Written Tuesday May 25th at 10:40 PM
Updated Thursday June 10th at 9:45 AM
These are NOT the official rankings, that's for later on but these are my top ten teams heading into the summer months and things to keep an eye on as we head into the summer and fall months.
Here are the top ten summer rankings.
Girls
1. West Bloomfield: The Lakers had a really good year winning the Red but they missed the postseason because of COVID 19 protocol last season. They have a ton of experience in both the Hendrix (Sydney and Kendall) and Davis sisters (Indya
and Summer) along with Myonna Hooper coming back. The Davis sisters have been playing
really well in the AAU circuit. West Bloomfield should be the favorite in the
Red this winter but there are a ton of questions especially with program
strength going forward and they will have a new coach next season as well.
2. Clarkston: The Wolves had a very good year winning 15 games and their second
straight district title last season
but they took a hit this offseason. Coach John Weyer stepped down in April. Clarkston named former junior varsity coach Aaron Goodnough as the program's new head coach. The Wolves have a very experience team in Maddie
Skourpski, Izzy Hadley, Ava Hernandez, Kiera Tolmie, Ryan
Bordogna, Mia Zorski, Emily Valencia, Emerson Wood, and Sophia Walker
coming back. Clarkston should be in the Red conversation again this winter.
3. Stoney Creek: The Cougars are in a very good spot this
offseason after winning their first district title since 2016. Stoney Creek has ten returning players including Milana Skroic, Mia
Carson, both LaPrarie sisters (Sydney and Sarah,) Ella Demetral, both Binfet
sisters (Kendall and Riley,) Lily Solek, and Emily Flynn. Coach Kellen James has
program strength as well. “Team Finebalm” should in for a monster year despite
moving back to the Red this winter.
4. Lake Orion: The Dragons had a bounce back year winning
the Blue last season. Lake Orion has four starters coming back in Maddie
Ebbert, Kylie Heck, Taylor Dinda, and Katie Van Heck. Dinda started the last
four games after an ankle injury to Heck. They got some tough news as Van Heck suffered a season ending ACL injury. Coach Bob Brydges has a ton of depth
that in Audrey Wischmeyer, Chloe Wiegers, and Reagan Greene that saw time last season. They also have program strength. The Dragons moved up to the White where they should be the favorite this winter.
5. Groves: The Falcons had a very successful year winning
their first ever district title despite having an under 500 year last season which included a very difficult schedule. This offseason has been very challenging. Groves has Jordan Peterson,
Nevaeh Otis, Anaya Robinson, Melina Price, Kaitlyn Sanders, and Ciara Racco
coming back for new coach Alison Hidey. Program strength is a major concern going forward. There is a ton
of uncertainty surrounding the Falcons.
6. Troy: The Colts have had a ton of success in the regular
season but they have had their fair share of problems in the postseason. Troy
has lost their opening game in three straight postseasons (Utica twice,
Rochester.) The Colts have Kendal Zeiter, Charlotte Sobotka, Lizzie Bultynck,
Avery Allen, Mia Valaotis, and Elana Zesess coming back. Coach Julius Porter’s
team took a major hit this offseason with a season ending ACL injury to Alyssa
Matuza. The Matuza injury will put more pressure on their ball handlers like Bulytnck and Allen. Porter
and Troy will have their work cut out for them and going up to the Red
without a true point guard, which could spell trouble this winter.
7. Troy Athens: The Red Hawks had a very interesting year despite beating Rochester and Oxford but COVID 19 protocols kept them out
of the postseason last season. Troy Athens could be a darkhorse in the White this winter. They have Gillian
Ciak, Jordan Doyle, Skylar Emerson, Ella Musko, CeCe Fay and Aarushi Lockhandle coming back. Program strength is a concern for Coach Stacie
Klumpp. If there is a team that is ready to make
the jump with a ton of upside it’s the Red Hawks.
8. Oxford: It was an up and down year for the Wildcats last
season which saw them beat Lake Orion twice but lost a tough one to Troy
Athens at home on
the final day of the regular season which cost them the Blue. Oxford
lost
Mackenzie Methner and Emma Morris to graduation. Miranda Wyniemko had a
breakout year last season with several monster games. Wyniemko will
likely be the focal point on every
opponent’s scouting reports this winter for a team that has two starters
coming
back with the other starter being Peyton Richter. They also have impact
players in Lexi
Yankee, Kaitlyn Morris, Brady Elling, and Kayla Casper for Coach Rachel
Bryer. Program strength is
very strong for Bryer especially in the middle school levels. The
Wildcats should be a sleeper in the White.
9. North Farmington: The Raiders had it very rough early but turned
things around late in the year and made the district finals last season. Coach Jeff Simpson
has his leading scorer in Sela Lefler coming back. Lefler had a strong year last
season and is playing very well in the AAU circuit. Lefler will have her
backcourt mate Penelope Creary back as well. Creary is a three point specialist
for the Raiders and is more than capable of taking over games. The question for
Simpson will be in the interior along with program strength and depth. Hallie
Rogers is expected to take on a much bigger role in the paint for North Farmington. The Raiders should be a contender in the White this winter but they need
more than Lefler and Creary to carry the load.
10. Berkley: The Bears had an interesting season which saw
them beat Troy, Southfield Arts and Tech, and Oxford. Berkley was also
shorthanded as numerous girls decided not to play last season despite making
the district finals. The Bears have their scorer in Ashley
Loon coming back. Loon had a good season last year and will look for more this winter.
