Class A Preseason Rankings

By Gavin Raath [rankings by GLH staff]

1. Saginaw

The High will be in the same waters as Arthur Hill was last season as the returning champs with the returning top player in the state; and all that means for them is that they will have a huge bull's eye hanging around their necks. The top player is 6’7” senior Draymond Green, perhaps the best known quantity in Michigan. Green is joined by another surefire division one player in 6’0” senior point guard Daniel West. West is sensational and may join Green on the all-state team. Joining West in the backcourt is returning junior shooting guard Mike Green. Green is a great defensive player and is capable of going off on offense. In his second season as a starter, I expect those big games to become more frequent. Courtney Washington is another talented perimeter player that returns and sophomore Christian Vaughn and senior Will Marlow will add depth to the backcourt. Helping out inside will be 6’7” freshman Tommie McCune and 6’6” Georgia transfer Dee Sanders. They’ll miss Bobby Lewis, perhaps more than anyone, but Coach Dawkins is sure to make the proper adjustments. I’m not convinced that they’re better than last year, but they may still go undefeated.

2. Flint Carman Ainsworth

Carman Ainsworth looks dangerous. Sure they lost quite possibly the best basketball coach in the state of Michigan in Rory Mattar. Sure one of their most talented players in Courtland Patterson moved out of state. But, this team still has a huge reason to be optimistic. Namely they return senior leadership in the backcourt. Jon Lee (right), Reggie Stallings and Kieon Arkwright will enter their second, and in Lee’s case, third seasons as starters. Only adding to their chemistry is the fact that these three also started for their sponsored AAU team, Common Bond. Add 6’1” senior transfer Alan Sharp, defensive stalwart Ahmad Cheers and ultra-talented sophomore Glen Cosey and you have quite possibly the most adept backcourt in the state. The post, unlike the perimeter, is green, but they present just as much talent. 6'6'' Demondre Chapman and 6'6'' Jaylen Larry may be sophomores, but they have the builds of seniors. Chapman is extremely strong and a freak athletically that will remind many of Kalamazoo Central star Doug Anderson. Larry is a big body with a soft touch. Another addition to the post will be 6’5” junior Terrance Keaton, a transfer from Flint International Academy. Keaton dominated at the Swartz Creek Bankhoops Camp, and Steve Bell referred to him as a division one prospect. Terrance has great touch and is a defensive nightmare. If these big guys gel with the backcourt under seasoned Coach Bob Root, then they could be poised to upset whoever comes out of Saginaw at regionals.

3. Saginaw Arthur Hill

After Arthur Hill was owned by Saginaw High last season, I think they may have the stuff to be back in ’08. They don’t have the star power of a Dar Tucker, but that may be to their advantage. They have a trio of players that ran together with the Michigan Mustangs over the summer in Latreze Mushatt, Maurice Jones-Cooper and Tyrie Wooten, so chemistry shouldn’t be too big of a concern. Mushatt is one of those diverse players that can literally play any position on the floor. Wooten and Jones-Cooper are a lightning quick and athletic backcourt. Joining that backcourt will be Saginaw High transfer John Edwards. You may remember him starting in the playoffs for the Trojans two years ago. Mike Schaaf at 6’7” provides a solid post presence, but the guy to keep an eye on is 6’5” junior Omari Humes. He’s extremely tough and will be like a bigger Jeff Jones, Arthur Hill’s senior center from their championship year. Sunny Young, a 6’5” forward, Cameron Boli and Chris Webb will add some great depth in the frontcourt. They’re loaded at every position and will again battle for the Valley and maybe the state.

4. Holt

The Rams for the past few years have had the luxury of starting the season with the top post player in the state in Paul Crosby. That luxury is gone. Holt, however,  remains strong with a solid perimeter attack that includes three returning starters in Joe Powers, Rashawn Molden (right) and Donlunto Jackson. Powers and Molden looked great over the summer for Camp Darryl -- Powers became a division two prospect and Molden a scoring machine. Jackson, only a sophomore, is on his way to becoming one of the state’s top point guards. The loss of Crosby hurts, but this perimeter will be tough. Cole Darling, a 6’6” sophomore will be solid immediately and he’ll be joined by another newcomer in Austin Holtz, a brick house at 6’6” who sat out last season with an injury. Tom Brandenburg will provide depth inside and Cody Nash-Kniffen is one of the team’s top athletes. They’ll be athletic and if the post works out, then Holt could be the team to beat in the CAAC.

