OAA Top 10.

Written Saturday January 24th at 6:00 PM

Girls:

1. Lathrup: Heading on a collision course with Adams twice in Feburary.

2. Adams: Highlanders looked dominant for three quarters on Friday against Rochester.

3. Harrison: May have taken another hit with Amber Stephans knee injury. Don't know how long she is out.

4. Clarkston: Wolves had to overcome Megan Carter's 34 points in a comeback win at North Farmington on Thursday.

5. Oxford: Wildcats have a big showdown with Troy on Tuesday.

6. Stoney Creek: Tough loss to Harrison but will bounce back.

7. Southfield: Despite tough loss to Lathrup, took out all their frustration on Pontiac on Thursday.

8. Troy: Big win over Orion on Thursday for the Colts, can they duplicate it with a trip to Oxford on Tuesday.

9. Orion: Down but not out after losing to Troy. Dragons have a big week ahead of them with West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills on he horizon.

10. Royal Oak: Ravens riding defense but big game looms at Oak Park on Friday.

Boys:

1. Clarkston: Two wins against two good programs have the Wolves here.

2. North Farmington: Lathrup gave the Raiders everything they could handle on Friday.

3. Adams: John Hall is still in a sling but his Highlanders have been winning.

4. West Bloomfield: Lakers been winning ugly but doing well since loss to Warren De Lassale.

5. Southfield: Jays ran into a very good Clarkston team on Friday.

6. Avondale: Yellow Jackets quietly moving on up.

7. Oak Park: Previous news of the recent cheating scandal and loss to Clarkston has Knights here.

8. Troy: Colts hung tough with a tough loss to Oak Park on Friday.

9. Oxford: Wildcats survived Hazel Park on Tuesday.

10. Seaholm: Maples shocking upset at Stoney Creek has them here on the list.

Knights Suffer Big Loss of Head Coach and Two Players.

Written Saturday January 24th, at 5:35 PM

The Oak Park Knights suffered a big hit before it's game on Friday

Tipton was suspended indefinitely after allegedly going on a computer and trying to change two of his players grades just to keep them being eligible for the rest of the season.

Kevon Fuller and Devin Mills were also suspended as well for the academic violations.

The Knights were without the two players and head coach when they beat Troy 50-48 on Friday night. Oak Park Athletic Director and Varsity Football Coach Greg Carter coached the team in Tipton's place. Tipton himself was not in the building.

Carter didn't have much to say about the two players or Tipton or if they will return this season.

There was one major college (Xavier) that sent a scout to see Fuller but he did not play because of the suspension. Fuller was in attendance but was in street clothes for the game in the stands.

There are questions ranging from academic ineligibility for both players now that report cards were delivered and the end of second card marking and first semester was last Friday.

Fuller and Tipton both came over to Knight Valley from Detroit Cody last season while Mills came over from Ferndale this season but he had academic troubles while in Ferndale and looks like it has carried over to his new school Oak Park.

It is possible that both Fuller and Mills could be academically ineligible for the rest of the season and that Oak Park's playoff hopes might have taken at hit but they still have Howard McInnis, Mario Garrett, Bobby Thompson Jr, and Rodney Scales.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete coverage on this developing situation.

OAA Basketball Top 10.

Written Saturday January 17th at 3:25 PM

Girls:

1. Lathrup: Proving why they are ranked second in Class A, limited the County's best player to only four first half points.

2. Adams: Perhaps Lathrup's equal when it comes to depth and talent and on a personal note get well soon Nicole Shaw.

3. Stoney Creek: It might be time to pose the question, is Maria Zandi better than Gabby Yurik??? Imagine if these two were playing together??? Norville "Shaggy" Rogers would say "Zoinks."

4. Harrison: Tough break losing Kyla Roland for the season but the Hawks proved a lot on Friday against Adams that they won't give up and watch out for Olivia Perkins, she is a good one looming.

5. Clarkston: If the Wolves played the first half they did against Lathrup then it could be a long season for Clarkston.

6. Oxford: Jessica Murphy and Albert Pujols may have something in common, they are machines but in different sports.

7. Orion: Dragons defense returned in a big way against a solid Avondale team Friday night.

8. Southfield: Big test looms for the Jays on Tuesday as they go to Lathrup Village and play the Chargers.

9. Troy: Colts haven't looked the same since Adams beat them bad a few weeks ago.

10. Royal Oak: Ravens defense is one of the best in the league and a favorable schedule throughout.

Boys:

1. North Farmington: Raiders are rolling on all cylinders as well, heading on a collision course with Clarkston in February.

