Michigan JUCO Preseason Rankings

By Gavin Raath [rankings by GLH staff]

1. Mott

Coach Steve Schmidt is set to have one of his most talented teams ever. Jeremie Simmons is the top recruit in the state. There is nothing this guard can’t do. He’s joined by Thomas Kennedy, a 6’7” wing with hops and a killer three-ball. LaMarr Drake has the talent to be a top tier guard and Alvin Pegues is the top defender in the state. The freshmen class is thin, but talented as well. Deandre Nealy is a beast and may be one of Mott’s best recruits ever. Michael Storey, a 6’8” transfer, provides length, but little in the way of toughness. Jacquez Williams, another Chicagoan in the backcourt, is a cat-quick but will have to bide his time behind the talented sophomore guards. After these guys, it gets rough for the Bears. Their big weakness is depth. Brian Christian and Deante Jefferson, two studs that wanted to play at Mott, would have helped, but Coach Schmidt elected to dismiss them for ethical reasons. Guys like sophomore Darius Brents and freshman Andrew Charlesworth will have to step up for this Mott team to claim another national title.

2. Lansing

Muhammad El-Amin’s return comes just in the nick of time for LCC. With Cameron Duncan out for the season with academic issues, this team will need El-Amin’s division one talent to lead. Ty Motley’s return is an added bonus at point guard. Gerald Busby, with El-Amin, is the second Ferris State player to land in Lansing, and his 6’8” frame should be a tough match-up at this level. Andy Clark and Garon MacCarty are two returning wings that should round out the starting line-up -- Clark with his toughness inside and three-ball, and McCarty with his perimeter athleticism. Torrian Harris, Quentin Patin, Lexis Carter and Dennis Means will also be great additions. This should be a big year for Lansing.

3. St. Clair

You have to like the way St. Clair looks going into this season. They have one of the most talented and deepest posts with returning 6’8” forward Damone Pledger and 6’6” banger Deon Ware. The perimeter is solid with James Scott and another McFadden, Erving, joining the fold. Erving may be a better all-around player than his older brother Thad, now playing division two ball. Damone is probably the top post player in the state and should lead this team to a great season.

4. Lake Michigan

With four returning starters expected to lead Lake Michigan, this could be a big season. LaJuan Barlow and Anthony Graves are two talented guards that spent their high school days playing alongside All American Eric Gordon and it shows. Add Kalyn Meeks into the equation and you have one of the most talented perimeters in the state. Jeremy Cummings, a high-flying 6’6” sophomore, will man the post, along with a pair of big bodies in Wes Booth and Jon Anderson.

5. Kalamazoo Valley

Kalamazoo Valley had quite a recruiting class that included size, skill and talent. They already return two very talented sophomores in Shawn Carter and Michael Tilmon, and transfer Jovon Mosley will bring a lot to the table as well. But it could be the crop of freshmen that vaults them to the top. Tommie Carter is a slick slasher and Ryan Sisson is a versatile wing. Nick Watts, Andrew Glascodine and Jason Cockrell are all tall, athletic and skilled. I love Glascodine’s inside/outside game in particular. Derek Turtle looks earmarked to be a great point guard. Also, kudos to KVCC for recruiting Brendan Birchmeier, a very talented player that went down with a knee injury last season with Corunna. This team would have been even more talented with an extremely athletic Carvelle Smith, but he is no longer on the roster. Can they put it all together?

6. Grand Rapids

With Mario Scott gone and Derek Brooks apparently not playing this season, GR is left with some serious holes to fill. Bylynn Hatcher quickly turns into this team’s top player and 6’6” freshman Keithan Jackson will be forced to play a greater role early, which shouldn't be a problem. Jance Payne will be a fine starting point guard. What should have been a big season for Grand Rapids has quickly turned into a rebuilding year.

