Saturday, March 5, 2016

Boys Basketball District Preview.

Written Saturday March 5th at 8:10 PM



Pre-district: March 7.
Semis: March 9.
Finals: March 11.

District 42 @ Detroit Collegiate Prep. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

Warren Fitzgerald vs DETROIT MUMFORD 4 PM
Hamtramck Frontier International vs HAZEL PARK 5:30 PM
DETROIT COLLEGIATE PREP vs Detroit Central 7 PM

Warren Fitzgerald/DETROIT MUMFORD vs Ferndale 5 PM
Hamtramck Frontier International/HAZEL PARK vs Detroit Collegiate Prep/Detroit Central 7 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: HAZEL PARK VS DETROIT MUMFORD.

District Final: 5:30 PM

FAVORITE: Hazel Park
TOP CHALLENGER: Detroit Collegiate Prep
DARKHORSE: Warren Fitzgerald
KEY PLAYER: Carl Bow-Hazel Park

When looking at this district this could be a Vikings OR Detroit Collegiate Prep district final. Detroit Collegiate Prep. Warren Fitzgerald could be a dark horse along with Detroit Mumford. The Phoenix are quick and athletic and could threaten pending if they get past the Spartans. The Eagles had a rough season in the Gold but like the Girls, Ferndale could make a run in the district playoffs because of the Class B experience. Hazel Park won the Gold outright and is considered the favorite in this district.

PICK: Hazel Park.

District 24 @ Southfield. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

DETROIT RENAISSANCE vs Oak Park 5:30 PM
DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT vs Southfield 7 PM

DETROIT RENAISSANCE/Oak Park vs Southfield Lathrup 5:30 PM
DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT/Southfield vs Berkley 7 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: DETROIT UNIVERSITY-DETROIT JESUIT VS DETROIT RENAISSANCE.

District Final: 7 PM

FAVORITE: Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit
TOP CHALLENGER: Detroit Renaissance
DARKHORSE: Southfield
KEY PLAYER: Justin Turner-Detroit Renaissance.

This district has some top heavy teams in here including one whom can go all the way to the Breslin Center. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit is the early favorite because of whom the Cubs have in the two seven foot Nigerians along with future Michigan State recruit Cassius Winston. Justin Turner leads the Phoenix into the district playoffs. The Blue Jays are led by Michael Flowers and is very talented. The Bears are solid themselves, the Knights have been up and down, and the Chargers have had a long season. It could be an interesting district but you got to give an edge to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit.

PICK: Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit.

District 21 @ Orchard Lake St. Marys. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

Harrison vs WEST BLOOMFIELD 7 PM

NORTH FARMINGTON vs Farmington 5 PM
Harrison/WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Orchard Lake St. Marys 7:30 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: NORTH FARMINGTON VS WEST BLOOMFIELD.

District Final: 7 PM

FAVORITE: North Farmington
TOP CHALLENGER: West Bloomfield
DARKHORSE: Orchard Lake St. Marys
KEY PLAYER: Amari Hardy-North Farmington.

This district when looking at it has a Raiders vs either the Eaglets or Lakers district final on Friday. West Bloomfield has struggled down the stretch in sharing the White. North Farmington shared the Red with Clarkston and has its fair share of senior experience and talent on its side. Orchard Lake St. Marys is also talented as well. Harrison and Farmington are the weakest in this district and could be routed in their respective matchups on Monday and Wednesday respectably. It’s the Raiders district to lose.

PICK: North Farmington.

District 23 @ Troy Athens. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

ROYAL OAK vs Sterling Heights 6 PM
TROY ATHENS vs Warren Mott 8 PM

Royal Oak/Sterling Heights vs WARREN DE LASALLE 6 PM
Warren Mott/TROY ATHENS vs Warren Cousino 8 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: TROY ATHENS VS WARREN DE LASALLE.

District Final: 7 PM

FAVORITE: Warren De LaSalle
TOP CHALLENGER: Troy Athens
DARKHORSE: Royal Oak
KEY PLAYER: Kevin McKay-Warren De LaSalle.

When I see this district this one could be very interesting. The early favorite has to be the Catholic League runner up Warren De LaSalle. The Pilots are very talented led my Kevin McKay. McKay played really well in the Catholic League tournament and expect him to do well in this tournament. Royal Oak is the dark horse led by guards Gavin Boswell and Cordell DuPree. Troy Athens is very young but they did compete in the Red this season. The Red Hawks are led by Taylor McCaskill. Don’t expect much from Sterling Heights or the Warren schools, it could be an interesting district to watch.

