En Guards!!

Two of Mid-Michigan's top guards lead MML to birth in U-17 semis in Lansing

By Jared Field

29 July 2007

greatlakeshoops.com

Update: Both Moreland and Hutton named to All-Tournament Team...

Lansing-- No one really knows what they are, but everyone in the gym at Aim High in Lansing on Sunday now knows who they are.

Chris Hutton (6'0'', Lapeer West) and Tyler Moreland (6'2'', Flint Powers) aren't point guards, per se, nor are they shooting guards exactly.

They can just flat-out play.

Call them combo guards, scoring guards, whatever term fits your fancy. I'll just stick with the generic term--guards.

The tandem scored a combined 102 points in two games for the GLH-sponsored Mid-Michigan Lakers at the NCAA certified MYBA Summer Showcase in Lansing. There was nothing generic about the pair's performance, it was brand name stuff.

Hutton and Moreland led the Lakers to a 4-0 record and into a Monday afternoon clash with Camp Darryl in the U-17 semifinals.

For the weekend, Moreland is averaging 20 points, six steals and four rebounds per game. Not to be outdone, Hutton is averaging 18 points, six rebounds and four assists.

In the Lakers' final pool play game on Sunday, Hutton once again affirmed his reputation for being clutch by single-handedly bringing the Lakers back from the dead against the Michigan Ballers. Hutton hit two 3-pointers in the final minute including one with under ten seconds left in regulation to lift the Lakers to the win, 63-62.

In the first game of the single elimination tournament, Hutton, Moreland and company ran roughshod over Showtime, 100-73, despite suiting up only five players and losing one to fouls at the 4:55 mark of the second half.

Moreland led the Lakers with 29 points, five steals, four rebounds and four assists. Hutton poured in 28 with nine rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals. Max Gover (Lansing Catholic) scored 19 and Devon Weaver (Flint Northwestern) added 15 points and eight rebounds.

Ahmad Cheers (Flint C-A), the Lakers' other starter, is one of the top perimeter defenders in mid-Michigan and proved it once again on Sunday.

Just how important Moreland and Hutton are to the Lakers' success is easy to establish. Consider that the Lakers played without both two weeks ago at the Adidas Midwest Explosion tournament at Notre Dame and finished 0-4.

Top This

On Saturday in the Lakers' opening game versus North Farmington, Moreland turned in one of the finest all-around performances you will ever see on the summer circuit.

Here's what that looks like: 13 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, five assists and three blocks.

Moreland is unique in that he has the polish of a college-ready guard with the mentality of a street fighter. If there is a guard in Michigan better at manufacturing points in the paint, I haven't seen him.

Moreland got the attention of many of the division one college coaches in attendance with a Brian Boitano-looking spin move at center court against Showtime before finishing strong at the basket for two.

Find Lapeer on a Map

Chris Hutton never liked Geography all that well; but, can you blame him? Geography hasn't been good to him during his young career on the hardwood. Hutton plays in relative obscurity in Lapeer, and in a conference that has about as much clout as a B movie remake in Cannes. To make a long story short, the summer basketball circuit is made for players like Hutton who have the talent to play with the best but go without much ink.

One would be hard-pressed to find a player better served by the summer experience than Hutton, who has been the Lakers' most consistent scoring option from start to finish. Playing with the big boys is where he belongs, and he has proven it time and time again.

In an up-tempo game like the one the Lakers played against Showtime on Sunday, Hutton may as well be the Texas Tower Sniper. He gets teams from all sides with the spot-up 3-pointer. And once he gets those feet set, it's curtains.

The scouting report on Hutton is usually all about the 3-pointer and for good reason; he is one of the best in the state from range. However, he is very much underrated as a hard-nosed scorer in the lane. He has that strength that you can only get playing football.

Monday's Measuring Stick

The Lakers' guards will get the opportunity to see how they measure up to another one of Mid-Michigan's top guards, Camp Darryl's Sean Romsek (Fowlerville). Romsek is a tremendous shooter who, like Hutton, tends to score in bunches.

Romsek is getting serious attention from low division one and high division two schools.

Guarding the Future

As long as we are on the subject, there are a few young guards who competed this weekend who deserve some recognition: Maurice Jones-Cooper, Austin Nichols, Demetrius Miller and Tony Jones.

Miller (Flint Central) and Jones-Cooper (Saginaw Arthur Hill) are both fast as lightning, athletic and nightmares to defend. Miller is the superior finisher at the basket and has better size (5'11') than Jones-Cooper (who doesn't?), but Miller isn't at Jones-Cooper's level just yet. MJC has the basketball I.Q. to go with the speed, quickness, and yes, ridiculous athleticism. (Check the picture on the right...that's MJC at 5'5''.)

Tony Jones (Grand Blanc) and Austin Nichols (Lansing Catholic, left) are similar in that the have a unique smoothness to their games. They look like they are in total control of what's happening on the floor at all times. Nichols has the basketball smarts he inherited from his brother, Aaron, who will be walking on at Notre Dame this fall. Jones is an all-around athlete (track star) who can get from one end of the floor to the other in a blink of an eye.

Crowded Coach's Corner

What follows a short list of some of the colleges represented in Lansing this weekend: University of Michigan, Michigan State, LSU, Utah, Central Michigan, Oakland University, Cleveland State, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, Grand Valley, Ferris State. Oh yeah, the guy in the "Pepperdine basketball" T-shirt was not a scout. He was just a loser who went to school there and couldn't afford the tuition!