Basketball: Theyve Still Got Game
The likes of Shane Battier, Jason Richardson and Charlie Bell have gone on to the NBA. But that doesn't mean that the state of Michigan will not be well-represented in the college ranks. These are the best former Michigan preps doing it at NCAA schools.
1. Kelvin Torbert 6'4 Fr Michigan State (Flint Northwestern)
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If there was ever a college freshman physically ready to compete in the Big 10 it is KT.
2. Marcus Taylor 6'3 So Michigan State (Lansing Waverly)
You gotta laugh at the media members who wonder if Taylor is a real point guard. Just throw in a tape of the 2000 state championship game and tell me what you see. Marcus is the kind of player who needs the ball to excel, which is what he'll do this season.
3. LaVell Blanchard 6'7 Jr Michigan (Ann Arbor Pioneer)
Don't forget about LaVell just because he's played on horrible teams. He's the prototypical NBA scoring forward.
4. Arthur Johnson 6'9 So Missouri (Detroit Pershing)
Big boy got major minutes from day one in Missou. He's as good a rebounder and outlet passer as there is in the country.
5. Desmon Farmer 6'4 So Southern Cal (Flint Northwestern)
He got his chance last year as a freshman and started for a team which made an NCAA regional final.
6. Ryan Sidney 6'3 So Boston College (Ann Arbor Pioneer)
His energetic and unorthdox play off the bench was a major reason BC was among the nation's top 10 last year.
7. Trevor Huffman 6'1 Sr Kent State (Petoskey)
The catalyst of the team which knocked off IU in the NCAAs, recruited by no one Huffman averaged 16.8 points and 4.5 assists per game.
8. Dane Fife 6'4 Sr Indiana (Clarkston)
Back in the summer of 1997 Fife was excelling at the Nike All-American Camp. I mentioned to then-Northwestern assistant Brian Gregory that the good thing about Dane was he could still play well even when his shot wasn't on. But he's a good shooter, Gregory said. Ummm ...
9. Aloysius Anagonye 6'8 Jr Michigan State (Detroit DePorres)
If he can ever stay in the game ... Al is a terrific interior defender and rebounder who may surprise some people with his scoring.
10. David Webber 6'2 Sr Central Michigan (Detroit Country Day)
A terrific athlete, impact defender and 18.4 ppg scorer as a junior.
11. Rickey Paulding 6'5 So Missouri (Detroit Renaissance)
A natural athlete and scorer who will only get better after scoring 7 ppg as a freshman.
12. Willie Green 6'4 Jr Detroit (Detroit Cooley)
Poised to blow up with Rashad Phillips no longer in the picture. Green can defend, score and is smart with the ball.
13. Terrell Riggs 6'6 Jr Detroit (Detroit Finney)
A rugged defender who will show more offense after averaging 10 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.
14. Johnny Selvie 6'7 Sr UConn (Flint Northwestern)
Big-time athlete and rebounder who stepped in right away and showed he belonged in the Big East.
15. Thomas Jackson 5'9 Sr Butler (East Lansing)
Little man has started on two-straight NCAA Tournament teams. He's always been able to play -- back in '98 he and Marcus Taylor nearly sold out Breslin for a regular season tilt.
16. Jason Rozycki 6'3 Sr Oakland (Boyne City)
Was having a huge year before tearing his ACL. As Michigan players could attest, Rozycki beats you with the drive and the deep ball.
17. Chris Young 6'9 Sr Michigan (Redford Catholic Central)
Young emerged as Michigan's team leader last year even if his numbers weren't overwhelming.
18. Sam Hoskin 6'8 Jr DePaul (Redford Bishop Borgess)
A horse in the low post who scored 25.4 ppg last season at Schoolcraft.
19. Brent Darby 6'0 Jr River Rouge (Ohio State)
Had an up-and-down sophomore year, but anyone who thinks he going to lie down and give up the starting point guard spot severely underestimates Darby's heart.
20. Ben Reed 6'3 Fr Western Michigan (Battle Creek Central)
He'll make a huge impact in the MAC because he's already strong enough for college ball, has a total offensive game and plays both ends of the floor.
21. Duez Henderson 6'7 Sr Iowa (River Rouge)
A working man's player who a coach wants on the floor because of his hustle.
22. Chris Kaman 7'0 So Central Michigan (Tri-Unity Christian)
Players with his height, mobility and skill level are unheard of in the MAC. He may not have started last year, but Chris will be playing this game for a very long time.
23. Jeremy Veenstra 6'6 Jr Calvin (Kalamazoo Christian)
Led Calvin to the National Championship his freshman year and was MIAA player of the year his sophomore season. Caught Veenstra in Gus Macker this summer and seeing is believing.
24. James Thues 6'0 So Syracuse (Detroit King)
He barely saw the floor last year, but with Griffin graduated and Edelin suspended here's his chance.
25. Nick Stapleton 6'0 Sr Austin Peay (Flint Carman-Ainsworth)
Won't make anyone forget the Fly, but Nick has become the dominant point guard in the Ohio Valley.
26. Derrick Bird 6'4 Jr Auburn (Ypsilanti)
Former Central Michigan-signee scored 20.1 points a game last year for Schoolcraft.
27. Adam Anderson 6'9 Sr Ferris State (Kent City)
I tried to tell the DI coaches about this kid ... He averged 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.0 blocks a game last year and is now a pre-season DII all-American.
