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| OAKLAND’S TOP 20 TEAMS AT CAMP by Craig Wind/insideprepsports.net/recruiting analyst 6/27/06 It was a great weekend at Oakland University! Greg Kampe and his staff, Jeff Smith and Jon Borovich are to be commended for good teams, great organization, and air-conditioning of course. Now here are the TOP 20 teams for this past weekend: <20> DeWitt – They’re tough and well coached and play hard. Sam Celentino leads the way as a 6-5 rising junior as a power forward. This is EK High (Erik Kangas) and a nice homecoming of sorts for him and DeWitt. <19> Detroit Martin Luther King – Just a mere shadow of last year’s team as head coach Benny White rebuilds the Crusaders. Flenard Whitfield is a nice building block, a 6-5 senior Dennis Rodman-esque player in the paint without the extra paint. <18> Novi – When they have all their players, as TE-DE Tyler Hoover broke his hand playing football, this team will be a mother-load in the Kensington Valley. Caleb Dean played really well at times but needs to lead by example only. <17> Grosse Pointe South – They’re licking their chops at South where the rumor mill has it that junior-to-be Melvin Malone is transferring to Southfield Lathrup. Still junior guard J C Cruse is a fine rising senior at 6-2, but without maybe a true position. <16> Okemos – Now here comes JJ High (Jon Jones) who just three months ago ran the show for Okemos and now plays for Kampe at Oakland. It’s rebuilding time for Coach Stolz, but he has a nice player inside in Anthony Ianni on which to lean at 6-9. <15> Lake Orion – If you take out Drew Maynard and Cole Moore from the mix, this team can’t be TOP 40. But with the Mustangs’ talented junior (Maynard) and OAA Select’s tough-minded senior (Moore), this is a team to be reckoned with in the OAA this year. <14> Detroit Country Day – Talk about rebuilding, there are absolutely NO post players back. They all left. Benson to Oakland and Tabets to South Alabama. But, Dee Brown is a top flight rising junior running the point and Jordan Dumars can play. <13> Saginaw Arthur Hill – This is a testament to the Lumberjack program. No Darquavis Tucker or Latreze Mushatt, both at marquee individual events. But, Tyrie Wooten is a rising junior running the show. The young guns can get it done. <14> Zeeland West – They were 21-3 in their first year of high school competition and that might be an MHSAA record of sorts. They lose their tough and talented post player (Matt Kingshott) but 6-8, 6-6, 6-6, and 6-3 returns including young bro Derek Kingshott. <11> Rockford – Clarkston gave them a butt whoopin on Saturday night but Bryan Pasciak played well as a senior guard and Mitchell Briggs got a lot done as a 6-5 junior power forward. Steve Majerle’s team will always work hard and play hard. <10> Detroit Western – This is an intriguing team. I love the upside of their senior post player Jeffrey Delva. He’s 6-8 and 220 pounds with a great body and athletic enough to get stuff done down on the low block. Desmond Sain can score as well. <9> Chippewa Valley – Kevin Voss is one of the finest coaches on the East side of Michigan. This team is big in the post but doesn’t play that way at times. Chris Lemm is a solid little junior point guard who can score and lead this team to wins IF they just play big. <8> Cedar Springs – Cedar dominated most of the weekend. But this report isn’t all about wins and losses. That’s deceiving because of who you end up playing. Austin Thorton showed he is a true mid D-1 player by scoring points and winning games he should win. <7> Detroit Northwestern – They didn’t play a boat-load of games. Friday night was a classic against Flint Southwestern, where they lost playing five on four. Eric Evans is a solid little junior point guard, probably a really nice mid D-1 fit for the right program. <6> Detroit Southeastern – Another program in a rebuilding mode. But, when you have Charles Gibson at 6-8 and 240, a junior center, not to mention a number of players not in attendance and they STILL won most of their games, Carlton Johnson is on the rise at SE. <5> Bridgport – Now this is a ‘team’ TEAM. They have four