Purdue Recap

Michigan basketball managed to push all of my emotions last night en route to snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat.  The Wolverines built an early 12 point lead, thanks in large part to Purdue having 7 turnovers before the 2^nd media timeout.  The offense seemed to be moving well without the ball and the open man was being found.  Then Purdue got their feet back under them and attacked Michigan vigorously, and nothing went right for the Wolverines for the rest of the half.  Just as quickly as the 12 point lead was made, the maize and blue faced a 4 point deficit at the break.  During this stretch the defensive rotation disappeared and the offense became incredibly stagnant for such an athletic team.  I had a similar mind set as a week earlier against Penn State: the problems will be addressed and Michigan will flex its muscles in the 2^nd half and pull away for a relatively easy win.  The next period opened well as the Wolverines scored the first 4 points to tie the game, but then flashbacks to Happy Valley arose as the Boilermakers extended the lead to 12 and this team that was supposed to be competing for a Big Ten title looked listless.  It was about this time that I tried to accept defeat as to stop the flow of frustration that I experienced the week prior.  Then, Terone Johnson’s trash talking awoke the sleeping superhero that is Trey Burke, who closed the last 11 minutes scoring 21 points.  Yes, that is right, for over a quarter of the game Trey played at an 80 point pace by himself.  When the tears fell on the Purdue sideline, Michigan had walked away with a 5 point win. 

Last night has left me with the question of: will the real Wolverines please stand up?  If you combine parts of the last two road games, the numbers are as impressive as they are depressing.  In 30 minutes against the hapless Nittany Lions, Michigan posted a +15 point differential.  If you add in 20 minutes from last night (first 10 and last 10), that margin inflates to +44.  The problem is that 80 total minutes were played, and in the final 10 against Penn State the Wolverines were outscored by 21.  Not to be outdone by one bad team, the Boilermakers posted a 24 point advantage in the middle 20 minutes of the game.  But the most confusing stat could just be the sheer amount of points conceded.  The Nittany Lions are the 11^th best offense in the Big Ten (or 2^nd worse), yet they managed to score 84 points against the maize and blue.  Then Michigan bounced back with its best defensive performance of the season against Michigan State, holding the 3^rd best offense to just 57 points.  Finally, last night the Boilermakers entered the contest burning up the nets at a clip good enough for 10^th best in the conference, but broke through for 75.  The Wolverines have some glaring problems on the defensive end of the floor, but the frustrating part is they have shown the ability to be decent defensive team.  Who knows which team will show up on Sunday against Indiana, or moving forward into the postseason?

But a win is still a win, and all of the team’s goals are still within their reach.  There are encouraging aspects of any conference win.  Of course I could spend the rest of the post raving about Trey Burke, but there were a few other special performances as well.  As much as ESPN is helping to build Oladipo’s national POY resume, Burke is not only the most valuable player to any team but also the best.  Could you imagine this kid in an Ohio State uniform getting to pass the ball to Thomas, what about Indiana with Zeller and Watford, or Michigan State with Harris, Payne, and Nix?  No offense to Aaron Craft, Yogi Ferrell, or Keith Appling but any of those teams would have run away with the conference at this point.  I think he is getting a little bit of a Miguel Cabrera treatment right now in that everyone has higher expectations for this kid than any other player, and most aren’t that impressed when he just simply meets them.  It is scary that a normal game is 19 points on 11 shots, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 turnovers.  That seems like an unfair expectation for any college player, let alone a sophomore.  I was also impressed with how Nik Stauskas played.  He had a nice shiner from the UFC-like elbow from Dawson, yet played arguably his best game.  Of course he shot the ball pretty well, but I was more impressed with the confidence in driving to the hoop.  I wouldn’t have faulted him for wanting to stay on the perimeter and avoid contact after leaving the left side of his face on someone else’s elbow.  Instead, he attacked the hoop time and again, and he did it with a lot of success.  He finished with 17 points, but I think he got some of his swagger back, which is just in time for the biggest game of the season.  Lastly, I liked how Spike Albrecht played last night.  While he only scored 2 points, being able to play both him and Burke together has been an effective lineup.  It allows Burke to play off the ball, which gives Michigan the chance to run more plays for the best player.  Spike handled the full court press well and did a good job initiating the offense.  It could be a lineup to look for more against Indiana as they play with both Hulls and Ferrell. 

The Big Ten season comes down to the next 4 days where there are numerous different outcomes still possible.  For Michigan fans, all that matters is the Sunday afternoon game against the Hoosiers.  Win it and clinch the regular season title for a 2^nd straight year.  I am just interested to see which Wolverine team shows up.

