Inside the OAA
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Friday, January 8, 2021
2021 Boys Basketball Preview.
Written Friday January 8th at 6:00 PM
Updated Sunday January 17th at 10:30 PM
Here are the 2021 previews for Boys Basketball in the OAA along with the top ten and outlooks heading into the season. If anything new comes up let me know at [email protected].
Here is the Top Ten and projected finish in order in each division to start the season. If you want to check the district page it is updated and I will have a link to that column.
Boys Basketball District page.
https://sammy-taormina.blogspot.com/2020/09/boys-basketball-districts-are-out-2020.html
INSIDE THE OAA TOP TEN.
- North Farmington
- Clarkston
- Troy
- Stoney Creek
- West Bloomfield
- Lake Orion
- Troy Athens
- Berkley
- Bloomfield Hills
- Adams
Red
North Farmington: The Raiders were up and down in the regular season but they did make a run in the postseason until COVID-19 ended everyone’s season. Coach Todd Negoshian would like to move on and focus on this season. They should be improved and could have a special year but there are weaknesses particularly on big courts. North Farmington tends to have problems with big courts in which spacing is limited in the famous Negoshian trap defense. The Raiders traditionally have used the small court to their advantage because of the trap but when they go on the road they struggle. North Farmington will have Basheer Jihad along with Aaron Rice, Jasper Beeler, Jacob Bosamara, and Deon Hayes along with Novi Christian transfer Blake Goodman. The wildcard looks to be combo guards Landon Williams and PJ Gardner. Williams and Gardner could bring a different dynamic and could get some minutes this season. Program strength is very solid for the Raiders and they are well coached in the sub varsity levels. North Farmington will have depth as well as Negoshian likes deep teams. It will be very interesting to see what the Raiders have with the experience they have back. There is no reason why this team shouldn’t be in the mix.
Clarkston: It was a very odd offseason for the Wolves because of COVID-19. They lost two key players in Fletcher Loyer and Matt Nicholson. Loyer transferred to Indiana and Nicholson to graduation where he is at Northwestern. Keegan Waslik returns for Coach Tim Waslik at forward. The Wolves besides Waslik really doesn’t have any true household names but there are others ready to contribute in Luke Scherler, Mike DePillo, Nathan Steinman, and Isayah Harris to go along with Waslik. Program strength has never been the issue as they have that once again even though they will have four freshman up on varsity including Zach Scherler, Brodie Kosin, and Zach Austin. Clarkston should be in the mix but it will be a much different Wolves team than in years past.
West Bloomfield: The Lakers are in a very interesting spot in 2021. West Bloomfield returns several key players from a program that was third in the Red. They are coming off a very heartbreaking loss to Waterford Mott in the district semifinals last season. The Lakers have Kipras Blazevicux, Ryan Hurst, and Michael Seay back at the guard positions. There are questions in the interior for Coach Jeremy Denha but with the program strength that should be covered and they are going to be strong well into the future. West Bloomfield should be in the conversation to contend in what is expected to be a wide open Red. The Lakers are certainly a rising program to keep an eye on this season.
Oak Park: The Knights are in a very interesting spot heading into 2021. They went through a transition this offseason after suffering a very tough loss to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in the pre-district last season. Oak Park has a new coach in Durand Sheppard. He takes over a program that has been very successful and is looking to keep improving each year. Sheppard has been a proven winner with “The Family” AAU program. He hopes to bring his winning ways to the Knights and in the very tough Red which there are no days off. Oak Park is going to be very young and inexperienced. The Knights could struggle early with the coaching transition but what helps is that the majority of his new program has played for “The Family” AAU program. Once he and his new program get on the same page they will be fine. Program strength is very good so there is some talent upcoming for Oak Park. The Knights will be a team to keep an eye on going forward.