really athletic and skilled seniors who can all play at a scholarship level some day. Jeremy Sewell leads the way at the point guard position. They play very well together as seniors. <4> Clarkston – Head coach Dan Fife always finds a way to have his team play tough and gritty and determined, just like he is. Brent Berquist is also a TE-DE on the football team. At 6-6 and 230 pounds, he’s the inside presence that Fife and the Wolves need in 2007. <3> Warren De La Salle – They had a quality “W” against Bridgeport. Head coach Greg Esler has a nucleus of fine young players including sophomore 6- 8 center Kevin McCarthy. But, it will be senior Dan Fowler at the point that will be the key. Pilots on the rise. <2> Romeo – We can talk about Blake Cushingberry all day and that won’t be enough. He’s a talented rising junior at 6-3 and very very skilled. But I love the two senior post players Tom Sharples and Jake Schirmer at 6-6 and tough as nails. <1> Flint Southwestern – They won 4 on 5 against a quality club and they have a guy getting recruited by Ohio State in Anthony Crater and Demarcus Bracy and Leviante Davis inside crashing the boards and space eating. Who’s #1? FSWA. Just my opinion but I believe a good opinion. I watched everybody play at least one time, all 50+. It was a great weekend of basketball at OU. |
| G.V.S.U. TEAM CAMP A SUCCESS! by Craig Wind/insideprepsports.net/recruiting analyst 6/14/06 The games started on Friday night at Grand Valley State. Over 20 teams playing in front of head coach Ric Wesley and his staff competed on Friday and then they took Saturday morning off to take the ACT test. Academics are a priority at G.V.S.U. Then the games resumed on Saturday afternoon and culminated on Saturday night with Wyoming Godwin Heights defeating Rockford 60-48 for the championship of their ‘team camp’ event. Wesley hosts one more ‘team camp’ in two weeks, the 23 and 24 of June. Team camps don’t have ‘all tournament teams’ as such. So here’s a list of the TOP 15 players at the GVSU team camp in alphabetical order by the 2005- 2006 classification. Click here for more... |
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| Saginaw Arthur Hill Hoop Fest Roundup by Craig Wind 7/18/06 The top assistants in the college coaching world made their way to Saginaw on Saturday as Arthur Hill and Saginaw High schools hosted a one day event designed to give their players exposure to the college coaches. It worked. About 20 high schools attended, including Flint Southwestern, Flint Powers Catholic, Bridgeport, Detroit Northwestern, Detroit Finney, Romulus, and Buena Vista were among the many schools that joined the host Saginaw schools. In addition, OAA Select and Michigan Mustang 16 were AAU squads that competed during this all day event. It started at 8 am and ended about 8 pm. Head coaches also attended. Lute Olsen of Arizona, Jerry Wainright of DePaul, and Steve Hawkins of Western Michigan were on hand. Assistants from Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Penn State, Illinois, Louisville, Miami of Florida, Dayton, DePaul, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Indiana Ft Wayne, Oakland, Grand Valley State, as well as Ferris State head coach Bill Sall were all on hand watching the hoops madness. There were two games going on at a time, one at Arthur Hill and one at Saginaw. Laval Lucas Perry was one of the primary objects of attention. LLP has offers from Arizona, Michigan, and DePaul as well as others. A press conference is scheduled for 12:00 noon on Wednesday as he’ll make his announcement. Arizona is expected to be his choice. Perry did not shoot the ball well on Saturday. However all offers are still on the table and going strong. Junior point guards went head to head for the college coaches as Dominique Buckley of Romulus and Anthony Crater of Flint Southwestern competed hard against one another. This was probably the marquee game of the day. I love both juniors, they both bring something really solid to the table. The NCAA coaches did not leave disappointed with this dual of junior guards. Saginaw had their top players and coaches at Notre Dame, competing in the Golden Dome Invitational. They all play for the Michigan Mustangs. The Mustangs 17’s won the Dome tourney on Saturday night against Indiana Elite. Unfortunately, it was hard for players to be in two places at one time. We would have loved to seen Josh Southern and Dreymond Green in Saginaw on Saturday. They were winning ‘golden’ hardware at the Golden Dome instead. Next up … viva Lost Wages! The Main Event (NIKE) and Hal Pastner, the Reebok Big Time (Sonny Vaccarro), and the Adidas Super 64 in Las Vegas starting Saturday! |
