Downriver League Preview
High school basketball season in Michigan is right around the corner, so here is a quick preview of the Downriver League.
Who will win the conference?
My pick to win the conference this season is Woodhaven. This team is locked and loaded this season, returning nearly everyone from last season. Josh Warren is one of the top players in the state for the class of 2019, as he averaged 16 points, six assists and five steals last season. Woodhaven is in good shape to win the conference this year.
Who are the contenders?
I think there are a few teams that could contend with Woodhaven this year. First, I think Wyandotte is going to be a team to watch. They weren’t great last season, but they return a lot of players and Bryce Armstrong is one of the best scorers in the league.
Another team I think that will contend this year is Carlson. Carlson is typically a good basketball program and they have one of their best players returning in in Tyler Koons. Koons averaged 13.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last year and should be able to score a bit more this year.
Allen Park and Southgate are two teams I believe are sort or dark horses this year. A lot of talk has been about Woodhaven and rightfully so, but Allen Park returns Donovan Ebo, who is a good all around player and Southgate will have Jace Matkin back. Matkin is known for his baseball abilities, but he is a good scorer too.
Who will lead the league in scoring?
My personal pick to lead the league in scoring is Wyandotte’s Bryce Armstrong. He averaged 19 points per game last season and will only get better this year as the team has a ton of weapons. Armstrong is a player that can go off any night and he must be accounted for at all times or he will make you pay.
As mentioned above, Josh Warren of Woodhaven is another prolific scorer in the Downriver League. He is very good at turning defense into offense so look for that to continue this season. Warren is a jack of all trades. He can shoot from outside and attack the rim with ease.
Renaudd Broaden is another player to keep an eye on. The Taylor Kennedy guard/forward is one of the more versatile players in the league. He averaged 14.8 points per game last season and I believe he is going to be a double-double machine this year. This kid is a monster on the glass and he will be getting a lot of second chance opportunities this year.
Who will win player of the year?
Josh Warren is my pick for player of the year for the simple fact that he is the best player on what should be the best team. He plays well on both sides of the court and isn’t a selfish player. He is a team player and loves winning.
Renaudd Broaden is my runner up for player of the year because I think he is going to have a monster year. As I stated above, this kid is a great rebounder and should live at the line. He is also a great defender and likes to turn defense into offense. Look for him to have a breakout year.
Bryce Armstrong is a dark horse for player of the year because he is the best scorer in the league. He is a great finisher around the rim and knocks down outside shots with ease. He is a pure scorer and gets buckets on a nightly basis.
Who made the Preseason All Downriver League First Team?
G | Josh Warren | Woodhaven
G | Bryce Armstrong | Wyandotte
G/F | Renaudd Broaden | Kennedy
G/F | Jace Matkin | Southgate
F | Tyler Koons | Carlson