Basketball Thoughts.

Written Saturday March 28th, at 3:30 PM

Well the OAA Basketball seasons came to a close on Tuesday with Clarkston losing a buzzer beater to University of Detroit Jesuit 56-54 but there are a lot to look forward to for 2015-2016 in both Boys and Girls Basketball. Here are my top 10 story lines for next season

1. Foster Loyer is the Real Deal:

The Wolves were given a treat this season in the form of Foster Loyer. Loyer broke out as the best freshman in Oakland County and will be a good one for Clarkston. His top game was when he had 35 points in the regional final against Macomb Dakota. He will be counted on next season along with Tabin Throgmorton to carry the Wolves in what could be an interesting season.

2.The Red in Girls will still be very good:

The Cougars girls basketball team came off a tough loss to Waterford Kettering in the regional semifinals will still be a good basketball team. They return seven of their ten players in the Red but the problem for Stoney Creek will be is that Southfield-Lathrup could be a state contender again as they return their whole starting lineup on a team that gave Birmingham Marian all it could handle. Clarkston loses Erika Davenport but returns three players from their starting lineup a season ago. Harrison returns Amber Stephans and Kristen Nelson. Adams will return Ryian Owusu, Olivia Aregros and Maggie Rogers. The Red could very well be up for grabs again but the Chargers though are an overwhelming favorite to repeat.

3. Adams Boys will still be good:

The Highlanders boys basketball team will return two of their top players from a team that lost to Clarkston in the district finals in Spencer Littleson and Joey Zinni. Adams did get some good wins in the season and gave the Wolves all they could handle for one half. The Highlanders will be a strong contender in the Red along with North Farmington to challenge Clarkston for the crown.

4. The White in Girls could be interesting:

Pending how the league meetings go, the White will look to have either Lake Orion, Bloomfield Hills, and or North Farmington for the league crown. The Dragons return four starters from a team that went 13-7 this season. The Blackhawks return three starters in Kathrine Prinna, Victorie Franklin, and Amanda Sape and will have Immani Wright take over the point guard spot. The Raiders lose Megan Carter as she will move on to Kent State but will have some young talent ready to go and don't count out West Bloomfield who will have Charlika Stubbs and a strong freshman class ready to go as well.

5. Watch Out for Hazel Park:

The Vikings boys this season was in the mix for the Blue crown and took Warren De Lassale to the limit. Also Hazel Park is very young as they started three freshman, they did beat Berkley and Farmington in the same season which was huge and the division (Gold) looks very good for the Vikings to win it next season. Hazel Park is a team on the rise.

6. Oxford Situation:

With the Wildcats it's interesting in both boys and girls because they had a strong season in the girls but a disappointing season in the boys. Oxford loses some key pieces in Jamal Thomas, who is moving to Chicago and was suspended to close out the season, their top two players Del Alexander and Connor Elzerman are gone to graduation. In the girls they lose Cherlyn Bandis, Skye Donaldson, and Jessica Murphy and they will likely move up to the Red after winning the White. The girls for the Wildcats are in much better shape than the boys because they return Abigail Butzcewitz, Madelyn Morris, Grace Cleland, and Grace Wysocki. It could be an interesting ride next season.

7. Lake Orion and Rochester Boys will be back:

The Dragons struggled to a tough 4-17 season this season but will return three of their five starters. Orion does lose Tyler Sites, Joe Turnbull, Elmalik Martin, and Pim Hurkmans but will return David Gomez, Caiden Prescorn, and Chris Dudek. Also the JV team finished 14-6. Rochester went winless at 0-21 but returns Hunter Schlater, and Ivan Bazerria and the move down to the Blue will help the Falcons get wins. Expect both Lake Orion and Rochester to be major factors next season.

8. West Bloomfield Boys will still be very good:

In a controversial filled summer the Lakers will finally have some stability this coming off season but they do return Tristian Jackson, who is very good and will have a strong senior year but we did learn something in their loss to Walled Lake Central. This team will be a dangerous team in the White for sure next season.

9. Southfield will surprise people:

Southfield coach Jamie Ginez will finally have his team after they went 18-2 last season. The Blue Jays have Krystal Lynn Defoe and Stormlength Mattison for another season and expect them to be a huge contender in the Blue next season. If they can toughen their schedule up it will only help them as they get ready to deal with teams like their rivals from 12 Mile to get them ready for next season.

T 10. Seaholm Girls is an interesting team to Watch:

When looking at a team to watch, it's the Maples girls basketball team for coach January Hlaski. Seaholm was very inconsistent, they had some bad losses to Southfield and Berkley along with Orion, and Stoney Creek. The Maples finished 9-11 a year ago, which was a shock especially with the expecations they had. Seaholm returns Mackenzie Harbort and Dana Hoerman but did lose Molly Stuenberg as she moved to Chicago because of family reasons. The Maples will compete but you got Oak Park, Southfield, and Rochester who will also be there.

T 10. Oak Park Boys Situation:

With the Knights they do lose Rodney Scales and a few other guys to graduation. We don't know who the new coach will be at Oak Park with the recent departure of Bryan Tipton and likely coach Greg Carter will not coach the basketball team. Kevon Fuller left during the season to go to Detroit Pershing but questions do linger though at Oak Park and it's something worth watching for.