2. Clarkston: Did the Wolves hold someone (Flint Carman Ainsworth) to just nine points on Tuesday???

3. Oak Park: January 19th is here and they host Clarkston on Tuesday, interesting debut for their seven transfers.

4. Stoney Creek: Cougars are rolling right now on all cylinders.

5. Adams: Quiet week for the Highlanders and they get to play the Crosstown Showdown this week.

6. Southfield: Jays lost a tough one to North Farmington but should be fine in the tough Red.

7. West Bloomfield: Tough week for the Lakers, falling to De LaSalle and surviving Farmington. Only will make them better.

8. Oxford: Wildcats have appeared to had fix things so far.

9. Avondale: Jackets are the most quiet team in the OAA so far, no one is talking about them.

10. Troy: Colts gearing up for Friday's showdown with Oak Park, could be in for a long ride.

Roland Injury, Game Changer in the Red.

Written Tuesday January 13th at 10:50 PM

The Farmington Hills Harrison Hawks and coach Tim Micklash suffered a major hit as they lost their senior big girl for the season.

Kyla Roland broke two ligaments in her left hand in a win over West Bloomfield on Thursday night and is expected to have surgery on Monday.

The Hawks lose a big part of the big three but still have Amber Stephans and Kristen Nelson. They survived 48-38 over a gutsy Avondale team on Tuesday night.

The Roland injury changes the Red race as now Adams and Lathrup appear to be the front runners in the Red.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for updates.

Thomas Under Investigation by MHSAA.

Written Tuesday January 13th at 1:35 PM

Trouble is brewing in North Farmington for Billy Thomas.

Thomas is under MHSAA investigation after his sudden return to Michigan after spending one semester in Virginia.

It is possible Thomas could miss the season.

Thomas is no stranger to controversy when his father Billy Sr, had issues with U-D Jesuit, so he took his son and two 6.10 Nigerians whom he brought over from Nigeria to the United States and enrolled them at West Bloomfield.

However U-D Jesuit filed a complaint against Thomas as the 6.10 Nigerians legal guardians and sued in family court. The two 6.10 Nigerians got different parents with U-D Jesuit ties and stayed on to play with the Cubs while Thomas Sr lost custody of both of them while his son Billy left West Bloomfield and went to a prep school in Virginia.

Thomas returned to Michigan and has enrolled at North Farmington. Since his family lives in the Farmington school district he is immediately eligible to play.

Not so Fast.

The MHSAA is investigating Thomas and he did not play in the Raiders 59-51 win at Southfield on Monday night.

Stay tuned to OAA Now on the Thomas situation.

Seaholm Takes Huge Hit.

Written Monday January 12th at 9:45 PM

The Birmingham Seaholm Mapes were dealt a huge blow when a unfortunate situation occured on Monday Night.

Maples freshman forward Molly Stutelberg father's job was being moved out of Birmingham and transfered to Chicago and thus moving her and her family to the Chicago area.

It's a huge blow to the Seaholm program with Stutelberg's depature. She has been playing well lately averaging six points per game and four rebounds per game. Her best game came against Pontiac where she had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Stutelberg's depature couldn't had come at a worst time for the Maples. Seaholm hosts Oak Park and Orion. The Maples still have non league tilts with Adams and Stoney Creek. Also they are in a league where they still have to see Royal Oak twice and Oak Park.

It puts more pressure on Mackenzie Harbort and Dana Hoerman to carry the load for the Maples. It will be interesting to see what coach January Hladski does now but she will think of something.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete coverage.

Bears could be an Interesting team to watch.

Written Monday January 12th at 2:30 PM

The Berkley Bears are an interesting team to watch but the question is where was the game that turned the program around.

It might had been the Seaholm game at home last year when they won 49-36.

Berkley sits at 5-3 with losses at Warren Mott, Oak Park, and Athens. The loss to the Red Hawks was a tough one because it was a league game with Berkley in the Gold.

The schedule is favorable as they will play Royal Oak on Tuesday and Rochester later in the season but tough league games looms with Southfield and Troy Athens. The district is challenging as well with Lathrup in there as well.

We'll see what happens.

Blue Jays Could be Sleeper in Gold.

