A Look at the SVL
Arthur Hill reclaims title in '08
(Cover: Saginaw Arthur Hill's Tyrie Wooten)
By Gavin Raath
09
July 2007
greatlakeshoops.com
2006-07 Finish:
Saginaw
Flint Southwestern
Saginaw Arthur Hill
Midland
Mount Pleasant
Midland Dow
Flint Northern
Bay City Western
Flint Central
Saginaw Heritage
Bay City Central
2006-07 All Conference
Team:
Draymond Green 6’7” Junior Saginaw
Darquavis Tucker 6’5” Senior Saginaw Arthur Hill -- Player of the Year
Bobby Lewis [left] 6’2” Senior Saginaw
Kelvin Carter [right] 6’2” Senior Midland
Anthony Crater 6’2” Junior Flint Southwestern
Bench:
Will Bowser 6’5” Senior Midland Dow
Alex Poznak 6’4” Senior Midland Dow
Nate Schultz 6’8” Senior Bay City Western
Josh Southern 6’10” Senior Saginaw
Andrew Thomas 6’2” Senior Mount Pleasant
Tyrone Ward 6’4” Junior Flint Southwestern
Daniel West 6’0” Junior Saginaw
Review:
The SVL continues to issue its dominance over the state of Michigan. The Saginaw schools have provided the conference with back-to-back state titles and SWA returned to the Breslin for the second straight year. There is no single conference that can boast three such competitive teams. This season, Saginaw High ran the table despite an Arthur Hill team that returned everyone and may have had one of the most dominant seasons of any single team ever. They were absolutely unbeatable. In addition the conference players boasted were just incredible. Dar Tucker was arguably the top senior in the state and Draymond Green and Anthony Crater are probably one and two in the 2008 class. The second tier teams are pretty strong as well. Mount Pleasant was the fourth best team, despite their loss to Midland early in the season, while both Midland schools were tough. Other than SWA, the Flint schools have struggled, but both Central and Northern fell on hard luck with eligibility and injury issues. Heritage and the Bay City schools are rough, but there has to be a bottom to any barrel.
Projected 2007-08 Finish:
Saginaw Arthur Hill
Flint Southwestern
Saginaw
Mount Pleasant
Midland
Flint Northern
Midland Dow
Flint Central
Bay City Western
Saginaw Heritage
Bay City Central
Projected 2007-08 All Conference
Team:
Draymond Green 6’7” Senior Saginaw -- Player of the Year
Latreze Mushatt 6’5” Senior Saginaw Arthur Hill
Keenan Coleman 6’3” Junior Flint Central
Anthony Crater [right] 6’2” Senior Flint Southwestern
Daniel West [above, left] 6’0” Senior Saginaw
Bench:
William Arnold 6’3” Senior Mount Pleasant
Da’Chawn Glover 5’10” Junior Flint Northern
Mike Green 6’0” Junior Saginaw
Chad Jasman 6’3” Senior Bay City Western
Maurice Jones-Cooper 5’5” Sophomore Saginaw Arthur Hill
Tyrone Ward 6’4” Senior Flint Southwestern
Trey Zeigler 6’5” Sophomore Mount Pleasant
Bay City Central
New head coach Mike Maciejewski will be familiar with this team as he coached all of these guys on the JV. That should be to BCC’s advantage. Another advantage should be the returning backcourt of 5’10” senior Brad Norman and 5’11” senior Luther Ware. The two should help lead this team, but it should be a rough first year with zero size returning and the inheritance of a below .500 JV team.
.JPG)
Bay City
Western
The other new coach in Bay City brings a new attitude as Western has been playing in pretty much every summer tournament available. It’ll be interesting to see if they can improve, but based on their record last season that shouldn’t be too hard. Chad Jasman, a 6’3” senior, returns as the team’s leading scorer and is a solid inside/outside threat. On the perimeter they bolster a nice young talent in 6’0” junior Corey Arnold who seems to be the kind of player that can steer this program in the right direction.
Flint Central
The Phoenix will be led by their talented 6’3” junior Keenan Coleman. He’s a
great slasher and a decent shooter. He could end up being the SVL’s leading
scorer next season. Another guy that shows a lot of promise is 5’11” junior
Demetrius Miller [left]. He had a handful of big games after being pulled up form the
JV last season. He’s an explosive offensive player and a great finisher.
.JPG)
Flint Northern
Tons of talent, but little direction. The Vikings are loaded with nice perimeter players. Da’Chawn Glover, a 5’10” junior, is a cat-quick point guard and 6’0” junior Carlos Benton [right] is talented and a nightmare on defense. Cymiahn Williams, a 6’1” junior, is a nice forward that actually led the team in scoring last season. They’re a little undersized, but can run you out of the gym with the right leadership. But, who's going to coach them? The loss of Alan Sharp to Bendle and Michael Parks to Northwestern could leave Northern with another mediocre season.
