A Look at the CAAC-1

 

By Gavin Raath

31 March 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

 

2006-07 Finish

 

Holt

East Lansing

Okemos

Jackson

Lansing Sexton

Grand Ledge

Lansing Eastern

Lansing Everett

 

All Conference Team 

Coach of the Year – Doug Fleming  East Lansing

Starters:

Paul Crosby  [left]  6’7”  Senior  Holt – Conference Player of the Year

Willie Brown  6’6”  Senior  Lansing Eastern

Michael Kebler  6’4”  Senior  Okemos

Tercel Taylor  6’0”  Senior  Jackson

Javaughn Manuel  6’0”  Junior  Lansing Sexton

 

Bench:

Anthony Ianni  [right]  6’10”  Senior  Okemos

Matt Naeyaert  5’10”  Senior  Holt

Joe Powers  6’2”  Junior  Holt

Alex Schmidt  6’3”  Senior  East Lansing

Darryl Stinson  6’6”  Junior  Jackson

Edward Thomas  5’9”  Junior  Lansing Everett

Charles Woods  6’5”  Junior  East Lansing

 

Reviews:

For three straight years the CAAC-1 provided a team in the state game, two of those years they won it. This year was the first year in some while where a CAAC-1 team didn’t even when a regional. The conference was still pretty tough, but just wasn’t as top heavy as in the past. As expected Okemos and Holt did well, but the real surprise in my estimation was East Lansing. They weren’t precisely the most talented team out there yet still managed to claim a share of the conference title. Jackson and Lansing Sexton both had the talent to take the conference, but both probably underachieved considering some of the players on their rosters. Lansing Everett finished last and I never thought I would see the day. They’re young and talented, with zero size.

 

2007-08 Outlook:

Jackson

Holt

East Lansing

Lansing Eastern

Lansing Everett

Grand Ledge

Okemos

 

All Conference Team

Starters:

Darryl Stinson  6’6”  Junior  Jackson

Charles Woods  [left]  6’5”  Junior  East Lansing

Titus Baldwin  6’3”  Senior  Lansing Eastern

Joe Powers  6’2”  Junior  Holt

Edward Thomas  5’9”  Junior  Lansing Everett

 

Bench:

 

Adarius Beard  5'8"  Junior  Lansing Everett

Demarcus Boysaw  6’6”  Senior  Jackson

Ryan Erickson  6'0"  Senior  Okemos

Donlunto Jackson  [right]  5’8”  Sophomore  Holt

Virgil McGuire  5'7"  Junior  Jackson

Rashawn Molden  6’4”  Senior  Holt

Jordan Schafer  6'4"  Senior  Grand Ledge

 

East Lansing

Coach Fleming is one of the finest in the area and will make the most out of this team in somewhat of a down year for the CAAC-1. He returns the top rebounder in the area in Charles Woods. Woods wasn’t much of a scorer last season, but he’s capable. They'll have to rely heavily on the upcoming JV players and possibly sophomore-to-bes like 6'5" post Spencer O'Hara and 5'10" guard Noah Sawyer.

 

Grand Ledge

Grand Ledge boasts one of the largest school populations out there and with that luxury that should always be capable of fielding a pretty good team. GL lost a lot from last season, but return some quality players. Ready to take a larger role will be 6’4” senior-to-be Jordan Schafer [left] and 6’2” junior-to-be Darnell Plummer. Matt Kingsley, a 5’10” senior-to-be, will run the back court. Expect to see 6’5” senior-to-be Mitch Combs and possibly 6’5” sophomore-to-be Jon Horford to contribute in the post.

 

Holt

The Rams will finally be without Paul Crosby, but an experienced returning roster should ease the pain. Joe Powers [below, right] has been solid for the past two years, but he’ll be relied upon to lead the Rams as a senior. Rashawn Molden can bring a lot to the table, but he may be a little too quick on the trigger. Donlunto Jackson will be one of the finest point guards in the conference. Tom Brandenberg, a 6’3” senior, and the return of big body Austin Holtz will help ease the loss of the big guy inside. Holtz is not Crosby, but he’s about the same size.

 

Jackson

This team will be powered by their interior. They have a pair of 6’6” seniors in Darryl Stinson and Demarcus Boysaw that will control the paint. They return their point guard in 5’7” junior-to-be Virgil MacGuire and a quality wing in 6'1" junior-to-be Daniel Hall so the perimeter should still be somewhat intact despite the loss of Tercel Taylor.

 

Lansing Eastern

Eastern returns one of the best kept secrets in Lansing with Titus Baldwin. Titus was one the conference’s leading scorers last year and should only improve. He’s kind of an undersized banger, but he usually outplays the guys around him. Chris Cole, a 6'1" senior-to-be, and McDonald Lawrence, a 6'3" junior-to-be, will help out in the front court. They return a young and exciting backcourt in a pair of juniors-to-be 5'9" Dareickeio Stewart and 5'11" Xavier Nelson.

 

Lansing Everett

The Vikings are long on guards and short on height. This is a team that will probably have to throw three guys under 6’0” out on the court at all times. The good news is that they have one of the better point guards in the area in Edward Thomas and a couple other fine ones in 5’8” junior-to-be Adarius Beard and 5’10” junior-to-be Lavelle Walker. Devon Beauford and Austin Branson, juniors-to-be over six-feet, will be counted on mightily by Coach White. Expect this team to run and press.

 

Okemos

The Chieftains may be in for a long season. They lose the bulk of their roster to graduation and return only one contributor in 6'0" senior-to-be Ryan Erickson. Erickson will be joined in the backcourt by talented 5'10" junior-to-be Eric Smith. I'm not expecting much from the post so coach Stolz and the returning guards will have their work cut out for them.