Hello all with the new districts released. Even though we are now in summer league right now and the season is a few months away it doesn't help to release my top ten teams right now in June as we head into winter for both girls and boys. Here they are.
Girls:
10. Berkley: The Bears are in a winnable district with Lathrup, Oak Park, and Groves, have a shot to do well in both the Blue and in the district playoffs. They return a everybody back so they do have that experience that can do some damage.
9. Troy: The Colts did lose Sydney Heath from a year ago but scouts from Troy are saying that under coach Dennis Koch's second year, this Troy team is improved. In districts Troy will have it tough if they have to play either Waterford Kettering or Waterford Mott early.
8. Lake Orion: The Dragons struggled last season at 4-16 under coach Steve Roberts. Most of the season they were without Hannah Hamay. If Hamay gets back into form from her freshman campaign along with Nicole Krier, the Dragons can be a force in the White. Lake Orion is in a tough district with Adams, Oxford, Stoney Creek, and Clarkston are in there.
7. Adams: The Highlanders twosome of Raiven Owusu and Amber Jamison in their third year together are trying to make amends after last season's upset loss to Romeo. The White is manageable and tough along with the district pending which match-up they get.
6. Oxford: The Wildcats lost a lot of senior talent in Miranda Murphy, Shelby Davis, Kelsey Harrison, among others but Cheryl Davis and Jessica Murphy return. If Oxford can get the same production inside then they could go places. Like Adams and Lake Orion, the White is manageable and tough along with the district they are in.
5. Stoney Creek: The Cougars return nine players from a team that lost to Utica Ford in the district finals last season. Two of those are the Voss sisters, Lauren and Natalie. They are big inside and shoots the three ball very well. In a division with Clarkston and Harrison, third place would not be bad for coach Brad Creighton's crew. They should be one of the favorites heading into a tough district at Clarkston.
4. Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks are now one with the Lahser-Andover merger but they have Shannon Wilson among others who will do damage for coach Jeff Rubin's crew. Bloomfield Hills will be a favorite in the White but it's wide open. The district is brutal with Birmingham Marian, North Farmington, and Harrison, they could have a tough time getting out of their district.
3. Ferndale: The Eagles return everybody from a team that lost to Birmingham Detroit Country Day in the regional finals and should easily coast in the Blue this season. Ferndale is in a easy district in Class B in Warren Fitzgerald and a longer run in the postseason is possible for the Eagles.
2. Clarkston: The Wolves will be weaker than last season when they were upset by Birmingham Marian in the regional finals but Clarkston will still have Erica Davenport, the question will be if the Wolves can get enough outside shooting from their guards to help Davenport then coach Tim Waslik likes his chances not only in the Red but also during the season. He does host a tough district with Lake Orion, Adams, Oxford, and Stoney Creek are all in there.
1. Harrison: The Hawks return Kyla Rowland, Amber Stephans, and Kristen Nelson for the season and are favored to win the Red. Harrison's playoff run maybe in serious jeopardy this year then last year. Last season the Hawks lost a buzzer beater in the regional finals to Dexter and is looking to get back there and move on even further. The problem for Harrison and coach Tim Micklash is they are in a district in which Birmingham Marian, Bloomfield Hills, and North Farmington are all big threats, especially Birmingham Marian on their home floor might add. If the Hawks can get enough depth to help it's big three then they can go places.
Boys:
10. Birmingham Seaholm: If coach Jose Andreaus can get a good group that was left when Paris Bass, Brent Houghton, and Brendan Yousif all graduated. The Maples have a good junior varsity team coming up and is expected to contend in the White. The district is tough with Bloomfield Hills along with North Farmington in it as well.
9. Southfield: The Blue Jays suffered a disappointing loss to Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves in the district final last season, Southfield does return some talent although not the same team but they still have the same staff over there on 10 Mile. The Blue Jays are in a district where they have Detroit Renaissance, Detroit Mumford, U-D Jesuit, and Farmington are in a district, that's a tough district with the Detroit schools in there.