Michigan High School Basketball Future Prospects

The state of Michigan is looking to become a hotbed of basketball prospects again.  There are a number of solid Division 1 players in the 2013 class, and I have spent quite a bit of time highlighting the top 5 or 6 individuals.  Today I want to look at the talent in the next 3 classes, and give some current projections for how each player’s game will translate to the next level. 

Class of 2014

1.       Edmund Sumner 6’3” Combo guard Detroit Country Day

Sumner reminds me a little bit of a Caris LeVert type basketball player.  He has decent length, and is most dangerous with the ball in his hands.  The problem is that he is rail thin; even smaller than LeVert when he got on campus in Ann Arbor.  Sumner has an average jump shot, and does most of his work in transition and mid-range.  He can finish at the rim better than expected.  In his last summer of high school he needs to put on weight and add as much strength as possible.  If he can do that, Sumner might be the next DCD player in line for Mr. Basketball.  At this point he is receiving some interest from Michigan and Michigan State, but he seems more like a second option if their top priorities choose other schools (Devin Booker for Michigan).

2.       A.J Turner 6’6” Combo guard Warren De La Salle

Turner burst onto the recruiting scene at the beginning of this season, especially after he outplayed Drake Harris in their head to head matchup.  There is a lot to like about Turner’s game.  He was asked to play point guard for his team this year, and his ball handling skills really improved by the end of the season.  Turner does a good job at creating his own shot, and is learning how to set up his teammates.  He is expected to keep growing a few more inches, and could be a very poor man’s Kevin Durant type player.  Turner will need to continue to get stronger, improve his handling, and work on his quickness.  Michigan coaches have been at a few DLS games this year to see Turner in action, but it seems like there are higher priorities for the Wolverines.  I personally question whether Turner’s athleticism would translate into the Big Ten.  I think he could be a dangerous player in a smaller conference like the A10, Conference USA, and would be dominant in the MAC level. 

3.        Justin Tillman 6’7” Power Forward Detroit Pershing

Tillman is the Doughboy’s main inside presence, and he is a pretty good secondary option to Walker and Felder.  He is more athletic than most big men he has played against this year.  For example, Louisiana Tech commit Leo Edwards struggled to keep up with Tillman.  The problem is that top tier Division 1 schools aren’t looking for 6’7” power forwards.  Michigan currently uses GRIII at the 4, but he is basically another wing on the floor and not a true power forward.  Tillman will have to improve his ball handling and shooting dramatically to get a serious look from the Big Ten.  I see Tillman as a very good pickup for an in-state MAC team because he would add decent size and improve the front court’s athleticism. 

4.       Darrell Davis 6’4” Combo Guard Detroit Douglass

Davis is a crafty slashing combo guard that has led Douglass to a very good season.  He is a prototypical Detroit-style player, extremely aggressive and unafraid on both ends of the floor.  But at this point he is far from being a polished basketball player.  If Davis improves his outside shooting and ball handling he could be a sleeper prospect in the state.  Davis has recently garnered some interest from Michigan, and was on campus last weekend.  It is clear the Wolverines are looking for a combo guard type player, and with three spots open they could be looking for 2.  If Booker falls through, it could be a battle between Davis and Sumner as to which one will be offered.  At this point I think Davis will end up somewhere in Division 1, but likely a similar place as the first 3 players. 

Class of 2015

1.       Eric Davis 6’3” Combo Guard Saginaw Arthur Hill

I listed Davis as a combo guard because he is only a sophomore and will probably grow a couple of inches before graduating.  He plays point guard for the Lumberjacks, but gets moved between the 1 and 2 in the AAU circuit.  Davis blew up last summer, and is widely considered one of the top sophomores in the country.  He is extremely skilled and polished for being 15 or 16.  During the basketball season he has focused on being a distributing point guard, but Davis can put on a show if he is asked to score.  He has great range with his jumper and is big enough to finish in the lane.  Like any sophomore, Davis will need to continue to get stronger and add some weight.  The early rankings have Davis as one of the top 15 players and could be in line for 5 stars.  Nearly every school has shown some interest (Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, Kentucky, NC State, etc).  Expect him to get an offer this summer from Coach Beilein.

2.       Trevor Manuel 6’9” Power Forward Lansing Sexton

If Sexton continues their dominance in Class B it will likely be on the shoulders of Manuel.  He is a stretch power forward that has shown some success at knocking down the 12-15 foot jumper.  Manuel might be one of the more athletic bigs you will see in high school, but he has a tendency to get pushed out to the perimeter.  I think Manuel should work on playing with more physicality, aggression, and become a post presence first with the ability to knock down a jump shot.  Currently he is the 2^nd best player in the class and will get some major Division 1 interest. With Michigan taking a stretch four in the 2013 class, Manuel could get some look from the coaching staff if he has another good summer. 

