the game with way I play, take a charge, dive on the floor.” The Mr. Basketball winners:
  Mick McCabe, The Detroit Free Press
Three years ago, New Haven basketball coach Tedaro France thought it was possible for his young phenom to be a Mr. Basketball candidate. “I knew when he was a freshman that if he stayed here all four years he’d have a chance for this,” France said. “I knew then he had the talent and the potential and the drive and the work ethic to be special.” A year later, France realized that sophomore Romeo Weems was a dead solid lock to be the 2019 Mr. Basketball. “I knew his sophomore year when we won the state title and he had a huge, huge game in the state championship game,” France said. “The next morning he called me to let him in the gym. I knew right then that this kid is not content with just being good, he wanted to be great. I knew that with his drive and how hard he works that he was going to do it.” Weems did it all right. Weems, who signed with DePaul, is the state’s 39th winner of the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, given annually to the state’s top senior by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. The award is named for the late Hal Schram, who covered high school athletics for the Free Press for more than 40 years. But Weems didn’t just win the award, he turned this year’s race into an avalanche. He accumulated 3,689 points, easily outdistancing Canton’s B. Artis White, who finished second with 1,798 points. Chandler Turner of Detroit Renaissance was third (1,520 points) and Westland Glenn’s Joe Moon V was fourth (1,372). Weems garnered 653 first-place votes, which were 375 more first-place votes than the other three finalists combined. It was the widest margin of victory in the history of the award, surpassing 1,457-point margin U-D Jesuit’s Cassius Winston won by in 2016. The 6-foot-7 Weems was taken aback by many of the names of former winners on the trophy, including Shane Battier, Winston, Chris Webber, Monte Morris, Jason Richardson and Foster Loyer. “It means a lot,” he said. “They’re some of the best players to ever come through here. It was a great accomplishment that I can become one of them some day.” Last summer he helped the USA Basketball U17 team win the World Championship in Argentina and last week he was named to next month’s Jordan Brand Classic game in Las Vegas. Weems plays on the wing for New Haven (24-1), which plays unbeaten Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy in Tuesday's Division 2 quarterfinal game at Ortonville-Brandon at 7 p.m. He has been a dominating force at both ends of the court. This season he is averaging 27.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 4.2 steals and 2.6 blocks per game. He has scored a school-record 2,124 career points. Over the course of the last couple of years, Weems has had the opportunity to leave the state to attend a prep school like so many other have chosen to do in recent years. But that seemed like a foolish path to Weems. “It’s for more exposure,” he said. “I’ve got exposure, but it’s just that more people will know you around the country. I really had that. I was already committed to college and I didn’t really need anything. I just figured I’d stay, stay loyal to my coach.” As a freshman, Weems became aware of the Mr. Basketball award and it became a main focus for him a year later after New Haven won the Class B state title. “Ever since sophomore year, I felt I was able to get it,” he said. “We won the state championship and I felt I was playing well stats-wise and we were winning and I felt I was a big part of that and I could win it one year.” In that championship game, a 45-36 victory over Ludington, Weems hit 5 of 6 shots, including his only 3-point attempt, and 8 of 11 free throws for 19 points. He also added 10 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals. The next morning, he had France on the phone, attempting to get into the school gym. “He said he didn’t think he played that good,” France recalled, “so he wanted to work on a few things.” Weems has no recollection of that call probably because it was one of hundreds he has made to France over his career. After scoring 47 points in a game in the middle of this season, Weems was in the gym with France the following morning at 5 a.m. Late last week, France told Weems he was Mr. Basketball. A soft-spoken youngster, Weems didn’t say much, but asked to sit down. “He kind of broke down,” France said. “This was a goal of his that he wanted to get. To him it means so much to be named one of the best players here in this great state that has a rich basketball tradition. To be a part of that, he was so excited and not just for himself, but for his teammates and this school and this county.” Between his junior and senior year, Weems, the first player from Macomb County to win the award, zeroed in on a couple of areas of his game he thought he needed to improve upon to become Mr. Basketball. “My shot improved,” he said, “and my ball handling and decision-making has been better. “I’m just blessed to get it.” Al Snyder, chairperson for the Mr. Basketball award, has been impressed with Weems for three years now and nothing changed when he saw him help New Haven win the regional title last week. “He wasn’t sharp so what he became was a great team player,” Snyder said. “He gives them the ball and all of a sudden he’ll get a slam dunk or hit a shot. He plays hard. He had 12 or 13 rebounds and half a dozen blocks shots and a half dozen assists. “I left knowing, without a doubt, he’s the No. 1 player in the state. There is no doubt he is Mr. Basketball.” Mick McCabe is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1. The voting Here are the results of the 39th annual Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, given by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. Only BCAM members are permitted to vote (Points are awarded on a 5-3-1 basis):
