11/28/09

Lansing, MI.- The 3rd annual Super Scrimmage at Lansing Eastern brought together the best teams in Lansing, many of the best teams in Michigan, and a talented Cincinnati Withrow team. The scrimmage allowed coaches to tinker with different lineups and allowed Inside Prep Sports to gain further knowledge and evaluations on many of the state's best players.

Kalamazoo Central and Detroit Country Day were the strongest teams while Ann Arbor Huron, Benton Harbor, Detroit Pershing, Lansing Eastern, Lansing Sexton, Saginaw Arthur Hill held their own. Cincinnati Withrow and Detroit Cass Tech were let downs but one has to remind oneself that these are only scrimmages and there's four months between now and the championships in the end of March.

6'2 combo guard Keith Appling (Detroit Pershing) He is good! -(Carl Collins the Third) Headed to Michigan State and saw him pass the ball more than everyone is accustomed to seeing…and a good sign for Spartan fans…but know he needs emerging teammates to emerge if Pershing can defend their state title.

6'7 small forward Lanier Brown (Detroit Cass Tech) He looked the deciding factor on how the Technicians' season will go. Brown had the ball in hands a lot as a senior with the state's best crop of underclassmen and his scoring will be looked upon by many to produce.

6'5 shooting guard Terrell Clinton (Benton Harbor) He'll lead the Tigers' plethora of shooters and will be a go to senior on a team that will look to upend Kalamazoo Central's present reign on the Michigan's west side. He's a mid-major prospect that will gather further attention with the team's success.

6'8 power forward/center Jevon Harden (Detroit Loyola) The Central Michigan commit is still raw on either end of the floor, acclimating to a Bulldog team, and a system that has an opportunity to make some noise on the Class C/Catholic League scene.

6'6 wing Juwan Howard, jr. (Detroit Pershing) He's one of the state's most versatile players as he has a solid inside outside game that the Doughboy's will look for game in and game out in their quest for a return to last year's championship. He showed an emerging game by showing his athleticism with a dunk on his near West Side twin and AAU teammate Devin Oliver in a game Saturday morning.

6'2 point guard Ray McCallum, jr. (Detroit Country Day) McCallum is the state's most complete guard and his play will become tantamount on the Yellow Jackets' championship run. He'll be a Mr. Basketball finalist and still has a chance to win the state's most coveted individual award but this high major recruit would just as much like to win a state championship.

6'7 wing Devin Oliver (Kalamazoo Central) Focus, calm, improved toughness, and leadership is what this future Dayton Flyer showed in these scrimmages.

6'2 shooting guard Cameron Sanchez (Lansing Eastern) The best thing about kids that play hard is that they bring it game in and game out. Sanchez sets the standard for guards, as his forte is defense while his offensive game has improved and he is the Quakers' back up point guard.

6'8 center James Suttles (Lansing Sexton) Suttles is starting to provide productivity to his game as well as show his athletic ability as he pulled down boards and finished off an alley-oop. He's a legit 6'8 and nears 220 pounds. He didn't show advanced post moves but he gets up and down the floor and has good hands.

6'3 shooting guard Terry "TJ" Buchanan, jr. (Kalamazoo Central) He's on the cusp of Michigan's top ten players in 2011 and his point guard skills are developing which could push him into the top ten. Buchanan's an athletic Mid to Mid Major plus prospect with nice size who shoots well from the perimeter and in the mid range.

6'5 small forward LaDontae Henton (Lansing Eastern) "Buckets" just gets things done and plays an overall tough game on either end of the court. Rebounding is what he does best and his mid-range game while awkward is gaining consistency. He's a four year starter on the Mid Major level and a solid roll player for a mid Major Plus program.

5'7 point guard Devin Ivey (Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills) Ivey is amongst the quickest guards in the country and anyone watching Ivey go against Saginaw Arthur Hill's Maurice Jones on Saturday might have caught whip lash. His point guard skills are sound and his involvement of teammates will key Ottawa Hills success. He'd be a nice fit for a Mid Major program who likes to get out and run.

6'4 shooting guard Kevin Jones (Cincinnati Withrow) He has nice size and is a decent athlete with a sound basketball IQ who was able to knock down a few mid-range jumpers. Jones was somewhat passive but that's looking at it from a scrimmage point of view. I expect things to be a little different when the season rolls around for this Mid-Major prospect.

6'6 power forward Marlin Mason (Detroit Cass Tech) Mason's an aggressive defender who was a beast on the boards in the scrimmages. He's athletic and strong with a nice frame. He has an underrated offensive game, which he didn't show much of as he has ball heavy teammates. Mason's at least a mid major lock now who could find the mid major plus level if he develops into a small forward in the next few months.

6'3 shooting guard AJ Mathew (Ann Arbor Huron) Mathew has evidently spent some time in the weight room since the AAU season ended and is noticeably bigger than the end of September when he attended Inside Prep Sports' Mini Camp. His guard skills and shot selection have improved for this top 10-15 player in Michigan's 2011 class and is a solid mid-major prospect who might go higher than that as he improves his point guard skills.

6'4 shooting guard Alex Williams (Benton Harbor) He shot the ball well, with a high release point, and with confidence on Saturday. He's long, a decent athlete, and showed that he could hit a jumper off the dribble. He's a low Mid Major prospect and developing further guard skills and strength will move him up a notch on the recruiting ladder.

6'11 center Amir Williams (Detroit Country Day) The state's #1 player in 2011 showed some fire as he was quick to get physical when he got hit with some sneaky elbows. He's the lone post presence on an unusually small Country Day team and expect big numbers from him this year. He's the state's best shot blocker and gobbled up boards.

6'5 shooting guard Dante Williams (Ann Arbor Huron) He's long lanky and a solid spot shooter who's starting to put the ball on the floor coming off the wing and taking it to the bucket. He has nice bounce and is a solid athlete who needs to hit the weight room but look for him to have a break out year and gather looks from the Mid Major level.

6'4 shooting guard Sherrod Dorsey-Walker (Detroit Pershing) He's grown a couple of inches in the last year and he's still quick to pull the trigger. He's a streak shooter and when the consistency comes along he should start gathering mid-major plus looks.

6'8 small forward Jordan Hare (Saginaw Arthur Hill) Michigan's #1 player in 2012 reportedly has an offer from Southern Cal and starting to develop into a skilled four man. He runs the floor well, showed a nice touch around the basket, and a nice second bounce.

6'3 shooting guard Ray Lee, jr. (Detroit Cass Tech) He has high major potential as he has the athleticism but will have to turn it up defensively and improve his mid-range/perimeter shooting. He's an underrated passer who has a chance of developing from a shooting guard to a combo guard in the next two years.

6'5 small forward Denzel Valentine (Lansing Sexton) The #2 sophomore in Michigan is on the radar of both Big Ten and Big East programs. He has good size, showed a solid an inside outside game, and his knee is fully recovered from a slight injury sustained last January.

5'10 point guard Charles "Cha-Cha" Tucker (Lansing Eastern) He's the state's best freshman guard but he showed his youth at times as went too deep at times and didn't shoot when the opportunity was there. He needs to put some arc on his jumper but time is on his side.

6'6 power forward Devin Williams (Cincinnati Withrow) He has good things going for him at a young age as he's athletic, with nice size, and a size 18 shoe. A possible high-major player who I can imagine a couple of schools trying to keep him in Cincinnati.