Oakland-
Keith Benson (Oakland University) is for real. Great left hand, can score so many ways. Will be lottery pick in NBA if he continues to play like he has. Most accomplished player never to start for his high school team (Detroit Country Day)
Drew Valentine - Oakland University - uglier now than he was in high school
Larry Wright - Oakland University - Not a point guard but definitely can shoot. This team would be so much stronger if he was at the 2 spot and they had a respectable point guard. Played at Saginaw. - I believe he was a Senior when Draymond Green (MSU), Dan West (Tennessee - dropped out), Josh Southern (Boston College), were all underclassman on that Saginaw team.
Kampe is now getting players at Oakland that make them legit contenders for NCAA tournament. They are not Top 25 - losing to Michigan proved that.
Michigan team flying under the radar. Very underrated - Beilein (LeMoyne College coach) has recruited his type of role players that play team ball and support his system and style of ball. Morris has improved tremendously. They play in the tough Big Ten but will surprise some teams this year if they stay healthy.
UD
Ray McCallum got off to a slow start but is starting to find his way and role on this team. He had looked like a very average player on a very average team. His role - be the leader and go to guy. Went up to Western Michigan to see Univ of Detroit play Western two weeks ago. Western won by two but UD had the last shot and got it blocked. McCallum was so so in first half but then you could see a complete attitude change in the second half. He played like the stud he is capable of being. Scored 19 and hit 4 three's - all net. He is most effective when he lowers that shoulder and gets by his defender and penetrates. He has busted out the last three games - in fact he has scored the following in his last 4 games (16, 19, 31, 23). His leadership is transparent on the floor. This team will contend in the Horizon League with Butler and Cleveland State.
MSU -
Keith Appling - tale of two games - after looking unbelievably awful (looked like a naked scared freshman on the MSG court) against Syracuse - he looked like a completely different player against Oakland and had 14 points in their 1 point win over OU. Appling is extremely talented and with coach Izzo's vote of confidence by starting him the last 2-3 games, it is time for him to let loose. They need another outside shooter to go along with Summers.
Durrell Summers can flat out shoot. He is the best athlete and best shooter on that team.
Kalin Lucas has lost his step and I don't think he will ever get it back and it is a shame. He could get by anyone before the injury but has noticeable limitations now.
Delvon Roe still has not lived up to his potential. Where is Adrian Payne? Sherman is a stiff. Nix should never see the floor except to hurt another big man. This team was overrated and it is showing now. Izzo is still playing too many guys to figure out the mix that will work for him. Right now, the team is not playing as a team, not gelling, looks lost at times and commits too many turnovers. I do think he will get it right and they will compete with Ohio State and Purdue for title but they are not the best in the Big Ten - Ohio State is way above them right now.
Draymond Green has improved his shooting touch and could be the key component to this teams success. They lack floor leadership this year and someone has to step up.
Syracuse
Cruising along. This team was overrated to start the season but is starting to play up to its ranking. They have been a bad first half team but came out strong against MSU and have been fine since. They are not as strong as last years team - defensively slower and are weaker in the perimeter shooting game - but this team is still looking to score and dominate in the paint. Jackson is a moose down low Feb Melo is anything but FAB. Dare I say DeShonte Riley could be doing better. Freshman Keita has outperformed Melo and disserves more playing time. Scoop Jardine has stepped up his game and is taking over the leadership role. Triche and Joseph need to be able to score from the outside to make this team more effective. They are getting some good freshman contribution in limited action from CJ Fair and Dion Walters. They also have three top recruits committed for next year.
Big East
The best conference in college basketball - Are you kidding me. Do you know how good this conference is.
The combined record of the ENTIRE conference is 132-33. They have 10 teams with 2 losses or less and 8 teams with 1 or less. They have 7 teams in the top 25, including 4 in the top 10. They could have 8 teams in after this weekend as Cincinnati at 10-0 is legit and will surprise a lot of teams and deserves consideration for top 25.
#4 Connecticut 8-0
#5 Syracuse 11-0 helps when you haven't played a game yet outside the state of NY.
#8 Pittsburgh 11-1
#10 Villanova 9-1
#15 Georgetown 10-1
#20 Louisville 9-1
#24 Notre Dame 9-1
Ohio State - WOW - this team is talented and is a Final four team for sure. Jared Sullinger is a BEAST. 40 & 30 points in his last two games. 30 pts, 19 rebounds. This guy gets it done around the hole and with Buford slashing and shooting and the guard play - this team is very strong and talented. Definitely deserve the # 2 or 3 ranking.
Cleveland State
What is going on with this team. Off to a great start.
Western Michigan
Have to get a plug in for my son's school. Have won 4 straight. Have some familiar players starting or playing for the Broncos - Demetrius Ward (Pershing), Flenard Whitfeld (this guy can play) - King HS, Juwaun Howard (Pershing) to name a few and former Mr. Basketball David Kool as an assistant on the bench. Lack a good big man and strong guard play but will surprise some teams this year in a weak MAC.
Freshman Players from Michigan of Impact
Mike Talley - (Melvindale) starting for Duquesne and playing well
Pookie Jones - (Saginaw Arthur Hill) -starting for USC and playing well - natural born leader and unbelievable with the ball - he can get by anyone at anytime at this level - finishing among the trees might be a learning experience for him. Great to watch him with the ball.
Ray McCallum - (DCD) - see above
Trey Ziegler (Mt. Pleasant) - Doing well for a poor CMU team. Definitely has skills and will produce there and should end up being their leading scorer.
HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE
Been to three games so far this season as it is young but loving it already. Plan on making the rounds to follow the individual talent and team talent. Seen Country Day twice and they are impressive. Should not lose a regular season game. Now they have loaded their team and schedule. They play Saginaw (beat them 98-81) - Tommy McCune (West Virginia) looked decent, play Saginaw Arthur Hill (Jordan Hare), Southfield (best state backcourt with Brundidge and Barnes), Summit Christian Academy (see previous email on this game) Flint Northern, Goodrich, Detroit Southeastern (Brandon Kearney, Percy Gibson), Lew Wallace (Gary, Ind), Chicago Orr, Martin Luther King (Cleveland, Ohio) to name a few. They also added two brothers from North Lawrence in Indiana - Austin and Jordan Price. Austin is a sleek 6'2" sophomore guard who is very impressive. Very cool, great ballhandler, great court presence, good distributor, nice form and shooter. He will be somewhere especially if he continues to grow. I think he ends up 6'5 or 6'6". His brother's (Jordan - 6'5" Junior) game is much different - more selfish, shoots every chance he gets like he is trying to prove something. Proved absolutely nothing for me in Saginaw game but showed me something in Summit game. He was hitting the three shot and contributed more as a team member. If and when he gels with the rest of the team and plays team basketball this team is truly unbeatable. With Williams in the middle (has improved tremendously on his inside game - really attacks the basket) this team will win another State title. Only possible roadblocks - but would take major upsets - would be Flint Powers Catholic or Muskegon Heights or Lansing Eastern/Sexton if one of those is Class B and not A.
McCune looked decent but needs to get more physical, active and add some weight if he wants to play at West Virginia. For his size he does have a nice spot up jumper with a soft touch and uses the glass nice.
Looking forward to seeing Kazoo and Detroit Southeastern this week in Kazoo. Kazoo is talented again. Romulus is the team I have to see. Some very good Class A teams this year. Will be exciting if teams play to their potential.
Romulus, Det Southeastern, Kazoo Central, Ann Arbor Huron, Southfield, Lansing Eastern, Saginaw, Warren DeLasalle.
Looking forward to seeing the following players this year:
LaDeonte Henton
Cha Cha Tucker
Matt Costello
Early Surprises
Southfield losing to Detroit Southeastern by 16.
Romulus -losing to Southfield by 8 but beating Ann Arbor Huron by 13 and then beating team from Dayton
Detroit Southeastern 3-0 - got to see what they have besides the two big guys,
Rockford - have two good players - Ryan Majerle (Toledo) and Justin Klein but are off to a 2-3 start. Have lost to Kazoo Central by 15, Muskegon Heights by 2 and another Grand Rapids school.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Detroit Southeastern vs. Kalamazoo Central 12/21 8:00 PM
Upcoming Roundball Classic - at Detroit Country Day - 12/26-12/30 - 7 games a day starting at 11:00 AM every day. Will have to find some business over near 13 Mile and Lasher in Beverly Hills so I can catch some of the day action. Some games that I have picked out as games of interest.
Detroit Pershing vs. Cincinnati Withrow 12/26 9:00 PM
Chicago Orr vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill 12/27 7:20 PM
Cincinnati Withrow vs. East Grand Rapids 12/27 9:00 PM
Detroit Renaissance vs. Cincinnati Withrow 12/28 4:00 PM
Detroit King vs Saginaw 12/28 9:00 PM
Chicago Orr vs. Country Day 12/30 7:20 PM
Lew Wallace (Gary, Ind) vs. Det Southeastern 12/30 9:00 PM
(Brenden Dawson - 6'6" - #13 player in country - Committed to MSU) from Lew Wallace
(Mycheal Henry - 6'6" - F # 36 player in country - Committed to Illinois from Chicago Orr
(Aaron Thomas - 6'5" - G # 47 player in country - Committed to Florida St. from Cincinnati Withrow
My Early season rankings:
1) Summit - doesn't count as they are a prep school
1) DCD - they lost to a college team for God's sake
2) Kalamazoo Central
3) Detroit Southeastern
4) Romulus
5) Ann Arbor Huron
6) Lansing Eastern/Sexton - the team with Henton and Cha Cha Tucker
7) Southfield
8) Flint Powers
9) Muskegon Heights
10) Saginaw
Well it is now 1:00 AM and I still have to watch tape from the Lew Wallace - Simeon (Chi) game followed by the Perspectives (Illinois) and Whitney Young (Chicago) game. City of Palms Classic from Florida is on this Wednesday. So much to tape, watch and enjoy. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.
Good night.
Your Basketball Snob
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