Welcome to the club Here are the 38 former winners of the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball Award:
 David Goricki, www.detroitnews.com
Detroit – After leading New Haven to the Class B state championship at the Breslin Center his sophomore year, Romeo Weems felt he had a chance to one day be Michigan’s Mr. Basketball. Weems, a 6-foot-7 forward, continued to develop and improve his perimeter game, helping New Haven reach the Final Four again last year, losing in the state semifinals, then playing for USA Basketball, helping the U17 team win the world championship this past summer in Argentina. And Weems realized his goal on Monday when he was named Mr. Basketball, with his family, teammates and coaching staff attending the ceremony in Detroit. He is the first player from Macomb County to win Mr. Basketball since it was first awarded in 1981. “It was exciting, just a blessing, can’t say too many words right not since it’s hit me all at one time,” Weems said. “I was really just focused on the (state) tournament, so when I got this it all hit me at one time. “I found out a few days ago when my coach (Tedaro France) told me, said we couldn’t tell nobody though. I was so happy. We were at practice so it was kind of hard keeping it to myself. I felt like after my sophomore year when we won it that I could be able to get one of these (Mr. Basketball award).” Weems won it in a landslide, getting 3,689 points in voting by BCAM members, with B. Artis White of Canton finishing second (1,798), followed by Chandler Turner of Detroit Renaissance (1,520) and Joe Moon IV of Westland John Glenn (1,372). While other top players from Michigan opted to play their senior seasons at prep schools – including former Southfield Christian four-star guard Harlond Beverly (Montverde, Fla.), former Detroit Old Redford four-star guard Rocket Watts (SPIRE, Ohio), former Renaissance forward Carrington McCaskill (SPIRE), and former Detroit Loyola forward Myron Gardner (SPIRE) – Weems decided to stay at New Haven and take care of unfinished business. “I mostly stayed for the loyalty of my coaches,” said Weems, who had prep schools come calling, including Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, where Carmelo Anthony once played. “I love my coaches and love my teammates and pretty much stayed for them.” Weems – who will play next year at DePaul, picking the Blue Demons over Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and several others – is averaging 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 4.1 steals, 3.7 assists and 2.2 blocks this season. He has 2,139 career points. In a 74-58 win over defending Class C state champion Detroit Edison last month, Weems had a quadruple-double with 34 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals, 10 blocks and five assists. “What is unique and special about Romeo is his versatility on the court and his ability to defend and play all five positions at a high level,” France said. “Romeo has improved the most over the years with his shooting with his ability to shoot the 3-pointer. He has turned into one of the top shooters around. Becoming a great shooter really took his game to another level with already being able to do so many things on the basketball court.” France was aware some prep schools were talking to Weems over the summer. “We were aware, but we just tried to build that bond and knowing him, he’s a loyal kid and he wanted to be a part of this program here and be a part of this team,” France said. “He worked hard for four years and he wanted to finish what he started. “It’s just a blessing to see how hard he works, to see how far he came to improve his game each year, his shooting, his ball skills, and just see him be that complete package now.” Now Weems will try to earn his 100th win when New Haven – ranked No. 2 in the state by The Detroit News – plays Tuesday night in a Division 1 state quarterfinal game against unbeaten Harper Woods Chandler Park at Ortonville Brandon. Weems has a 99-6 career record at New Haven. “He’s meant so much to us,” said France of Weems. “We were good before, but he’s taken us to another level. He brings out the best in everybody, his teammates, us as a coaching staff, makes us work harder. Just him being here has really transformed not just our school, but the county, and now he’s made history.” Weems was able to ease into the program his freshman year, joining players who went on to play Division I ball, including Eric Williams Jr. (Duquesne) and Innocent Nwoko (Central Michigan). Williams made the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team last year and is averaging team-highs in points (13.7) and rebounds (7.5) this season. Now, Weems is the man who has all the eyes on him, and Tuesday night’s game against Chandler Park will be no exception. “Chandler Park is a veteran team with tons of senior leadership that plays hard and very good together,” said France. “They are led by a tremendous point guard in Derrick Bryant Jr., who really is the engine and glue for their team. They are long and athletic and they really get after it on both ends.” Weems is averaging 23.6 points, 13 rebounds and six assists during the five postseason games this year. “After this (Mr. Basketball ceremony), I just got to block all of this out, get back locked in and focus on my teammates,” said Weems. “I have to tell them that this is a good accomplishment and all, but we are still working on a state championship every day.”  George Pohly, www.macombdaily.com
