MHSAA June Preview: Division I Preview

<p>With about a week to go before the BCAM Reaching Higher event. And with June team camps kicking into high gear. I thought I would provide a quick preview of all four classifications in Michigan. With four team capsule overviews for intriguing teams in each division. </p>   <p>Note: this is not ranking. While top teams will most certainly be included, I am sticking to the "intriguing" qualifier used above. Teams in transition, have transfers, or are just going to be exciting teams to watch in June. </p>   <p><em>**Last year's record in parentheses**</em></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Roseville (19-7) </h2>   <p>A little bit of low hanging fruit first. As there are going to be a lot people excited to see what the Panthers look like. When you advance to a quarterfinal and return much of your rotation that tends to happen. When your best player has a big spring and turns into a national recruit, that tends to happen as well. And.... when you add one of the more high-profile transfers in the state as only a sophomore. The spotlight is really going to shine.</p>   <p>How will the returning cast of junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3602612' first='Carter' last='George'] and company handle the spotlight in coach Rashard Porter's seconds year will be big. I don't think you will need to worry about George. Being blessed with an athletic 6-7 frame and expanding skillset tends to make the game pretty easy. How will sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2767770' first='Jordan' last='McDaniel'] handle the transition after coming over from Brother Rice? If you have the seen the dynamic but diminutive point guard play you know the answer is most likely just fine. That being said the backcourt cupboard is not bare here. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='2140525' first='Prince' last='Ravenna Miles El'] among others contributed to last year's run. How all these pieces fit together through June will be interesting to watch.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Detroit Catholic Central (17-7) </h2>   <p>The Detroit Catholic League in on quite a run of producing Breslin Center particpants in the 21st century. At the risk of angering a large and passionate fanbase. That list has not included the Shamrocks. They have the talent to get it done next year and return much of their rotation fron last year"s squad. They feature not one... but two Division I (college that is) wing in [player_tooltip player_id='2561198' first='Andrew' last='Walker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2872591' first='Wycell' last='Davis'] (pictured) They also feature not one... but two good point guards in [player_tooltip player_id='2140500' first='Isaiah' last='Mccree'] and state champion long jumper [player_tooltip player_id='2140517' first='Malachi' last='Clayton']</p>   <p>What you do not see from that four player rundown is a post prospect. Judging by recent history, the player who manned that spot last year might be on a campus somewhere preparing for BCS football. Will the Shamrocks have enough size to complete their talented senior laden lineup? With minor some exceptions, I don't write about players who have yet to step foot in high school. It appears DCC is going to get some size from Michigan deep 2030 class. That will be an interesting question to see answered in June and beyond.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lansing Waverly (19-6) </h2>   <p>I'm not trying to stir up another fanbase here. So let's start with the positive. Waverly has been very good the last few years. The negative... they just haven't been better than East Lansing. Compounding matters. The Warriors graduated a talented and college bound frontline. It would be appropriate to expect a bit of a rebuild to be in store.</p>   <p>However, after watching the spring AAU season. I don't think Rod Watts' squad will experience too much of drop off. I don't recall 6-6 junior <strong>KJ Fast</strong> playing much last year. After standing out with the School Days Foundation across the Midwest in the spring, that should change. The multi-faceted forward has lengthy and athletic frame with loads of upside. The backcourt remains experienced with seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2951432' first='Darren' last='Pope'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140061' first='Carlos' last='Gomez'] Jr returning. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3569893' first='Gavyn' last='Wagemaker'] (6-3) should also be ready to contribute after playing up an age group with Shoebox Elite. How quickly Waverly reloads will be a storyline to watch in June.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cadillac (11-12) </h2>   <p>Tucked away in Northern Michigan, the Vikings have quietly put together a pretty strong half decade run. As the record above shows, they kind of lost the rope in the second half of the season last year. Fortunately, they return a strong core of young talent that could result in only a momentary dip in performance.</p>   <p>Chief among them is 6-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='2758267' first='Domenic' last='Wing'] who has put together a strong spring with the [program_tooltip program_id='2077017' first='Grand' last='Rapids Storm'] One the top 16U programs on the Under Armour circuit. Wing has been mostly playing down low on this guard centric team. In June he should be able to take his game out to the perimeter. This is due to the growth of fellow 6-7 junior [player_tooltip player_id='3641528' first='Alex' last='Mcgowan'] </p>   <p>Two versatile 6-7 prospects is usually an equation for a successful team. Especially in Northern Michigan. However, Cadillac needs a backcourt to develop. Cadillac will not be at BCAM at the end of this week. I should see then next week in the team camp that they host in their own facility.</p>

With about a week to go before the BCAM Reaching Higher event. And with June team camps kicking into high gear. I thought I would provide a quick preview of all four classifications in Michigan. With four team capsule overviews for intriguing teams in each division.