Written Monday January 12 at 2:25 PM

When I look at the surprise teams heading into league play. What the Blue Jays have done is turn a corner, they struggled two seasons ago and went 12-9 last season.

Southfield's only loss of the season came against Dearborn Heights Robichaud in the Motor City Roundball classic but they went into Seaholm and shut down Mackenzie Harbort to just seven points in a 51-25 win. Only Berkley was the only team to hold that feet.

The Blue Jays are led by Krystal Lynn Defoe, and Stormeigh Mattison both juniors and freshman D Layna Holliman for coach Jamie Glintz.

Southfield's toughest two games are on the horizon as they will travel to Lathrup to their city rivals the Chargers and also St. Catherine of Sienna Academy who beat Farmington earlier in the season. Also the district is tough as they are at Detroit Renaissance and have the Phoenix and the Farmington Hills Mercy Marlins in them.

It's all just another part of the journey.

OAA Basketball Top 10.

Written Saturday January 10th at 1:45 PM

Girls:

1. Harrison: Hawks rolled without Amber Stephans on Thursday, she should be ready once league play starts.

2. Lathrup: The Chargers beat a good Arbor Prep team on Thursday, sees Clarkston on Friday.

3. Adams: Tough week awaits the Highlanders, back to back with Orion and Harrison will be tricky.

4. Clarkston: If Erika Davenport puts up 30 points per game this season, the Wolves will be fine.

5. Stoney Creek: Maria Zandi could be the one of the best players come around since Gabby Yurik.

6. Oxford: Wildcats face a stiff test on Tuesday with Clarkston before league play starts.

7. Orion: Dragons will be fine after losing tough one to Clarkston. The have a back to back that will test them.

8. Southfield: The Blue Jays sent a message to Seaholm Thursday night. Could the Gold be next?

9. Troy: The Colts have a chance to rebound from their loss to Adams. They get Stoney Creek on Tuesday.

10. North Farmington: Megan Carter is back and healthy, could be a difference maker for the Raiders.

Boys:

1. North Farmington: With the addition of Billy Thomas, it makes the Raiders that much deeper.

2. Clarkston: Foster Loyer and Andrew Myers maybe the best guard duo in the league.

3. Oak Park: January 19th can't come soon enough for the Knights.

4. Southfield: Jays rolling right now. Huge test with North Farmington coming up.

5. Adams: Highlanders riding the three point machine, 13 threes on Friday.

6. West Bloomfield: Tristian Jackson is still scoring in bunches in Laker land.

7. Stoney Creek: Three point shooting is carrying the Cougars so far this season.

8. Oxford: Wildcats bounced back after getting upset by Royal Oak by beating Berkley. We'll see if the win rights the ship for Oxford.

9. Troy: Nice bounce back win for the Colts after two straight losses.

10. Royal Oak: Ravens upset of Oxford and near upset of West Bloomfield has them here. Royal Oak will give Gold teams fits this season.

Billy Thomas Returns to North Farmington Will Have an Impact.

Written Wednesday January 7th at 11:00 PM

Billy Thomas will be returning to Michigan this season.

Thomas who played at U-D Jesuit has enrolled at North Farmington and will be immeditally eligable to play this season for the Raiders.

Thomas presence will give coach Todd Negoshian another weapon (his three point shooting) to go along with Jerome Rogers, Anthony Qaascana, and Josh Hogans, and Jacob Jobbert.

Thomas's family has had some issues when he and two 6.10 Nigerians enrolled at West Bloomfield and played for the Lakers summer ball team. However Thomas Sr, lost custody of the two Nigerians and they went to parents who had Cubs ties while Thomas went to Virginia for one semester.

What impact this will make for North Farmington will be a question mark.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for complete coverage.

One of the NBA's Top Stars Attacks AAU. Also AAU Thoughts.

Written Saturday January 3rd at 11:50 PM

When looking at the season there was an powerful article with bold statements from one of the best players in the NBA.

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant said to ESPN's Arash Markazi that European players are more skillful than those who played in the AAU system.

"AAU basketball, horrible, terrible. It's stupid. It doesn't teach our kids how to play the game at all so you wind up with having players are are big and they bring it up and do all this fancy crap and they don't know how to post. They don't know the fundamentals of the game."

Bryant adds that European players have an advantage because they know the game at an early age and that they are "more skillful" than American players. Bryant did play in Italy for a time.

He offered solutions to fix players and parents egos. "Teach players the game at an early age. Stop treating them like cash cows for everyone to profit off of. That's how you do it, you teach them the game, You got to give them instruction" Bryant mentioned.