3.       Bakari Evelyn 5’11” Point Guard Southfield Christian

Evelyn has dominated Michigan’s smallest class the past two basketball seasons, and will likely continue to over the next two.  He is a skilled scoring guard this year but was the main distributor last season.  He is a smooth ball handler and floor general, but it is little difficult to analyze him against the lack of competition.  It will be interesting to see how he performs in the AAU season and also if he camps at any colleges this summer. Evelyn will need to continue to improve his strength and work on his quickness.  Michigan coaches have been to a couple of Southfield Christian games this year, but if he doesn’t grow a few inches I am not sure if his speed/quickness is at an elite level to fill the impressive point guard line Michigan is currently producing.

Class of 2016

1.       Josh Jackson 6’6” Combo Guard Detroit Consortium

Yes, I know these are just freshmen that I am breaking down now, but Michigan has a pair of impressive guards.  It is looking like these two prospects could be the most recruited combo out of Detroit since Jalen Rose and Chris Webber. Jackson is a do-everything type guard for one of the state’s best team.  While teammate Vincent Hunter (UTEP) fills the stat sheet, Jackson facilitates that.  Watch out for the next three years when he is the number one scoring option.  He currently plays the 1-4 for Consortium, and will likely project to a wing player.  If you are familiar with Michigan recruiting, think Zak Irvin, but possibly with better ball handling ability.  Jackson can score in any number of ways from running the fast break, attacking the hoop off the dribble, set jump shot, or shooting off the dribble.  After the talented 2013 class graduates, Jackson likely becomes the best player in the entire state. He is, or will be, recruited by any team that wants an NBA lottery pick potential type player: everyone.

2.       Cassius Winston 6’0” Point Guard Detroit U of D Jesuit

On top of having a sweet name, Winston is likely to be one of the best point guards to come through Michigan in quite some time.  He was arguably the MVP of the Detroit Catholic League as a freshman.  Winston has everything you look for in a point guard; extremely smart, good ball handler, can make his teammates better, and can create his own shot.  While Jackson will get most of the publicity for the next three years, Winston has the makings of an elite talent as well.  He will need to get stronger as his high school career progresses and improve his outside shot.  I know this is a long ways away, but the 2016 Mr. Basketball race should be the best rivalry since Jason Richardson and LaVell Blanchard in 1999. 

Big Ten Tournament Seeding Outlook

The Big Ten regular season crown is still up in the air after Indiana was unable to protect home court last night against Ohio State.  It looks like the race will come down to the final day of the season to finally determine which team wins America’s toughest basketball conference.  This brings up the confusing question of Big Ten Tournament seeding positions.  While there are so many different results in the next 5 days, hopefully I can shed light on the current situation and maybe give some rooting interests for you. It is pretty straightforward if Indiana wins their last remaining game at Michigan.  The Hoosiers would clinch the number one seed as they would win the conference outright for the first time since 1993.  Let’s take a look at the battle of the 2-5 seeds and if Indiana happens to lose in Ann Arbor.

Let’s start with our dear Wolverines.  If Michigan finishes the season 0-2 they will almost be guaranteed the 5 seed.  Their only hope of snagging the 4 seed would be if Michigan State also loses both of their final games (against Wisconsin and Northwestern), and the Wolverines would own the tiebreaker with their win over Minnesota and Michigan State going 1-1 against the Gophers.  Ok, so that’s the most depressing news.  After the maize and blue lost to Penn State last week, I am not going to take any game for granted, but I do not have a problem doing it for other teams.  So I am going to say it is say to assume that both Michigan State and Wisconsin will win their weekend games (Northwestern and @ Penn State).  If Michigan manages to go 1-1 in this stretch with a win over Purdue and a loss to the Hoosiers, the 5 seed will again be waiting the Wolverines unless Michigan State loses to Wisconsin on their home floor.  Now, the more fun part, if Michigan finds a way to win both games this week they cannot be any worse than the 4 seed, and most likely would be the 3 seed.  The Wolverines only shot at sliding all the way up to the number 2 seed would be if Wisconsin loses in East Lansing and Ohio State loses against Illinois. 