Ferndale: This was the program that was the most impacted by COVID-19 is the Eagles. Ferndale had the makings of a State Championship squad in Division Two but they their season end like everyone else did because of COVID-19. The Eagles lost several key players to graduation including JayShawn Moore and Colin Golston whom are in colleges. Both were all state players in Division Two. Coach Juan Rickman will have a very challenging season ahead in 2021 with an inexperienced and not a deep lineup. Ferndale will need to rely heavily on three players in guards Trayvon Lewis, Romelo Hugley, and Caleb Renfroe. Lewis is expected gather the most attention while Hugley and Renfroe are going to need to step up their games and take over the production of Moore and Golston. The interior will be a major concern and especially being in the Red will make things that more challenging. Program strength is not good at all surrounding the Eagles. It could be a very challenging season for Rickman and Ferndale.
Farmington: It has been a very odd offseason for the Falcons besides what happened with COVID-19. They saw shocking departures after making the move to the Red this offseason with an experienced roster. Farmington is coming off a very successful regular season and picked up postseason victories over Birmingham Brother Rice and Seaholm but COVID 19 halted everyone’s dreams last season. The Falcons saw their offseason plans take a major hit when combo guard Jaden Atkins left Farmington to play at a prep school. Also Tariq Humes also left for a prep school as well. The Humes and Atkins departures puts Coach Terrance Porter and the Falcons in a really bad spot in 2021. Farmington will need their other proven experience to step up big time in Robert Davis and Paris Jackson. Program strength isn’t very strong and being in the Red doesn’t help things either. It could be a very long year for the Falcons.
White
Troy: The Colts are going to be a senior heavy team in 2021. They were ready to make another run deep into the postseason but COVID-19 happened to ruin everyone dreams including Troy. The Colts have a ton of proven experience in Ethan Emerzian, Jake Emerzian, D’Anthony Hamilton, Imad Hage, and Brody Parker for Coach Gary Fralick in his four guard-one big offense. The Colts have been a very successful program year in and year out. Depth could be a question mark but they have overcame that in the past. Troy will look to take that next step to get back to the State Quarterfinals back in 2016 with a senior heavy team. Program strength is solid but it will be very hard to replace the type of talent that the Colts will lose with this class. Troy should be the favorite in the White this season but beyond that is anyone’s guess at this time.
Stoney Creek: The Cougars have a lot of proven experience back from a team that had a ton of ups and down last year and saw their postseason run ended by COVID-19. Coach Steve Norgrove has been very successful and will look to continue that success into 2021. They have Trevor Smith, Lance Fogelberg, Jacob Felton, Grant Lowery, Alex Reiter, and David Angel. Smith is expected to get a ton of attention but the others mentioned are very talented players and can contribute. Program strength looks to be very solid as well for Stoney Creek. The Cougars have the talent to be very competitive and could make a serious run this season.
Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks come down from the Red after last season finishing tied for last with Lake Orion. Bloomfield Hills fell to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the district semifinals last season. They will look to make some noise in the White in 2021. They have one of the most premiered shooters in combo guard Mason Canfield returning to the mix. The Blackhawks have others that can make an impact as well besides Canfield. Coach Phil Kurajian has Noah Adamcyck, Jackson Willis, and Derrick Lee. Adamcyck is another shooter and combo guard while Willis gives them another option at the forward spot. Lee provides a post presence in the interior and should open things up for Canfield and Adamcyck. The wildcard looks to be a freshman combo guard in Mohamad Farahani. Farahani is a very good dribble driver and solid shooter. He is expected to fill a huge void that was left by Collin Hecker after he graduated last season. Program strength looks to be solid and they have Red experience as well for Kurajian. There could be some early growing pains for Bloomfield Hills with a young lineup but once they group they could make some noise. The Blackhawks will need to rely a ton on their three top players until they can gain some improvement upon their young talent. If they can get that then Bloomfield Hills could be a darkhorse in the White.