5. Jackson

This should be a big season for Jackson. Last year they were close to winning the CAAC and will be even closer this year. Jackson will have the biggest frontline of any team in the conference. They have a pair of experienced 6’6” seniors in Darryll Stinson (right) and Demarcus Boysaw that have an immense amount of talent. They should have their way inside with anyone. On the perimeter they have two equally talented guys in juniors Daniel Hall and Virgil McGuire. McGuire is a cat-quick playmaker and Hall much more talented most people know. Seniors like Terrance Patterson and Brandon Holmon will make for an exceptional rotation.

6. Mount Pleasant

The Oilers may strike it rich this season. They were the fourth best team in the SVL from last season and with a questionable SWA, they could sneak into that third spot. The man in Mount Pleasant these days is 6’5” sophomore Trey Zeigler. He may be one of the most complete players in the state with his combination of size, skill and athleticism. Joining him will be three-year varsity player William Arnold. Arnold is a smooth player that handles the ball well and can nail the three. Tyler Mills and Nate Hoyle are a pair of 6’4” seniors that will provide a solid post and they’ll get some depth from 6’7” senior Josh Hultz and 6’4” junior Connor Odyrikirk. The team will suffer with the loss of senior Donny Lee to an ACL injury, but Tyler Gross and junior Matt Noun should do fine in the backcourt. This is a senior-laden team that should allow their young star to grow and make mistakes. Expect big things from Mount Pleasant. 

7. Flint Southwestern

What a year for SWA already. They lost their head coach and possibly the best player in the state in Anthony Crater, but the cupboard isn’t exactly bare. Derrick Smith and Bentley transfer Aaron Mangham will replace Crater at the point and should do just fine. Erik Fields will steady the team from his off-guard spot with his leadership and shooting range. Kortez Ross is another guy that will add depth to the perimeter. DeMarkus Bracy, Lawrence Clark and Martell Northern, a group of 6’4” bangers, will provide a solid post presence. The key will be the play of 6’4” senior Tyrone Ward. Ward made huge strides last season and if he continues that level of play than he could be the man that Crater was supposed to be for this team. At the end of the day, this is still a very talented roster so I wouldn’t be quick to count them out, but a lot of questions have to be answered.

8. Lansing Sexton

Sexton will expect to come into the CAAC-2 and dominate right off the bat, and those expectations will likely come to fruition. They return an experienced backcourt with Deleon Dearing and Javaughn Manuel, and the expected return of 6’0” junior Jordan Howenstine could vastly improve this team’s depth. Drew Valentine can be expected to take a larger role for Sexton this season as well; the junior has all the tools necessary to succeed. Dearing and 6’2” senior Dunell Murchison are two of the finest defenders in the area. Valentine, Murchison and 6’4” junior Muhammed Abdur-Rahim will comprise an undersized, yet athletic, post. LaDontae Henton, a highly-rated freshman, was expected to be at Sexton after he played summer ball with the Big Reds, but he is now at Lansing Eastern.

9. Midland

The Chemics don’t appear to have the star power of last season with Kelvin Carter gone, but I’ve got a hunch that Coach Krause is just fine with that. This Midland team will be tough at every position. Senior point guard Evan Sanders is a great floor general and one of the finest defensive players around. Eric Dawson up from the JV will be a quality reserve. They’ll be joined in the backcourt by sharpshooter Kyle Wakeman and slasher Colter Roberson. That pair should provide a solid scoring punch. The post is loaded. They return a pair of 6’4” seniors in Jeff Brown and Chris O’Brien, and will pull up 6’9” sophomore Brandon Crane from the JV. Making the biggest splash in Midland may be transfer Chris Simms. He’s an athletic 6’4” forward that could end up being a double-double guy. Midland will yet again be tough.

