Wow!!! Detroit Country Day- Kalamazoo Central Showdown

The 14th annual Motor City Roundball Classic capped the five-day showcase with a game that will be measured amongst the most exciting games in recent Michigan history. Detroit Country Day is a nationally ranked team with nine future Division I athletes on the roster and Kalamazoo Central is ranked highly in Michigan and have plenty of players on their roster. Do the math and that's what drew a standing room only crowd.

Detroit Country Day had a firm grip on the lead for the majority of the game while Kalamazoo Central made runs that kept the game competitive. The Yellow Jackets were able to fend off the Maroon Giants, 83-74.

6'5" senior forward Jordan Dumars (pictured) has committed to South Florida and scorched the nets early as he buried three after three in the first quarter. Dumars missed his first 3 of the game and scored 18 in the first quarter. He knocked down three 3s in three possessions and scored a total of 13 points in the final one minute and 53 seconds of the first quarter. 30 for the game with eight 3s. That's a lot of 3s. The first quarter score was 28-13. The Country Day lead was as high as 22 early in the second. They led by 20 points with just over three minutes to go in the second. Central cut the lead to 45-36 at the half.

D.C.D.'s 6'11" senior center DaShontae Riley, 6'9" senior and University of Miami (FL.) commit Donnavan Kirk, and 6'10" sophomore center Amir Williams drew a lot of attention on the interior loosening up Kzoo Central's perimeter defense. Riley played as well as I've seen him play in at least 12 months as he elevated the crowd with big blocked shots and monster dunks. He's still looking for suitors on the mid-major to high major levels. Riley finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Kirk grabbed twelve boards, scored three, and blocked three shots.

One of the high major recruits on the DCD squad is Ray McCallum, jr. who runs the show with poise. He has offers from numerous high major programs. McCallum, jr. hit his first seven field goal attempts and tallied a total of 20 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.

Kalamazoo Central had a couple of bright spots in the first half and that was the play of 6'6 Darius Norman '11 who scored the majority of his 15 points in the first half including a couple of threes. He's one of the best in his class as he also has grown a few inches since IPS saw the talented kid back in April of 2008.

The second half frenzied the crowd and showed the firepower of these two teams.
After a so-so first half the big dogs got off the porch. 6'2 point guard Ray McCallum, jr '10 scored eleven in the third and was perfect from the field and free throw line as DCD built the lead to 62-47 and held

K-zoo Central to only two points after 6'5" junior wing Devin Oliver's three-pointer mid-way through the stanza. DCD's Kirk didn't have to do much offensively throughout the game but pulled down five boards, two boards, and a steal in the quarter. Oliver finished the game with 16 points, six boards, three steals, and three assists. Oliver is gaining the interest of many programs across the nation.

Doug Anderson was silent in the third quarter as he picked up his third foul which allowed him to play with the aggression that has made him who he is thus far on the hardwood. Anderson scored twelve of his 18 points in the fourth and had many monster dunks that are unparalleled by those on any level. Words can't explain his put back dunks, alley-oops, and assault on the rim. Anderson's recruiting is recovering quickly as he has tuned into the classroom.

K-zoo Central's 5'10 senior guard Juwan Hemphill was solid running the point and neared double digits while handing out a handful of assists.

Small College Sleepers

After checking out nearly 75 games from College, Prep, Juco and High Schools we wanted to give some props to those players that are not getting High-Major attenion or boxes of shoes delivered at their doors. Here is a list for Division II, Division III and NAIA school prospects for the Class of 2009.
(In no particular order)
1)Josh Biber - 6'5 Lorain Southview
2)Jamil Brooks - 6'1 Warrensville Heights
3)Brandon Amann - 6'2 Circleville Logan Elm
4)Tim Congrove - 5'10 Cirvleville Logan Elm
5)DD Joiner - 6'3 Groveport Madison
6)Tre Weiman - 6'4 Groveport Madison
7)Tyler Tucci - 6'2 Malvern
8)Jorgio Lacey - 6'5 Lakewood St. Edwards
9)Nick Voican -6'6 Massillon Perry
10)Kenny Kornowski - 6'8 Smithville
11)Brendan Cooper - 6'6 Parma
13)Daylen Harrison - 6'5 Akron SVSM
14)BJ Brophy - 6'6 Akron SVSM
15)Jordan Tozzi - 6'1 Sandy Valley
16)Terrence Watkins - 6' Columbus Brookhaven
17)Cam Baker -6'3 Columbus Academy
18)Cody Dennison - 5'9 Newark
19)Dane Kopp - 6'8 Newark
20)Garrik Sims - 6'6 Barberton
21)Robert Wilson - 6'3 Streetsboro
22)Robert Stallion - 6'3 Cleveland Benedictine
23)Andre Jackson -6'6 Garfield Heights
24)Chaz Moore - 5'11 Canton Timken
25)William Felder 6'5 Cleveland Lutheran East
26)Kevin Sullivan 5'10 Upper Arlington
27)Ben Siefert, 6'3 Bishop Hartley
28)Dan Heidenreich, 6'7 Madison
29)Maurice Catney, 6'3 Glenville
30)Kreig Hozalski, 6'4 Oberlin Firelands
31)Stephon Seton,6'5 Rocky River Lutheran West
32)Morgan Jones, 5'10 Oberlin
33)Devron Martin, 6'4 Boardman
34)Alex Falk, 6'3 Upper Sandusky
35)Laquan Smith, 6'7 Akron Kenmore
36)Justin Turner,6'3 Massillon Washington
37)Ed Householder,6'7 Tallmadge
38)Jake Mays,6'8 Tallmadge
39)Tyler Bates,6'2 Smithville
40)Nick Brown,6'5 Warren JFK
41)Anthony Capuano,5'8 Perry
42)Brandon Cambell,5'10 Cleveland Central Catholic
43)Marcus Fowler,6'9 Newton Falls
44)Joe Gross,6'6 Hoover (Marines?)
45)Kenny Stephens, 6'7 Willoughby South
46)Scott Kimmey, 6'3 Olmstead Falls
47)Dektic Admin, 6'6 Akron SVSM
48)Caleb Hicks, 6'2 Cleveland Heights
49)Ryan Martin, 6'7 Cleveland Heights
50)Blake Vedder,7'1 West Geauga

Motor City Roundball Classic: Monday Results

Wow!!! The talent hit the floor at 10:30am and didn't stop until 10:30pm. Twelve hours of competive games with talent hitting the high major plus level left Inside Prep Sports smiling as the action will continue tomorrow.

Here are Monday's results:

White Lake Lakeland 63-42 over Harper Woods. Blake Heiman was P.O.G. with 15 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Detroit Consortium Prep defeated Canton Hoover, 68-62. Desmond Barnes was P.O.G. with 31 points, 5 rebounds, a few assists and steals apiece.

Davison outlasted Gary Westside, 50-48. Ryan Shultz was P.O.G. with 15 points, 12 boards, 5 blocked shots, 3 steals, and 3 assists.

Detroit Cody beat Gary Lew Wallace, 69-61, in a game that featured high major activity. Demetrius Ford was P.O.G. with 21 points and a handful of assists.

Powers and West Bloomfield battled tough with the Chargers winning, 76-68. The Chargers' Pat O'Brien was P.O.G. with 28 points (5-6 3pt fg) and added 5 assists.

Oak Park got its first W of the season against Chicago Crane team, 53-46. K'allante Miller was P.O.G. with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Monday's Motor City Roundball Classic Schedule

The games have been great at the 14th annual Motor City Roundball Classic at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, MI. The school is located northeast of Detroit on Kelly Road next to Eastland Mall and just south of the famed "8 Mile Rd."

Monday's games are filled with talent within the Great Lake State and from four border states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Get there early, grab a seat, and hang on because the gym's gonna be rockin!