Sammi Withrow, Ava Beard, and Aurora Sousanis is also back as well. It is possible that
they could get some of the players who didn’t play last season to come back.
Program strength is a big concern for the Bears despite moving up to the White. They have a new coach as well as Ben Bancroft takes over the program for Coach Kirk Carolan this offseason. Expect Berkley to lean on Loon, Beard, and Withrow this winter.
Boys
1. Ferndale: The Eagles made huge strides by winning the Red, earning their first regional title since 1985,
and getting to the Division Two State semifinals last season. Ferndale has a
great chance to win it all in Division Two this winter with what they have coming back. Coach Juan Rickman
returns two key players in Treyvon Lewis and Jason Drake. Both of them averaged
20 points a contest. The Eagles will need more than just be Drake and Lewis and
this is where the role players come in in Chris Williams in the interior and forward
Cameron Reed. What helps Rickman is that Ferndale has improved on their program
strength as they fielded three teams last season. It looks like it is State championship
or bust next season for the Eagles.
2. Clarkston: The Wolves were supposed to have a rebuilding
year but that certainly wasn’t the case. Clarkston was a free throw miss away from upsetting Orchard Lake St. Marys in the regional semifinals last
season. They look to be loaded again this winter. The Wolves have Keegan Waslik, Brody Kosin, Mike DePillo,
Desman Stephans, Zach Austin, and Nathan Steinman coming back for Coach Tim
Waslik. Clarkston has a freshman in John Kaul waiting in the wings and could
see Varsity action. Program strength looks to be solid as well. Clarkston
should be a very good basketball team this winter.
3. North Farmington: It was a very odd season for the Raiders
which saw their season come to an end because of COVID 19 protocol. North Farmington lost a
ton of experience from last season however with the program they have, they should be able to reload very quickly. The Raiders have Aaron Rice, PJ Gardner, and Landon Beeler coming back for Coach Todd Negoshian. They should provide experience and leadership. North Farmington should be a player in the Red this winter.
4. Adams: The Highlanders had a great year last season
sharing the White. Coach Jaret Thomas has this program heading in the right
direction and program strength is on the rise. Adams got moved up to the Red
this winter. Thomas brings with him an experienced team in Justice Mims, Nick
Pattera, Jon Urusy, Brady Prieskorn, Peter Kardasis, and Jacob Durand. Life in the Red for them has me really concerned surrounding the
Highlanders. Adams is in a really tough spot this winter. They might have to
take some lumps in the Red.
5. Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks had a resurgence earning
their first league title since 2014. They had a very disappointing loss to
Waterford Mott in the district semifinals last season. Bloomfield Hills should
be one of the favorites in the White this winter. Coach Phil Kurajian has a
loaded team coming back in Noah Adamcyzk, Derrick Lee, Carson Brodsky, Nash Gilbert, and
Mohammad Farahani. Program strength looks to be strong for the Blackhawks as
well. Bloomfield Hills should be a player this winter.
6. Lake Orion: The Dragons are in a very interesting spot
this winter. Lake Orion had a strong year but divine
intervention cost the Dragons in their district semifinal loss to Clarkston
last season. Lake Orion has Alden Ritt, Malachi Grandberry, Jeff Perkowski, DJ
Morrow, Blake Leidell, Nate Harvilla, CJ Witt, and Trevor Witt coming back for Coach Joel Schroeder.
Secondary scoring and program strength are concern for Schroeder and the Dragons despite moving to the White this winter. Ritt has had a strong offseason as had a few of the players. There
is plenty of time to figure the secondary scoring question out heading into
this winter. Lake Orion is in a good spot right now.
7. Groves: The Falcons are in a very interesting spot
heading into the winter. Groves has been up and down in the last two seasons. They have
suffered numerous heartbreaking losses. Program strength is a concern despite having Aaron DuBose and Nick Lutz coming back for Coach Benny White. Lutz had a
monster game against Southfield Arts and Tech in the first round of the
postseason last season. DuBose has been solid for the Falcons as well. Groves should be a team to watch in the White.
8. Berkley: The Bears have been a rising program as of late.
Berkley lost a ton of experience but their program strength should help them
heading into this winter. Coach Joe Sermo has Tamir Runinkievich and Jacob
Sheriff coming back to help what should be a very young team but their junior
varsity team went undefeated which is really something to take notice. The
Bears should be one of the favorites in the Blue this winter.
9. Oak Park: Everytime I think about the Knights, I think of
that four point play they allowed to Sonny Wilson of Detroit University-Detroit
Jesuit that force double overtime in which they lost in the district semifinals.
Oak Park besides that game had a good year under Coach Durand Sheppard which
included beating Clarkston last season. The Knights have a lot of experience in
Ashton Henderson and Bwada Miller coming back. Program strength will be very
interesting this winter. Oak Park is a wildcard in the Red but they have some
questions heading into the season as well.
10. Rochester: The Falcons had an up and down year last
season with some huge wins but some very questionable losses as well. Rochester
ended up winning the Gold and thus moved up to the Blue this winter. The
Falcons made a very questionable offseason move by letting Coach Vance Kirkwood
go after four years coaching the program and naming Nick Evola to take over the program. Rochester should be a darkhorse in their new division with
Matt Stone, Gabe Mendoza, DJ Reid, Arman Hussiani, Preyston Schroeder, Connor
Craium, Louis Bowes, and Jeff Hawkins. The question will be is how will the players and Evola adjust to each other. There will be a transition period with the program. Program strength is a question mark. If this move
doesn’t pay off then there could be some trouble.
