A Look at the CAAC-3

 

By Gavin Raath

April 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

 

2006-07 Finish:

LCC

Lakewood

DeWitt

Haslett

Fowlerville

Williamston

 

All Conference Team:

Mike Repovz 6’4”  Junior  Lansing Catholic Central

Nick Hilley  6’3”  Junior  Lakewood

Sean Romsek  6’2”  Junior  Fowlerville

Ryan Jones  5’8”  Junior  Haslett

Aaron Nichols  6’1”  Senior  Lansing Catholic Central – Conference Player of the Year

 

Josh Armstead  5’10”  Senior  DeWitt

Sam Celentino  6’5”  Junior  DeWitt

Kevin Donovan  6’5”  Junior  Williamston

Alex Erickson  6’8”  Senior  Lakewood

Nick Frayer  5’9”  Junior  Haslett

Max Gover  [left] 6’4”  Junior  Lansing Catholic Central

Garrett St. Charles  5’10”  Junior  Fowlerville

 

Review:

LCC ran roughshod over the CAAC-3 in their final year in the conference. Nice way to go out, huh? Lakewood was tough as usual and Fowlerville got better as the year progressed. Haslett and DeWitt had some good battles, but the two conference powers made little noise.

The battle for the new look conference will be tightly contested between Fowlerville, Haslett and DeWitt. Fowlerville may be in best shape returning three double digit scorers. Haslett is always a great defensive team. Their rival DeWitt suffered some setbacks, but played well in the playoffs and should build on that success with a solid core of returning players. The transfer CAAC-2 teams should offer some good challenges, but I don't expect one to unseat the mainstays.

 

2007-08 Outlook:

Fowlerville

DeWitt

Haslett

Eaton Rapids

Charlotte

Ionia

 

All Conference Team:

Alex Gauna  6'7"  Sophomore  Eaton Rapids

Sam Celentino  6’5”  Senior  DeWitt

Sean Romsek  [right]  6’2”  Senior  Fowlerville – Conference Player of the Year

Garrett St. Charles  5’10”  Senior  Fowlerville

Ryan Jones  5’8”  Senior  Haslett

 

Brandon Binkley  6’0”  Senior DeWitt

Nick Frayer  5’9”  Senior  Haslett

Joe Lane  6’4”  Senior  Fowlerville

Brendan Rankin  6'5"  Senior  Charlotte

Ryan Reister  5'10"  Senior  Ionia

Dan VanDreumel  5'10"  Senior  DeWitt

Garrett Webb  5'11"  Senior  Eaton Rapids

 

Charlotte

The Orioles should improve over last season’s below .500 standing. They started out looking like a contender, but quickly tapered off. They return some nice size with 6’5” senior Brendan Rankin and 6’5” senior Gus Patrick. Rankin in particular should be one of the top players in the conference with his strength inside. Chet LaFave, a 5’10” junior, will be one of the better guards this season. He’ll be joined by a host of experienced guards like 6’3” senior Travis Shumaker, 5’11” senior Derrik Southern and 5’9” senior Austin Montgomery. They won’t win the conference, but they will be greatly improved.

 

DeWitt

The Panthers had a bit of an odd season, but should be back in 07/08. DeWitt will have an extremely strong backcourt with 5’10” senior Dan VanDreumel and 6’0” senior Brandon Binkley. Binkley in particular could become a real star in his final year. Sam Celentino [left], a 6’5” senior, has a ton of potential and could have a break-out season if he stays healthy and aggressive. JT Whitman, a 6’4” senior, provides help inside and 6’3” senior Alex Olson will likely round out the starting line-up. Watch for a couple of underclassmen to get pulled up like 6’4” sophomore Paul Jorgenson.

 

Eaton Rapids

This team’s future is now with 6’7” sophomore Alex Gauna. He gives the size that this team has been sorely missing for some time. Michael Gneiting, a 6’0” senior, and Chris Shimmin, a 5’11” senior, should round out the frontcourt. The backcourt will be secure with 5’11” senior Garret Webb and 5’7” senior Dylan Wells. Webb in particular will be an impact player. I also expect a good year from 5’10” junior Matt Gruesbeck and for the rest of this team to only improve with the luxury Gauna gives them. They will win more than one game next season.

 

Fowlerville

This is their year. They return three guys that averaged double figures in 6’2” senior Sean Romsek, 5’10” senior Garret St. Charles and 6’4” senior Joe Lane. The big three will have some good help in 5'8” senior Ryan Ross. I expect 6’3” senior Wyatt Huggett and 6’1” senior Joe Wheeker to also make some impact. Last season they were predicted to have a big year, but started out slow. When St. Charles returned to the line-up we got a glimpse of how good they could be as they went on to claim a district title. Their postseason success should springboard to the top record in the conference next year.

 

Haslett

The Vikings will bolster one of the more dangerous backcourts with 5’10” senior Ryan Jones [right], 5’9” senior Nick Frayer and 5’9” senior Caleb Herrik. David Kaye, a 5’8” sophomore will also earn plenty of time at guard. Haslett will have some size inside as well headlined by 6’5” senior RJ Kelly and others like senior Derek Kuri standing around 6’5” as well. With their defensive intensity and talented seniors, this should be a big year for the Vikings.

 

Ionia

The Bulldogs ended last season on a rather rough note losing five straight. Class B teams will usually struggle in a largely class A conference, but Ionia is at least middle of the pack. I don’t see that changing next season. They actually will have a pretty strong perimeter with 5’10” senior Ryan Reister, 5’11” senior Blake Workman and 6’1” senior CJ Markwart. They won’t have the tallest team, but a pair of 6’3” seniors in Dustin Ferguson and Will Grove will work hard.