Basketball Pre-Season Top Ten.

Written Thursday October 26th at 9:00 PM

Here is the early pre-season top ten teams heading into the season.

Girls:

1. Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors should be talented heading into this upcoming season led by Cheyenne McEvans, D'Layna Holloman, Tyler Washington, and Alexis Johnson. Southfield Arts and Tech coach Michelle Marshall should have a solid team yet again this season after having a Final Four run last season.

2. Clarkston: The Wolves may have the best interior in the league in Kayla Luchenbach, Maddie Beck, and Molly Nicholson. Watch for Taylor Heaten and Kiayna Aynotte for coach Christine Rogers. The bench will be a question mark for Clarkston.

3. Royal Oak: The Ravens are the favorite in the White because of whom they have back in Samantha Potter and Jessica Adams. Guard play will be a question for coach Brian Sopota. Royal Oak has toughed up their non conference schedule which is very important. The Ravens could be something to keep an eye on this season.

4. Orion: The Dragons will have their third coach in three seasons as Mike Griffin takes over the team. Orion has a ton of experience back led by Sophie Wyborski, Sydney Strenger, Sophie Canine, Cameron Coltrin, Shannon Falter, and Lauryn VanLoon. If the players and Griffin get on the same page, then there may be some hope here despite the non-conference schedule is brutal for this team.

5. North Farmington: The Raiders have Sam Cherney back in the interior for coach Jeff Simpson but they have some questions on whom will replace Kierra Crockett. North Farmington will rely on Molly Simpson and Patti Tzchokian on the guard front. The non-conference is OK for the Raiders so a good start is very important.

6. Stoney Creek: The Cougars have a solid player returning in Emily Echout and a solid Junior Varsity coming up to Varsity. The question for Stoney Creek will be is how quickly will the players coming up from Junior Varsity adapt to the speed and quickness of the game. I’m not sure why Cougars coach Kellen James took a page from Oak Park football coach and athletic director Greg Carter’s playbook when it comes to non-conference scheduling. James should seek Joey Styles out when it comes to scheduling non-conference games.

7. Groves: The Falcons have a new coach in Jessica Wiesler but comes some questions regarding Shea Carter’s status if she went to North Carolina or not. Kayla Nelson and Lauren Palmer will be relied upon a lot for Groves. The Falcons if they can get on the same page with Wiesler than they could very well be a team to keep an eye on in the White.

8. Avondale: The Yellow Jackets under second year coach Phil Dawson turned the team around winning 14 games last season. Avondale’s problem has been health, Olivia Russell had two ACL injuries that cost both of her seasons. Toya Golden is also back for the Yellow Jackets and there is talent waiting in the wings. Avondale is the favorite in the Blue this season.

9. West Bloomfield: The Lakers hit a home run when they hired Bert Mosley to replace Zach Hilbers. West Bloomfield though may not have a lot of size but they have a lot of speed and returners back in Mya Bobo, Ellie Soverinsky, and Destiny Monroe. Also, not forget they had a solid Junior Varsity team that Mosley coached. The Lakers will be a factor in the White this season.

10. Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks return guards Immani Wright, Maryiam Hashim, and Becca Hancock but they have questions heading into the season with whom will be in the interior with Amanda Sape and Victorie Franklin graduated. Bloomfield Hills coach Jeff Rubin has a tough non-conference schedule. It will be interesting to see where the Blackhawks stand heading into the season.

TEAMS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Oxford, Adams, Harrison, Berkley, Troy, Troy Athens, Hazel Park.

Boys:

1. Clarkston: The defending State Champions return the balk of their team led by three future Big Ten players in Foster Loyer, Thomas Kithner, and Taylor Currie. Clarkston coach Dan Fife will have CJ Robinson, Hank Schimmel, Nick Wells, and Tristen Mysen and they will have big roles this season as well. It could be another special season again for the Wolves.

2. West Bloomfield: The Lakers added three transfers to go alongside Tre Harvey this season in the the form of Donovan Moore, Jalen Kelso, and Robert Johnson. Moore comes from Illinois and has family ties to the West Bloomfield program, Johnson comes from Northville, and Kelso comes back into the OAA from Walled Lake Northern after spending two seasons at Pontiac. All three of them are guards. Moore has the biggest upside of the bunch for coach Jeremy Dehna. The question will be in the post and if they can get any production there but West Bloomfield will be a team to keep an eye on.

3. Troy: The Colts will have a big three this season to rely on in Jason Dietz, Danny Sully, and Leon Ayers. These three will be counted on to lead an experienced group this season for coach Gary Fralick.

4. Oak Park: Knights coach Bobby Thompson should have a very strong team this season led by Dwan Mathis, Jeremiah Pettiway, Maliq Carr, and Jalen Knight. Oak Park is ready to break out this season.

5. Hazel Park: Vikings coach Brendan Barrett’s team will be Senior heavy led by Carl Bow. Depth will be a major question as Hazel Park makes the move up to the Red this season.

6. Stoney Creek: Cougars have Nate Davis, Mike Melagarni, and Jericho Barr-Redmond leading the charge. Stoney Creek coach Steve Norgrove’s team could challenge Oak Park in the White this season.

7. Orion: Dragons will have a ton of experience back for coach Jim Manzo in Pierce Burke, Drew Crane, Jamie Lewis, and Casey Strionek. Orion should be one of those teams that could make some noise this season in the Blue.

8. Troy Athens: The Red Hawks under coach Dave Scott return a ton of experience led by Taylor McCaskill and he’ll have plenty of talent to work with this season. Could be a player in the White.

9. Rochester: The Falcons will have a ton of experience back for new coach Vance Kirkwood in Hunter Schlater, LaMarko and Corey Gulledge but there will be a ton of questions this season and how will the players adjust to Kirkwood and his system???

10. Oxford: The Wildcats lost three great players in Jordan Jaden, Ray LaVine, and Jiem Linarus but they have Michael Raisch and Nolan Harding back for coach Steve Laidlaw. Oxford will be a tough team to play against.

TEAMS TO KEEP AN EYE ON: Farmington, Pontiac, Adams, Ferndale, Seaholm, Groves, Southfield Arts and Tech, North Farmington, Avondale, Royal Oak.