10. Lapeer East

East returns four starters from last season’s team. Their 6’5” senior Steve Wilmers (right) is the best prospect to come out the Metro in quite some time with his length and athleticism and should be a force in his senior season. Daniel Elliott, a 6’4” senior, is defensive stopper that has improved other facets of his game. Austin Aubert and 6’6” behemoth Austin Green will allow Wilmers and Elliott to float on the perimeter. Joining those two on the perimeter will be three-point threat Zak Smillie, a three-year varsity player. The point guard spot will be split between two talented juniors in Keegan Turzyn and Thomas LeClair. With East’s length and commitment to defense, they should be the top team in the Metro and could make some noise in the playoffs.

All Class A Team:

Starters

Darryll Stinson  6’6”  Senior  Jackson

Draymond Green  6’7”  Senior  Saginaw -- MM class A player of the Year (right)

Latreze Mushatt  6’5”  Senior  Saginaw Arthur Hill

Jon Lee  6’1”  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Adrian Hunter  6’0”  Senior Grand Blanc

Bench

Chris Hutton  6’0”  Senior  Lapeer West (right)

Joe Powers  6’2”  Senior Holt

Reggie Stallings  6’3”  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Tyrone Ward  6’4”  Senior  Flint Southwestern

Daniel West  6’2”  Senior  Saginaw

Steve Wilmers  6’5”  Senior  Lapeer East

Charlie Woods  6’6”  Senior  East Lansing

Second Team

Titus Baldwin  6’3”  Senior  Lansing Eastern

DeMarkus Bracy  6’5”  Junior  Flint Southwestern

Keenan Coleman  6’3”  Junior  Flint Central

Jordan Fowler  5’10”  Junior  Holly

D’Chawn Glover  5’8”  Junior  Flint Northern

Terrance Keaton  6’6”  Junior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Javaughn Manuel  6'0"  Senior  Lansing Sexton

Brad Norman  5’10”  Senior  Bay City Central

Chris Sims  6'4"  Senior  Midland

Drew Valentine  6'5"  Junior  Lansing Sexton

Tyrie Wooten  5’10”  Senior  Saginaw Arthur Hill

Trey Zeigler  6’5”  Sophomore  Mount Pleasant

Freshman of the Year

LaDontae Henton  6'5"  Forward  Lansing Eastern

Players to Note

Chad Jasman  6'3"  Senior  Bay City Western;  Mike Kalmar  6'0"  Senior  Clio;  Tyler Sauer  6'1"  Senior  Davison;  Nick Cash  5'11"  Senior  Fenton;  Kieon Arkwright  5'11"  Senior,  DeMondre Chapman  6'6"  Sophomore  Flint Carman Ainsworth;  Demetrius Miller  5'11"  Junior  Flint Central;  Mario Pool  5'6"  Senior  Flint Kearsley;  Cymiahn Williams  6'1"  Junior  Flint Northern;  Erik Fields  6'1"  Senior  Flint Southwestern;  Josh Miller  6'0"  Senior  Flushing;  Jordan Schafer  6'4"  Senior  Grand Ledge;  Frank Rogers  6'4"  Senior  Holly;  Donlunto Jackson  5'8"  Sophomore (right),  Rashawn Molden  6'3"  Senior  Holt;  Virgil McGuire  5'7"  Junior  Jackson;  Edward Thomas  5'9"  Senior  Lansing Everett;  Ben Richards  6'0"  Senior  Mason;  Evan Sanders  5'11"  Senior  Midland;  David Magno  5'10"  Senior  Midland Dow;  William Arnold  6'3"  Senior  Tyler Mills  6'3"  Senior  Mount Pleasant;  Ryan Erickson  6'0"  Senior  Okemos;  Dustin DeShaies  5'10"  Junior  Ortonville-Brandon;  Eric Bannon  6'0"  Senior  Owosso;  Zach Tilley  5'11"  Senior  Oxford;  Mike Green  6'0"  Junior  Saginaw;  Maurice Jones-Cooper  5’5”  Sophomore  Saginaw Arthur Hill;  Deshawn Hayes  5'11"  Senior   Saginaw Heritage;  Andrew Lerg  6'0"  Sophomore  St. Johns;  Russell Hope  5'9"  Junior  Swartz Creek