| Albion Team Camp Uncovers Mystery Sophomore by Craig Wind 7/13/06 Again, Wind’s theory is clear where recruiting in Michigan and uncovering potential D-1 players in our state is concerned. It’s pretty simple. If you THINK you know where all the players are, you don’t. Meet Nic Jobe from Ida High School down by Monroe, Michigan. He may be the definition of “under the radar” in our state. Albion clarified his position as a TOP 30 player in the Class of 2009. Nic averaged 13 points per game during his freshman season at Ida High School. The team finished 13-8. Nic was honorable mention Class C All State. He’s a big 6-3 and weighs 198, also plays quarterback and starts there on the football team. Jobe stood out as a potential D-1 player against the team camp competition at Albion College’s fifth and final team camp session for 2006. Jobe has a really mature body that has ATHLETE written all over it. He’s strong and very fundamental. Shoots it and passes it very well. Knows how to play. Really tries to get everybody else on his team in the game. Almost too unselfish, I would have liked to seen him push and attack the rim more often and more aggressively. I don’t know how much he’s going to grow. But he’s so solid in every aspect that if he just keeps on developing his skills and talents, it won’t matter that he won’t grow. Nic Jobe is definitely a D-1 prospect out of the Class of 2009 from Ida, Michigan! |
| Two Teams Rebuilding by TJ Kelley/insideprepsports.net/publisher 6/17/06 Detroit M.L. King and Frankenmuth, graduated impact seniors and are both depending on rising juniors that will need more than physical ability to prove their teams belong. King won 44-40 in 40 minutes of play. The Crusaders only returning player with substantial run is 6'5 fwd Flenard Whitfield '08. He has the ability to get the boards, play tough defense in the post and mid-rage. Last years playing time may assume some leadership but, he must realize that his team needs his Varsity experience and he can give them confidence by finishing plays. He needs to go above and beyond the call of duty. The Barons' 5'11 point guard Brad Redford '08 will have to revamp his game because the double teams will be coming. If he can help any two teammates get to double digits night in night out then the window is there for a productive Frankenmuth season. I don't know of any that question his shot and very few that question his ball-handling. More of how many points will his defense create? His energy will have to find a new throttle as it did when he was playing double for the Mustangs over the AAU season. |
| "The Tom Izzo Shootout" drew in High School teams all over Michigan's lower peninsula for a 24 hour span of top-notch basketball. By TJ Kelley/insideprepsports.net/publisher 6/17/06 The selection committee did a wonderful job scheduling ensuring top teams play each other and top players square-off. One of those games was a Saturday morning game between Cedar Springs with 6'5 gd Austin Thornton and Detroit Community with 6'6 gd Chase Simon. The two AAU (Mustangs) teammates battled hard one-on-one. Simon got out of the gate early scoring 16 of his 21 points in the first half. Thornton had the last laugh scoring 25 and hitting 14 free-throws. Simon is visiting the University of Dayton in the next week. |
| Inside Prep Sports.net's Recruiting Analyst Craig Wind spotlights Godwin Heights big-bodied forward Keithan Jackson. KJ Represents at Grand Valley St. by Craig Wind 6/13/06 |