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29TH

10:30 Harper Woods vs White Lake Lakeland**

12:00 Canton (OH) Hoover vs Detroit Consortium Prep****

1:45 Milwaukee (WI) Vincent vs Davison***

3:30 Gary (IN) Lew Wallace vs Detroit Martin L. King***

5:15 Gary (IN) Westside vs Detroit Cody****
7:00 West Bloomfield vs Flint Powers Catholic***

8:45 Chicago Crane vs Oak Park*****

The first matchup features Lakewood's Mike Fugate who is one of the state's best seniors.

Consortium's Brendale Smith and Desmond Barnes are some of the state's best sophomores. Canton (OH.) Hoover has a couple of scholarship players.

Davison has proven to be a tough battle over the years of the MCRC. Milwaukee (WI) Vincent has a talented crew and is one of the best teams in Wisconsin.

King has a trio of talented seniors and one of the best freshman in the state. Gary (IN) Lew Wallace is one of IN.'s best.

Cody is one of the PSL's best and has a number of future scholarship players (6'3 junior guard Angelo Lewis, pictured). Gary (IN) Westside isn't far behind Wallace.

West Bloomfield has size and came close to beating a tough Detroit Southeastern squad last week. Powers put up 94 points on Saturday at te MCRC and is one of the state's best teams regardless of class.

Oak Park has future Central MI. U. Chippewa K'allante Miller and more talent to take on one of Illinois' best, Chicago Crane.

There are more games tomorrow and the talent will be just as great. Preview tomorrow.

M.C.R.C. Resluts: Saturday

Five more games at Chandler Park Academy and some big time players and games. Coaches representing Central Michigan, Michigan, Northeastern, St. Bonaventure, Lehigh, Grand Valley State, Northwood, Pensacola juco, and Davenport were in attendance. The games run through Tuesday.

Old Redford Academy pulled out the 47-42 victory over Detroit Media, Arts, and Communications. 6'5 senior Anthony Pankey was the Player of the Game and scored 12, pulled down 16 boards, and added a couple of blocks. Panke spent a lot of time in the post but I think his game might expand to fifteen feet.

Toronto Eastern Commerce added international flavor and defeated Detroit Douglas, 65-54. The game was exciting and E.C. has some talent and athleticism in 6'5 senior guard Alwayne Bigby, 6'4 senior guard Jerome Brown, 6'3 senior guard Shamar Bennet, and 6'4 junior guard Jake Hill. Douglas' 5'11 sophomore guard Kendall Johnson's 3/4 court shot at the end of the first gave the Hurricanes a 20-10 lead. 6'5 junior forward John Gaston hit a couple of threes and 6'5 sophomore forward Dennis Hogan had a double double.

Novi Catholic Central had firm control throughout the game and took out last year's Class D runner-up, Detroit City, 55-38. City is now in class C. 6'2 senior guard Brett Smith put up 14 and was Player of the Game. 6'6 senior forward Tim Dezelski knocked down a three in the first and pulled down 10 boards. C.C. has a few players that smaller schools should take serious interest in. 6'5 senior wing Devin Patton scored 14, grabbed 15 rebounds, and blocked five shots.

The next three games showcased some of the state's best talent as Saginaw Arthur Hill and E. Grand Rapids really got things going as the teams went into OT with Athur Hill pulling out the 68-63 win. 5'7 junior point guard Maurice Jones (pictured) sent the crowd into a frenzy with his spectacular play amongst 22 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals. 6'2 senior (sleeper) guard Christopher Webb was the trigger man from the perimeter as he hit 3 threes and scored 20. E.G.R.'s junior forward 6'8 Colin Voss hit for 25 points, 14 rebounds, and a few assists. Voss is more than a legit MM prospect on the hardwood and getting better looks for football. 6'8 senior center Victor Beals is solid in the post while scoring 11 and grabbing 7 rebounds. The matchup between 5'9 junior point guard A.J. McEwan (8 points and 4 assists) and Jones was a can't miss show of quickness. Two freshman sure to get ink over the next four years are A.H.'s 6'7 forward Jordan Hare (10 rebounds) and E.G.R.'s 6' guard DeAndre Grady (9 points).

Flint Powers put up 32 points in the first quarter and Hartland couldn't keep pace losing, 94-71. 6'2 senior guard Shane Moreland's razzle dazzle passes and lay-ups led him to Player of the Game award. Moreland put up 27 points on 12 of 19 shooting, 2 threes, 5 steals, 5 assists, and five rebounds. He's been on the scene for a while and his game is taking off as his defense and ball-handling improves. 6'7 senior forward Rodney Anderson is long and got up on some alley-oops and other dunks. With a red-shirt year to expand his offensive game Andersoncould be a nice fit on the DI level. He had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Powers' juniors 6'3 forward Patrick O'Brien had a double-double with 13 and 11 while adding a few assists and 6'2 Demarco Sanders added 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Powers 6' sophomore Patrick Lucas-Perry shot 50% from the field on way to 18 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals. 5'11 senior guard Vonn Jones dropped 27 (6-10 3pt fg), 6 assists, and 3 steals. He's a steal for the program that gets one of Michigan's top players in '09. 6'4 sophomore guard Matt Poches scored 20 and is getting MM+ looks.

The night cap between Saginaw and Detroit Southeastern was delayed by a jersey fiasco but when the game got under way everyone in the gym was hyped. SE jumped out to a 10-0 run but Saginaw was able to tie the game at 25 in the second quarter. The game's outcome wasn't secure until the final seconds and SE won 65-61. 6' senior guard Kimani Boynton dropped 22 points, snatched 10 rebounds, dished 4 times, and added 3 steals to take the Player of the Game honor. 6'5 freshman guard Brandan Kearney hit a couple of threes en route to 9 points while adding 6 assists and a couple of steals. Kearney is poised for his age. 6'7 sophomore forward Percy Gibson scored 8 and grabbed 10 rebounds. Saginaw's 6'1 (sleeper) senior guard Mike Green scored 22 with 7 rebounds and 4 steals. 6' junior guard Greg Hayes added 14. 6' senior guard Jimmy Davis got his his points on 3 three-pointers. 6'2 senior guard Demetrius Simmons never got going after a solid first quarter. Saginaw's sophomores Travion Babers, Tommy McCune, and DeAnthony Arnette have had better games.

Three more days of coverage from the Motor City Roundball Classic on the way...

14th Motor City Roundball Classic Results: Friday

All the games yesterday were competitive and a few stars emerged for the public.

Detroit City knocked off Mt. Clemens, 58-49. City's 6'5 senior wing Devin Patton was player of the game with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. City also has a 6'7+ junior center, Chris Beecham, who added 10 points, 6 rebounds, and a couple of blocks. The long and versatile 6'5 Leonard Perry '10 led the way for Mt. Clemens with 11.

One of two overtime games in the day, Detroit Crockett defeated Melvindale ABT, 73-71. 6'6 junior Devon Long was the player of the game as the big fella put up 22 and 22 and hit the game winning put back. 5'6 senior guard Daniel Price added 20 for Crockett. ABT was led by 6'3 junior wing Kavontae Foley's 24, who should get some looks. 5'10 junior guard Michael Talley III's 23 were marred by missed ft's.

Auburn Hills Avondale snuck by Detroit MLK, 59-55. Sharpshooting 6'4 Demarquis Johnson '11 was game MVP and scored all of his 18 points from behind the arc. 6'4 senior Jeff Hines (sleeper) added 12 for Avondale. MLK seniors had balanced games (sleeper) 6'4 Arlond James had 11, (sleeper) 6'2 Anthony Cannon 10, and Brent Hammond 10.

White Lake Lakeland escaped Detroit Mumford in OT, 64-62. The state's most unherald player 6' senior gd MICHAEL FUGATE (Saginaw Valley State) put up 30 and he'll tell you it shouldn't have gone into OT and I'll tell you he should have had more. 9-17 ft. Throw his hat in the ring for MR. Basketball. He also added 11 boards. Mumford was led by 6'5 senior (sleeper)Ronald Norfleet's 18. 6'2 senior guard Paul Stewart hit a few from deep en route to 15.