Adams: The Highlanders should be a better program after having a transitioning year in 2019-2020. They did have victories over Lake Orion and Oxford in the regular season despite finishing last in the White last season but they stayed in the division for 2021. Adams fell to Clarkston in the pre-district last season after stunning the Wolves in 2018-2019 in the very same round but that was with a different team but same school. Coach Jared Thomas has stabilized the program for the better. He has built back up the sub varsity programs as well which is a huge plus. The Highlanders have a ton of proven experience in Austin Brown, Ben Churmside, Justus Mims, Jacob Durand, Austin Yoon, and Jonathan Ursuy are back looking for some more. The Highlanders program strength is rising under Thomas as mentioned earlier. There are several underclassmen that could make the jump to varsity in Nick Paterra, William Gee, and Brady Prieskorn. Prieskorn brings the most upside especially with his IQ in the interior and he can shoot as well. Gee is a combo guard that can dribble drive and shoot. Paterra works very hard and can play either at the guard for forward spots. The Highlanders could make some noise this season. Thomas clearly has set a foundation heading into his second year.
Groves: The Falcons had a ton of bad luck losing a ton of close games and falling to Southfield Arts and Tech in the pre-district when they were up double figures but blew it last season. Coach Benny White should have a ton of experience that is back led by Daniel Lee along with Jack Woods but they took a hit when Chuck Bailey left the program for a prep school. Program strength and interior are question marks for White’s team. If they can address this then Groves should be okay this season.
Southfield Arts and Tech: The Warriors had a great year last season winning 16 games and picked up an emotional win over Groves but they were blown out by North Farmington in the district semifinals. The playoff loss should make Coach Darreyle Buchanan’s team that much better and hungrier to drive for more success. Program strength looks to be solid coming up with the sub varsity programs having good seasons last season. They might take a hit especially if returning players RaeQuan Lee and Caleb Banks leave early after the semester ends with football scholarships. Anthony Davis is also back and is ready for a more important role. If they both stay to go along with Davis, Southfield Arts and Tech should be in the mix but if they don’t then they could be around 500. This is going to be an inexperienced Warriors team heading into 2021 but they could surprise some folks. Southfield Arts and Tech is the perfect Jekyll and Hyde team.
Blue
Lake Orion: The Dragons are in a very interesting spot. They are going to be a very experienced team under Coach Joel Schroeder. Lake Orion took a ton of lumps in the Red which has harden them. The Dragons gained some postseason experience which included victories over Romeo and Waterford Kettering then COVID-19 ended their district dreams last season. Lake Orion lost Cameron Sutton, Drew Van Heck, and Dylan Boegheimer to graduation. They have a lot of proven experience in Nick Fisher, Will McClear, Andrew Bryant, Brendan Jones, Xander Blackney, Malachi Grandberry, Jeff Perkowski, and Alden Ritt. Schroeder is well known for having a ton of success with experienced teams especially when he was Pontiac. The Phoenix went 22-3 in 2018-2019 which included a district title and a regional final appearance. Program strength was very iffy for the Dragons in 2019-2020 but they should be better in 2021 when it comes to that area. Lake Orion is in a much better spot heading into Schroeder’s second year. With the Dragons in the Blue to go along with the proven experience they could very well take off.
Troy Athens: It was a good regular season for Coach Dave Scott and his program in 2019-2020 but the postseason was a different story after earning the top seed in the districts. Troy Athens beat Sterling Heights in the pre-district but they fell to Chippewa Valley in the district semifinals. The Red Hawks will look to be more fine-tuned heading into 2021. They are going in the same district as last season going into Macomb County dealing with the same teams they seen back then. The Red Hawks have a ton of proven experience as mentioned in Michael Justice, Jacob Thornton, Jordan Sebaugh, and Bryce Eaton. Program strength looks to be very strong. There are a ton of questions as well for Troy Athens and Scott especially when it comes to depth. The Red Hawks with their experience should be in the mix for the Blue title this season.