7. Wayne

Things are looking up for Wayne. They have one of the most experienced JUCO squads in Michigan, which should translate well in the win/loss column. They return two starters in Thomas Johnson and 6’6” center Bryan Edwards. Johnson will be one of the state’s top returning point guards. Robert Hargrove, a 6’5” wing, is a tough match-up, and speedy Gilbert Ward and Terrance Burse may round out the starting line-up. Freshman Michael Vaughn, a 6’4” wing, should be the jewel of their recruiting class, but keep an eye on Ervin Mitchell. This 6’5” bull ran into some trouble shortly after high school, but he has the talent to make a big splash. This team seems to have the right pieces in place to challenge for the Eastern division.

8. Kellogg

Kellogg lost all of their scoring from last season with the departure of Joe and Josh Young, and Toriano Adams, but they look ready to reload. Devonte Pryor is a power guard that will make a big splash as a freshman. Aaron Crump, Tristan Calhoun and Jonathon Jones are a trio of athletic wings that will give opponents fits. Deonte Wesley and Brandon Wright are a pair of 6’6”+ monsters that will be bullies inside, particularly if they can drop weight. The freshmen will run the team, but sophomores Millard Hale and newcomer Jamie Guyton will be counted upon for leadership. This may be the best recruiting class in the state.

9. Glen Oaks

I like Glen Oaks; they’re young, like most teams this season, but talented. Their biggest returning player is 6’5” forward Kendall Harvey – he can do a little bit of everything. The recruiting class is strong with a Detroit pair that’s 6’6” or taller in Jeff Delva and Demetrius Rouse. After two years of JUCO, I could see both playing division one basketball. Hayden Lewis and Larry Bell provide some versatility and Chris Vanhoose is a good scorer. The premature departures of starting point guard Cornell Collins, wing Pete Roberts and talented freshman Dajuan Wright leave some holes, but this is still a good, young team that should turn some heads.

10. Delta

People are expecting big things out of Delta this season and they may have good reason to do so. Although they lost Jaron Franklin and Dan Spyhalski, they do return their most talented player in Robb McPhillips. He’s an athletic guy that should garner some division one interest. Another guy that will make some noise is 6’3” sophomore Steve Belk. He and McPhillips will make for an impressive pair. Delta has some size with 6’7” freshmen DC Sampson and Stephan Dotson, but they’re green. Trevor L’Hommedieu and Ryan Janer are a pair of very talented guards, and Jeff Suntkin is a dead-eye from three-point land. Not a bad looking group of youngsters.

Others

Henry Ford

Henry Ford will have strengths going into the season. First and perhaps most importantly is point guard play. Ali Barada and Kamal Aljahmie make for a veteran crew returning at that spot. In addition, Kirtland transfer Antonio Harrison a massive 6’7” freshman, provides size and surprising athleticism. James Prince another transfer is expected to contribute right away. Chris Johnson, a 6’4” sophomore, will provide experience and could be the primary replacement for big time scorer Anthony Lacy. Freshmen Jathon Cannon, Ward Jones and Tracy Tubbs will be able to play right away. It should be a better year for the Hawks.

Oakland

Well, the one-man-show that was Odgra Bobo is now gone. In his wake are some experienced guys who are not used to stepping up on a game-to-game basis. Returning starters Justin Greene, a 6’3” guard, and 6’6” center Franklin Murdoch should emerge as the team leaders. Sharp-shooter Victor Boss could be dangerous in his second season on the wing. Jeremy Wilson, a 6’4” wing who logged a lot of minutes should also expect an expanded role this season. Donte Campbell, a transfer from Marygrove College provides some size at a bulky 6’5”. Oakland inherits one of the thumb’s top players in scorer Justin McPhail. Other freshmen of note are Khiry Christian and Mike Holland, a sharp-shooter from deep. We’ll see how the post-Bobo era in Oakland goes.

