Tons of games this weekend allowed us to watch the class of 2010 minus one high-major standout. Pershing’s Keith Appling (Michigan State) broke a bone in his shooting hand while dunking during practice and will miss 4-6 weeks.
Long run, Appling’s absence could help this team. There is talent throughout the roster. Pershing will play some highly-touted Christmas tournament games without relying on their leading scorer, and Dion Dismuke (if you remember, a big-time scorer in middle school) and Ben Richbow will get a chance to step up.
Pershing’s players and coaches spent Saturday waiting around for eight hours because of the PSL’s brilliant scheduling idea for the Duncan Classic, now Coaches’ Association Scholarship Games (let’s space five games an hour and a half apart and give each 20 minutes to warm up and a 15 minute halftime), claiming they don’t read the papers and their plethora of No. 1 rankings don’t mean anything.
Well, one quote didn’t get past them from early this season, and the Pershing assistants were quick to point it out to Jordan Morgan when he came past.
“… I’m not playing for a scholarship now. Now I can play for the Catholic League title and getting past (Detroit) Pershing in the districts. Every year, I’ve lost to them.”
To be fair, Morgan was just stating reality as his Cubs have fallen by pretty lopsided margins: 54-36 (2006), 54-40 (2007) and the ultimate beatdown to end the Curt Rotter era, 91-47 (2008). But intended or not, he gave the Doughboys some early bulletin board material, and the way U of D played without him in a lopsided 77-62 affair against Renaissance(Morgan was suspended for picking up two technicals last Monday against Community), the Cubs won’t get by any PSL team again in March, as the Phoenix are playing up in Class A and hosting a district that includes the aforementioned foes along with Henry Ford.
6′5 jumping jack Daniel Sutherlin went for 27 and 15 while 6′4 Nathan Mungro scored 17 as the Morgan-less Cubs had no answer for Renaissance’s size, athleticism or physicality. Delano Collins scored 13 and, strength-gain wise, looked like a sure-fire D-I safety prospect. He can run this Phoenix basketball team too, being a four-year starter and state champ as a freshman.
Speaking of Henry Ford, the Trojans survived a scare from much-improved Denby (think of how tough that East division will be now that Denby isn’t a guaranteed win anymore). The junior-laden Tars suddenly have size and skill, and led by double-digits most of the way. DeMario Prince and Karriem Baker turned it on midway through the fourth quarter to slice into the deficit, and Matthew Hunter (6′5 junior transfer from Consortium) battled for some big baskets inside down the stretch as the Trojans pulled out a closer-than-expected 69-62 win.
Baker is looking much improved and much stronger from two years ago when we saw him as a Denby sophomore (he transfered mid-season). Hunter is a nice addition with a solid build and grit. Everyone in the city knows about ‘Rio. He was a key, key, key player as a sophomore in Redford’s title run. He does all the little things and his point guard skills are improving.
We got our first glimpse at Southfield Lathrup and their shot-hunting high flying junior wings, Roy Marble Jr. (yes, the son of the Flint Beecher standout and McDonald’s All-American) and Bryan Coleman against Crockett. Marble has range and can stroke it from anywhere and Coleman isn’t shy about hoisting either. Crockett’s Devin Long, another junior, didn’t get the ball from his teammates but still managed 22 and 24 (!). He’s a junior, he’s listed as 6′7, appears closer to 6′5, and if he develops his body and hones his aggression, could stake his claim among the city’s elite big men.
I’ll spare the game details (S-L won, 79-70) because this ENTIRE game was played in 15-second spurts thanks to a pair of overzealous zebras.
Another real barnburner was the day’s first game between Cleveland and Douglass, played exclusively in the half court with a lot of walking the ball up. Cleveland won 41-38. Douglass’ John Gaston and Dennis Hogan are intriguing players along with Cleveland’s Antonio Lee (as a linebacker).
Friday evening, we ventured out of the city to Roseville (along with in-state mid-major nation – Oakland, UDM, Western, Central) to watch Mike Talley III and Brandon Gouch. Run-and-gun Roseville won the game but caught Talley on an off-night. The junior was 6-of-27 from the field and 1-of-11 from 3. Hardly papa-esque.
Country Day looked every bit the state’s No. 1 team last week. Pershing is the early-season media darlings but there is too much talent this year at DCD, hence the No. 1 ranking in our pre-preseason, our preseason and our Week 1 poll. DCD’s goal, according to Ray McCallum Jr. in a Rivals.com premium article, is to go undefeated. The extensive travel could wear on this team eventually, but it looks like they’re gelling quickly and it won’t be much of a contest when the Jackets show up inspired.
You can’t understate the impact of McCallum, a consumate floor general, to this team. A pure point guard was exactly what DCD was missing during last year’s flameout. Now, they have a top-10 national point guard along with two high-major post players, two D-I wings (one will play football), and five sophomores who call themsevles the Fab 5 and are all D-I caliber.
Undefeated? Yeah, there’s a chance.
Filed under: preps
