Mr. Basketball 2006

December 8, 2005

by Gavin Raath

greatlakeshoops.com

The polls officially closed at 10 p.m. March 19, 2005. With the final buzzer at the MHSAA class B title game the 2006 Mr. Basketball was decided. David Kool’s performance, which included his second state title, three MHSAA records and a total finals performance of 80 points, secured the coveted award and a place in Michigan basketball history.

If Kool’s playoff exploits are not enough, voters should be convinced by his body of work. He’s a soon-to-be four-year player for one of the state’s premiere basketball programs. A solid contributor on one state title team and a one-man show during his second. Kool earned AP class B player of the year honors as a junior with a season average of 23.6 points and 6.5 boards per game. All of this and more should leave voters with no doubt as to who should be the Mr. Basketball for 2006.

Unfortunately, there are doubters out there. Scoffers like to point to players like Saginaw Buena Vista’s Tory Jackson, a lightning quick guard with a state title under his belt and a future at Notre Dame. Another often cited contender is DeShawn Sims out of Detroit Pershing, a punishing 6’7” Michigan-bound forward. Some other guys worth noting are Belleville’s Leon Freeman, Detroit King’s oft-traveled Ramar Smith, Flint Powers’ Tom Herzog and Grand Blanc’s K’Len Morris. Although these guys make for stiff competition none can claim the career that Kool has put together.

The aforementioned players have the advantage of being accepted into high major programs like Michigan, Michigan State, Connecticut and Notre Dame, while Kool will be attending Western Michigan. Does this fact mean that the these players are above Kool? The answer is a resounding NO! Not only has David played against those players during the season and summer leagues, he has usually outperformed them in the process. Why Western Michigan? I am sure I wasn’t the only one who was a little troubled by Kool’s commitment to the Broncos. High D-1 caliber players rarely fall into the lap of the MAC.

There is a hype machine in high school basketball nowadays. This machine can get an average player to an excellent program [see Lansing Everett’s Goran Suton] and send a great player to an average program [see Flint Central’s Takais Brown]. Kool has not had the machine working for him. He is routinely listed by basketball publications [if he’s listed at all] as a notch below the above group of players despite a superior high school career. I’m not sure how these rankings are compiled; but, one thing I know is that they have a history of being off, especially on this one. All things considered, Western Michigan is a good school; it’s just not a program that is frequently in the running for a Mr. Basketball.

The hype machine is not the only thing hurting David Kool’s campaign; injuries are his latest assailant. During an AAU game this summer Kool went down with a tear to his ACL. It typically takes two years for a full recovery, but Kool is already hitting the hardwood determined to challenge again for the state title. His intangibles like heart and determination are another area voters should consider, especially in an age where players tend to coast after receiving scholarship offers.

Detractors pointing to his college choice and recent injury as reasons to deny him the award prove their ignorance. His college choice is a matter of preference [he could finish the season and see where he lands] and coming back from an ACL injury should only earn him more respect. David Kool proved he was Michigan’s Mr. Basketball where it should be decided, on the floor of the Breslin.

Recall 2002: Flashback

In 2001 I recall the Detroit media announcing Paul Davis as the preseason Mr. Basketball. Davis was a great candidate—he was virtually unstoppable at 6’10” and put up great numbers, despite playing for an average team. Davis was the consensus number one power forward. Then, in a non-conference game against Flint Southwestern, Davis broke his ankle. I remember thinking that injury was going to cost him the award—I was wrong.

As the season progressed into the playoffs, Pontiac Northern’s Lester Abram and Saginaw’s Anthony Roberson were on top of their games, both leading their respective teams to the Breslin Center. Abram was hungry for his second straight state title and averaging in the neighborhood of 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. Roberson was hungry for his first title while putting up close to 30 per night; Paul Davis was at home.