Wisconsin is the only team outside of Indiana that has a chance at the number 1 seed still.  The Badgers will, of course, need to win their remaining two games and have Michigan take care of business at home on Sunday.  If Indiana closes out with a win, the best the Badgers can be is the 2 seed.  However, if Wisconsin loses in East Lansing tomorrow night they most likely would slide down to the 4 or 5 seed regardless of what happens in Ann Arbor.  Their best case scenario if they lose against Michigan State would be a 3 seed if both OSU and Michigan also lose games this week. 

Ohio State will wrap up the 2 seed if there is a 4-way tie on top of the standings.  The Buckeyes will likely fall to the 4 or 5 with a loss against Illinois over the weekend.  Their worst case scenario, if they finish with a win, would be a 3 seed.  Their best case scenario, if they finish with a loss, will be a 3 seed.  Ohio State would need both Michigan State and Michigan to lose again though.

If Michigan State shares the championship, the best seed they could grab would be the 3 seed.  However, if the cards fall right for the Spartans, they would wind up the 2 seed if Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Michigan all lose again.  The best case scenario, if they lose, would be the 4 seed if Michigan loses twice or both Michigan and Ohio State lose over the weekend.  The worst case scenario, if they win out, would be the 4 seed. 

At this point, it still too early to really tell where your team will end up without making some big assumptions.  This year’s Big Ten is so difficult that I don’t think there is much advantage over being any of the 2-4 seeds, and even playing Iowa on Friday could present some problems for most teams.  I am just hoping that Michigan can find a way to win out, and let the seeding be sorted out as it may.    

Michigan State Recap

Michigan got back to its winning ways on Sunday afternoon with a much needed victory over rival Michigan State.  The Wolverines found a way to win the game even without playing anywhere near their peak efficiency.  Michigan escaped with a 58-57 win to keep their slim Big Ten championship hopes alive, and more importantly, the win hopefully stopped the downward spiral the team has been on for the past 3 weeks.

The Wolverines were held under 1ppp for the 2^nd time against Michigan State this season, but they picked up their defensive intensity so much that Michigan still was on the winning side.  While it was not the prettiest, or easiest, win of the season, good teams need to find ways to grind out W’s.  Especially a team like Michigan whose toughness has been questioned time and again.  It was a bizarre stat line from Sunday’s game because the Wolverines finished 0-12 from the 3 point line; it was the first game since 1999 that a Michigan team was held without a triple.  The maize and blue also outscored the bigger, post-oriented, Spartans inside the paint.  Trey Burke again put the Wolverines on his back and willed the win.  For anyone that thought Appling is the best point guard in the state of Michigan, Burke should have quieted any questions.  The soon to be lottery pick completely outplayed the well-seasoned Spartan veteran in every aspect.  Appling could not stay in front of Burke and had to use hand checks and holds to even stay near him.  Luckily the refs called some of these efforts as fouls, but realistically could have called dozens more.  Burke went back to having one of his “normal” games with a 4 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, collected 4 huge defensive rebounds, and upped his on ball defense to the tune of 5 steals.  That is an Aaron Craft-type number.  On top of all this, Michigan played 36 minutes without its best perimeter shooter (Stauskas) and had to rely on 170 pound Caris LeVert, who up until December was expected to be redshirted.  Tim Hardaway couldn’t shoot his way out of his slump, and it even manifested itself when he attacked the hoop.  He missed 3 of the teams 7 missed layups in the game.  Michigan had a double digit lead around the 8 minute mark of the 2^nd half even with struggling at the hoop and from their patented three point shot.  Just think how impressive this game could have been if Michigan made 3 deep shots (still almost 15% under their average) and only missed 3 layups.  The Wolverines would have almost copied what Michigan State did in East Lansing. 

Michigan played one of its best defensive games on the season, and if they can mimic that intensity for the rest of the season, the Wolverines are once again Final Four contenders.  Michigan rotated to help defense quicker and more smoothly, they even collected 7 offensive fouls on the Spartans.  Most notably, Glenn Robinson III stood in for 2 charges himself, the first in over a month.  This is how the Wolverines need to defend the hoop because they have no dominant shot blockers.  As mentioned above, Burke led the way in the effort department with his best on ball defense of the season.  He was active, instead of reactive and forced Appling where Trey wanted him to go instead of running alongside his back hip.  Caris LeVert offered a huge step up defensively over Stauskas.  His length and instincts really affected Gary Harris.  However, there is still room for improvement, Michigan State rebounded half of their misses (19 offensive rebounds) for 28 second chance points.  The first shot defense was the best of the season, and if they can also dominate the defensive glass like they did early in the season, Michigan could win games with their defense.  Even with a lot of easy second chance opportunities, the Spartans were still only able to shoot 36% on the afternoon.  The interior defense was much tougher and physical with the bigs from Michigan State, and Coach Beilein even played a 2 post lineup for stretches of the game.  While Morgan’s presence didn’t seem to help much in Happy Valley, it was clearly evident on Sunday.  Derrick Nix was limited to 2-9 shooting with 6 turnovers, much different than his dominant game in East Lansing.