The day was capped by E. Grand Rapids victory over Detroit Finney, 52-46. EGR's 6'1 senior Robert Bell led all scorer's with 16, the big fella 6'8 junior Colin Voss put up 14 and 12 while 5'9 junior point guard AJ McEwen dropped 10. Finney's only scorer in double figures was 5'10 sophomore Ed Brown with 11, nine off three pointers.

Doing C"J" Work!

6-foot-2, 2009, Canton Glen Oak, shooting guard C.J. McCollum went off for 37 points against Cleveland Rhodes on Friday night. McCollum who has a pure stroke and sound skill set was just too much tonight for the young Rhodes squad. CJ is not going to wow you with unreal athletic ability,nor is he going to explode by you, but the kid just knows how to use angles. He has vision while passing, has instincts for backside put-backs and timing rebounds, he has a solid jab series, displayed combinations of baseline drives, crossovers, pull-up mid-range jumpers,catch and shoot NBA range stroke and dribble drive floaters. He had the ball on the string in the second half with an inside-out/strong-side drive that turned into a reverse layup. He then deflected the out of bounds pass and power dribbled for a easy stick back. CJ is a poor mans version of Steph Curry with his scoring average and his superior basketball IQ.

Kalamazoo Central- Benton Harbor Postponed, again.

WOTS is the BH bus drivers don't want to take the trip.

Last Call: 2009 Kids who are still on the Board

The 2009 class is a unique clash across the board consdering the top 2 prospects in Ohio (Garrick Sherman/Michigan State and Carl Jones/St.Joes) are not staying in the state. Then you have a decent range of mid-major tweeners along with a long list of Low-Major,Division 2 and Division 3 prospects. Lets not forget about grades either..grades... grades...did we mention grades? Here are some of Ohio's top prospects that could be late qualifiers or JUCO Bound!
(In NO PARTICULAR ORDER!)
1)Desmar Jackson 6'4, Combo Guard,Warren Harding
2)Mario Hines 6'8, PF, Garfield Heights
3)Dane Kopp, 6'9, C , Newark
4)Tiondre Johnson, 6'6, WF, Woodbridge
5)Jarred Porrini, 6'5, WG, Canton Timken
6)Deandre Paulk, 6'3, SG, Kent Roosevelt
7)Mike Taylor, 6'1, SG, Toledo St. Johns
8)Cortez Howell, 6'0, PG Lockland
9)Shaun Joplin, 6'3, WG, Southview
10)Jack Smith, 6'5, SF, Cincy Hughes
11)Paul Crump Jr. 6'2, PG, Africancentric
12)DD Joyner, 6'3, SG, Groveport Madison
13)Tim Simmons, 6'7, PF, Toledo St. Johns
14)Fred Chatman, 6'8, C, Garfield Heights
15)Jamil Brooks, 6'1, PG, Warrensville Heights
16)Cameron Howard, 6'7, PF, Canton Timken
17)Anthony Williams, 6'6, SF, Portsmouth
18)Maurice Catney, 6'3, WG, Glenville
19)Jordan Brazil, 6', SG, Wayne
20)Lamar Mallory, 6'6, PF, Wayne
21)Joe Gross, 6'6, PF, Hoover
22)Laquan Smith, 6'7, PF, Akron Kenmore
23)Dalante Heard, 6'6, PF, Toledo Rogers
24)Ricky Bennett, 6'1, WG, Northland
25)Terrence Watkins, 6'1, SG, Brookhaven

Anton: Worthy of Praise

When we looked up the name "Anton" we were not surprised to see that the origin of the name comes from Latin history. What we also found out is the name is a indicator of Praise. 6-foot-7, 2011, Cleveland Central Catholic small forward Anton Grady fits that mold. Grady who doesn't play for a national AAU program during the summer months or a powerhouse high school program can only be found at St. Stan's Social Hall on Baxter Avenue and East 65th, which is on the east side of Cleveland during the winter months. Grady who is a Hybrid/do-it-all forward, is one of the premier prospects in Ohio's 2011 class. Anton is not going to wow you with his off the ball screening, ball side basket cuts or block to block post work, though he will wow you with his ability to create while having the ball in his hands and has shown the ability to knock down the 20 footer along with a mid-range elbow jumper. Grady who is blessed with length, athleticism and a natural build beyond his age, still has plenty to work do before you would consider him a guarantee product. Grady needs to work on his on-court body language as he picks up tacky fouls from wearing an emotional game face at all times, which could cause some to think he has an attitude problem. Grady who is capable of beating big men off the dribble has skyscraper potential if he can figure out how to funnel his emotions along with working without the ball in his hands. Time will tell for this youngster…

Silent Night Christmas Sleepers!

In a time when teams are trying to establish an identity, these basketball players are creating enormous opportunity to take their games to the next level. Here are our top silent sleepers:
(In no EXACT order)
10: Andrew Pavloff 6'9, 2009 PF Walsh Jesuit
9: Brandon Amann 6'2, 2009, SG Logan Elm
8: Jordan Lastner 6'2, 2010, SG Columbus East
7: Cameron Howard 6'7, 2009, PF Canton Timken
6: DD Joyner 6'3, 2009, SG Groveport
5: Reggie Lewis 6'3, 2009, SG Bedford
4: Rob Brandenberg 6'2, 2010, CG, Gahanna
3: Mike Green 6'5, 2010, WG, Dublin Coffman
2: Derek Jackson 5'11 2010, CG, Benedictine
1: Anton Hutchins 6'2, 2010, CG, Lima Sr.

Mr. Basketball Showcase

The Basketball Society hosted a five game showcase at Southfield High providing exposure to some of the best juniors and seniors in Michigan. There were also some pretty good games.

Melvindal ABT crushed Bloomfield Hills Lahser, 87-49, and 5'10" junior guard Mike Talley dropped 44 points and grabbed the attention of more DI programs. ABT's 6'5 junior forward Terrance Ramsey was solid in the post with double digit rebounds. 6'4 senior wing Alan Hardy, jr.'s 17 points led the Knights.

Detroit Southeastern took out Community, 57-50. 6' senior guard Kimani Boynton is going nuts in this early season. This mid-major prospect slashed his way to 20 and knocked down some jumpers off the dribble. Community's 6'9 senior and Providence commit James Still still shows improvement as he is comfortable moving the ball up the floor and makes the right pass on the break knowing he's going to get it back.

Detroit Cass Tech matched last year's wins total of two by defeating Lansing Sexton 49-47. This game had some great highlights. Cass Tech was led by their junior backcourt duo of 6'2 Chris George's 16 points and 8 assists while 6'1 Kem Bradshaw continued his early season success with 13. Sexton's 6'2 senior guard Nate Duhon scored 16 for the Big Reds. The Big Reds' freshman 6'4 wing Denzel Valentine added 10 points with seven rebounds. Two of those points came off a dunk that two Technicians came up short.

Detroit Finney came back to defeat Oak Park Academy 62-45. Finey was led by a solid group of underclassmen and their perimeter game. 6'1 sophomore guard Darnell Canady and 5'10 freshman Markus "Snoop" Franklin put up double digits. OPA's 6'4 senior forward Justin Armstrong scored 13 and 6' Kendrick Ward is another sold guard to add to the 2010 class.

Detroit Pershing held off Oak Park, 59-54. Pershing's MSU signee Derrick Nix didn't play in the first quarter and finished the game with with 15 points on 7-11 shooting. The 6'9" mountain grabbed 7 boards, four off the offensive glass, picked a guard's pocket at half court, and ended the game with a big powerful dunk that he might not have made a year ago. Nix' teammate and MSU verbal commit, 6'1 junior guard Keith Appling, is out until late January with an injured wrist. Fellow junior 6'5 Juwan Howard, jr. led the Doughboy charge in the first half by scoring 12 of his game total 13 points. 5'9 senior guard Dion Dismuke ran the point with experience and tallied 5 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals.

