The OAA Boys Basketball season is over and the Clarkston Wolves took home the State’s ultimate prize. The OAA had four teams in the Sweet 16 this season with Clarkston, West Bloomfield, Stoney Creek, and Troy all getting to the Regional final and five teams winning districts if you include Hazel Park in Class B. Here are my top ten storylines for next season.
1. Can Clarkston Repeat???
The Wolves will be an interesting team to keep an eye on
next season as they return four starters from their State Championship team including
Foster Loyer, CJ Robinson, and Taylor Currie. Clarkston will have a deep bench
as well but they must replace Dylan Alderson’s production if they want to
repeat next season. They have a great shot at doing it.
2. Hazel Park Questions???
The Vikings shared the White crown this season but they had
their fair share of turmoil surrounding the program. Hazel Park has talent
coming back but can they keep them together. Carl Bow, David Hearns, and Devin
Pettis are going to be seniors next season but according to MIPrepZone’s Scott
Bernsterin Bow’s father was not happy with the Vikings coaching staff and was
critical about them after Hazel Park lost to Detroit Collegiate Prep of
Northwestern in the Regional semifinal. He sent some tweets that had been since
deleted. Coach Brendan Barrett’s team will be interesting to keep an eye on
this offseason.
3. Teams that could make a run.
Well when you look at whom had a ton of talent coming back
you got to look at the three teams that made runs this season in West
Bloomfield, Troy, and Stoney Creek possibly making strong runs back next
season.
The Cougars return Mike Melargani and Nate Davis from a team
that went to the Regional Final, that won 17 games including its first district
title and regional game over Linden and they had a solid junior varsity program
this season. Stoney Creek will be a team to keep an eye on next season.
The other team to keep an eye on is Troy. The Colts went to
the State Quarterfinals this season for the first time since 1989 before losing
to West Bloomfield. Troy returns Leon Ayers and Jason Dietz to a team that will
be loaded next season to make another run. The future is bright for coach Gary
Fralick and his Colts.
If there is a wildcard team that could make a run it could
be West Bloomfield. The Lakers made the Final Four this season but they will
lose Kevin McAdoo. If there is a bright spot for coach Jeremy Denha’s team they
do return James Falkner, Gavin Harvey, and Tre Harvey. If West Bloomfield can
get some scoring next season then why not the Lakers.
4. How will Adams look next season???
The Highlanders had a rough 2016-2017 season going 0-21 but
coach Brad Crighton’s team has a bright future. Adams will be interesting to
keep an eye on with Vincent Gray coming back and they had a solid Junior
Varsity program. The Highlanders will be in the hunt next season.
5. How will the Raiders look without Hardy???
The Raiders will be a much different team than they have
been in recent seasons next season. Gone will be Amari Hardy whom was one of
the best players in the State. He decommitted from Oklahoma State last week
but he will be in the radar of some college folks especially Georgia and Georgia Tech next season.
6. Farmington will have to lean on Bryant to carry them
next season.
The Falcons lost Jack Kirby and Jordan Graham to graduation
but Ray Bryant will return next season for coach Terrance Porter. Farmington
has some size coming in next season as well but they will have some questions. The
Falcons will be a team to keep an eye on next season.
7. Troy Athens has a ton of experience coming back.
The Red Hawks will be an interesting storyline next season
because they return some experience led by coach Taylor McCaskill and Jacob
Brantley but they did lose Nick Cotton as he transferred to Harrison. Troy
Athens coach Dave Scott will have experience coming back, so this will be a
team to keep an eye on for next season.
8. Rochester has experience coming back.
The Falcons return a ton of experience from a team that was
disappointing especially in the Blue in which Rochester finished 3-7 in the
league while overall finishing with an 11-11 record. The Falcons lose Ivan Barazza-Duran but LaMarko Gulledge,
Corey Gulledge, and Hunter Schattler are back. Rochester should
be good next season but they have to produce results for coach John
Pleasant or they won’t go anywhere.
9. What will happen with Groves next season.
The Falcons lose Marcus Pittman, Drew Schekell, and Charles
Jones to graduation from a team that won the Blue this season but lost to
Avondale in the pre-district. Groves will be an interesting team to keep an eye
on next season as whom will take over the production for coach Marc West’s
team.
10. Orion will be a team to watch.
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