Parents and players do play a lot of travel basketball and pay a lot of money to get their names noticed. Some will get them to play at private schools or Catholic Schools or even leave the state just to get better opportunities to look at their athletes.

In the OAA, there are two places I will mention that have AAU type of coaches and they are at Oak Park and at Lathrup.

In Knight Valley you have Athletic Director and Varsity Football coach Greg Carter who's coaching staff has some coaches who have extensive AAU backgrounds. In track they have Brandon Giles who coached at Detroit Mumford. In Girls Basketball you have Diane Jones, who coached at Detroit Renaissance, and is the assistant Athletic Director and in Boys Basketball you have Bryan Tipton who came over from Detroit Cody.

In Lathrup Village you have Michelle Jackson-Marshall who coaches an AAU team in the summer and some of her players transfer in like Antoinette Miller from Ferndale to Southfield-Lathrup to play for her Chargers. Jackson-Marshall has won a State Championship and has constantly made her Hoop Squad an OAA Power each season.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of the AAU circuit but I understand that players get mentioned and made throughout the circuit. I have experience doing games and sometimes I view it as a dangerous assets when it comes to money and AAU circuit. Kids are kids and are not made to be money making machines.

Boys Basketball Thoughts.

Written Friday January 2nd, 2015 at 2:20 PM

Red:

North Farmington: The Raiders have been riding on all cylinders this season led by the trio of Jerome Rogers, Jacob Jobbert, Anthony Qasawa and Josh Hogans. North Farmington sits at 5-0 and Farmington City Champs with wins over Farmington, Harrison, and also Detroit Pershing. Coach Todd Negogian will have a tough schedule once league play starts but expect the Raiders to be there until the very end.

Clarkston: This maybe one of coach Dan Fife's top teams in Clarkston. The Wolves are led by Andrew Myers to go along with Foster Loyer. What might make Clarkston dangerous is the heart and soul Merrick Canada and Josh Nesbitt playing really well right now. The Wolves best wins are over Orchard Lake St. Marys and Ann Arbor Skyline but this Clarkston team will go ten deep.

Southfield: The Blue Jays have probably one of the best inside presences in Isiah Green but they have two guards who are also solid in Amuri Hardy and Mike Flowers. Both of them where huge against Bowman Academy Indiana and losing a tough one to Detroit East English Prep but there is concerns though that Hardy did get hurt in one of the games and is scheduled to get an MRI, if he can't go then it puts the pressure on Flowers and Green to contribute for Gary Teasley's Southfield squad. Expect the Blue Jays to compete in the division this upcoming season.

Lathrup: Fred John maybe the next kept secret in Southfield. John who plays forward scored 29 points in a loss to Detroit Mumford in the Motor City Roundball Classic. The problem for the Chargers is depth and it could show in the league and they start back up with Oak Park and then Orion, that's a tough stretch right there.

Adams: The Highlanders are an interesting team to watch. The Highlanders lost a tough game to Utica Eisenhower and to Stoney Creek. Their wins were over Detroit Consordium, and in overtime over Orion. Coach John Hall has a young team and is led by Spencer Littleson and have a threesome of Jordan Wiley, Joey Ziniti, and Brendon Barrows to go with this season. Expect Adams to make a run this season.

Bloomfield Hills: Cameron Dalton has carried the Blackhawks in the last two games with his superior play for coach Dwayne Graves. Gone is the Big Three but Bloomfield Hills will still be a very good team this season. Expect the Blackhawks to be a contender in the tough Red and with the State Finals experience they could be a major player this season.

Blue:

West Bloomfield: If I had an MVP vote Tristian Jackson would have my vote. He is legit, not only in Football but in Basketball as well. Jackson also has Zach Allred and Michael King as well this season for a deep Lakers team for coach Jeremy Dehna. Also West Bloomfield has played a brutal non conference schedule and with Jackson, expect the Lakers to do damage this season.

Oxford: The Wildcats Big Four has had huge dividends this season with experience. Oxford is led by Jamal Thomas, Delvon Alexander, Connor Elzerman, and Mason Vires. These four players will be key to see where coach Stephan Henning wants to go this season with the Wildcats. They could be West Bloomfield's serious threat this season.

Seaholm: The Maples might have the best guard tandem in this division in Austin Pariee and Austin Roth. Both of them are capable of having big games and can win games if need be. Seaholm has struggled off the gates early but later in the year expect the Maples to make a run but the league is tough so there are no days off.