O.P.'s 6'4" wing K'allante Miller(pictured) had a monster game scoring 30 with 10 boards (7 offensive) and five monster blocks. CMU was in the crowd watching their prize. 6'1 senior guard Sam Burton is a Division I prospect who added 17 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.

Drew Valentine's Return is Set

There were many great games and matchups set for this past Friday, December 19, but with over 10 inches of snowing blanketing much of Michigan those games were cancelled.

Some games like the matchup between Benton Harbor at Kalamazoo Central were rescheduled for the next best day, Monday, December 22, while others will have to wait until January.

The Lansing Sexton- Lansing Eastern game is one that will have to wait until January 6, 2009. That's good news for Sexton as Inside Prep Sports found out Saturday night that the Big Reds' 6'5" senior wing Drew Valentine has been cleared to play when the New Year rolls around. The future Oakland University Golden Grizzlie is coming off a knee injury sustained on the football field in September.

14th Annal Motor City Roundball Classic

The official web-site is www.motorcityroundball.com

Plenty of video from year's past and a couple of new interviews. One of the interviews is with 6'5 sophomore Brandan Kearney when he was a freshman as he talks high school ball and recruiting.

Big Matchups in Michigan this Friday

With 6-10 inches of snow falling across Michigan, call before you travel to these hot spots:

7:30pm Kalamazoo Central hosts Benton Harbor in a game that is sure to bring the oohs and aahs as "The Doug Anderson Show" (pictured) battles equally strong 6'6 senior Tyrone Black in the paint. There are at least eight division I players in this game. Look for Central's 6'5 junior Devin Oliver and his counterpart 6'5 junior Terrell Clinton. Home team wins 66-58.

7pm Lansing Eastern makes the short trip to Lansing Sexton where two of the state's best underclassmen, Eastern's 6'5 sophomore LaDontae Henton and 6'5 freshman Denzel Valentine, showcase the early recruiting. 6'2 senior guard Nate Duhon is coming off a 28 point scoring performance and is one of the state's best-unsigned seniors. Henton is too much 72-70.

7:30pm Big Battle at the University of Detroit-Jesuit as the Cubs host the Warren Cousino Patriots and a preview of the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University's future in the post. Cousino's 6'9 senior big man Matt Balkema is the second division I post player to battle future Wolverine Jordan Morgan in two weeks. The Cubs have a solid freshman guard in Cameron Fowler and a 6'5 senior wing, Gerald Bridges, who found his way to success inside last Saturday. Balkema's not enough 62-50.

7pm Utica Eisenhower travels to Roseville where two juniors, 6'9 Corey Petros and 6'3 Brandon Gouch, are continuing a trend of Division I players emerging from Macomb County. Petros has offers from at least a dozen schools mainly from the M.A.C. and other instate programs while Gouch made a 22 point impression in a win over Melvindale Academy of Business & Technology and fellow junior 5'10 Mike "Trey" Talley III. 6'5 senior forward Dragan Bijelic is gaining Division II looks with solid scoring games early in the season.

Timken vs. Jackson: Cold as Ice

Tuesday night was sickle in North East Ohio as locals got to experience a real life version of Ice road truckers on there way home after the Canton Timken vs. Massillon Jackson boys game. Timken who pulled away with a 14-0 run early in the 4th quarter after only leading by 2 points won the battle 68-52. Jarred Porrini lead the victors with 19 points, Cameron Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds and senior 6th man Marcellus Robinson had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jackson was lead by 6-foot-7 Junior Mark Henniger with 24 points and 5 blocks. Josh Egner chipped in a silent 9 points to go along with a handful of rebounds and 2 powerful crash tip-ins. Porrini was just to much as he created off the dribble slashing to the cup, hitting mid-range pull-ups and slashing 3-point plays. Howard used his athletic ability for easy put backs and easy bunnys inside. Henniger who could be a poster child for Mary Kay lotion considering his super soft sand and he did a great job catching and finishing in traffic. Deceptively athletic, he finished well inside using his body to get offensive rebounds, contest shots and kept the ball up for put backs and knocked down a few mid-range jumppers.Egner who came out on fire in the first half with 7 quick points cooled off in the 2nd and fouled out with nearly 5:30 left in the game. Egner is a very good athlete who crashes hard to the glass and does all the little things that coaches love. He needs to work on his open court decisions when passing the ball as he threw a couple away while in transition.
Players of the game:
Mark Henniger Massillon Jackson
Josh Egner Massillon Jackson
Jarred Porrini Canton Timken
Cameron Howard Canton Timken
Play of the game:
Marcellus Robinon's tip dunk in the first half.
Half-time action:
Students from Timken and Jackson had a competetive dance off at half-court while neither school won or loss, but both displayed solid footwork.

Lakewood St. Ed's vs. Cleveland Central Catholic

On Saturday St. Edwards traveled across town to East 67th to take on Cleveland Central Catholic at St. Stan's social hall. A game that was filled with emotions from both sides of the floor. Central Catholic pulled out a 3 point victory in over-time as Lakewood St. Edwards' 6-foot-8 Junior Matt Stainbrook missed a last chance shot to send the game into double overtime. Lakewood was led by sophomore power guard Delbert Love with 18 points and Cleveland Central Catholic was lead by do it all sophomore hybrid foward Anton Grady with 17 points. Zach Price was in early foul trouble and was not effective until late after Grady picked up his 4th foul.Stainbrook played solid with put-backs, duckins and using his skill set to create for others in the post. St. Ed's who plays Akron SVSM will get a chance to get by on track this Friday as they travel to Akron. CCC plays Cleveland Benedctine in a huge battle considering CCC beat both VASJ and St. Edward's this weekend.
Top Players:
Anton Grady Cleveland Central Catholic
Chall Montgomery Cleveland Central Catholic
Delbert Love Lakewood St. Edward
Matt Stainbrook Lakewood St. Edward
Play of the Game:
Zack Price's Ally Oop Dunk to beat the buzzer at the end of the 3rd quarter!
JV Star Watch:
Mike Newton Lakewood St. Edward
Myles Hamilton Lakewood St. Edward

Westerville South vs. Dublin Scioto

This past Friday IPS took in the South vs. Scioto game, the game was somewhat close through the first half of the game and then Scioto blew the doors open and went on a monster run to lead by 24 points late during the 2nd half. South went on a run with senior Jason Davis (Walsh) and sophomore star Traevon Jackson going on a 16-5 run in the 3rd quarter to grind the game within 6 points. Traveon Jackson fouled out of the game with 3:58 left in the 4th quarter to cut the water off and gave uncle mo back to Scioto. Bradley McDougal and Jamere Mills both displayed solid efforts with their inside-out performance for Scioto as Jason Davis and Traveon Jackson scored 18 and 15for the losers. Freshman prospect Jalen Robinson of South did not play well and looked nervous while bobbling passes and traveling with the ball. Robinson who looked affected while being on the road and playing under an intense student section will clearly learn from this silent display as Jalen is one of the the top freshman prospects in the state.

Close Games in Detroit

Detroit, MI.- The Detroit Public School League College Association's Scholarship Games at Detroit Denby provided five games full of action and plenty of players to recruit from Detroit's metro area. The gym was packed and the heat was on blast.

The first game featured a P.S.L. battle between the Cleveland Cougars and the Douglas Hurricanes. The Cougars were victorious, 41-38. 6' sophomore guard Deonte Bonner led all scorers with 19 and 5'10" senior guard Antonio Lee added eleven for Cleveland. The majority of the Hurricanes scoring came from 6'4" junior forward John Gaston's 13 and 6'1 senior guard Nick Merchand's nine.

