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.