28. Ricky Morgan 6'0 Fr Iowa State (Pontiac Northern)
Iowa State fans are really looking forward to seeing what this funky dribbler can do, and he won't disappoint. The minutes are there.
29. Corey Santee 6'1 Fr TCU (Flint Southwestern)
The minutes are there for Santee, too, another freshman point guard.
30. Michael Gardner 5'11 Jr Texas A&M (Detroit Cooley)
He became a big-time point guard at Garden City JC and A&M is looking for Gardner to help at what was its weakest position.
31. Whitney Robinson 6'0 Jr Central Michigan (Harper Woods Notre Dame)
Central will miss Tim Kisner's leadership but Whitney, a transfer from Eastern Kentucky, gives the Chips some much-neede perimeter quickness.
32. Andrew Mitchell 5'11 Sr Kent State (Detroit East Catholic)
Trevor Huffman's backcourt partner is a good defender who scored over 12 a game last year.
33. Cortney Scott 6'6 So Iowa (Lansing Waverly)
Widebody continues to disprove the doubters.
34. Eugene Seals 6'6 So Miami-OH (Saginaw)
Smooth, versatile player could become one of the MAC's best.
35. Darius Belin 6'3 Sr Detroit (Detroit Mackenzie)
He can lock up anybody, and I do mean anybody.
36. Mike Manciel 6'5 Jr Central Michigan (Detroit Country Day)
One-time MAC freshman of the year has come back strong from injuries.
37. Jeff Ferguson 6'10 Fr Missouri (Benton Harbor)
Only played one season in the States. Ferguson combines the height and gracefulness that will ultimately mean a pro career.
38. Nucleus Smith 6'3 So TCU (Pontiac Northern)
His leaping and the year of prep school allowed Nuke to go in and start right away for the Frogs. He scored 7 ppg.
39. Robert Brown 6'4 Sr Buffalo (Oak Park)
Slasher who plays above the rim. Averaged 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a junior.
40. Robert Brooks 6'8 So Georgia Tech (Saginaw Arthur Hill)
He was seriously overmatched in the ACC but now he knows what's expected.
41. Jesse King 6'6 So Texas A&M (Detroit Pershing)
He's so versatile he's got to see key minutes.
42. Milo Stovall 6'3 Sr Valparaiso (Kalamazoo Central)
Steady player with a stroke, scored 11 per game last year.
43. Brad Buddenborg 6'5 Sr Oakland (Garden City)
Gunner with size who averaged over 15 a game.
44. John Flynn 6'2 Sr Grand Valley (Petoskey)
The other half of Petoskey's former backcourt, Flynn is already third Grand Valley's all-time scoring list.
45. Teremun Johnson 6'6 Sr Fordham (Detroit DePorres)
An unspectacular but accomplished all-around playler who averaged 9.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
46. Kyle Barker 6'8 Jr Navy (Ionia)
Holds his own in the Patriot League with his inside/outside scoring ability.
47. Mike Harmon 6'10 Sr Detroit (Detroit Murray-Wright)
Brings all kinds of energy as a shot-blocker off the bench.
48. Brian Carter 6'10 Fr TCU (Gibraltar Carlson)
He'll have a shot because 6'10 guys with his agility are few and far between.
49. Leon Jones 6'4 Sr Michigan (Battle Creek Central)
As time goes by his California continues to override his Battle Creek.
50. Nick Moore 6'1 Jr Toledo (Redford Catholic Central)
Solid playmaker who scored 10 a game and made over 90 percent of his free throws.
Honorable mention:
Ricardo Thomas Toledo (Detroit CMA)
Courtney Jones Akron (Detroti Mackenzie)
Dan Champagne Oakland (Linden)
Michael Helms Oakland (Detroit King)
Myke Covington Oakland (Pontiac Northern)
Kelly Williams Oakland (Detroit King)
Bryan Foltice Calvin (Tri-Unity Christian)
Paul Haynes Grambling (Pontiac Northern)
Mark Bortz Buffalo (Walled Lake Central)
Ben Dewar Lake Superior State (Walled Lake Western)
Chuck Bailey Michigan (Detroit King)
Marcus Bennett Michigan (Detroit Renaissance)
Lamar Bigby UNLV (Detroit Northern)
Chad Carlson Hope (Holland)
Ricky Willis Western Michigan (Detroit Mackenzie)
Taylor Bro Western Michigan (Rockford)
Anthony Kann Western Michigan (Davison)
Melvin Hicks Eastern Michigan (Romulus)
Tyson Radney Eastern Michgian (Detroit Northern)
J.R. Wallace Central Michigan (Muskegon Reeths-Puffer)
T.J. Meerman Central Michigan (Coopersville)
Chad Pleiness Central Michigan (Mason County Central)
Matt Cameron Michigan Tech (Alpena)
Terrrance Wright Saginaw Valley (Saginaw Buena Vista)
Matt Mlynarchek Hillsdale (Grand Haven)
Greg Grays Detroit (Southfield-Lathrup)
Marc Mazur Detroit (Clarkston)
Mark Maxwell Detroit (Detroit Murray-Wright)
Thomas Dillard Detroit (Kalamazoo Central)
Jimmy Twyman Detroit (Detroit Central)
R.J. Wicks Rider (Bridgeport)