Flint
Southwestern
Anthony Crater, a 6’2” senior, has been taking some heat after what many consider to be just an okay year. One thing is for sure: when he’s on, he’s arguably the best point guard in the country. Another Knight, 6’4” senior Tyrone Ward [left] is on the cusp of greatness. He’s great inside, but keeps improving outside. DeMarkus Bracy, a 6’5” junior, a is a good old fashioned bruiser inside that, like Ward, seems to make great strides in development every time I see him. On the perimeter, SWA has a nice three-point threat and a great athlete in transition with 6’1” senior Erik Fields. This core should make Southwestern’s arrival to the class A scene a successful one.
.JPG)
Midland
The Chemics lose a lot in terms of guard play, but their team should be far taller than last year’s. Headlining the post will be transfer Chris Simms, an athletic 6’4” forward that should be a double-double guy. In addition to Simms, 6’10” sophomore Brandon Crane [right] will likely join the varsity and immediately provide an added dimension. He’s still a little weak, but he’s solid down low and works his tail off. Pacing the backcourt will be 5’11” senior Evan Sanders, a returning starter and defensive stalwart. Also on the perimeter will be three-point threat Kyle Wakeman, who can shoot with the best of them. Colter Roberson, a 5’8” slashing forward will round out the starting five.
Midland Dow
Dow had a rough go last season and could suffer even more this season. A bright spot for the Chargers could be 6’4” junior Brad Ostergren. He had some big games last season and should become a focal point for this coming year. David Magno, a returning starter, will make for a solid point guard in his senior year. The losses of Bowser and Poznak will be tough to recover from, but Coach Mac will find a way to squeak some wins out.
Mount Pleasant
MPHS is a program on the rise. They’re coming off a great ’07 season and should improve with this coming season. Arguably, their most consistent player from last season is 6’3” senior William Arnold. He’s a smooth ball-handler and a great shooter. A guy that everyone is excited about is 6’5” sophomore Trey Zeigler. He’s got an incredible amount of talent that can already play pretty much anywhere on the floor. They’re not ready to challenge the big three, but they’ll scare them.
Saginaw
After bolstering a phenomenal ’07 season, the High will be in the same boat as the Lumberjacks last season with the bull’s eye on its back. Although many feel they are set to repeat with their two senior stars in 6’7” do-all forward Draymond Green [left] and silky smooth 6’0” point guard Daniel West, I’m not so quick to buy it. They lost some key role players that are replaced adequately, but not in the same measure. Green may end up being Mr. Basketball and West is a division one point guard. Courtney Washington, a 6’1” senior, is an underrated talent and 6’0” junior Mike Green is capable of taking on a greater role. There is a vacuum inside, but it’s unrealistic to expect back-up centers that are 6’8” every year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Trojans win the conference, but I don’t expect it.
Saginaw
Arthur Hill.JPG)
A new era dawns on the Hill with the graduation of four-year star Darquavis Tucker. Tucker’s shadow will loom large, but a coalition of quality players will step in his absence. If you’re Coach McMath you have reason to smile. He spent a lot of time playing his bench last season and this coming year he should reap those rewards. A star in the making is 6’5” senior Latreze Mushatt [right]. He’s always been Tucker’s compliment on the court, but now his talent will come to the forefront. He’s long, athletic and has better skill than he’s given credit for [he drained five three-pointers in the ‘Jacks state championship game as a sophomore], but like Tucker, is a true scrapper. He gives the ‘Jacks a lot of options. Arthur Hill will enjoy a large frontcourt. If Antoine Lundy plays, this 6’7” senior, along with 6’8” junior in Mike Schaaf, should make for an imposing frontline. Lundy in particular showed real signs of ability last season. Omari Humes, a 6’5” junior, will be an exceptional banger down low as well. The backcourt is extremely strong with 5'10" senior Tyrie Wooten and 5'5" sophomore Maurice Jones-Cooper. These two will be able to set the tempo against anyone. The Lumberjacks will challenge at every position and should be able to claim the SVL title with their depth.
Saginaw Heritage
The Hawks should be a team for the future with some nice young talent like 6’3” sophomore Lavario Smith, but for now the team will rest heavily upon the shoulders of returning 5’10” senior point guard Deshawn Hayes. In addition to Hayes, 6’2” senior Calvin Dinsdale, a versatile forward, will be a significant piece to this team’s success.