Sign these Mid-Michigan seniors
By Gavin Raath
26 March 2008
greatlakeshoops.com
Kieon Arkwright 5’11” Flint Carman Ainsworth
Small in stature, but emerged as the biggest threat to Carman’s opponents this season. Dead-eye shooter, quick with the ball and a very good defender.
Aaron Badour 6’5” Davison
Say what you want about Badour, but the guy is productive. He led Davison in scoring in his senior year and plays with Kurt Rambis-type effort. He’s the kind of guy that almost always winds up on the floor at each play’s conclusion. He, like so few these days, knows his role: the post. Looks for high percentage shots and crashes the boards. Good frame and a great attitude.
Brandon Binkley 5’11” DeWitt
Athletic and powerful guard that plays bigger than his 5’11” height.
Demarcus Boysaw 6’7” Jackson
Long and bouncy kid that came into his own in his senior campaign. Typically known as the other tall guy at Jackson, Boysaw emerged as possibly the better prospect than his partner-in-crime, Darryll Stinson. Still has a lot to develop offensively, but love the upside.
DeOndra Callahan 6’0” Lansing Christian
Aggressive guard that looks to attack at every opportunity. Has the size and strength at guard to play at the next level, but his competitive edge will allow him to succeed.
Ryan Erickson 6’0” Okemos
Okemos’ floor general for the past two years. Last year he ran a very talented team by protecting the ball and distributing to their scorers. In his senior year, when those scorers were gone, he took over and did very well. A complete guard.
Max Gover 6’5” Lansing Catholic Central
Mad Max got that nick name for a reason. The guy plays with a ton of passion, which can help him or hurt him. It helped LCC to a state title when he took that off-balance, off-the-dribble 'J', to put away Flint Powers. He’s plays with his will 99% of the time, which typically means curtains for an opponent, but may also send him to the bench with too many fouls. All of that aside, Max is a physical 6’5” guy that can play three positions. A natural athlete with some great instincts.
Ty Graham 6’3” Reese
Gym rat-type whose game is like a well-oiled machine. Good at everything from handling the ball to stroking it from outside. Led a team that went undefeated in the regular season so this kid is a natural leader and winner.
Calvin Green 6’6” Bridgeport
Calvin is the first of three talented guys that did not play their senior years. Calvin has spring-loaded legs that allow him to flush it in almost awkward fashion. If he’s not looking to dunk, then he’ll settle for a soft jumper from the elbow. He still needs work offensively, but there’s a lot of upside to him. He actually has quick feet, which makes me wonder if he could have a future on the wing.
Chris Hutton 6’1” Lapeer West
Think of a poor man’s David Kool. Hutton’s shooting range is as good as anyone’s, save for a kid up in Frankenmuth, and he can hit on or off the dribble. Watching him transition from pull-up jumpers to off-balance threes in games reminds me of the former Mr. Basketball. He’s physically strong and a good on-the-ball defender that probably takes defense more serious than offense. Improves handle and transition game every time I see him.
Antoine Lundy 6’7” Saginaw Arthur Hill
Another guy that’s still in school, but was not eligible to play. Lundy was Arthur Hill’s center last season so he has no problem playing the fast-paced and physical style of Saginaw ball. Good athlete with reasonable strength. For an idea of how he stacks up to the state’s best posts he stood a good inch or two taller than Detroit Finney’s two 6’6” bangers and worked them inside. Definitely worth a look if it’s a big you need.
Javaughn Manuel 6’0” Lansing Sexton
The most athletic guard left. Manuel is cat-quick and may just have one of the best verticals in the state. Persistent scorer that should be able to transition to the point.
Latreze Mushatt 6’5” Saginaw Arthur Hill
Pieces like this are not written for guys like Mushatt, who is probably already on the mind of several division one coaches, but just in case, here’s a quick rundown. Good athlete that excels anywhere on the floor. It’s hard to pinpoint one area over any other. If you want to talk about shooting, then you can point to the five triples he canned in the state title game as a sophomore. If you want to talk about defense, then you can point to the countless steals he earned over his career from terrorizing the passing lanes. Might be the top unsigned player statewide.
entral
Brad Norman 6’0” Bay City C
Gritty point guard that can fill the net. Scored 40 points in a game this season.
Torian Oglesby 6’6” Saginaw Buena Vista
One of the bounciest forwards in the state. Add his hops with his length and you’ve got me on an eight-foot rim. One of the state’s most improved players that put up huge numbers against some of the top teams in Michigan, whether they were class C or A. Torian may have more upside than any other unsigned senior in the state.
Ryan Praski 6’0” New Lothrop
Quintessential floor general whose production doesn’t always show up in the stats. High percentage athlete that will rarely do anything dumb. Has a knack for coming up with key plays, like a steal or rebound when his team is down. Has a stoic demeanor on the court. Often knocked for being unathletic, yet he rarely has a problem breaking his man down off the dribble and excels in other sports like football, go figure. A year young for his grade.
Xavier Walker 6’5” Flint Powers Catholic Central
Started off on varsity for C-A last season before getting injured. As a senior was behind that eight-ball at Powers only becoming eligible at mid-season. Good effort guy that loves to play and has a frame to work with. Another guys that’s a year young for his grade.
Tyrone Ward 6’4” Flint Southwestern
Five-tool guy on the court. Can pretty much play anywhere on the floor and can do anything that’s asked of him. Was a lock-down defender for Southwestern this year. Has the length and strength to play in the frontcourt, but the athleticism and skill to play in the backcourt. Absolutely deadly in transition. May play football, but I would hate to see how good he could be if he just focused on hoops.
Courtney Washington 6’2” Saginaw
I was always a fan of Washington when he was a junior role player. This year he turned out to be the man. Long as a 6’2” guard, but even longer so with his ridiculous wingspan. Can fit into almost any role he’s assigned. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run the point at the next level.
Devon Weaver 6’6” Flint Northwestern
Devon is the final guy that did not get to play his senior year. Seems to grow every time I see him, but despite his height, Devon has wing talent. He’s a solid shooter and looks fluid handling the ball. Soft-spoken kid that gets a mean-streak on the floor. Had one of the best plays of the travel season, in my mind, when he stripped Warren Cousineau’s Bernard Edwards at half-court and took it the other way for a one-handed tomahawk dunk. Needs to fill out his frame, but has recently committed himself to the weight room. Good character kid that’s very coachable.
Steve Wilmers 6’5” Lapeer East
One of the state’s best athletes left. Wilmers is reluctant to show it, but he has big league ups. He can pretty much dunk it any way you want. Excelled for Lapeer East in the post this season swatting shots and pulling down boards, but has wing skill. His medium range 'J' is money and looks poised when handling the ball. Like Ward and Praski, he excels at other sports so, again, I would hate to see how good he could be if he focused on hoops year round.
Tyler Wilson 5’9” International Academy of Flint
Physically, one of the most impressive small guards in the state. Built like a division one running back, unfortunately his school didn’t have football. Unbelievably strong (recently benched 275 pounds eight times), but not a stiff hulk. Tyler is lightning quick, which makes him one of the toughest on-the-ball defenders around. He’s a complete menace to opposing ball-handlers. Still developing offensively [although he averaged nearly 20 points per game], but extremely coachable and a hard worker. Don’t worry about grades with Tyler. He placed second in the area spelling bee and was sent to MIT as a junior to compete in a science fair.
Tyrie Wooten 5’10” Saginaw Arthur Hill
One of my favorite point guards in the state. Quick, strong, skilled and plays with the mental toughness found in some many Saginaw players. If the game is winding down, I want the ball in his hands. I’m not sure how he’s still available.