Tragedy Clouds Michigan State Camp

 

6/14/09

 

www.insideprepsports.net

 

E. Lansing, MI.- Gloom stunned Michigan State's Team Shootout Friday night and sorrow was evident as the passing of Saginaw’s Dorian Dawkins, son of Saginaw High’s head coach Lou Dawkins, spread.  Basketball’s sub-culture embraced Dorian, an incoming freshman to Saginaw High, who was also a brother, a son, a teammate, a friend too many, and so much more. 

 

Bring peace to the Dawkins family and everyone that knew Dorian.

 

Izzo Camp Upadates:

 

Holt Could be Dangerous

 

The addition of Albion’s 6’4 2010 wing Justin Edmonds could put Holt at the top of the CAAC and give Kalamazoo Central a serious challenge at the Don Johnson Field House when March rolls around.  Edmonds plays in attack mode and proves a tough match up.  5’10 2010 point guard Don Jackson is the best point-guard in the Lansing area and 6’7 2010 wing Cole Darling was All-State as a junior.  Expect success from the Rams starting in December.

 

Kalamazoo Central is the Best in the West

 

The Maroon Giants look tough and lost to the eventual tournament winner, Whitney Young (IL.) but, they return key parts to the puzzle that took them to the Class A State Championship last year.  The leader is Devin Oliver, a 6’6 2010 wing/shooting guard is finding aggression in his diverse game.  He shot the ball well, looked to throw it down when the option is there, and worked the baselines to beat defenders.  Add in 6’6 forward Darius Norman, 5’10 point guard Quay Wilson-McCants, with 6’ 3 shooting guard Terry Buchanan from the 2011 class and there’s a solid nucleus that could be around for a couple of more years.

 

Detroit Community in Class B

 

The Hurricanes had a forgettable 2008-’09 season as the talented squad won less than five games and lost their coach.  No need to fear new head coach Ray Reeves is here and he brought a solid crew from Detroit Finney with him.  6’5 2010 wing Isaiah Sykes is amongst the best in 2010 and he along with 6’3 2010 wing Terrance Jackson, 6’6 power forward Brand Williams, 6’1 2010 shooting guard Ray Reeves, and 6’ 2010 point guard Darnell Canady will make noise especially that they are out of Ray Reeves nemesis district, Grosse Pointe.

 

Balance at Cass Tech

 

6'5 2011 power forward Marlin Mason transferred to Detroit Cass Tech from Farmington Hills Harrison and he's not the only one as 5’10 2012 guards, Markus "Snoop" Franklin and Mason Cowans, are moving over from Detroit Finney.  They have a core of rising seniors that led them to the Public School League Tournament last year for the first time in the 21st century.  6’7 2010 power forward Shannon Williams, 6’7 2010 small forward Lanier Brown, 6’3 2010 guard Chris George, and 6’2 2010 wing Kem Bradshaw have the experience to upend some teams in the 2009-10 season and make noise in March.  6’6 2010 power forward Daniel Bellamy is another player that has received Division 1 looks but was absent in E. Lansing.

 

Players:

 

2010

 

6'7 2010 small forward Lanier Brown (Detroit Cass Tech) is coordinated and goes to the basket strong despite his long, lanky build.  He has bounce with the ability to knock down pull up and mid-range jumpers, which will draw Division 1 looks in July. 

 

6'2 2010 shooting guard Anthony Cannon (Detroit King) gets to the bucket with long strides and he finishes or gets to the line with efficiency.  He’s strong in the open court, has decent handles, and has good defensive footwork. 

 

6’7 2010 wing Cole Darling (Holt) handles the ball as well as any player in Michigan’s 2010 class, 6’6 and taller.  He adds bounce to a long frame and does a lot of things well.  Adding muscle and size are Darling’s needs.  Darling has offers from the University of Detroit-Mercy and Oakland U.

 

6'2 2010 shooting guard Demetrius Henderson (Benton Harbor) plays with a lot of energy and is a diverse guard who gets after it on either end of the court. In MSU's auxiliary gym, he knocked down a three and hustled down court to pick off a wayward pass immediately after.

 

6’4 2010 shooting guard Josh Herbeck (Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard) has nice size and likes to shoot the three. Similar to most shooters, he had his times where he couldn’t miss.  Herbeck’s pump fakes got him by defenders where he pulled up and knocked down the mid-range jumper.

 

6'9 2010 center Jon Horford (Grand Ledge) word is his list is down to Michigan St., Florida, Wake Forest, Miami (FL.), and Alabama with a decision to be made by the end of the summer.  He covers a lot of ground in the post and the weight room will be his friend over the years.

 

6'6 2010 shooting guard Juwan Howard (Detroit Persing) is on his way to Mid-Major Plus offers and maybe more as his perimeter shooting is amongst the best in Michigan.  He handles the bell well enough to play the two.  He has a solid basketball IQ and needs to improve his foot speed defensively.