Another crossover game followed and Henry Ford scrapped out of a ten-point deficit with four minutes left on the game clock to defeat the host team, 69-62. 6'6 senior power forward Karriem Baker led all scorers with 28 and grabbed twelve off the boards. 6'5 junior wing Matthew Hunter (pictured) added 15 points for Ford. Denby's answer was 6'5 senior forward Johnny Wade had double digit rebounds and is a sleeper on the D2 level.

The middle game was a highlight game for coaches recruiting the Great Lake State's 2010 class as both Southfield-Lathrup and Detroit Crockett have Division I talent from mid-major plus on down. The game was full of energy, fall back in your seat moments were abundant, and in the end the school on 12 Mile, S-L, pulled out the victory, 79-70. More on the juniors, later.

Things were just warming up when the University of Detroit-Jesuit and Detroit Renaissance took the court. Three close games and it looked like things were going the other way early, as Renaissance held U.D.J. scoreless for the first few minutes of the game. The Phoenix, however, never quite shook the Cubs as a twelve-point halftime lead shrunk to five to start the fourth. The Phoenix seniors led their team to a 77-62 victory and score they did as 6'4" forward Daniel Sutherlin had fifteen rebounds and scored 29, 6'4" forward Nathan Mungro dropped 17, and 6' Delano Collins was solid with 13.

The closing game is the third that these two teams, Detroit Pershing and Romulus, have played in the last year and each team has a win. The rubber game went to Pershing as size and a couple of little known guards shot the blood out of the ball. Pershing was led by 6' senior guard Ben Richbow's 19 as he bombed three after three. 6'5 junior guard/wing Juwan Howard, jr. scored 18 and was another of the day's junior standouts. Michigan State signee 6'9 senior center Derrick Nix dropped 16 and had fifteen+ rebounds. Green's three point shooting and 19 points led Romulus. Romulus never let up as the Eagles' trio of senior guards, 5'11" Rashard Porter, 5'10" Valdez Green, and 5'8" Filmore Bouldes, played until the final buzzer.

Next Saturday's place to be is Southfield High as five more games featuring plenty of talent tips off in the early afternoon.

Detroit Southeastern's Victory and Brandan Kearney Shines

Detroit Southeastern's 86-63 victory over Dearborn Height's Robichaud wasn't as close as expected but the talent was there and will be there for years to come. The game was somewhat close in the first quarter before Southeastern dominated the second quarter going up, 49-24, to end the half. The end of the third was distanced as well, 66-38.

Looking beyond the scoreboard, Southeastern's rotation is solid through and through despite their age, as they had five players score in double figures and another five contributed where stats don't go. Robichaud has one of Michigan's top freshman and sophomore's along with a senior who played his butt off.

Southeastern's 6'1" senior guard Kimani Boynton put up 16 points with six assists and six steals. He's quick, athletic, can shoot with range, and has a solid handle. Big time sleeper who is gaining looks from Mid-Major programs.

SE's 5'10" junior point guard Carlos Carter scored 12 and added a couple of steals and assists. He's what gets the Jungaleers started.

SE's 6'5 sophomore guard Brandan Kearney played both guard spots and on the wing as he led his team in scoring with 19. He hit three of four from beyond the arc and didn't force The kid has great court vision and added five assists last night. He had five boards as well and that number will climb as he gets stronger. No wonder the high major programs have him so high on their list. Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Detroit-Mercy, and Syracuse are very recruiting him heavy. He has interest from Memphis, Kansas, Georgetown, and Xavier.

SE's 6'7 sophomore forward Percy Gibson is as solid as it gets in the post as he scored 16 on six of eight field goal shooting. He added five boards with a blocked shot and a couple of steals. The lefty has great hands and his footwork has few holes. He's also getting high major looks for good reasons.

SE's 6'8" sophomore center Darrien Wahington is on the "baby giraffe" list and is one to watch for in the future. He has at least one offer from Cleveland State.

SE's 6'4" senior forward Will Washington had a sneaky 16 points in the game and is part of the depth on the bench that makes the Jungaleers a team of the now rather than just the future.

The football guys, 6'5" senior Kyle Bryant and 6'6" junior William Gholston, provide extra size in the middle and they can play, too. Gholston is one of the country's highest rated football players. He's related to former Ohio State All-American and current NY Jets DE Vernon Gholston.

Dearborn Heights Robichaud has a solid back-court with 5'9" sophomore Deon Stegall and 6'2 freshman Ray Lee.

Lee never seemed to really get things going after he started his scoring with a dipsy-do lay-up. He's long and athletic which can get a player by on the high school level so he does have areas in his game that he can improve upon. The freshman ended the game with seven points.

Stegal is going to gain the notice of coaches if he can grow a few more inches and until then he'll have to keep building his game for the next level. He scored 12 and added a few steals on the defensive end. He has solid court sense and makes the right decisions.

The two surprises to IPS were the play of Robichaud's seniors, 6'5 forward Winthrop Thomas and 6' guard Derrick Hearn. Hearn led the Bulldogs with 19 points and was eight of eleven in the free throw department. Thomas has been working on his game as he knocked down some perimeter shots and put the ball on the floor more than he has in prior years. He finished the game with 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and four assists. If, Winthrop keeps playing like this the GLIAC should be around on a regular basis.

Two Upstart Juco Programs Tip Off

A couple of nine win junior college teams, Glen Oaks 9-0 and Macomb 9-1, tip off Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Glen Oaks makes the hike to Macomb's Sports and Expo Center and their's talent on the floor.

A couple of players to watch for from either side:

G.O.'s 6'5" freshman forward Josh Eichelberger is averaging a double-double and receiving DII looks.

G.O.'s 6' freshman guard JaVaughn Acree-Manuel is athletic and one for the coaches to look for as he can put up numbers.

Macomb's 5'11" freshman guard Brandon "Bo" Nealy is a couple of years removed from Deroit Murray-Wright and leading the team in scoring with over 20 a game.

Macomb 6'5" sophomore forward Todd Pfromm is a monster on the boards and averaging ten boards a game.

Should be a good one as both coaches build their program.

Michigan's Hot Spot: Eastside

Michigan's eastside is the place to be if you're looking for some of the best underclass talent in a double dose as Detroit Southeastern hosts Dearborn Heights Robichaud at 5 PM and Melvindale Academy of Business & Technology travels to Roseville 15 miles away from Southeastern's gym.

If, you don't know what these teams offer here's the scoop:

Detroit Southeastern has two of the best sophomores, 6'5" guard/wing Brandan Kearney and
6'7" forward Percy Gibson, in the country and two of the top in Michigan, 6'9" center Darren Washington and 5'10 guard Devontae Carter, adding to the Jungaleer's deep 2011 class.

6' guard Kimani Boynton and 6'5" power forward Kyle Bryant are the seniors that lead the young bucks. Boynton is gaining interest from mid-major programs as he was a standout in Lansing Eastern's and Romulus' scrimmages over the last two weeks. Bryant is a prospect on the offensive line and provides added girth in the paint.

5'10" Carlos Carter and 6' Anthony Fields are junior point guards that run "The Mark White Show" and both are gathering D1 interest.

Robichaud's big draw is a freshman but there are others to look for on the Bulldog squad:

6'1 freshman guard Ray Lee put up 20+ points including the decisive points in his first high school game. He's drawing early interest from Michigan and Michigan State.

6'5 senior forward Winthrop Thomas is solid in the post and his game is five feet away from D1 interest.

5'5 sophomore guard Deon Stegall is quick and controls the tempo.

Friday's nightcap goes on to Roseville as two of the state's top junior guards battle. Roseville has

6'3 two-guard Brandon Gouch a smooth scorer who is flying under the radar of DI programs. Melvindale ABT has one of the state's best guards in 5'10 Michael Talley. Talley is a relentless scorer and has offers on the mid-major level.

Bonus player for ABT is 6'6 junior forward Terrance Ramsey, a bouncy rebounding and shot blocking force.