I keep wondering if any of these gut wrenching losses would drop the team to rock bottom and have the player leaders to step up and change the attitude, but maybe the Penn State one actually accomplished this.  The first loss of the season in Columbus seemed to wake up the team for a few weeks, but the buzzer beating half-court shot in Wisconsin seemed to just deflate the Wolverines.  The embarrassing blow-out loss in East Lansing didn’t even seem to wake the giant.  I personally thought if losing that badly to a rival couldn’t inspire an attitude change on defense then nothing could.  I will still wait to see how focused Michigan will be, for all 40 minutes, when they head to West Lafayette. 

Big Ten Update

The entire college basketball season has been unpredictable, but last week 11 of the top 12 teams lost at least once.  The Big Ten was in the middle of those upsets as Indiana and Michigan fell to unranked teams, and Michigan State lost its third game in a row.  It has become impossible to predict the B1G tournament seeding, even with only a week remaining.  One thing is known for sure is that there will be some tie-breaker needed to determine the top 5 teams.  It could be a four way tie for first place, 2 way tie for second, or 3 way tie for third. 

1.       Indiana (no change)

The Hoosiers fell at Minnesota on Tuesday night, but I am keeping Indiana in the top spot because the next three teams couldn’t keep the up the pressure.  Another week has gone by in the B1G and the Hoosiers still have a 2 game lead in the conference.  They can wrap up an outright championship with a win at home over Ohio State.  Indiana will then travel to Ann Arbor to close the regular season. 

2.       Michigan State (no change)

This is tough for me to keep the Spartans in this spot after losing 3 games in a row, but I am still not sold on Michigan’s comeback and Wisconsin and Ohio State are just a tier below.  Michigan State couldn’t beat Michigan on the road, even though the Wolverine’s weren’t even close to playing their most efficient game of the season.  It would be interesting to see this matchup again on a neutral floor.  The Spartans now need to rebound with a win at home over Wisconsin, and then finish the season with Northwestern.  It seems likely that Michigan State will finish 13-5 for the 2^nd straight season.

3.       Michigan (no change)

The Wolverines had their worst defensive performance of the season, and in recent memory, at Penn State, but they managed to bounce back with a much needed win over Michigan State.  I am interested to see how focused this team is when they head to Purdue on Wednesday.  There was a lot not to like about both games this week, but at least they picked up another win against another top 5 conference team.  The Wolverines will likely need two wins this week to avoid falling into the 5^th seed.

4.       Ohio State (up 1)

The Buckeyes still have an outside shot at sharing the regular season conference crown, but they have a tough upcoming week and will still need some help from Michigan.  Ohio State plays Indiana tonight in Bloomington.  A win for the Hoosiers would wrap up an outright title, but a win for the Scarlet and Grey would keep the 4 way tie atop the standings alive.  Ohio State will then finish up the season with Illinois.   

5.       Wisconsin (down 1)

The Badgers choked against Purdue at home on Sunday which allowed me to lower them on the power rankings.  I don’t like Bo Ryan and I don’t respect this year’s Wisconsin team.  They are definitely a team that I want a rematch with in the conference tournament.  The Badgers close out the season with road games against Michigan State and Penn State.  It will be a battle in this last week for the 4 and 5 seed as everyone will want to avoid playing on Thursday in the conference tournament and avoid Indiana’s half of the bracket.  

6.       Minnesota (up 1)

The Gophers jump Illinois just because of the nature of their two wins last week.  They punched Indiana in the mouth and just out-toughed them.  It was a fun game to watch because Zeller looked intimidated by Mbakwe all game, especially after one of the best blocks you will ever see. Minnesota then came back and pummeled Penn State over the weekend.  It looks like Tubby Smith has his team playing better basketball, and will be a team nobody wants to play in the B1G or NCAA tournament.

7.       Illinois (down 1)

Illinois is still trending up, and they are locks for the NCAA tournament.  The Illini have two more chanced to bolster their resume with games against Iowa and Ohio State.  If they can go 2-0 again, Illinois could be moving up towards even a 5 seed in the big dance.  This year’s conference tournament will be interesting because the likely 6 and 7 seeds are going to be playing some of their best basketball, but the top 5 teams will want the opening day bye.  No matter how the seeding falls, it looks like all Friday matchups are going to be very tough.