Alpena

While a lot of teams suffered defections over the summer, Alpena managed to maintain some upperclassmen and add quality. The top player returning is 6’4” wing Austin Rowe. He has some serious talent and should go on to play division two ball. Chris Keller, a solid 6’5”, is another sophomore that will provide leadership. Also, expect Aaron Swoverland to play an expanded role this season on the perimeter. The arrival of Buckley’s scorer extraordinaire Justin Weaver and 6’7” Toledo high school star Chris Wilson should provide some punch. This is a team with a lot of size and some nice returning players.

Macomb

Coach Washington lost a fantastic class of players, but returns some quality guys and did pretty well recruiting-wise. He doesn’t return any world-beaters, but rather some guys that can log minutes like James Terry and 6’5” center Alan Greason. Deonte Mason is another upper classmen that will figure in. Some big freshmen of note are 6’7” monster Brad Balkema, 6’4” sharpshooter Todd Pfromm and 6’5” post Cody Edwards. Karl Finley and Jermaine King are two freshmen capable of logging minutes in the backcourt and Vernico Brock, a 6’3”, should be an interesting addition to the rotation. This is the season where Coach Washington will have to prove the validity of his coach-of-the-year honor from last season.

Kirtland

I’m just not sure what to think of Kirtland. Brian Christian was with Mott over the summer, but after Coach Steve Schmidt gave him the boot he was then back at Kirtland. Now, he doesn’t appear to be with the team anymore. It’s a huge loss to Kirtland considering his talent and the loss of big man Jerry Follet. Their top returning player is talented 6’7” forward Leroy Allen, who will be playing center exclusively for this undersized team. Their other top player will likely be 6’0” freshman Nick Simpson, a burly power guard formerly of Bay City All Saints. Steven Sidebottom is another capable scorer. They have a cast of northern Michigan stars and some good athletes in Corey Wright and Torey Throop, but nothing to write home about. It may be a long season for first-year head coach Ty McGregor.

Muskegon

Muskegon lost the guys that were expected to lead so their freshmen will have to step up earlier than expected. Lucky for the Jayhawks, they happen to be pretty good. Andre Evans and Jacob Kiss will make for a solid point guard duo, even as freshmen. The perimeter will have some exceptional talent with high-flyer Patrick Martin, former Ferris State football player Ricky Anderson, and the highly skilled Tyler Bigelow. Sophomore Tommy Davis will figure in that rotation as well. The post although weakened with the losses of the McClary's to Olivet College, may be just fine with the solid 6'6" Lionelle Schnyders, and athletic 6'5" forwards Anthony Crump and Sean Stone. James Tiemeyer has the right height at 6'8" to dominate, but may not have the strength to be effective inside. These guys may not win much, but they'll be fun to watch.

Schoolcraft

Coach Randy Henry is set to take the reins at Schoolcraft and to head it in an ethical direction (hopefully). Of course that means he may not have the same recruits that former Coach Mike Brown enjoyed. What he does have is a group of athletic freshmen. It all starts with point guard Darnell Thurston. Thurston is a talented point guard that will have to run this young team. The athletic Marvin Walker is likely to start beside Thurston, while Alex Nason and Narmar Dudley should provide depth. Eric Henry, Greg Leavell and Anthony Wafer will be the starting frontcourt. Wafer is extremely talented and is heading to Eastern Michigan after his freshman season. Darius Hardrick, a 6’6” do-all, gives this team some different looks off the bench -- he may be the most talented of the bunch. Ryan Matthews, at 6'7", has the right size to contribute inside. It may be a year of growing pains, but it’s good to see Schoolcraft headed in the right direction.

Jackson

Jackson’s inaugural season should be eventful, but far from transcendent. Coach Steve Finamore has size, which is a good start. Brad Ahler, a 6’6” forward is likely his most talented player. Andy Sierminski, a 6’6” transfer from Olivet College, and Sherrod Word, an athletic 6’8”, give this team a big frontline. Vashawn White, a 6’5” forward, will be another good contributor to the post. The backcourt will be the biggest issue, but I doubt that anyone is expecting miracles in the program’s first year.