Steve Smith Classic at Wooster College

IPS will be taking in the Steve Smith Classic this weekend at Wooster College. Here is a breakdown of the festivites:
Saturday's slate begins with Norwayne vs. Claymont at 12;30 p.m., followed by Northwestern vs.Coshocton (2:15), Liberty-Benton vs. Tallmadge (4pm), Smithville vs. Columbus Africentric (5;45) and The College of Wooster vs. Albion at 7:30.
On Sunday the day tips off with Wooster High vs. Wadsworth at 12:30 p.m. Orrville takes on East Liverpool at 2pm, Toledo St. John's and Cleveland Heights meet at 3:30pm, North Canton Hoover vs. Dublin Scioto play at 5pm and Wooster Triway vs.Plymouth caps off the weekend at 6:30pm.
Some of the top players that will be at this event: Aaron Craft(Liberty-Bebton),Paul Crump Jr.(Africancentric), Jake Mays (Tallmadge), Alex Lalonde(Wooster),Zach Wasson (Orrville),Storm Stanley (Toledo St. John's),Reggie Keeley (Cleveland Heights), Nyles Evans (Hoover), Jamere Mills (Scioto) and Brook Turson (Plymouth).

King Ralph

IPS took in the Westerville North vs. Dublin Jerome contest Tuesday night in Westerville. North which features 6-foot-6, 2010, 3/4 prospect Ralph Hill, Hill who plays outside/in is one of the better athletes in Ohio's 2010 class. Ralph finished with 11 points on a lackluster performance. Hill who only had 3 points at half picked up the pace in the second half with a dunk, a three and couple foul shots to finish the night off with 11 points and a handful of rebounds. Hill who shows flashes of being a stud at the mid-major level with his ability to shoot the 3-ball from deep, his long arms and has athletic bounce to go with it. However,Hill really needs to work on being more assertive and attack the glass on both ends. Hill likes to float around on the edges and hasn't shown that killer instinct that really separates him from a good to a great player. Still a promising prospect, we will follow Ralph's progress as his Jr. campaign moves forward. Hill holds offers from Dayton, Akron, Ohio University and Kent State.
Pros:Athletic, Long, Good Shooter, Great Frame, Plenty of Upside
Cons:Mid-range, weak-hand, vision, doesn't play hard enough for me.

Lakewood St. Ed's vs. North Ridgeville

Lakewood St. Edward vs. North Ridgeville
Lakewood St. Edward’s took on North Ridgeville in their final scrimmage of the season, winning every quarter but one. The scrimmage pegged two of the area’s top big men against each other in North Ridgeville’s Drew McGhee and St. Edward’s Zach Price. Here is a closer look at those two, as well as the other top prospects the game had to offer:

Drew McGhee, 6'8, PF/C, North Ridgeville, 2009- McGhee struggled early on, but put together a couple of really strong quarters by the time it was all said and done. The Miami recruit showed off some gorgeous footwork in the pivot, a jump hook with either hand, and nice tenacity on the glass. The senior still needs to expand his range and struggled at times against the more athletic Price, but remains an absolute steal for Miami.

Zach Price, 6'10, C, St. Edward's, 2011- Price was a dominant defensive force inside, controlling the paint with his rebounding and shot blocking prowess. The sophomore was automatic with his left hand jump hook, clearly his go to move in the post. HE still appeared quite raw in most other facets on the offensive end, but continues to get better each time we see him. High-Major

Delbert Love, 6'0, PG, St. Edward's, 2011- Love looked a little bit out of his element due to the fact that was primarily playing the off-guard spot. A natural point guard, he struggled a bit and didn't really make a huge impact on either end of the court. Regardless, he's still one of the more promising sophomores at the moment in Northeast Ohio. Mid-Major Prospect

Keene Cockburn, 6'5, SF, North Ridgeville, 2009- Cockburn was very productive throughout the scrimmage, scoring the ball in a number of ways. He shot the ball well from the perimeter, got to the line a ton, and had a few explosive plays in transition. Cockburn could stand to improve his defense though, but still has offers from a number of division two programs. (West Liberty)

Jor'Gio Lacey, 6'5, SF/PF, St. Edward's, 2009- Lacey changed the game with his athleticism and hustle, primarily on the defensive end. Lacey could use a bit fine tuning on the offensive end, but can score inside and out when presented the opportunity. D2 prospect


Myles Anderson, 6'1, PG, St. Edward's, 2012- Anderson continued his strong play in the preseason with an exceptionally strong game on the defensive end. He didn't do much offensively and appeared quite timid on this end, but that could be expected given the fact that he is a freshman on the varsity squad. Look for Anderson to see substantial minutes this season for the Eagles. Low-Major+ prospect

Matt Stainbrook, 6'8, Center, St. Edward's, 2010- This junior used his wide frame to take up a ton of space inside and finished well around the rm via his soft touch. His dominant move on the blocks is definitely his left handed jump hook, which he shoots at a remarkably high clip. There is still a ton of room for improvement in the categories of conditioning and athleticism for Stainbrook, but he's definitely a player division two the three schools should remember. D2

Dan Montgomery, 5'11, PG, North Ridgeville, 2011- Montgomery was pretty crafty scoring in the lane against St. Edward's tall, athletic front line. He really needs to bulk up and could improve the consistency of his outside shot, but is definitely a player that a number of small college programs will continue to inquire about. D3/D2 prospect

Cleveland Rhodes vs. Collinwood

Cleveland Rhodes vs. Cleveand Collinwood Report

By Rodger Bohn, special to IPS

As one can imagine, the matchup of Rhodes and Collinwood had all of the makings of your typical Cleveland Senate League game. Frenetic up and down play, with plenty of offensive rebounds, little fundamental defense, and very little in terms of actual sets being ran. However, as usual, it also offered a few long athletes who had the potential to be nice college players down the road with proper development. Surprisingly, Collinwood upset the talented Rhodes squad, winding up with a 64-54 victory.

Here is a look at the top three players the game offered:

David Jackson, 6’5, PF, Cleveland Rhodes, 2010- Jackson was an absolute monster inside on the glass, finishing with a 21 point, 24 rebound performance. This kid has a motor that is absolutely non-stop and is a downright freak athlete, however he is severely lacking in the skills department. While Jackson did a great job of establishing position on the blocks, he lacks any moves at this point, usually reverting to a drop step towards his left shoulder EVERY time he got the ball. The majority of his scoring damage came off of drop-offs, where he exhibited great hands and finished well at the bucket. Defensively, he played incredibly hard and rotating well, evidenced by the 4 charges he drew. There is a considerable amount of upside here in Jackson, and he is a player who could earn a low division one scholarship if he develops some scoring moves on the blocks.

Geovante Rose, 6’5, SF/PF, Cleveland Rhodes, 2010- Rose is another player who fits the “long and athletic” description (although not as athletic as Jackson). He showed off a decent jumpshot (nailed numerous mid-range jumpers and one 3 pointer) and was incredibly active around the basket via his quick leaping ability en route to 17 points. The junior is definitely stuck in between positions right now due to the fact that he can’t handle well enough to be a full time wing, yet he also doesn’t really have any post moves on the block. There is certainly some potential here though, and he is a player that division two schools should pay close attention to.

Juan Stewart, 6’2, SG, Collinwood, 2009- Stewart showed a basketball IQ incredibly uncommon for most Senate players in that he actually had a solid understanding of “HOW” to play the game. He didn’t blow you away in any particular area of the game, but was incredibly solid all-around. Stewart showed off great court vision, good shot selection, and had a court savvy unlike most city kids. Finishing with 13 points, he knocked down a pair of threes and also had 7 assists. What was most impressive was the performance that he had on the defensive end, where he used his long arms to put a ton of pressure on the ball while also rotating to draw charges. Stewart is a sure-fire division three player, and could very well be a nice system player at the right division two program because of his ability to defend.

