4/5/10

Michigan- Who's ready to spend their weekend in the gym? Who's ready to wake up at 7am to watch the 8am game? Who's ready to rally the team together for the fourth game in a day? Who's ready for 4-5 hours of sleep if you're lucky? Who's ready to hit the hospitality room and have some of the best treats imaginable or eat everything the expert dietician says is bad for you? We all should be! 1, 2, 3, 4…Yippeee!!! I'll be on fumes around 5pm every Sunday for the next two months if I'm lucky to make it that far. Only the strong shall survive…with the help of Mountain Dew of course.

As Inside Prep Sports starts it's fifth year, Michigan has as many A.A.U. teams as ever which means they're more kids playing basketball in the high school's off-season as ever. That's a great thing in many people's eyes and others may look at like a water downed talent pool of teams. Anyone can start an A.A.U. team and there are many reasons behind the team' purpose. Personally I'd like to see one super power Michigan team with all of the state's best players roll through every tournament and bring home championship after championship…will that ever happen? I don't see it.

Last year the West Michigan Lakers won as many tournaments as any Michigan team but Team Detroit won the biggest tournament in Las Vegas. They both lost to Stark County (OH.); Team Detroit at the Pitt Jam Fest and the Lakers at Inside Prep Sports' Border Battle. Who will be the best team this year? Only time will tell but here's a look at the top fifteen programs in Michigan and links to their schedules. (Alphabetically so that I don't get any calls at 8am before anyone has even played a game)

All Michigan - Formerly the Michigan Mavericks, they will only carry a 16u and 15u team this year but their 16u team won some tournaments last year. That team has added a couple of Michigan's best players in 2012 and 2013, which should only make them stronger. They have sent multiple players to Division One programs over the past couple of years and have one of the most sought after division one recruits after spending two-years in junior college (Will Clyburn).

Allegon County Basketball/Parallel 45- This is a case of two AAU teams joining and this combination is beneficial to both as they have some of the best young talent in the state. Both programs sent players to division one colleges last year and the same will be said in the future. Allegon County brings in solid coaching to round things out.

Camp Darryl Basketball Association- A steady schedule with a solid base that sends nearly the entire 17u team to a four-year college/university. I've been told they have some sleepers on their roster this spring so I will wait until the Grand Rapids Storm tournament to see the elevation of CDBA!

Common Bond- CB has younger teams that will usually knock off one of the state's heavy hitters only to lose key players the following spring. This year is no different, as they seem to have lost a post player and solid guard. Never the less Common Bond's 17u team will persevere and play a solid schedule.

Detroit Fire- The Fire didn't come up with tournament wins last season on the 17u level but they went deep into tournaments twice losing to the eventual champions in solid tournaments. They have division one recruits on each one of their teams that could put them over the hump. Spring Schedule Rank:

Grand Rapids Storm- The Storm had five players from their program commit to division one programs since the end of last year's A.A.U. season. They participate in many of the best tournaments in the mid-west and are one of the state's up and coming programs. They have solid players on ever high school level with some of the top rising freshmen on the 14u team.

Michigan Hurricanes- The Hurricanes are bringing players over from DTA Wisconsin and should have a high powered team this season. They'll have a few division one players on the team and could very well return to the championship ring a few times from now until the end of July. Spring Schedule Rank:

Michigan Mustangs- The Mustangs' 16u team had some quality tournament runs and victories last year but this year's 17u team might not have all the players that last year's team had. They play a tough schedule in the spring that will take them to tournaments in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Spring Schedule Rank:

Michigan Warriors- Last year the Warriors had one of the best 15u teams and have many of the same pieces that will carry on to the 16u team. The 17u team has one of the state's biggest sleepers and each high school team should make runs in various tournaments. They play a solid schedule this spring, which will continue into the summer.

R.E.A.C.H. Legends- A Detroit based program which draws in talent from Saginaw, Detroit, and the Detroit suburbs. They have had high major recruits over the years and compete year in and year out. They have a quality schedule and could be a surprise team on Sundays.

Saginaw F.O.H.- A solid program that has players from Lansing, Saginaw, Flint and their surrounding areas. This year two coaches combine to improve the program and bring talent with them. The 16u squad should make some noise this spring.

Team Detroit- They have put together another strong team this spring and will have to pull off some big wins to top last year's 17u team led by high major players. Team Detroit has a solid schedule with a Michigan State commit on their roster. Expect more players on this squad to capitalize on their division one offers before the summer is out.

Team Pride- A solid upstart program that has some of the state's top players and participates in many of the Midwest's top tournaments. Last year all of the teams had quality runs in different tournaments. Team Pride is sponsored by Under Armor. They have a solid group of future division one players.

The Family- The state's only Nike sponsored team hasn't played an in state tournament in at least two-years. The results haven't been good since their 15u team won the Mustangs' Spring Event when Michael Talley, jr. was a freshman. They consistently have players that advance to Division One programs.

W. MI. Lakers- The "Rodney Dangerfield" of Michigan A.A.U. programs won three tournaments last spring and earned a runner up in Inside Prep Sports' Border Battle's 17u God Division a year ago. The vast majority of their players have gone on to play for Division 3 and NAIA programs in Michigan and Indiana. Spring Schedule Rank:

Stay tuned to Inside Prep Sports' A.A.U. Rankings. Strength of schedule and team results from in state and out of state tournaments this spring. (Spiece's Run n Slam is the #1 spring tournament in concern to strength of schedule.)