8. Stoney Creek: Although sharing the Gold last season with Beverly Hills Wylie E Groves, the Cougars did not get to move up to the White, which should be motivation for coach Steve Norgrove's crew. Stoney Creek is one of the favorites in the Blue and could do some damage this season but Farmington and Ferndale could have a strong say in the Blue. The district is absolutely brutal with Clarkston, Lake Orion, and Adams are in there.
7. Lake Orion: The Dragons lost Chaz Miller and DeMonte Kruse so why are experts saying this team could be better than the team last season that shared the Blue with Bloomfield Hills Lahser and the team that went to the state quarterfinals two seasons ago??? Well chemistry is a good reason and they are a senior laden team. Lake Orion in coach Tom Risi's third season is a sleeper in the White and with the tough non conference they have every season (Pontiac, Oxford, Romeo, Clarkston, Ferndale, and Adams.) The district is interesting with Lake Orion in the middle of a loaded district with Clarkston and Adams as well there.
6. Oak Park: The Knights brought in a new staff, bringing in Bryan Tipton from Detroit Cody to coach their team. Oak Park also got three transfers coming into it's school, all of which played on the same Amiture Athletic Union team "The Next Generation." The transfers the Knights got, two were from Detroit Cody (Sophomore Power Forward, Kelvon Fuller and Senior Point Guard, Orlando Fikes) and one from Southfield-Lathrup (shooting guard Ja' Christian Biles.) The Knights are one of the favorites in the White along with Lake Orion and Troy Athens. Oak Park is in a somewhat easy district but the regional could be tough if they get there.
5. Troy Athens: The Red Hawks return everybody from a district championship team including forward Lucas Bezerra and will be one of the favorites in the White. Troy Athens chemistry is key and in a district where it's winnable but Pontiac, Troy, and Avondale could pose as serious threats the Red Hawks could repeat as district champs for a second straight year.
4. North Farmington: The Raiders return guard/forward Caleb Hogens for his junior season under coach Todd Negoaison. North Farmington has an incoming sophomore guard with potential in Jacob Joubert. The Raiders should be fine this season and in the Red with Clarkston, Southfield, and Bloomfield Hills should be no problem either but a district with Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham Seaholm could be obstacles in the postseason.
3. Adams: Highlanders coach John Hall lost a lot of talent from a season ago when they were upset in the district final by Romeo. Adams however features Ajkeim Williams who can create offense for himself and get his teammates involved. The Highlanders are a sleeper in a division that has Clarkston and Bloomfield Hills in it and also they beat Clarkston in the regular season last season on the road. The district they are in has Clarkston and Lake Orion in there and they could beat one of them if given the chance.
2. Clarkston: The Wolves got richer with the addition of sophomore transfer Tabin Throgmorton from Walled Lake Northern. He will join an already crowded backcourt with Press Kampe, Nick Owens, Nick Myers among others, there is a possibly with his size (6.4) that coach and athletic director Dan Fife could put him at forward. Clarkston is one of the favorites in the Red and in the districts might have to deal with Lake Orion and Adams in the postseason.
1. Bloomfield Hills: With the merger of Lahser and Andover, coach Dwayne Graves will be talented and dangerous with guards Khali Gracey, Armand Carthwright, and center Yanti Maten. Martez Jones from Lahser and Andover, guards Eric Weiss, Dylan Deich, and forward Josh Bender will add more depth for the talented Blackhawks team. The Red will be tough Bloomfield Hills with the likes of Clarkston, Southfield, and North Farmington in that division. The district is also tough with North Farmington and Birmingham Seaholm in there.
1. Bloomfield Hills: With the merger of Lahser and Andover, coach Dwayne Graves will be talented and dangerous with guards Khali Gracey, Armand Carthwright, and center Yanti Maten. Martez Jones from Lahser and Andover, guards Eric Weiss, Dylan Deich, and forward Josh Bender will add more depth for the talented Blackhawks team. The Red will be tough Bloomfield Hills with the likes of Clarkston, Southfield, and North Farmington in that division. The district is also tough with North Farmington and Birmingham Seaholm in there.
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