Motor City Roundball Classic

The schedule is out and the teams are plentiful and talented. Teams from MI., IL., IN., and OH. are traveling to Chandler Park Academy as soon as Christmas is over. Chandler Park Academy is located in Harper Woods just north of Detroit's eastside.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26TH
10:30 University Prep vs Ferndale (Girls)
12:00 Mt. Clemens vs West Bloomfield (Girls)
1:45 Mt. Clemens vs Detroit City **
3:30 Detroit Crockett Tech vs Melvindale ABT ****
5:15 Auburn Hills Avondale vs Detroit Martin L. King ***
7:00 White Lake Lakeland vs Detroit Mumford **
8:45 Detroit Finney vs East Grand Rapids ****

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27TH
10:30 TBA vs CMA (Girls)
12:00 Old Redford Academy vs CMA **
1:45 Detroit Frederick Douglas vs Toronto (ON) Eastern Commerce **
3:30 Detroit City vs Novi Detroit Catholic Central **
5:15 East Grand Rapids vs Saginaw Arthur Hill ****
7:00 Flint Powers Catholic vs Hartland ***
8:45 Detroit Southeastern vs Saginaw *****

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH
12:00 Pontiac Northern vs Allen Park Academy (Girls)
1:45 Academy of Oak Park FerndalevsToronto (ON) Eastern Commerce**
3:30 Benton Harbor vs Detroit Community (Girls) *****#1 player vs National #25 Team
5:15 Pontiac Northern vs Milwaukee (WI) Vincent ****
7:00 Bloomfield Hill Lahser vs Detroit Community ***
8:45 Pontiac Central vs Flint Northwestern ***

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29TH
10:30 Harper Woods vs White Lake Lakeland**
12:00 Canton (OH) Hoover vs Detroit Consortium Prep****
1:45 Milwaukee (WI) Vincent vs Davison***
3:30 Gary (IN) Lew Wallace vs Detroit Martin L. King***
5:15 Gary (IN) Westside vs Detroit Cody****
7:00 West Bloomfield vs Flint Powers Catholic***
8:45 Chicago Crane vs Oak Park*****

TUESDAY, DECEMBER, 30TH
12:00 Melvindale ABT vs Pontiac Central***
1:45 Detroit Community vs Canton (OH) Hoover*****
3:30 Saginaw Arthur Hill vs Milwaukee (WI) Vincent*****
5:15 Inkster vs Goodrich**
7:00 Saginaw vs Detroit Finney*****
8:45 Kalamazoo Central vs Detroit Country Day*****

Detroit Cass Tech Wins

In a matchup featuring two first time varsity coaches, Detroit Cass Tech's Dave Dixon was the 68-44 victor over Detroit Osborn's Ernest McCullough.

Meanwhile, the players did their part as 6'2 junior guard Kem Bradshaw (pictured) led the Technicians and all scorers with 21 points. The two-guard was the beneficiary of three steals and elated the crowd with dunks on each fast break. Cass Tech is loaded with juniors and each did their part. 6'6 power forward Daniel Bellamy '10 scored seven with double digit rebounds and three blocks in the secon half. 6'2 point guard Chris George '10 has great size and takes care of the rock while making sure his teammates get touches. 6'7 power forward Shannon Williams was quick to the glass but was hampered by foul trouble early therefore limiting his minutes.

The seniors in the post for Cass Tech were 6'5 forward Brian Barnette, 6'6 forward Darrien Schaefer, and 6'6 300-pound Football All-American Will Campbell. Barnette scored 16 and small schools should take a look at the bouncy forward. Schaefer added eight points, crashed the boards, and hit the floor for the loose ball. Campbell is the strongest player in the state and I imagine he could be a defensive stopper against any post player in the state. He added eight points and grabbed near double digit rebounds.

Osborn's wins will result from guard play and their ability to take care of their possesion as the Knights don't have a player over 6'2. Osborn's 5'9 senior guard Davetom Odom scored 20 in a losing cause. He's quick and can hit the perimeter shot. 6' junior guard Demarco Page is the best prospect on the squad but he still has holes in his game. Page scored 16.

In attendance: Cleveland State, Florida, and Miami (FL.). I thought I was missing something here until I realized that Will Campbell still had a following as one of the nation's best DT/OL in 2009.

D.N.P.- Lanier Brown 2010 did not suit up.

Motor City Roundball Classic Day 1, December 26th

The Motor City Roundball Classic has been the place to be for prep basketball fans, coaches, and scouts for fourteen years. This year the M.C.R.C. has top teams coming in from Chicago, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada to present an international feel at Chandler Park Academy in Harper Woods, MI.

This year, the girls will also particpate and Wednesday provides one of the top games in Michigan, if not the Mid-West as Benton Harbor and Detroit Community tip-off.

Here's the schedule for the first day and a look into a premier game:

If, you haven't watched Detroit Crockett's 6'7 junior forward Devon Long or Melvindale Academy of Business and Technology's 5'10 junior guard Michael Talley then get a double dose Friday, the 26th of December as the teams go head to head at 3:30 pm EST. Do you know about Terrance Ramsey? He's ABT's answer to Long.

Find out how Saginaw Valley State commit Mike Fugate, a 6' senior guard from Lakeland, performs against Detroit Mumford.

E. Grand Rapids vs. Detroit Finney @ 8:45pm later on that day. Two of the state's top ten juniors: E.G.R.'s 6'6 Colin Voss and Finney's 6'5 Isaiah Sykes.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26TH
10:30 University Prep vs Ferndale (Girls)
12:00 Mt. Clemens vs West Bloomfield (Girls)
1:45 Mt. Clemens vs Detroit City **
3:30 Detroit Crockett Tech vs Melvindale ABT ****
5:15 Auburn Hills Avondale vs Detroit Martin L. King ***
7:00 White Lake Lakeland vs Detroit Mumford ***
8:45 Detroit Finney vs East Grand Rapids *****

Post Players Battle Early

Michigan's high school season tips off tomorrow, Monday, and like last year one of the first games to get under way is Detroit Community and the University of Detroit-Jesuit. This time U of D-J is the host and game features two of the state's top post players, Jesuit's 6'8 Univeristy of Michigan signee Jordan Morgan and Community's 6'9 Providence College signee James Still (pictured). They are both top five players in Michigan's 2009 class and schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, Mid-Continent, and M.A.C. were in attendance last year.

The game provides unsigned seniors, Jesuit's 6'5 wings Gerald Bridges and Mike Wendeski and Community's 6'5 Marcell Stewart, for DII/DIII coaches to evaluate and maybe get a steal.

Tuesday features a test for Utica Eisenhower's 6'9 junior center Corey Petros as he and his teammates face Warren De LaSalle, a top five squad in Class A, and a talented senior squad led by Mr. Basketball candidate 6'4 guard Alex Marcotullio (Northwestern) and the Pilot's 6'10 center Kevin McCarthy (Lehigh).

DII, DIII, and NAIA programs should look for Eisenhower's 6'5 wing Dragan Bijelic and De LaSalle's 6'1 guard Alex Harville in a game that should be won by the Pilots.

Inside Prep Sports: Prep Sport Weekly

Lansing Eastern's scrimmages last weekend provided plenty of basketball talent and a couple of Lansing's radio personalities, Nick Chase and Brock Pombush of 730 am/WVFN's Prep Basketball Weekly host the Saturday morning show which airs from 10am-noon throughout the season. The show can also be heard on-line.

Fortunately, the Prep Basketball Weekly duo asked if I'd like to join them on-air Saturday mornings. So, Saturday while at the Romulus scrimmage the call came in and I was more than happy to field questions and add to Chase and Pombush's 2009-10 preview of high school basketball in Michigan.

Prep Basketball Weekly airs on 730 am/WVFN every Saturday morning from 10am-noon and Inside Prep Sports will join them on a weekly basis to talk recruiting, players, and teams throughout Michigan.

Romulus' Scrimmage Continued...

