Roundball Classic: Friday PM Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In its 28th year, the Motor City Roundball Classic continues to be one of the premier holiday showcases in the Midwest. This years lineup lives up to that billing. Following are standouts from the PM slate of games on Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223485' first='Jake' last='Stephens'] 6-3 2024 Chelsea (pictured) </strong>The “Foster Loyer”of the two guard position. Always seem to make the right play, pass, or shot. Friday night was best I have seen Stephens shoot from beyond the arc. The North Georgia commit hit a bunch of deep bombs. Especially late as Saginaw Heritage seemed like they were pulling away. However don't let the buckets or counting stats fool you. Stephens all around floor game will always be his calling card. Makes so many positive plays that don't show up on a stat sheet. From calling out opponents plays in the middle of a possession. To finding the soft spots in a zone. Just does so many things with next level court sense. The Peach state is getting a good one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1111936' first='Joey' last='Cabana'] 6-2 2024 Chelsea </strong>While his teammate Stephens was filling it up from beyond the arc most of the night. Cabana aggressively attacked the rim. Showed an uncanny knack for getting to the foul line. Accordingly sought out contact was able to finish through it. Kicked it up a notch late along with Stephens when it appeared Heritage was beginning to pull away. Is a good enough ball handler and shooter to play both backcourt position at the high school level. Also has plenty of above the rim athleticism. Uncommitted at the moment. It will be interesting to where and what position he ends up playing as he continues on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1112372' first='Braylon' last='Isom'] 6-3 2024 Saginaw Heritage </strong>There were three hands down down college basketball players from the 2024 class in Heritage's high profile matchup with Chelsea. However if you were non hoop head just casually strolling into the game. You would have came away most impressed with the player who is going to play football. Isom (Miami-OH) used his powerful frame to drive hard to basket all night. If he gets a step he is hard to stop with his physicality. It's more than just bully ball though. Gets there quickly with a tight handle and has a soft touch at the rim. Did a lot of his damage against his former AAU teammate Stephens, who was defending him most of the night. Finished with 27 points in the victory. Taking home game MVP honors in the process. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1112377' first='Tyler' last='Ode'] 6-5 2024 Saginaw Heritage </strong>The Toledo commit got off to a slow start. However came alive late when his team needed it. Is a unique prospect. Is a perimeter prospect but is powerfully built and can inflict punishment down on the block. Once he gets his defender pinned deep. Is then able to elevate easily over most players. Jumps off off two feet and explodes to the rim quickly. Showed it with a highlight reel dunk late in the contest. More than just an athlete though. Is a good shooter who operates well in the mid range. Comes screens well and catches it in the shooting motion. With some recent transfers and slow starts. Could be setting himself up for a run at Mr. Basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1112374' first='Durral' last='Brooks'] 6-2 2024 Grand Rapids Catholic Central </strong>Brooks produced his usual outstanding performance. The Michigan commit just moves at a different speed than most high school opponents. Is an unusually long strider for a 6-2 prospect. Went from well outside the three point line all the way to the rim with one dribble in an eye opening second half sequence. To go along with the physical gifts is a fierce competitor with a clutch gene. Almost pulled off a much needed game tying four point play late. However it's wasn't enough to keep Catholic from falling to 1-3 on the season. While this was against a difficult schedule. Nevertheless it is surprising. I would imagine Brooks is going to be highly motivated to change this in 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809881' first='Amari'Yunn' last='Blythe'] 6-3 2025 Davison </strong>The only junior on this list. Earned this mention the hard way. On the defensive end. The Cardinals were minus start point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1437574' first='Greg' last='Lawson'] on Friday. In a testament to their cohesiveness and depth. They still managed to defeat a talented Grand Rapids Catholic Central squad. One of the keys was slowing down the aforementioned Brooks. For the majority of the game Blythe drew that task. The Flint Hamady transfer was able to do this with his elite athleticism and lateral quickness. Was able to move his feet and stay in front of one of the quickest players in the state. Offensively the lefty has an unorthodox and herky jerky game. Is able to finish well— and I mean well above the rim. Although he didn't have many opportunities to show that off in game action Friday. Will need improve his shooting to take the next step. Accordingly did not play much in the clutch of what turned into a free throw shooting contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1811787' first='Terrance' last='Coker'] 5-10 Davison </strong>Coker made a triumphant return to the Motor City after transferring to the Flint area from Detroit Henry Ford. Came off the bench and made a huge impact in the nip and tuck victory. Has extreme quickness and deep range from the perimeter. This helps him make up for a small stature. Competed hard defensively and seemed to always be around the ball. Filled in for Lawson more than adequately. We'll see what Lawson's status with the Cardinals will be in 2024. Coker could possibly have an even bigger role going forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1434094' first='Frederick' last='Saunders'] 6-7 2024 Detroit Western </strong>The Cowboys struggled at times against a talented Christian squad. However Saunders showed glimpses of what makes him an intriguing player. Is a bouncy prospect who lives above the rim. Is also a good ball handler for his size that gets to his spots easily the perimeter. However the shot was not falling on Friday night. Is left handed and drove hard to that side. Will need to work on going to the other way to take off at the next level. His athleticism gives him the chance to blossom with hard work in the right system. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1224150' first='Malachi' last='Hooser ll'] <strong>5-11 2024 Grand Rapids Christian </strong>Came into the year nursing a ankle injury from football. It showed the first time I saw him play in early December. So much so that I honestly didn't recognize him at the start on Friday. Was wearing #40 for some reason. That is not his normal number. Was playing with so much speed and aggression. I wondered if Christian had welcomed a mid season transfer. Got the Eagles into their sets quickly and was decisive with the basketball. Attacked the basket but avoided dribbling into trouble. After a bit of a slow start to the season, could be primed for a big 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1223497' first='Nathan' last='Johnson'] 6-5 2024 Grand Rapids Christian </strong>After three years of tantalizing with athletic potential. Johnson is putting it altogether with a big senior campaign. He kept up the pace on Friday night in Ferndale. I don't know of my more exciting and fluid player in the open court within the 2024 class. Glides and bounds covering a lot space with his long strides. Has the athleticism to play above the rim, but is varying his game with solid perimeter skills this year. Is an excellent ball handler for his size. Forms a potent inside/out duo with Toledo commit [player_tooltip player_id='1223513' first='Jaylan' last='Ouwinga'] who also played well Friday night. The Eagles are 6-0 against a gauntlet of a schedule. They might be the team to beat in Division II. If the carries through to the end of the year. Johnson's recruiting profile might possibly approach that of his teammate Ouwinga. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->