| WALLACE WHITFIELD SUMMER LEAGUE IS SOLID by Craig Wind/insideprepsports.net/ 6/19/06 Sometimes, officials get a bad rap. You see what they do on Tuesday and Friday nights but the behind the scenes stuff goes unnoticed. That’s why what Wallace Whitfield and his officiating gurus did this past weekend at Livonia Franklin High School was quite unique. Read more... |
| 2006 Eastern Michigan Team Camp by Craig Wind 6/27/06 Last weekend, while I spent the majority of my time at the Oakland camp, I took the opportunity to spend some quality time with the Eastern staff at the EMU team camp on Saturday. The teams were high quality. Detroit Cooley, Dexter, Saginaw Buena Vista, Harper Woods, Detroit Mumford, Romulus, Taylor Truman, Ann Arbor Huron, Frankenmuth, Detroit Redford, Battle Creek Central, Detroit Community and Lansing Sexton were all leading the charge among others at Eastern Michigan’s team camp. Head coach Charles Ramsey and associate head coach Derrick McDowell have really upgraded the talent level from the past few seasons. It was good stuff! It was a bit disappointing that the NBA phenom camp kept some of the best players in the state as ‘no-shows’ for the weekend. Corperrayle Harris of Redford, Paul Crosby of Holt, and Brad Redford of Frankenmuth were AWOL. But that didn’t keep the games from being played very competitively. Here’s a rundown of the Sweet 16 at EMU in alpha order: Martell Anderson, Romulus, 6-4 wing forward (2008). Every once in a while, you find a sleeper. He was a JV guy a year ago. Not any more. Nice body. Good skills. Johnny Benjamin, Dexter, 6-3 guard (2007). Left handed and very long with pretty good skills. A really nice sleeper on a Saturday afternoon. Tyrone Buchanan, Detroit Mumford, 6-4 wing forward (2007) Blessed with a really sweet shooting stroke and the body and the athlete. Looks like a D-1 player to me. Dominique Buckley, Romulus, 6-1 point guard (2008). Vastly underrated when you consider where the recruiting gurus in our state have him compared to others. Xavier Fowler, Harper Woods, 6-4 wing guard (2007). Had to play the point some because they were missing their point guards. Great size and skill. He’ll be D-1 in time. Bobby Gibson, Harper Woods, 6-8 power forward-center (2007). Really skilled to a High D-1 level. When he decides to play hard every time out, the sky’ s the limit. Colin Horn, Detroit Redford, 6-7 power forward-center (2008). Transferring from U of D Jesuit. He’s learning how to play hard all the time right now. Definitely a D-1 body. Cameron Merchant, Lansing Sexton, 6-5 320 pound center (2007). Whoa Nellie! Down in the mud and the blood with the big uglies. That’s where this future D-1 FB players excels. Dejuan Plummer, Detroit Osborn, 5-10 point guard (2007). Plays hard with good skills and his teammate help is the best it’s been in quite sometime at Osborn. Rafael Riley, Detroit Osborn, 5-10 point guard (2007). He hit big shots and had sufficient floor game as another sleeper shows that he might not be the only D- 1 prospect in the Osborn backcourt this coming season. Chase Simon, Detroit Community, 6-4 guard (2007). Long and skilled with everything it takes to be a terrific D-1 player. Dayton is in the lead. Darryl Stinson, Jackson, 6-6 power forward (2008). Strong body and knows how to play. His upside is really strong. Tremaine Sturdivant, Lansing Sexton, 6-2 guard (2007). Very quick and electric with the basketball and a very slick passer. He needs to stay eligible. Jerome Tyson, Detroit Redford, 6-0 guard (2007). When he shoots the ball well, he looks every bit the part of a D-1 guard. Plays hard, a lock-up defender, and never quits. Drew Valentine, Lansing Sexton, 6-4 wing forward (2009). Great character and really knows how to play. He needs to grow some more, but he’s just a winner. Jason Washburn, Battle Creek Central, 6-9 center (2008). He’s learning how to play the game the way Greg Williams needs it done. Long shot blocker with great upside. Craig Wind www.insidepreps.net Recruiting Analyst |
Dan Owens '07
6'3 gd
Clarkston, MI.
OAA Select 17u
6'3 gd
Clarkston, MI.
OAA Select 17u
insideprepsports.net
Charles Gibson '08
6'8 fwd
Detroit
(Southeastern), MI.
Team Michigan 16u
6'8 fwd
Detroit
(Southeastern), MI.
Team Michigan 16u
Insideprepsports.net
Tyrie Wooten '08
5'11 pg
Saginaw (Arthur
Hill), MI.