8.       Purdue (up 1)

The Boilermakers went into Madison and easily beat a Wisconsin team still playing for a conference championship.  The Boilermakers continue to improve.  Even though this is not one of Matt Painter’s most talented teams, it has to be one of his best coaching jobs.  The Boilers welcome Michigan at home on Wednesday and then Minnesota on Saturday, where winning both games could put them in the 7 seed and avoid playing Indiana for the third time this season.

9.       Iowa (down 1)

The Hawkeyes were without starting point guard Gessel on Saturday night and it showed.  Iowa turned the ball over close to 30% of their possessions and never got into any offensive rhythm.  Iowa still could win both games this week, but at this point it looks like they will be playing in the 8/9 game on Thursday.

10.   Nebraska (no change)

Nebraska is definitely playing better right now, but it doesn’t really matter because they are so much less talented than the top 9 teams that the Huskers will struggle to win a conference tournament game.

11.   Northwestern (no change)

Northwestern is trending down, and in a hurry.  They get to play Penn State to avoid crashing to the bottom spot.  The Wildcats kept the game close against Ohio State, but they just couldn’t score enough points to come out with the win. 

12.   Penn State (no change)

Well the Nittany Lions finally won their first conference game, unfortunately.  They are still playing hard and will probably beat Northwestern this week.  They have wrapped up the 12 seed for the conference tournament, so the Wolverines might get a chance for some payback.

MHSAA Basketball Power Rankings

Now that the high school basketball regular season has come to a close, let’s take a look at the state’s top teams in each class.  Unfortunately the MHSAA is not able to seed teams to try to get a number 1 vs 2 matchup in the championship games, so I will try to predict when the top teams will actually meet in the tournament. 

Class A:
1. Romulus, 19-1
I know the Eagles’ only loss came at the hands of the number 2 team, Pershing, but since that loss Romulus has won 18 games in a row and most haven’t been close.  Romulus has played the 3^rd toughest schedule of any team in the state, with wins over Robichaud, Sexton, Community, Douglass, Indianapolis Cathedral, Country Day, Arthur Hill, Rochester, and Saginaw.   The last two were 30+ point victories. The Eagles are led by 4 players that have received Division 1 interest: EC Matthews, Jalon Plummer, Leo Edwards, and Wes Clark.

2. Detroit Pershing, 20-0
The Doughboys have gone through their relatively difficult schedule unscathed.  Anytime the PSL champion escapes undefeated it is a special year.  Pershing is led by Martez Walker, Justin Tillman, and Mr. Basketball finalist Khalil Felder.  They have wins over Romulus, Consortium, Western International, Community, Chandler Park, Douglass twice, Southeastern, Beecher, Cass Tech, and U of D Jesuit. 

3. Rochester Adams, 20-0
The Highlanders are a senior-laden squad that has mowed down their competition this season.  While they don’t have the Division 1 talent of the two teams above them, they play great team basketball.  Adams has wins over Clarkston and Rochester twice. 

Honorable mention: U of D Jesuit 17-3, Arthur Hill 17-3, Saginaw 17-3, and Detroit Cass Tech 17-3
Playoff Outlook: Romulus and Pershing should meet for the second time in the quarterfinals (3/22).  Adams wouldn’t meet another ranked team until the semi-finals (Saginaw/ Arthur Hill).  U of D Jesuit and Cass Tech will have to get past Pershing before regionals are even finished.

Class B:
1. Detroit Country Day, 17-3
The Yellow jackets are clearly the team to beat in class B again this season.  Country Day has played the state’s 2^nd toughest schedule and still have a great record.  While Kurt Keener is used to coaching incredible college talent (Chris Webber, Shane Battier, and Ray McCallum just to name a few) and many McDonald’s All-Americans, this year’s squad is extremely balanced.   The Yellow Jackets have wins over Southfield Lathrup, Southfield Christian, Walled Lake Western, Lake Orion, Inter-City Baptist, Arthur Hill, East English Village, and Western International. 

2. Stevensville Lakeshore, 20-0
The Lancers are looking for a return trip to the Breslin, but hopefully with a different result than last year.  Lakeshore finished with an unblemished record in one of the toughest conferences in west Michigan.  Their wins include: Benton Harbor twice, St. Joseph twice, Kalamazoo Central twice, and Niles twice.

3. Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy, 17-3
Harper Woods is definitely less talented than the two teams above them, but they also have the best player in the class and possibly the state (Derrick Walton).  The Eagles have quality wins over Cass Tech, Rochester, Toledo Rogers, and Hyde Park.  Their losses have come to Southeastern, Pershing and Saginaw.

Honorable mention: Godwin Heights 18-2, Dowagiac 18-2, Lansing Sexton 14-6, and Dearborn Heights Robichaud 15-5
Playoff Outlook: Country Day should meet up with Chandler Park in the regional semifinals.  Lakeshore will play Dowagiac in the district opener, but then should cruise to the quarterfinals where they should meet Godwin Heights. 

Class C:
1. Detroit Consortium, 15-4
Consortium has been through a tough season.  Al Anderson, their head coach, collapsed and passed away after a game just a few weeks ago.  On top of that, they have played the state’s toughest schedule. It will be interesting to see if the Cougars can rally together through the playoffs.  Consortium is led by Mr. Basketball finalist Vincent Hunter and all-everything freshman Josh Jackson.  The Cougars have wins over Douglass, Hyde Park, Country Day, and Robichaud.

2. Flint Beecher, 19-1
The Bucs are looking for their 4^th straight trip to the Breslin Center.  They are the most experienced team in the entire state at this point.  Even though they didn’t play as tough of a schedule as Consortium, Beecher will be a tough out in the postseason.  The Bucs are led by Mr. Basketball Finalist Monte Morris, and everything just flows through him.  Beecher has quality wins over Goodrich twice, Powers Catholic, Inkster, and Flint Northwestern.   

3. Melvindale AB&T, 18-1
The Gators are back to being one of the top teams in Class C.  They are clearly a little under the top two teams, but still very talented.  AB&T is led by Devonte Brooks who was a freshman on their state championship team.  Their quality wins have come against Assumption, Westside Christian, Denby, and Muskegon Heights. 

Honorable Mention: Muskegon Heights 16-3, Traverse City St. Francis 20-0, Calvin Christian 18-2, and Flint Hamady 19-1
Playoff Outlook: Consortium should meet Beecher in the quarterfinal round, if they can get past AB&T in the regionals.  Muskegon Heights should match up with Calvin Christian in the regionals and the winner would likely meet Traverse City St. Francis in the semifinals.

Class D:
1. Wyoming Tri-Unity, 18-2
The Defenders are primed to make another deep run in the playoffs.  If you have followed high school basketball at all, you are probably sick of hearing their name.  They some of the biggest schools in the Grand Rapids area, yet somehow still only have 2 losses.  They are loaded with big strong bodies that will make it difficult for the smaller east side teams to compete with.  Tri-Unity has quality wins over: Jenison, Forest Hills Central, Hudsonville, Fennville, Covenant Christian, and Zeeland East. 

2. Southfield Christian, 15-4
The defending Class D state champion has played the toughest schedule in the class, and has passed through with an impressive record.  They are led by star sophomore Bakari Evelyn.  The Eagles have wins over Orchard Lake St. Mary, Southfield, Community, and Inter-City Baptist.  

3. Allen Park Inter-City Baptist, 16-4
The Chargers have been knocking on the door of being elite in Class D for the past few seasons, and this could be the year that they find themselves heading to the Breslin Center.  Inter-City has wins over Southfield Christian and Westside Christian.  While their schedule is lacking the marquee names of the teams in front of them, they have played the Eagles tough twice this season. 

Honorable Mention:  Cedarville 19-1, Lansing Christian 17-3, Sacred Heart Academy 17-2, and Climax Scotts 19-1
Playoff Outlook: Inter-City Baptist should play Southfield Christian in the regional finals and the winner could meet Climax in the quarters and SHA in the semifinals. 

Statewide:
1. Romulus
2. Detroit Pershing
3. Detroit Consortium
4. Detroit Country Day
5. Flint Beecher

Michigan Mr. Basketball Final Update

The finalists were announced for the Michigan Mr. Basketball award yesterday, and there was one glaring surprise.  It is one of the deepest years top end high school talent around the state, so it makes sense that there were a few snubs.  With the recent announcement of McDonald's All-Americans, the award order has changed.  Even though there were only 5 finalists, I will expand my analysis out to 6 note-worthy players.  

6. Vincent Hunter Detroit Consortium Class C, committed to UTEP

The 6’7” wing has led Consortium to the favorites in Class C.  Hunter finished the season averaging 28 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, 4 steals.  While freshman Josh Jackson might get most of the college coach interest, Hunter is the clear leader of the team.  It is a shame he was left off of the final balot, and UTEP should be pretty excited to be getting this guy.  He has expanded his game to the perimeter more this season, and in games where he can knock down a few early jump shots Hunter might be the most unguardable offensive player in the state.  Maybe leading his team to a state championship will make up for this snub.