Time to Step Up

Rodney Anderson  6'6"  Junior  Flushing

Corey Arnold  6'0"  Junior  Bay City Western

Carlos Benton  6'1"  Junior  Flint Northern

Tom Brandenburg  6'3"  Senior  Holt

Trevor Cousineau  6'5"  Senior  Davison

Deleon Dearing  6'0"  Senior  Lansing Sexton

Jordan Dieck  6'4"  Junior  Swartz Creek

Youseff Gherani  6'6"  Senior  Fenton

Glen Haggin  6'4"  Senior  Grand Blanc

Chris Keenist  6'3"  Senior  Oxford

Jeff Kline  6'3"  Junior  Flushing

Tyler Kramer  6'4"  Junior  St. Johns

Michael Martin  6'3"  Junior  Flint Northern

Brad Ostergren  6'4"  Junior  Midland Dow

Darnell Plummer  6'3"  Junior  Grand Ledge

Eric Stage  6'0"  Junior  Mason

JV Gems

Travis Bader  6'1"  Junior  Okemos

Glen Cosey  5'10"  Sophomore  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Brandon Crane  6'10"  Sophomore  Midland

Cole Darling  6'6"  Sophomore  Holt

Jimmy Davis  6'0"  Junior  Saginaw

Eric Dawson  5'11"  Junior  Midland

Nate Duhon  6'0"  Junior  Lansing Sexton

Aundre Gibson  6'2"  Sophomore  Flint Central

Kai Goldynia  6'2"  Junior  Okemos

Austin Green  6'6"  Junior  Lapeer East

Jon Horford  6'6"  Sophomore  Grand Ledge

Josh Hultz  6'7"  Senior  Mount Pleasant

Tony Jones  5'9"  Sophomore  Grand Blanc

Torey LaFerney  5'11"  Junior  Davison

Jaylen Larry  6'6"  Sophomore  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Phil Lougheed  6'2"  Junior  Swartz Creek

Ryan Schultz  6'5"  Junior  Davison

Keegan Turzyn  5'7"  Junior  Lapeer East

Mitchel Vallie  6'4"  Sophomore  Grand Blanc

Christian Vaughn  6'0"  Sophomore  Saginaw

Darrell Williams  6'6"  Sophomore  Flint Northern

Out of the Shadows

Aaron Badour  6'5"  Senior  Davison

Ethan Brouwer  6'5"  Sophomore  Swartz Creek

Christian Canon  6'2"  Senior  Clio

Ahmad Cheers  5'11"  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth (right)

Daniel Hall  6'1"  Junior  Jackson

Lance Hopkin  6'3"  Sophomore  Holly

Omari Humes  6'5"  Junior  Saginaw Arthur Hill

Martell Northern  6'4"  Senior  Flint Southwestern

Derrick Smith  5'10"  Senior  Flint Southwestern

Daniel Thwing  6'2"  Junior  Davison

Travis Trieb  6'5"  Junior  Flushing

Courtney Washington  6'1"  Senior  Saginaw

Finally Healthy

Calvin Dinsdale  6'2"  Senior  Saginaw Heritage

Austin Holtz  6'6"  Senior  Holt

Impact Transfers

Tyler Dwyer  6'1"  Sophomore  Saginaw Heritage

John Edwards  5'8"  Senior  Saginaw Arthur Hill

Jordan Howenstine  6'1"  Junior  Lansing Sexton

Terrance Keaton  6'6"  Junior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Aaron Mangham  6'0"  Senior  Flint Southwestern

William Sams  5'11"  Sophomore  Grand Blanc (right)

Dee Sanders  6'6"  Junior  Saginaw

Alan Sharp  6'1"  Senior  Flint Carman Ainsworth

Chris Sims  6'4"  Senior  Midland

Eric Smith  5'11"  Junior  East Lansing