Stoney Creek: The Cougars are a three point shooting machine led by John Paul Sincola, Jack Allen, Scott Reader, and Ben Reither and that's not Erik Gillengbach who is in the post and can kick the ball out to their top shooters. Stoney Creek and coach Steve Norgrove has done a good job of getting rid of 0-21 from 2011 and have brought back what has always made the Cougars the three point shot. This team is the newest version of the three point happies.

Groves: New coach Mark West will have some challenges early into the season but the schedule looks manageable but league play will be tough for the Falcons along with games against Waterford Mott and Ferndale University. Expect Groves to be fine as we head later into the season.

Avondale: This maybe coach Tim Morton's best team since the 2002 State Championship team over in Auburn Hills. Chris Barton maybe the best kept secret this season that no one is talking about. Avondale has had a quiet 3-2 season and right now looks to be going up in the standings. Expect the Yellow Jackets to be a possible darkhorse in the league and also in districts come March.

Gold:

Ferndale: The Eagles have struggled early in the season but they have been competitive. The schedule is very interesting when they have to play Avondale in a non league game but coach Herb Goliday and his Eagles will be all right as we get later into the season. Ferndale will be fine, don't panic in Ferndale.

Farmington: The Falcons could be an interesting team this season. Coach Terrance Porter returned to Farmington and is riding Justin Banks this season. Farmington also has other players to go to in Jordan Graham and Austin Thompson. The schedule sets up nicely for the Falcons but first they have to deal with Seaholm and then league play starts. All is up for now in Farmington.

Harrison: The Hawks are riding John Rexroth this season but they haven't been consistent this season. Harrison came off a really bad loss to Detroit Osborn and the schedule is not going to get any easier with a non league game against Troy. It could be a long season for the Hawks this season.

Hazel Park: The Vikings have been more competitive this season and I expect it to continue. Hazel Park is solid and has wins over Madison and Lamphere. The schedule will get tough as they play Oxford and Stoney Creek in the season. If the Vikings can survive or win one of these two games, the sky is the limit for this team.

Berkley: The Bears have rode Johnathan Radner lately and still they have a tough non league schedule left to play. Berkley still has to go to Orion and play Stoney Creek. The Bears also have played Troy, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep this season. Berkley should be well prepared once league play starts.

Royal Oak: The Ravens have been struggling this season and might have to rely on it's defense to carry them in games. Royal Oak was blown out by Avondale and could have a down year this season, if it can't pick up the intensity. We'll see what happens in Royal Oak.

White:

Troy: The Colts are very scrappy but lost a tough one to Ashland Ohio in the Motor City Roundball Classic. Coach Gary Fralick will be all right this season and his teams are always well coached. Troy could surprise some people and they could make noise once districts start.

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks have played a lot of early games this season for coach Dave Scott but is led by Devon Terry, Tim Shakoya, and John Van Hoef. Troy Athens is also senior laden and battle tested. Expect the Red Hawks to make some noise in the White this season.

Orion: The Dragons have lost two tough games to start the season and the schedule is brutal for them. Orion still has to play Southfield, Lathrup, Clarkston, Bloomfield Hills, Stoney Creek, Berkley, and Romeo in non league play. Coach Tom Risi's team will be mentally tough once March starts, the question will be is can they handle it.

Oak Park: This maybe the best team in Oakland County once coach Brian Tipton gets his transfers in, when you look at a frontcourt with Rodney Scales, Kevon Fuller, and Howard McInnis that's frightening for teams and that's not Devin Mills either. The Knights might have the best shot to get to East Lansing this season looking at the team they have and what they will become in March.

Pontiac: New Phoenix coach Ben Kelso has turned Pontiac around however the honeymoon may not last long as they go to Clarkston to play the Wolves. Kelso is expected to get his son Jalen in the second semester and put him together with guards Reggie Sommerville and Justin Lavallis. It might not take long for Kelso to build the Phoenix back up to the days when the old Pontiac Northern-old Pontiac Central days when they ruled Pontiac.

Rochester: The Falcons have a young backcourt led by freshman Hunter Schlatter and sophomore Ivan Barraza for coach John Pleasant. Rochester has struggled so far in the season and the schedule won't get any easier. They still have to play Adams at Oakland University to go along with the league schedule. It could be a tough season in Rochester this season.