Romeo Weems shared his crowning moment with those closest to him. His mother and father, other family members and friends joined Weems’ New Haven teammates at a news conference where the 6-foot-7 DePaul recruit was presented the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award for Michigan on Monday. “The people here today are the people that are at all my games,” Weems said. “I appreciate that. They probably don’t know how much it means to me, but it means a lot.” Rockets players and coaches turned out en masse as the Mr. Basketball award was presented to a Macomb County player for the first time. “Those are my guys, my brothers,” said Weems of the Rockets (24-1), who play Chandler Park in a state Division 2 quarterfinal game at Ortonville Brandon on Tuesday. Trenell Payne, who transferred to New Haven from Sterling Heights this school year, said playing on a team with Weems has “been amazing.” “Romeo’s a good teammate, and he’s a good person as well,” Payne said. “He helps me with school and stuff. He helps me get better.” Payne said Weems didn’t want special treatment. “He fits in perfectly,” Payne said. “He wants us to treat him like he’s a regular person. We push him, and he pushes us. “He works so hard, and that pushes us to go harder. He makes sure everybody’s in the right spot. He checks on everybody, makes sure things are going good.” The Mr. Basketball award is presented by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, whose members vote for the winner. Weems tallied 3,689 points in the voting. Runner-up B. Artis White of Canton had 1,798, Chandler Turner of Detroit Renaissance 1,520 and Joe Moon IV of Westland Glenn 1,372. “His hard work, his work ethic, paid off for him,” William Weems, Romeo’s father, said after he and Nyasha Weems posed for pictures with their son. “His mom and I are very proud of him. “It shows that if you work hard, you can achieve your goals.” Weems enrolled at New Haven as a ninth-grader through school of choice. In four varsity seasons, he became the Rockets’ career scoring leader and helped New Haven win four regional championships and the 2017 state Class B title. He turned down summer overtures from prep schools to stay in Michigan and complete his career at New Haven. “I wouldn’t say (winning Mr. Basketball) was a big part of it (his decision to stay), but it wasn’t a small part. It factored in,” Weems said. “I love my coaches, my teammates. The community means a lot. They come out to all our games, show love. They support us. They’ve been traveling everywhere with us.” A victory over Chandler Park would send New Haven to a state semifinal game for the third straight year. The Rockets were to practice at 4 p.m. Monday, and Weems vowed to be all business following the Mr. Basketball festivities. “I’ve got to block all this out and get locked in and focused on my teammates,” Weems said. “This is a good accomplishment, but we’ve got bigger things to do.” Jared Purcell www.mlive.com
DETROIT -- No matter how Romeo Weems wraps up his high school basketball career this week, he will always be remembered as the greatest to ever play basketball for New Haven. As it turns out, he will also be remembered as the top senior boys basketball player in Michigan this season. On Monday afternoon ceremony at the Detroit Free Press offices, Weems was named the 2019 recipient of the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, an annual award presented to the state’s top senior as voted on by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. “It’s exciting, I’m overjoyed,” Weems said. “It’s just a blessing right now. I can’t say too many words right now. It hit me all at one time.” Weems finished with 3,689 voting points to lead the four finalists, easily surpassing runner-up B. Artis White of Canton, who finished with 1,798 points. Detroit Renaissance’s Chandler Turner finished third with 1,520 points while Joe Moon of Westland John Glenn was fourth with 1,372 points. So far this winter, Weems is averaging 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 4.1 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while leading New Haven to a 24-1 record. He led New Haven to a Class B state championship in 2017 and to the state semifinals last year. He is still in pursuit of another state title this winter as his season continues on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when New Haven takes on Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy in the Division 2 state quarterfinals at Ortonville-Brandon High School. Weems is a 6-foot-7 forward who is signed to play with DePaul next season, despite gaining offers from both Michigan State and Michigan during his recruiting process. He is the second DePaul signee to win Mr. Basketball, the first since Wilson Chandler of Benton Harbor in 2005. He carries a four-star rating from the 247Sports composite rankings. In his four-year varsity career at New Haven, Weems built a strong legacy that has been unmatched in the history of the Rockets’ program. Putting together a 99-6 varsity record at New Haven, Weems is the program’s all-time career leader in scoring with 2,139 points. Weems recorded a quadruple-double in his last game of the regular season by recording 34 points, 12 rebounds, 10 steals, 10 blocks and 5 assists in a win over Detroit Edison Public School Academy.  George Pohly, www.macombdaily.com
