Visions Came True.

Written Sunday April 28th at 10:30 PM

I remember having some visions if coach Jim Manzo ever stepped down that thinking that it could be Joel Schroeder, a neighbor to Manzo possibly being his successor during the Lake Orion/Pontiac Notre Dame Prep game that night.

I remember seeing Schroeder scouting Pontiac Notre Dame Prep as his Pontiac Phoenix whom were having a successful season themselves getting an idea what he and his team would expect once they met in districts. I saw my brother Anthony talking to Schroeder and budding in on the conversation during halftime. I remember that conversation really well and wishing him luck heading into the postseason.

A few weeks later, Pontiac was district champions and was in the Division Two Regional Final against New Haven and star player Romeo Weems.

I remember the conversation after the 39-32 district final loss to Oxford when Manzo pulled aside Anthony and myself that he would be stepping down as head coach in the coaches office. I remember Anthony breaking down in tears when the decision was made on that March night while I was numb trying to process all of it.

I did not know what to expect next, remembering what happened to the program when Manzo left the first time back in 2008 when the program went downhill. Lake Orion had three different coaches from 2009-2015 but it was under then coach Tom Risi when the Dragons went to the State Quarterfinals even though they finished that season at 11-9 in 2012.

When Lake Orion Athletic Director Chris Bell made the decision to name Schroeder as the team’s next Varsity Boys Basketball Coach last Friday. I had some thoughts about the move when writing the blog for Inside the OAA.

I looked at the positives, Schroeder is a neighbor to Manzo and lives in Lake Orion, not to mention his track record at Pontiac including what he did last season was very special.

Then I looked at the questions particularly Schroeder and the players. Thinking if both sides can build the trust in each other and be on the same page. Both Schroeder and the players should have plenty to prove. I wonder to myself if there is a chip on their shoulder on both sides.

With Schroeder is can his system work in the Red??? He has never been in the Red which has me very concerned knowing that Clarkston, North Farmington, and Oak Park have a lot of experience coming back, not to mention Ferndale comes up from the Blue with their three transfers that will be eligible along with another talented player whom had a big freshman year this upcoming season and that’s not mentioning Bloomfield Hills or West Bloomfield. Also I wonder how Schroeder will do with the program, not just the Varsity but the Freshman and Junior Varsity levels, not to mention the Middle School programs at Scripps, Oakview, and Waldon. Another question I have is will Schroeder be at Lake Orion in the long term???

With the players it’s can they buy into Schroeder’s system??? I expect Schroeder’s system to be a little different than Manzo’s with this current group. It will be an interesting transition to see how the players respond to Schroeder’s system and if they buy in.

Manzo left the program with talent far from bare. The Dragons lose Nate Talbot, Kyle Loken, Hunter Sites, Shane Barkeley, and Jake Rydquist to graduation but they have Drew Van Heck, Cameron Sutton, Isiah Harris, Dylan Boedigheimer, and Jack Cummins returning and that’s not to mention a Junior Varsity team that has some talent to work with as well.

I went back into that night having a gut feeling that if Manzo would have stepped down feeling that Schroeder would be the guy to coach the Lake Orion Dragons Boys Basketball program.

I was right.