4/18/10

Grand Rapids, MI.- The 9^th annual Grand Rapids Storm was once again a very well run tournament that grows in size every year and drew in teams from Indiana, Ohio, as well as Michigan. The tournament sites were once again solid and the Sunday playoff games were all under one roof at MVP Sports Complex on the eastern side of Grand Rapids. High major players from the 17u-15u level were on hand and provided a wonderful atmosphere for the competitor and scout in all of us.

17u Championship: King James 57 Grand Rapids Storm-Martin 33

Semis: King James over Mustangs; Grand Rapids Storm-Martin over Grady Hurricanes

16u Championship: Mustangs 49 Grady Hurricanes 33

15u Championship: MBA Select 65 Grand Rapids Storm-Mizner 52

14u Championship: Grand Rapids Storm-Zuidema 90 King James 58

Great match ups between many of Michigan's bigs in 2011 especially with King James 6'9" center Zach Price (Lakewood St. Eds and Louisville commit) playing well this weekend at the Storm Classic to serve as a litmus test.

Price got the better of the Storm's 6'10" 2011 Jason Pretzer in the 17u final and the Mustangs' 6'9" 2011 Trey McDonald and 6'8" 2011 David Lamore in the 17u semi-final. Price is a more mobile player than all three as he has the strength of Pretzer, the athleticism of McDonald, and the moves of LaMore. The lefty is also a more fluid player than the three Michigan players. There's a reason why he's a top 50 player in the country and going to Louisville.

Inside Prep Sports' most anticipated match ups was a Saturday night tournament game between REACH Legends 17u vs. Michigan Mustangs. REACH's 6'9" 2011 Jalen Reynolds vs. the Mustangs 6'9" 2011 Trey McDonald and 6'8" 2011 David Lamore. First the stats: Reynolds 4 points, 1-5 fg and 2-2 ft, 9 rebounds, and 7 blocked shots. McDonald scored 6 on 2-3 fg and 2-2 ft, 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots. LaMore scored 15 on 4-4 fg and 7-8 ft, 6 rebounds. Reynolds staked his claim as a high major player and one (like me) could argue that he's the best defender in the state as he altered at least seven field goal attempts, forced bad passes when he went on the perimeter, and secures rebounds with two hands. McDonald split many of his stats with LaMore but also took the duties of guarding Reynolds. McDonald does need to pick up some moves offensively but he did show a quick baby hook. Lamore would've picked up a lot of offers over the weekend if division one coaches were in attendance as he was far more efficient than one might expect. He mentioned Old Dominion and the University of Detroit as two schools that send him the most mail.

A Friday night pool play game between the Basketball Workshop's 6'9" 2011 Darren Washington vs. 6'8" 2012 Khaliq Spicer proved why both are and will get the high majors and mid major plus coaches watching them in July. If I'm stopping in to watch Washington work out in the next couple weeks I'm also checking in to see Spicer whose school, Dearborn Heights Robichaud, is only a half hour away from Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. Or vice versa. Washington is starting to put things together physically as his arms, legs, hands, and mind are starting to align. Washington is visiting Penn State this weekend. Spicer isn't the top big man in Michigan's 2012 class but if he grows another couple inches and keeps developing at this rapid rate then he'll be more than on the radar of Big Ten and A 10 schools.

A Saturday afternoon pool play match up between ACB Hoops' 6'8" 2011 Jared Stolicker vs. Shoreline Hoops 6'8" 2011 Shayne Powell proved worthy despite the contrast in their girth. The baby faced Stolicker's length, athleticism, and toughness were three combinations that Middleville isn't used to as they've had a nice crop of players ranging from 6'10" to 7' over the last few years. Stolicker can hit the mid range jumper but can also get out and run on the break. The bearded Powell pushes 250lbs and is mobile. He has good hands, good footwork, and uses his size well.

King James 17u 6'3" 2011 guard TJ Buchanan and the Mustangs 17u 6'3" guard/wing Dwaun Anderson met in the 17u semi-final game and despite the contrast in their styles it made for a nice a match up of top 10 players in Michigan's 2011 class. They both are strong kids, who pass well and rebound but need to work on their perimeter shot. In Anderson's defense he did show the ability to knock down some off the dribble stuff in the mid-range. Anderson is a high major athlete who wows the crowd with his dunks and playmaking skill. Buchanan doesn't provide the flash that Anderson does but who cares when the production is there. Both are high major locks if and when their perimeter shots start to fall consistently.

6'2" 2013 combo guard Lorenzo Bonnan is four-inches taller than the other highly regarded point/combo guards from Michigan's 2013 class and he's the best of them now. He put up 31 of All-Michigan 15u's 60-points in a 63-60 loss to the Mustangs 15u team. He finished at the rim on either side of the basket with the correct hand with ease. His length and athleticism are the makings of a player that should be attending some elite camps this summer. I don't see him on the 15u level much longer as he's making a case that he should be on their 17u team.