DETROIT — Romeo Weems made Macomb County basketball history. Again. The New Haven senior on Monday became the first county player to win the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, the latest honor for the highly decorated DePaul recruit. The award is presented by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, whose members’ votes determine the winner. Weems tallied 3,689 points in the voting. Runner-up B. Artis White of Canton had 1,798, Chandler Turner of Detroit Renaissance 1,520 and Joe Moon IV of Westland Glenn 1,372. "Its' exciting. I'm overjoyed," Weems said. "It's a blessing. I don't have many words right now." Weems is averaging 27.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 4.3 steals and 2.1 blocked shots per contest for New Haven, which takes a 24-1 record into a state Division 2 quarterfinal game against Harper Woods Chandler Park at Ortonville Brandon on Tuesday. He was introduced at the Mr. Basketball news conference by BCAM official Al Snyder, a former coach at Mount Clemens. “Romeo is having his best season of his career, and I wouldn't expect anything less from a kid that commits himself to excellence every day in the classroom, gym, weight room and film sessions,” New Haven coach Tedaro France II said. “He is one of the hardest working and most talented kids I have had the opportunity of coaching. “He wants to get better every day, he wants to be better than he was the day before, better the next repetition, better the next game and he wants to be coached hard.” Weems is the unofficial career scoring leader in county history with more than 2,000 points. He’s the only county player who has topped that milestone, according to a list compiled by the Michigan High School Athletic Association. As a junior, Weems was named the state Class B Player of the Year by The Associated Press and the county Player of the Year by The Macomb Daily. “He is up before school at 5 a.m. to do shooting and skill work, then he is at practice after school diving on the floor for loose balls, taking charges and leading, encouraging and motivating his teammates in drills that are so intense and competitive that you would think the championship was on the line,” France said. “Great leadership, hard work, accountability and competing every day are some of the things he has brought to our program. Romeo has the unique ability to bring out the best in everyone around him and it translates into a culture of hard work and accountability that translates into success on and off the basketball court.” The 6-foot-7 Weems has been the centerpiece of unprecedented success at New Haven. The Rockets in 2017 became only the second county boys team to win a state championship when they captured the Class B crown. New Haven went undefeated in Macomb Area Conference division games (42-0), unbeaten in district (11-0) and regional (10-0) tournament contests and lost only two home games in Weems’ four seasons. The Rockets, who are riding a 23-game winning streak, have won a county-record five consecutive regional championships, including four with Weems in the lineup. Their cumulative record in Weems’ four seasons -- he missed a handful of games -- is 99-6. Weems helped the Rockets win a county-record 56 consecutive games during a streak that bridged his sophomore and junior seasons. They made a second appearance in the state semifinals last year, becoming only the second county team to reach a final four in back-to-back years. Lake Shore won the 1994 state Class B championship after reaching the state semifinals in 1993. Weems picked DePaul from a short list of suitors that included Michigan and Michigan State. New Haven won the final 26 games of its state-championship season and 26 straight the next season. “Romeo has improved in every area of his game every year and right now he is the complete player that can do everything on the basketball court,” France said. “But what sets him apart is that he is a great leader and teammate. His teammates love playing with him and he has been one of the most coachable kids I have had the pleasure to coach.” Two county players were runners-up in Mr. Basketball voting. Mike Peplowski of De La Salle finished second to Matt Steigenga of Grand Rapids South Christian in 1988, and Travis Conlan of Lake Shore was second to Willie Mitchell of Detroit Pershing in 1994. Sam Vincent of Lansing Eastern was the first Mr. Basketball winner in 1981. Pershing has had five winners, more than any other school. |
New Haven BasketballRocket Country Archives
April 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed
