Basketball Summer Storylines.

Written Friday June 3rd at 8:00 PM

Updated Sunday June 12th at 8:20 PM

Let the summer leagues start and the storylines to start developing heading into the winter. Here are the basketball storylines heading into the summer and winter by the division.

Girls

The Red should be very interesting heading into the winter. Lake Orion and Rochester come from the White. West Bloomfield is fresh off winning the Division One State Championship. I expect the Lakers to be very good again with both Davis and Hendrix sisters coming back. Program strength is a major concern and something to watch for Coach Darrin McAllister. Lake Orion and Rochester have program strength and deep teams this summer and winter. The Dragons and Falcons each have four starters and a deep bench coming back along with program strength. Lake Orion should be very interesting to watch for Coach Bob Brydges and Rochester as well for Coach Bill Thurston. Clarkston could be more dangerous even though they lost Maddie Skorupski and Izzy Hadley to graduation. The Wolves have several proven players coming back for Coach Aaron Goodnough. Stoney Creek should be in the mix with Sarah LaPrarie, Emily Flynn, and Mia Carson coming back along with program strength for Coach Kellen James. Southfield Arts and Tech has had a ton of ups and downs last season. The Warriors have a ton of young proven talent that has made a ton of noise this summer coming back despite program strength being a major concern for Coach Shiquita Coltrane. Groves was up and down last season. The Falcons have proven experience with Kaitlyn Sanders coming back. Program strength will be something to watch for Coach Allison Hidey. Troy lost a lot of experience from their historic State Quarterfinal run last season. The Colts are well coached under Coach Juilus Porter and could surprise someone if teams are not careful.

The White should be very interesting this winter. Can anyone challenge Oxford in the division??? The Wildcats have a ton of proven experience coming back and program strength to boot as well. The team that could challenge Oxford is North Farmington. The Raiders have Sela Lefler and Penelope Creary coming back. Berkley is the sleeper for a few reasons, the upset of Detroit Renaissance in the district finals is the huge reason and they really improved in the postseason despite losing Ashley Loon to graduation. The Bears have others that are proven and ready to step up led by Maleve Nolan. Seaholm is another program to watch this summer. The Maples have almost everyone coming back after winning the Blue last season. Coach Chris Manchester has this program heading in the right direction. Harper Woods has a ton of questions despite moving up to the White. I’m not sure if the Pioneers are ready for this division despite having a lot of proven experience coming back. Is Coach Paul Allen ready for the challenge of the White??? Royal Oak comes from the Red where they really struggled early but saw significant improvement which showed in their district semifinal loss to Detroit Renaissance last season. It should be a huge summer for the Ravens to see where they are at heading into the winter for Coach Brian Sopota and company. Adams is in a very interesting spot. They will be rebuilding a little bit and program strength is a concern. The Highlanders could play spoiler this winter but they have to replace their two top players from last season. Troy Athens has to replace some talent from last season but they have some talented players waiting in the wings.

The Blue looks like it could be a two team race on paper this winter. Bloomfield Hills comes from the White and has the majority of their team coming back. The Blackhawks are also rising as a program under Coach Kristen Massey. Farmington should be Bloomfield Hills toughest challenger this winter. The Falcons lost several key players including Autumn Bartlett to graduation but there are several key players to watch this summer. Avondale will be a program to watch this summer. They lose Reigan Lawrence and Savannah Schmidt to graduation. Program strength is a concern surrounding the Yellow Jackets. Ferndale University has been rising as a program and made the district finals last season. The Eagles have several key players coming back. Pontiac has been building their program. The Phoenix have really toughen their non conference slate. Ferndale is doing the same with their program. Oak Park should be better after having a really rough season last year.

 

Boys

The Red should be very interesting this summer and winter. Ferndale had back to back Division Two State Semifinal appearances but won’t have two of their best players in Jason Drake and Treyvon Lewis as both have graduated. The Eagles has everyone else coming back which helps. For Coach Juan Rickman the returners need to step up this summer if they want to keep their stranglehold on the Red. North Farmington is ready to make a ton of noise. The Raiders have the makings of a possible Division One sleeper with the proven talent and added transfers coming back. Coach Todd Negoshian pending how the districts work out once they come in June should be in a very good position to make a deep postseason run. Clarkston should still be in the mix despite losing the majority of their scoring but this program always reloads with a ton of proven program strength under Coach Tim Waslik. Adams could take a bit of a step back but they will be a player especially with Brady Prieskorn and program strength for Coach Jaret Thomas. Oak Park is a possible sleeper with the young talent they have coming back for Coach Durand Sheppard. This summer will be the key for each of the programs to place their identities heading into the winter.

The White will have a new look. Farmington and West Bloomfield come from the Red. Both programs should be better this winter. The Lakers have a lot of proven experience coming back for Coach Arnette Jordan. The Falcons have a lot of talent coming back for Coach Derrick McDowell. Bloomfield Hills has a new coach this winter. The Blackhawks have the best player in Noah Adamcyzk coming back. They have program strength and a new coach in Brian Canfield taking over the program. Groves is in a very interesting spot. The Falcons lost Nick Lutz and Aaron DuBose to graduation last season. They have program strength coming back for returning coach Marc West. Lake Orion had a coaching change during the season last year. Program strength is a concern for Coach Jose Andredas along with losing Alden Ritt and Malachi Grandberry to graduation. Watch for Nate Havrilla, DJ Morrow, and Blake Leidell to make some noise this summer. Troy has the majority of their team coming back led by Darius Whiteside, Jon Whiteside, Zach Penoza, and Chase Kupier for Coach Gary Fralick. The Colts should be in the mix for the White this winter but the summer is the key to see how they develop.

The Blue has the most interesting storylines. Stoney Creek comes from the White and has a new coach while Royal Oak comes from the Gold. Rochester will be a team to watch this summer. The Falcons lost a ton of experience from last season however they have several key players in Grant Calcagno, Jaiden Bolden, and Alex Bueno coming back for Coach Nick Evola. Berkley has a lot of experience coming back for Coach Joe Sermo and they also have program strength as well. Oxford is the sleeper. The Wildcats have Dominic Cassise in the wings along with proven returners in Jake Champagne whom has been on a tear this summer, along with Lucas Bottene, and Logan Rozanski for Coach Steve Laidlaw. Troy Athens lost a lot of proven experience last season but watch for Emmanuel Robinson, Kyrie Harper, and Brogan Withun to make some noise this summer and winter for Coach Dave Scott. Royal Oak has Davis Arbeiter, Camden Clark, and Dylan Hoffman coming back for Coach Aaron Smith. I’m curious to see how they adjust to going up against better competition. Stoney Creek has a lot of experience coming back with Peyton Rummler, Tre Walker, Jonah McCay, Tommasso Sinacola, and Leo Kent. The Cougars will have a new coach in Jeff Olind and a transition period has to occur during the summer and the season. They also have program strength which helps Olind Once everyone gets adjusted to one another, Stoney Creek should be a program to watch this summer and winter. Seaholm should be improved on paper. The Maples have program strength but not a ton with proven varsity experience yet. This summer will be key for Coach Mike DeGeeter and company.

The Gold looks very interesting this winter. Southfield Arts and Tech comes from the Blue where they have had things really rough lately. The Warriors have a lot of proven experience coming back and a new coach in Terrance Porter taking over the program. Pontiac has the most exciting player in the division in Davieon Hall. Hall is expected to be a force not only on the basketball court but also on the grid iron as well. Hall will be the key to the Phoenix success this winter for Coach Dameon O'Neil. Harper Woods has a lot of proven experience coming back. The Pioneers won a district crown last season and are looking for more this season for Coach TaJuan Porter. Ferndale University is the sleeper. The Eagles have built something under Coach Josh Nicks. they have a lot of proven experience in Semaj McGhee, Rasheed Jones, Zach Sillah, and Javon Sanders coming back among others. Program strength will be the question mark for Ferndale University. This summer is key for Nicks and company. Avondale is a program on the rise, I’ve really liked what Coach Pat Clancy has done with the Yellow Jackets. He has a ton of proven players coming back and has built program strength. This summer will be key for Avondale if they want to take the next step as a program.