PICK: Warren De LaSalle.

District 25 @ Avondale. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

GROVES vs Seaholm 5 PM
Avondale vs BLOOMFIELD HILLS 7 PM

Groves/Seaholm vs TROY 5 PM
Avondale/BLOOMFIELD HILLS vs Birmingham Brother Rice 7 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: BLOOMFIELD HILLS VS TROY

District Final: 7 PM

FAVORITE: Troy
TOP CHALLENGER: Bloomfield Hills
DARKHORSE’s: Groves, Avondale
KEY PLAYER: Marcus Pittman-Groves

This district is as even as it could get in Auburn Hills. Five teams have a shot at winning the district with this paring but the early favorite slightly you got to give it to Troy. The Colts are very young and have had the top challenger Bloomfield Hills number lately but Troy did lose to Avondale a few weeks ago. The Yellow Jackets have had a rough season in the White this season but could be a threat once the playoffs start. Groves although they were in the Gold have the depth to matchup with any of those teams in this district. Bloomfield Hills is very young as well but did share the White crown but have struggled lately. This district is a pick-em between five teams.

PICK: Bloomfield Hills.

District 30 @ Adams. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

Utica vs UTICA EISENHOWER 7 PM

STONEY CREEK vs Rochester 5 PM
Utica/Utica Eisenhower vs ADAMS 7 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: STONEY CREEK VS ADAMS

District Final: 7 PM

FAVORITE: Stoney Creek
TOP CHALLENGER: Adams
DARKHORSE: Utica Eisenhower
KEY PLAYER: John Paul Sincola-Stoney Creek

This district is shaping up to be a Highlanders/Cougars district final. Adams has Spencer Littleson and Joey Zinni while Stoney Creek has an array of three point shooters in John Paul Sincola and Ben Reiter but Rochester could have a say, they have gotten better this season led by Hunter Schlatter, Ivan Barraza, and Larmaco Gillridge. Utica Eisenhower is a good team as well and could threaten Adams pending if they get by Utica. I would be shocked if this district is not an all Rochester district final.

PICK: Adams.

District 31 @ Waterford Mott. CAPS: PROJECTED WINNERS.

CLARKSTON vs Waterford Mott 5 PM
ORION vs Waterford Kettering 7 PM

CLARKSTON/Waterford Mott vs Oxford 5 PM
Orion/Waterford Kettering vs PONTIAC 7 PM

PROJECTED DISTRICT FINAL: CLARKSTON VS PONTIAC

District Final 6 PM

FAVORITE: Clarkston
TOP CHALLENGER: Pontiac
DARKHORSE: Orion
KEY PLAYER: David Gomez-Orion

This district looks like this could be a good one but you got to give the edge to Clarkston because of experience and talent they have in Foster Loyer and Dylan Alderson. The Phoenix shared the White this season and is led by Jaylen Kelso. Pontiac also has size and quickness along with the stall ball that coach Ben Kelso likes to do. Orion is an interesting team to keep an eye on as the Dragons are led by David Gomez, Noah Harris, Jaylen Wiggins, and Chris Dudek. Oxford is a darkhorse team as well led by Jordan Jayden but the loss of Justin Lavalis has hurt the Wildcats, we don’t know his availability for the district playoffs. The Captains are a senior heavy team like Orion is but have been in turmoil along with the Corsairs of Waterford Mott. This district looks like it could be a Wolves vs Phoenix or Dragon final.

PICK: Clarkston.

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I have highest function of autism (Asperger Syndrome.) I'm a huge Dallas Stars fan. I like to play and watch football, especially when the Dragons play on Friday nights. I am a 2006 alum and used to play football for the Dragons. I ran track, I ran the 100, 200, 400 meter dashes along with shot-put and discus. During my time in Orion I was a manager for Junior Varsity Boys Basketball team. I'm the volleyball, girls basketball, and football announcer for the team and do the book on the road for girls basketball. I do the clock for volleyball in the fall along with girls basketball in the winter and announce some boys basketball games as well. In the spring I coach shot-put at Scripps Middle School, in my fifth season coaching. I run the shot-put for high school meets. I played Special Olympics Basketball, I've won three gold medals for them. I host "Between Taorminas" which is on ONTV along with a podcast called "OAA Now". In other various things outside of Lake Orion, I love to jet ski over Saginaw Bay. Saginaw Bay is basically my life. I'm a trained weather spotter for the National Weather Service for Oakland and Huron counties.