 

6'3 2010 shooting guard/small forward Dyland Hughes (Kalamazoo Central) has the green light from Maroon Giants’ Head Coach Mike Thomas and Hughes proved efficient Friday and Saturday as he knocked down three after three.  He rolled to his left before pulling-up from 16-feet and knocked down the game winning shot vs. Benton Harbor.  He weighs 200-pounds or more.

 

5'6 2010 point guard Maurice Jones-Cooper (Saginaw Arthur Hill) word is his two new offers are from S. Florida and Providence.  Maurice uses all of his gears and has put in work on his perimeter shot.      .

 

6' 2010 point guard Bill Sams (Grand Blanc) is one of the most improved point guards in the 2010 class and he is taking on muscle well.  He's a pass first point guard who gets in the lane and likes to find teammates on the baseline or the cutter when he’s working off the wing.  He also likes to go up for tip dunks and his mid-range jumper is consistent.  He does a good job of playing within himself.

 

6' 2010 guard Cameron Sanchez (Lansing Eastern) was amongst the best on ball defenders over the two-days.  He moves his feet well and plays hard.  He's not a big scorer with teammates LaDontae Henton and Cha-Cha Tucker filling the void.

 

6'5 2010 small forward Isaiah Sykes (Detroit Finney) goes at his own speed and is too strong for most defenders when he drives in the half court.  His basketball IQ creates a lot of points and he anticipates on defense. This lefty needs to improve his jumper and free throw shooting.

 

6'6 2010 power forward Corey Starkey (Petoskey) his game tying jumper forced a two-point sudden death in an eventual playoff loss against Warren DeLaSalle.  He weighs around 200 pounds and is a coach’s son.  He didn’t do a lot on the perimeter but he runs the floor well and finishes efficiently. 

 

6'7 2010 center Tremaine Thompson (Benton Harbor) isn't the baby giraffe he was a year ago but he still has to work on his footwork.  Chopping his steps when going to hole will end up as dunks and lay-ups instead of traveling violations.

 

2011

 

6’7 2011 forward Dan Chilcote (Jackson Lumen Christi) put up big numbers to start off the

first half against Detroit Osborn.  His mid-range jumper is falling with more consistency and his footwork on the blocks is ever improving.  He’s going to individual camps at the University of Michigan, Iowa, and Northwestern.

 

6’7 2011 small forward Darnell Harris (Milwaukee Hamilton) is one of the top prospects in Wisconsin as he elevates well on a solid jumper and he is very active on either end of the court.  He drives to the basket well and has a solid basketball IQ.  He is receiving looks from high major programs in the mid-west.

 

6'5 2011 forward LaDontae Henton (Lansing Eastern) Buckets, Rebounds, and Improving.  He reminds me of Eastern Michigan U.'s Brandon Bowdry, minus the injuries and Henton is left-handed.  Henton still shoots the rainbow from deep and needs to show more consistency.    

 

5’7 2011 point guard Charles Lee (Milwaukee Hamilton) is quick with solid handles.  Reports that I gathered in April and May point to his hard work in the classroom where he carries 3.0+ GPA.  He is a solid creator who has a solid shot from the perimeter and mid-range.

 

5’10 2011 combo guard Patrick Lucas-Perry (Flint Powers) doesn’t take plays off and there are very few Powers’ scores in which he is not a part of.  He recently took a trip to Stanford and has almost ten offers with his most recent coming from Central Michigan U. 

 

6’3 2011 shooting guard Ryan Majerle’s (Rockford) defense stood out as his anticipation on the trap caused a handful of turnovers in less than a half.  He’s a coach’s son and the basketball IQ and fundamentals are there.

 

6'8 2011 power forward Tommy McCune (Saginaw) is amongst the most improved players from Michigan's talented 2011 class.  He knocks down the three-pointer with consistency and is improving his handles.  McCune's length is a nuisance on the defensive end and he is aggressive on the boards.

 

6’7 2011 power forward Trey McDonald (Battle Creek Central) has a great frame for a rising junior and adding 20 pounds over the next two-years will make his a highly sought after post player in Michigan.  He needs to find more consistency in scoring but he runs the floor well and has decent hands.

 

6’6 2011 small forward Darius Norman (Kalamazoo Central) is one of the state’s toughest match-ups because he does so many things well from 19-feet and in.  He does need to work on his perimeter shooting but the form is getting there.  He’s long and adds bounce.  He is amongst the best in Michigan’s 2011 class…perhaps top five.

 

6'3 2011 shooting guard Matt Poches (Hartland) attacks with a solid hesitation crossover and an improving pull up jumper.  He has good size for a 2011 kid, rebounds well, and a decent athlete who gets it done in transition. 

 

6'9 2011 center Darren Washington (Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard) has an offer from Cleveland St. and is headed to camps at the University of Michigan, Iowa, and Penn State.  He is long, competitive and a transfer from Detroit Southeastern.  He weighs around 200-pounds and his best years are far ahead of him.  A drop step dunk is something new from Washington.

 

Wriiten by TJ Kelley