All State

Starters:

Damone Pledger  6’8”  Sophomore  St. Clair

Leroy Allen  6’7”  Sophomore  Kirtland

Thomas Kennedy  6’7”  Sophomore  Mott

Muhammad El-Amin  6’4”  Sophomore  Lansing

Jeremie Simmons  6’2”  Sophomore  Mott

Bench:

LaJuan Barlow  6’2”  Sophomore  Lake Michigan

Shawn Carter  6’2”  Sophomore  Kalamazoo Valley

Kendall Harvey  6’5”  Sophomore  Glen Oaks

Bylynn Hatcher  6’2”  Sophomore  Grand Rapids

Robb McPhillips  6’5”  Sophomore  Delta

Deandre Nealy  6’6”  Freshman  Mott

Devonte Pryor  6’0”  Freshman  Kellogg

Second Team:

Brad Ahler  6’6”  Freshman  Jackson

Steve Belk  6’3”  Sophomore  Delta

LaMarr Drake  6’1”  Sophomore Mott

Michael Graham  6’4”  Sophomore  Wayne

Anthony Graves  5’10”  Sophomore  Lake Michigan

Justin Greene  6’3”  Sophomore  Oakland

Keithan Jackson  6’6”  Freshman  Grand Rapids

Chris Johnson  6'4"  Sophomore  Henry Ford

Ty Motley  6’0”  Sophomore  Lansing

Alvin Pegues  6’1”  Sophomore  Mott

Austin Rowe  6’4”  Sophomore  Alpena

Anthony Wafer  6’6”  Freshman  Schoolcraft

Players of Note:

Chris Wilson  6’7”  Freshman  Alpena;  Trevor L'Hommedieu  6'1"  Freshman  Delta;  Jeff Delva  6’8”  Freshman  Glen Oaks;  Jance Payne  5’10”  Freshman  Grand Rapids;  Jathon Cannon  6'5"  Freshman  Henry Ford;  Andy Sierminski  6'6"  Sophomore  Jackson;  Jovon Mosley  6’3”  Sophomore,  Michael Tilmon  6’6”  Sophomore  Kalamazoo Valley;  Aaron Crump  6’5”  Freshman  Kellogg;  Nick Simpson  6’0”  Freshman  Kirtland;  Jeremy Cummings  6’6”  Sophomore,  Kalyn Meeks  6’1”  Sophomore  Lake Michigan;  Gerald Busby  6’8”  Freshman,  Andy Clark  6’5”  Sophomore,  Garon McCarty  6’2”  Sophomore  Lansing;  Karl Finley  6'1"  Freshman  Macomb;  Tyler Bigelow  6'3"  Freshman, Andre Evans  5'9"  Freshman,  Patrick Martin  6'3"  Freshman, Lionelle Schnyders  6'6"  Freshman  Muskegon;  Victor Boss  6'2"  Sophomore,  Donte Campbell  6’5”  Freshman,  Franklin Murdoch  6’6”  Sophomore  Oakland;  Erving McFadden  6’0”  Freshman,  James Scott  6’0”  Sophomore,  Deon Ware  6’6”  Sophomore  St. Clair;  Darius Hardrick  6'6"  Freshman,  Darnell Thurston  5’11”  Freshman  Schoolcraft;  Bryan Edwards  6'6"  Sophomore,  Thomas Johnson  6'0"  Sophomore, Gilbert Ward  5’5”  Sophomore  Wayne

Missing in Action:

QuaJuan Adams  6'4"  Grand Rapids

Derek Brooks  6’4”  Grand Rapids

Brian Christian  6’6”  Kirtland

Cornell Collins  5’11”  Glen Oaks

Cameron Duncan  6’0”  Lansing

Jerry Follett  6’8”  Kirtland

Jaron Franklin  5’6”  Delta

Lawrence Hicks  6'0"  Wayne

Jerome Hutchins  6'1"  Schoolcraft

Brandon McClary  6’5”  Muskegon

Mario Scott  5’10”  Grand Rapids

Dan Spyhalski  6’5”  Delta