Mustangs-Watts
16u
5'11 pg
Saginaw (Arthur
Hill), MI.
Mustangs-Watts
16u
insideprepsports.net
Stephan Henning '07
5'11 pg
Rochester, MI.
OAA Select 17u
5'11 pg
Rochester, MI.
OAA Select 17u
insideprepsports.net
insideprepsports.net
Anthony Ianni '07
6'10 fwd
Okemos, MI.
A.F.E. Wizards 17u
6'10 fwd
Okemos, MI.
A.F.E. Wizards 17u
insideprepsports.net
Eric Evans '08
5'11 pg
Detroit
(Northwestern),
MI.
The Family 16u
5'11 pg
Detroit
(Northwestern),
MI.
The Family 16u
Bryan Pasciak '07
6'3 pg
Grand Rapids
Storm 17u
Rockford, MI.
6'3 pg
Grand Rapids
Storm 17u
Rockford, MI.
insideprepsports.net
| Inside Prep Sports, articles on Michigan's top players and Q&A with everybody basketball. |
insideprepsports.net
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Toryan
English '08
6' guard
Oak Park, MI.
English '08
6' guard
Oak Park, MI.
Brent
Abendroth
'08
6'2 guard
Toledo
(Ottawa
Hills), OH.
Abendroth
'08
6'2 guard
Toledo
(Ottawa
Hills), OH.
Dominque
Vaughn '08
6' guard
Lansing
(Eastern), MI.
Vaughn '08
6' guard
Lansing
(Eastern), MI.
Jordan
Deane '09
5'9 guard
Southfield-
Lathrup, MI
Deane '09
5'9 guard
Southfield-
Lathrup, MI
Kallante
Miller '09
6'3 wing
Oak Park,
MI.
Miller '09
6'3 wing
Oak Park,
MI.
Chris Jones
'10
6' guard
Saginaw
(Heritage),
MI.
'10
6' guard
Saginaw
(Heritage),
MI.
Jalen
Crawford '11
6' guard
Oak Park, MI.
Crawford '11
6' guard
Oak Park, MI.
Chene Phillips
'10
6' guard
Detroit
(Renaissance),
MI.
'10
6' guard
Detroit
(Renaissance),
MI.
Game Time
| Transition in Styles By TJ Kelley/Inside Prep Sports.net 6/13/09 The first half of the AAU season is over and high school team camps and individual camps are next on the docket for aspiring hoopers across Michigan. High School team camps allow high school coaches to tool with a new team and many times chemistry equals winning. These games are a sneak peek into the winter’s high school season. Many times these camps/games present those in the audience with glimpses of individual greatness. Those that don’t play AAU basketball are also beneficiaries as they instead compete in team camps. Read More... |
| Michigan Team Camps are Abundant By TJ Kelley/insideprepsports.net 7/23/07 Basketballs can be heard bouncing in gyms all across ‘The Mitten and the Rabbit” as high school teams join together in June and July. Think of it as a treat for high school basketball fans in the summer as underclassmen from the junior varsity or players sitting deep on the varsity bench last winter know have a time to show what they’ve got. And every now and then there is a freshman that has the ability to play on the varsity level. Read More... |
| Frankenmuth and Detroit Northwestern By TJ Kelley 6/25/07 Romulus' summer league hosted a couple of the state's best guards each other Tuesday night, Northwestern's 5'9 guard Eric Evans '08 and Frankenmuth's 6'1 guard Brad Redford '08. They didn't guard each other much and put up huge numbers in the first half, 19 a piece. Read More... |
| Eastern Michigan and Oakland U. Team Camps: Part One By TJ Kelley/www.inisdeprepsports.net 6/26/09 High Schools all across Michigan were competing in team camps all over the Great Lake State and some dipped down to the University of Toledo. Inside Preps visited two universities over the three day span. There were many revamped teams as seniors graduated, closing schools offered their best players, and a few freshmen “got some tick.” Back and forth between Eastern Michigan and Oakland universities from last Friday through Sunday was a true treat as almost 100 teams attended the two events. Inside Preps.net looks into a summer view of thirty schools from this weekends events and a look from Michigan State’s Izzo Shootout. Here’s Part I: Read More... |
| Eastern and Oakland University Team Camps: Part II By TJ Kelley/www.insideprepsports.net 6/29/07 Here’s another look at participating teams from the two camps. Thirteen more teams and a slew of players are reviewed in this early summer spotlight. Read More... |