5. Dontel Highsmith Dowagiac, Class B, committed to Northern Illinois
The 6'2" point guard is the tallest player on Dowagiac's team.  The 4 year starter has been wowing west side fans and coaches each season, which explains his nomination for this award.  He has led the Tigers to one semifinal appearance, and is hoping to make it back this season.  Dontel is averaging 28.5 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals per game.  These are pretty gaudy stats, but he does play in a pretty weak conference.  Highsmith has gone over 30 points 11 times this season.  His shooting range extends to 25 feet, and he is quicker than most people that try to man him up.  Highsmith has really improved as a leader and at attacking the rim, which explains his double digit rebounding.  The problem I have with this selection is that Highsmith rarely exerts himself on defense.  If he did his stats would be even more astounding.  However, I definitely think he will be a fun player to watch for 4 years in the MAC.

4. Khalil Felder Detroit Pershing Class A, committed to Oakland

The 5’9” point guard has anchored an experienced Doughboy team all season, and according to his coaches should be the 'hands-down winner of this award.'  The problem is that he doesn't have the name recognition, which is what this award is all about.  He hasn't taken his team on a deep postseason run, or will be playing for Michigan or Michigan State next season, or has not been recognized as a McDonald's All-American.  Felder is averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals.  If Pershing is going to win a state championship, Felder will be the reason why.  I am very excited to see how he fits into the fast paced Oakland system, because this young man could be a star in the Summit League. Personally, I think if Felder was 2 or more inches taller, he would be one of the premier point guard recruits in the country.

3. Monte Morris Flint Beecher Class C, committed to Iowa State

This is where the order has changed.  The top 3 candidates should be pretty close in the voting, but the remaining two players have more publicity.  Man Man has averaged 25 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 5 steals and he has led his Beecher team to a 19-1 record.  He is trying to put himself onto the small list of players to lead teams to 4 straight final four weekends.  I absolutely love Morris' game as he cares more about winning and getting his teammates involved than loading the stat line.  The Bucs play in a weak conference where Man Man could average 30 points or more, but in most games he will not even attempt a shot until the 2nd quarter.  I am really looking forward to the potential matchup with Josh Jackson of Consortium in the quarterfinals.  Looking forward to college, I am not sure if Morris has the speed/ quickness to keep up with the top end Division 1 guards, but he definitely has the all around game, size, and basketball IQ to make him a very solid contributor on the next level. 

2. Derrick Walton Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy Class B, committed to Michigan

Walton stays at number 2 in my book only because of the McDonald's All-American nomination for Young.  I think Derrick Walton is most college ready player in the state of Michigan, but Young ultimately has the higher ceiling.  He is averaging 27 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and 6 steals. The thing that impresses me most about Derrick is that each offseason he has improved a different area of his game.  He has always been a solid jump shooter, but has extended his range.  He has improved at setting up teammates, attacking the rim, pressure defense, finishing around the hoop, and not forcing things.  Most likely Derrick will be the starting point guard in Ann Arbor at some point next year, and while he is not Trey Burke, I expect him to be very successful.   

1. James Young Rochester Class A, committed to Kentucky

The 6'7" scoring machine recently accepted the nomination to be a McDonald's All-American, and with that the publicity and name recognition has exploded.  Young's ceiling is pretty incredible, but right now he seems to be just scratching the surface.  He is rated as the number 6 player in the country, yet freshman Josh Jackson is a more must-watch player already.  Young averaged 29 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks.  Currently he is battling a calf injury that could keep him out of the districts, which might leave the door open for Derrick Walton to make a push for Mr. Basketball.  Young has a smooth jump shot, great leaping ability, good body control, and is able to finish at the rim with ease.  He will be scary in a Kentucky uniform if he can commit himself to the defensive end of the floor.  With the right coaching, Young could end up being a lottery pick in the NBA draft. 

I personally think the Mr. Basketball award is close to being wrapped up by James Young.  There is a chance that the injury gives Walton a small chance though.  At this point in time, Walton is doing more, with less, to help his team win basketball games.  With Highsmith getting the bulk of the west side coaches votes he could be a surprise candidate as well.  If I was able to choose the winner, I would go with Monte Morris who has put Flint Beecher on his back for 4 years and has a chance to play on the Breslin floor in each one.  Since this race is so close between the top three I would grade them by career accomplishments, and Man Man is the only one with a state championship already.