All-Event First Team: Floyd Mayweather Classic
This past weekend, Ottawa Hills High School played host to the 6th annual Floyd Mayweather Classic! The event saw five competitive games featuring teams from Chicago and both sides of Michigan. Needless to say, the squads and individual players put on quite a show and made the day a success. Below are my picks for an all-event first team, selecting one player to represent each squad I watched.
NOTE: Saginaw Arthur Hill v Westland John Glenn was cancelled. I did not attend the first game between Kalamazoo Central and Oak Park. Therefore, no players from that matchup are included below.
ALL-EVENT FIRST TEAM
David Dejulius – 6’1 – PG – 2018 (Detroit East English Village)
His name is one I’ve been hearing a lot of recently, and, after seeing him play for myself, I now understand why. Dejulius was a straight-up MONSTER at Ottawa Hills! He put up a career-high 49 (FORTY-NINE!) points, scoring 29 in the first half and 20 in the second. In the first quarter alone he scored 17 on 6/8 shooting. He ended up finishing with nine three-pointers and a handful of assists and rebounds to go along with them. When he had the ball in his hands, defenders were hard-pressed to prevent him from scoring. He is fast and shifty with the rock AND can shoot AND can drive AND can pass. His stellar performance and skill set make the Michigan commit a lock for our All-Event First Team!
Carlos “Scooby” Johnson – 6’6 – SF – 2020 (Benton Harbor)
Johnson and his Tigers are having quite a season, but it was put to the test Saturday in a tight, interstate matchup with Chicago Bogan. They ended up pulling out a one point victory, and Johnson played a big part in making it happen. He opened up scoring with a hit from beyond the arc, an ability that that is just one among many for this versatile sophomore. Two more threes followed, along with a number of inside finishes. He also passed well throughout the night and proved able to attack off the dribble and shake defenders. His length and athleticism came in handy on the boards, and he finished with a double-double (26 and 12).
Dannie Smith – 6’5 – SF – 2018 (Chicago Orr)
Smith was absolutely HUGE for Orr in their tough game versus East English. At the half, he and his squad trailed by twenty-one. However, after the break, they rallied and played their hearts out, Smith contributing at the forefront. He played aggressively, grabbing rebounds and attacking hard on the inside. Additionally, he proved able to make some nice passes and hit shots from farther out, making a dearly-needed three. He finished with 33 and several rebounds in a ten-point loss.
Christopher Murray – 6’2 – SG/PG – 2018 (Cass Tech)
Murray contributes a very good and well-rounded offensive game to a loaded Technicians squad. He scored from everywhere. He had strong takes to the basket, finishing most and getting fouled on a few. When on the line, he shot 4/5. He also hit midrange jumpers and made two threes. Outside of scoring, he distributed the ball well. On the defensive end, Cass Tech was very aggressive and played great team defense, and he showed obvious effort and contributed to this as well. He scored 23 points in an OT win.
Damion Seifulah – 5’10 – PG – 2018 (Ottawa Hills)
This was my second time seeing Seifulah this year, and he really impressed this weekend. He is a pass-first point guard who can be trusted to handle and distribute the ball well. Using his quickness, misdirection, and change of pace, he wore down defenders and was difficult to stay in front of, always posing the threat of blowing past off the dribble. A willing passer, he got the ball where it needed to go but also took initiative to score himself. He made one three with the rest of his points coming from near the basket. He also showed great athleticism outside of his speed by elevating his 5’10 frame for a transition dunk. Seifulah scored 15 points and had a number of assists.
Antonio Marshall – 6’4 – SG/SF – 2018 (Detroit Martin Luther King)
In a tight game versus Ottawa Hills, Marshall stood out as a go-to option for MLK. He scored fourteen points in the first half, showing a very nice three point shot. He also is a high motor player, and he used his speed to push the break and attack the basket. Though he only finished at the rim once in the contest, he used his speed and length well when he did so, getting himself to the line for the three-point-play. He battled with foul trouble throughout the contest, meaning he had to sit more than usual. However, when he was in, Ottawa keyed in on him, allowing him to pass to his teammates in scoring positions. He had seventeen points to go with some assists and defensive stats.
Willie Shanks – 6’2 – PG/SG – 2018 (Muskegon)
Super fast and a hustler, the lefty guard was a leader for the Big Red in all areas. His 19 points made him second on his team in scoring. All of them came from attacking the basket, something he did with his combination of speed and strength, and from converting his foul shots, of which he was 9 for 11. Shanks also made himself known in all other areas. Muskegon played aggressive defense, and he worked hard staying in front of his man, going for steals, and getting into position for traps and a charge. He handled the ball and passed fairly well throughout the contest. Finally, he was active on both offensive and defensive boards, nabbing numerous rebounds.
Tyreon Hardin – 5’10 – SG – 2019 (Chicago Bogan)
Hardin showcased himself as the best catch-and-shoot player in the event. In the opening quarter versus Benton Harbor, he connected on 4 threes. He was also fouled on a first-quarter three-point attempt and made two of his three free throws. In the end, he led his team with 20 points and six three-pointers.