By Jared Purcell | japurcell@mlive.com
EAST LANSING, MICH. -- Romeo Weems is a name that is growing in familiarity around East Lansing. An athletic 6-foot-6 wing from New Haven, Weems was offered a scholarship by the Michigan State basketball team this winter -- and he is only a sophomore.
He also has offers from Ohio State, Oakland, Detroit and Creighton.
Many fans came to the Breslin Center on Friday night expecting Weems to put on a show as New Haven took on Benton Harbor in the Class B semifinals. Even University of Michigan basketball coach John Beilein traveled into enemy territory to get a look at the sophomore sensation.
"Oh, I had fun," Weems said. "When I just stepped out there, I started smiling. I like being on the court. It just was fun."
Although Weems finished with a double-double by collecting 14 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists, it was actually not the Romeo Weems show.
Instead, it was the Eric Williams show.
Who?
Williams is New Haven's leading scorer this season, not Weems. Averaging 20.9 points per game, Williams scored 22 points against Benton Harbor -- all of which came in the first half -- as New Haven rolled to a 78-49 win to advance to its first state championship game.
Yet, the 6-foot-5 senior guard is still waiting for his first Division I college offer.
"He's been performing well," Weems said while seeming quite flabbergasted that Williams is not getting DI attention. "He's had 50 point games, 40 point games, 30 point games ...
I don't know. He's scoring and he's been a beast on rebounds lately. He's defending and he's talking a little bit more (and) he's a leader. I don't know."
No one on New Haven knows why Williams is getting overlooked by bigger schools. Yet, getting the cold shoulder from colleges had only added a chip to Williams'. The Breslin Center has ended up being a stage that Williams looks to get noticed on.
"I just came out looking to be aggressive more," Williams said. "Last game I was just (off) and I think I had to come out there and prove something. I think I came out aggressively."
Indeed, he did.
In the first quarter alone, Williams was 4-for-8 from the field with 12 points and going 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed 6 rebounds as he relentlessly attacked the basket and did clean up duty on offense with a handful of put backs.
"I just looked and, wherever the ball was, I'm just there trying to get the rebounds (and) second-chance points for our team," Williams said.
Williams then went 4-for-4 from the field in the second quarter to keep New Haven rolling as the Rockets went into halftime with a commanding 43-19 lead. From there, it was smooth sailing for the Rockets as New Haven went on to shoot 8-for-12 from the field in the third quarter.
Yet, Williams did not need to score another point after halftime and only attempted one more shot. Williams did his job and the rest of team helped New Haven get to the finish line.
"Guys don't care about stats," New Haven coach Tedaro France said. "Guys don't care about who is taking shots. The team is so unselfish."
Now, Williams and Weems will prepare to play in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. Class B title game against the winner of River Rouge vs. Ludington semifinal game.If Williams offers up another stellar performance on Friday night, perhaps one of the many schools in contact with him will finally give him an offer. So far, Ohio State, St. Bonaventure, Detroit and Eastern Michigan are the schools showing interest in Williams.
"I just think that the schools are starting to now notice me," Williams said. "I'm just waiting to see what I can get and I hope that it is DI."
EAST LANSING, MICH. -- Romeo Weems is a name that is growing in familiarity around East Lansing. An athletic 6-foot-6 wing from New Haven, Weems was offered a scholarship by the Michigan State basketball team this winter -- and he is only a sophomore.
He also has offers from Ohio State, Oakland, Detroit and Creighton.
Many fans came to the Breslin Center on Friday night expecting Weems to put on a show as New Haven took on Benton Harbor in the Class B semifinals. Even University of Michigan basketball coach John Beilein traveled into enemy territory to get a look at the sophomore sensation.
"Oh, I had fun," Weems said. "When I just stepped out there, I started smiling. I like being on the court. It just was fun."
Although Weems finished with a double-double by collecting 14 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists, it was actually not the Romeo Weems show.
Instead, it was the Eric Williams show.
Who?
Williams is New Haven's leading scorer this season, not Weems. Averaging 20.9 points per game, Williams scored 22 points against Benton Harbor -- all of which came in the first half -- as New Haven rolled to a 78-49 win to advance to its first state championship game.
Yet, the 6-foot-5 senior guard is still waiting for his first Division I college offer.
"He's been performing well," Weems said while seeming quite flabbergasted that Williams is not getting DI attention. "He's had 50 point games, 40 point games, 30 point games ...
I don't know. He's scoring and he's been a beast on rebounds lately. He's defending and he's talking a little bit more (and) he's a leader. I don't know."
No one on New Haven knows why Williams is getting overlooked by bigger schools. Yet, getting the cold shoulder from colleges had only added a chip to Williams'. The Breslin Center has ended up being a stage that Williams looks to get noticed on.
"I just came out looking to be aggressive more," Williams said. "Last game I was just (off) and I think I had to come out there and prove something. I think I came out aggressively."
Indeed, he did.
In the first quarter alone, Williams was 4-for-8 from the field with 12 points and going 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. He also grabbed 6 rebounds as he relentlessly attacked the basket and did clean up duty on offense with a handful of put backs.
"I just looked and, wherever the ball was, I'm just there trying to get the rebounds (and) second-chance points for our team," Williams said.
Williams then went 4-for-4 from the field in the second quarter to keep New Haven rolling as the Rockets went into halftime with a commanding 43-19 lead. From there, it was smooth sailing for the Rockets as New Haven went on to shoot 8-for-12 from the field in the third quarter.
Yet, Williams did not need to score another point after halftime and only attempted one more shot. Williams did his job and the rest of team helped New Haven get to the finish line.
"Guys don't care about stats," New Haven coach Tedaro France said. "Guys don't care about who is taking shots. The team is so unselfish."
Now, Williams and Weems will prepare to play in Saturday's 6:30 p.m. Class B title game against the winner of River Rouge vs. Ludington semifinal game.If Williams offers up another stellar performance on Friday night, perhaps one of the many schools in contact with him will finally give him an offer. So far, Ohio State, St. Bonaventure, Detroit and Eastern Michigan are the schools showing interest in Williams.
"I just think that the schools are starting to now notice me," Williams said. "I'm just waiting to see what I can get and I hope that it is DI."
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