The review continues with Saginaw Arthur Hill battling Melivindale Academy of Business & Techonlogy in a game that saw a couple of Michigan's top guards from the 2010 class, Arthur Hills' 5'7 Maurice Cooper-Jones and AB & T's 5'10 Michael Talley III. Arthur Hill won the scrimmage and both players stayed true to their game. Jones-Cooper continues to show why his assist to turnover ratio is as succesful as it is as he dropped dime after dime keeping his teammates involved. Talley's game is attack, attack, attack and he did knock down a couple of threes, draw fouls, and get to the basket. Talley's dad and AB & T head coach, Michael Talley II, told me that his son has offers from the University of Detroit-Mercy, some M.A.C. schools, and that Notre Dame is high on his list, despite not having an offer...yet.

Three senior sleepers that stepped up were Flint Carman-Ainsworth's 6'5 forward Courtland Patterson, Detroit Cooley's 6'1 guard Derrick Neal, and Arthur Hill's 6'2 Chris Webb. Patterson is long and has nice bounce. His return to Carman-Ainsworth is what the young Cav's need to get over the hump and back to the Breslin in March. Neal has nice size and is a quality athlete. He also knocked down a few threes from the corner. Webb took over point guard duties when Jones-Cooper was sitting out and Webb did a solid job. He plays solid defense and knocked down open shots.

The season starts tomorrow...

Romulus Scrimmage Quick Notes

Romulus, MI.- Three courts as varsity teams hit the hardwood for scrimmages that lasted for four hours and just days before the opening of Michigan's 2009-'10 basketball season. The talent was abundant as Ann Arbor Pioneer, Detroit Central, Detroit Cooley, Detroit Southeastern, Flint Carman-Ainsworth, Lansing Eastern, Melvindale A B & T, Oak Park, Romulus, Saginaw Arthur Hill, Wayne Memorial, and Ypsilanti Willow Run battled eachother in front of Eastern Michigan University, Inside Prep Sports, The Detroit News, and the Free Press.

Many of the games were decided at the last minute and Detroit Central's 27-26 victory over Willow Run was the first. The majority of Central's scoring is going to come from 6'3 senior guard DeAngelo Hailey and that was evident early as he knocked down three of four jumper from deep. Willow Run's 6'1 senior guard Mark Cook is strong and has underrated court vision.

Detroit Southeastern's 6'5 guard Brandan Kearney '11, 6'7 forward Percy Gibson '11, and 6'1 point guard Anthony Fields '10 are in Ann Arbor watching the Michigan-Duke game.

Gibson also has an offer from Fordham. Fordham also offered Saginaw Arthur Hill's 5'6 point guard Maurice Cooper-Jones '10. Cooper-Jones reminded IPS that Eastern Michigan has also offered and informed IPS that UConn contacted him yesterday.

More later...

Michigan's Unsigned

Michigan-The signing period ended and many sought after players from Michigan's 2009 class are off the board. Recent decisions have put Detroit Country Day's 6'11 center Da'Shonte Riley and Livonia Clarenceville's 6'3 two-guard Jamie Stewart back on the board. Detroit Central's 6'3 guard DeAngelo Hailey, Belleville's 6'1 Booker Stoudmire, and Hartland's 5'11 combo guard Vonn Jones are just a few guards that are worthy of Division I looks. If it's wings you like, Clarkston's 6'5 Thomas Staton, Detroit Loyola's 6'4 Jamar Ragland, Ida's 6'4 Nic Jobe, Waterford Kettering's 6'5 wing Scott Rogers, and Detroit Northwestern's 6'5 Asaad Robinson are a solid half-dozen. There are plenty of post players as well. There are some players that are leaning towards football and Warren De LaSalle's 6'10 center Kevin McCarthy, a verbal commit to Lehigh, who are not on this list. Here's a list of top seniors still on the board.

Doug Anderson 6'5 fwd Kalamzoo Central
Da'Shonte Riley 6'11 center Detroit Country Day
Jamie Stewart 6'3 wing/guard Livonia Clarenceville
Dion Sims 6'5 fwd Orchard Lake St. Mary's -football?
DeAngelo Hailey 6'3 guard Detroit Central
Thomas Staton 6'5 wing/guard Clarkston
Booker Stoudmire 6'1 combo guard Belleville (Pictured)
Vonn Jones 5'11 combo guard Hartland
Sam Burton 6'2 point guard Oak Park
Jamar Ragland 6'4 wing Detroit Loyola
Nic Jobe 6'4 wing Ida
Scott Rogers 6'5 wing Waterford Kettering
Mike Green 6'2 guard Saginaw
Karriem Baker 6'6 fwd Detroit Henry Ford
Shane Moreland 6'2 guard Flint Powers
Asaad Robinson 6'5 wing/guard Detroit Northwestern
Shakir Preston 6'4 shooting guard Pontiac Central
Mike Betcher 6'7 forward Schoolcraft
Kimani Boynton 6'1 combo guard Detroit Southeastern
Nate Duhon 6'2 combo guard Lansing Sexton
DeAndre Upchurch 5'10 combo guard Flint Northwestern
Max Prendegrast 6'9 forward Grand Rapids W. Catholic
Matt Howe 6'6 power forward Gull Lake
Zac Eddy 6'6 power forward Stevensville-Lakeshore

Breland Hogan 6' guard Taylor Kennedy
Korey VanDussen 6' combo guard Zeeland East

2009 Draft Board Dirty Dozen

With the prep hoops season nearing tipoff we wanted to give you a look at our Top 12 2009 Ohio prospects that are still on the board. Desmar Jackson is getting High-Major interest from the likes of UCON to Duquesne. Edwards is waiting on the highest offer and that could be Penn State. Paulk will have to go JUCO, but Kent State has already extended their love. Kyle Randall flew out to Stanford, but that would be a academic scholarship. Porrini is wide open and it will be a fight to the finish in the books. Cunninghman has recent interest from Wright State and most likely will make a choice by Christmas. Brogden is getting interest from Low Major programs like Central Conntecuit State and Liberty.
1)Desmar Jackson, 6'5, Wing Guard, Warren Harding
2)Bill Edwards, 6'5, Small Forward, Middletown
3)Andre Paulk, 6'3, Shooting Guard, Kent Roosevelt
4)Kyle Randall, 5'10, Point Guard, Youngtown Ursuline
5)Jared Porrini, 6'5, Wing Forward, Canton Timken
6)DJ Cunningham, 6'9, Center, Waterford
7)Sheldon Brogden,5'11, Combo Guard, Warren Harding
8)Darren Goodson, 6'5, Wing Forward, Cincy Aiken
9)Jack Smith, 6'5, Small Forward, Cincy Hughes
10)Stephon Johnson, 6'5, Small Forward, Cincy Princeton
11)William Felder, 6'6, Small Forward, Cleveland Lutheran East
12)Andrew Pavloff, 6'8, Power Forward, Walsh Jesuit
Here are Six More to sleep on:
13)Courtez Howell, 6'1, Guard, Cincy Lockland
14)Anthony Williams, 6'6,Portsmouth
15)Fred Chatman,6'8, Power Forward,Garfield Heights
16)Dane Kopp, 6'9, Center, Newark
17)Shaun Joplin, 6'3, Shooting Guard, Southview
18)Daylen Harrison,6'6, Small Forward,Akron SVSM

Bluegrass Showdown

IPS will be on the road this weekend taking in the Marshall County Hoopfest which is located in Benton, Kentucky. The Hoopfest is being hosted by Wazoo Sports which will feature marquee high school programs Findlay Prep, Oak Hill Academy, Duncanville, White Station, Whitney Young, Simeon,Montrevade Academy,Madison Hopkins,St. Benedicts, Jackson Provine, Briarcrest, Wheeler, Scott County and emerging power Columbus Northland.
The 17 game classic tips off Friday at 5:30pm and the late game is Saturday evening at 11pm, which will take this event deep into the moonlight hour.
We will have a recap of the best performances, best players and play of the day as the event goes.
Stay tuned.