| Part III from Eastern and Oakland Team Camps By TJ Kelley 7/26/07 Read More... |
| Michigan’s Last AAU Stop 17u By TJ Kelley/www.insideprepsports.net 7/29/07 Lansing, MI.-The MYBA Tournament at the Aim High facility just outside of Lansing furnishes five full courts and four courts were full of talent from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The tournament was limited to the 15u through 17u teams and Inside Prep Sports was able to take in the game action. Many of Michigan's intriguing players were on hand and here's a look at the play from the 17u group: Read More... |
| Michigan’s Last AAU Stop 16u By TJ Kelley/www.insideprepsports.net 7/29/07 Lansing, MI.-The MYBA Tournament at the Aim High facility just outside of Lansing furnishes five full courts and four courts were full of talent from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The tournament was limited to the 15u through 17u teams and Inside Prep Sports was able to take in the game action. Many of Michigan's intriguing players were on hand and here's a look at the play from the 16u group: Read More... |
| A report on the early October camp inYpsilanti, MI. click here... |
| Inside Prep Sports’ Flint mini-camp 10/22/07 When it comes to training, Andrew McGarry, is one of the best and Planet Hoops is well on track to become one of the top training facilities in the Mid-West. A portion of the camp was used to track player statistics such as a player’s vertical jump, shuttle run, 20 yard time, push-ups, and a two minute endurance drill. Here are the results and a full report is on the way…click here |
| The Flint Rundown By TJ Kelley/Inside Prep Sports.net 10/31/07 Flint, MI.-Inside Prep Sports continues the evaluation of Flint’s mini-camp with a break down of all participants. There was a nice blend of players ranging from 6’8-5’7 and included all four high school classes that maturity and competitiveness over the six hour session. Thanks to those at the Planet Hoops facility as well as the coaches, parents, and participants that helped make this camp a success. Coaches such as Lansing Eastern’s Rod Watts, Oak Park’s George Ward, Warren Conner Creek West’s John Hoskins, jr., and Flint Northwestern’s football coach Joe Thomas were also there to ensure another successful camp. Read More... |
| ‘07-’08 Prep Preview-Part One By TJ Kelley 11/29/07 December is near, the start of Michigan’s boys’ basketball season is less than a week away, and once again the Great Lake State possess’ some of the nation’s best talent and teams. This is part one of a four-part outlook by Inside Prep Sports on the ten top teams, ten top players, a Mr. Michigan Preview, and a preview of players on the rise. Tipping things off, expect an exciting season in Michigan where guard play, experience, chemistry, leadership, and coaching determine the champions. Enjoy an in-depth look at the top ten teams and their biggest challenges. Read More... |
| Inside Prep Sports’ Prep Preview-Part Two By TJ Kelley 12/3/07 In Part II of the Inside Prep Sports’ season preview, the top players in the state are named with player description. Included are centers, forwards, and guards. An expanded list of players, includes the state’s top emerging players, as well as the top sophomores, and a freshman. Read More... |
| Holiday Basketball Guide By TJ Kelley Inside Prep Sports.net 12/26/07 Everywhere- No matter where you are in the Great Lake State, a fan is sure to find high school basketball tournaments and showcases right within in a short driving distance. Congratulations to the competitive schedules that coaches have put together for this ‘07-08 season as many are expanding their non-conference schedule and choosing holiday showcases and tournaments exposing their team to grander stages. This year’s events continue Wednesday after Saturday’s successful “Throwdown in Motown.” Here are schedules for a dozen events in Michigan this week: Click here... |