Berkley: The Bears are coming off a very good season last year winning 14 games but they had a tough postseason in which they lost to Detroit Mumford in the pre-district. There is a ton of optimism for Berkley heading into 2021. Their top three players return for Coach Joe Sermo including one who was out all of last season due to injury. They will have Arshad Walker back fully healthy. Walker is a dribble driver and good shot creator. Jacob Thomas and Joey McNamara are back for the Bears. Both of them are hardworking players and had very good seasons last season. Also back is Graham Colvin, Eli Steinbock, and Logan Haley. Interior play is a question mark for Sermo but they have the shooters and dribble drivers. Program strength is very strong for Berkley. The Bears will certainly be a team to watch.
Oxford: The Wildcats were a hot and cold team in the regular season but was blown out by Clarkston in the district semifinals last season. They lost a very talented player in Trey Townsend to graduation with him now being at Oakland. The cupboard is far from bare at Oxford though and could be a much more dangerous team without Townsend. The Wildcats have several key players for Coach Steve Laidlaw in Mason Mullholland, Trent Brown, Palmer Spect, and Bryce Essman. Program strength is a question mark for Oxford. They have a ton of experience to make some noise this season. The Wildcats should be in the mix in the Blue.
Seaholm: The Maples are going to be a very interesting team to keep an eye on in 2021. Seaholm won 11 games and fell to Farmington in the district semifinals last season. The Maples lost nine seniors to graduation which hurts any program however oddly enough they will have eight seniors returning for Coach Mike DeGeeter. Seaholm will have Johnny Cross, Tyler Eick, Jake LaBarre, and Ben Slazinski. The Maples are going to be very young in the interior. There are a ton of questions heading into the season. Program strength is very solid though but it will be interesting to see where Seaholm is this season.
Gold
Pontiac: The Phoenix have always been a basketball school. They have had a lot of talent and have had a ton of success recently, that’s not a question with Pontiac. The question with the Phoenix will always be program strength. Pontiac contended for the Blue last season and they could again this season in the Gold with the four division format. The Phoenix moved up to Division One after winning 22 games in 2018-2019 under then coach Joel Schroeder when they made it to the regional finals. Pontiac lost to Orchard Lake St. Marys in the pre-district last season. Tarah Hazard, Kamarie Miles-El, Shawn Jones, Dionte Harris, and DeShawn Owens bring a ton of proven experience back for Coach Damon O’Neil. Hazard and Owens are going to be the Phoenix top players in 2021 even though Miles-El, Jones, and Harris are expected to contribute. Pontiac is in a very interesting spot. It could go well very fast but it can also go bad very fast. The Phoenix will be a team to keep an eye on this season.
Rochester: The Falcons are in a very interesting spot in 2021. They could be in the mix for the Gold this season if things go right. It would be their first division crown since sharing the Blue with Lake Orion in the 2017-2018 season. Coach Vance Kirkwood has a ton of proven experience from a team that fell to Stoney Creek in the district semifinals last season. Rochester has had two very difficult seasons since the 2017-2018 season where they won 16 games. They have won a combined five games since the pre-district upset loss to Utica Eisenhower in the 2017-2018 postseason. The Falcons have a very strong junior class to go along with a ton of proven experienced returners in Arman Hussaini, Rex Matoud, Ty Reid, Mark Williams, and Max Stone. Program strength looks to be very strong for Kirkwood. If Rochester can put it all together and make a run in the Gold then the turnaround can fully begin.
Royal Oak: The Ravens should be a very interesting team to watch in 2021. Royal Oak has had three straight losing seasons which is very unusual for Coach Aaron Smith and his program. They have not been able to put things together on both sides of the court which is why they are struggling. Smith does have a ton of proven experience in Jessie Hoisington, Colton Champion, Jason Gilbert, Jack Norton, Dylan Hoffman, and Charlie Garbowski. The Ravens will need to figure out their identity heading into the season. Program strength is a concern which needs to be addressed. If the Ravens can address their identity and put things together then they could be a team in the conversation and move up in the Gold.
Avondale: It was a miserable year for the Yellow Jackets winning only one game last season. Coach Pat Clancy should be better in 2021. He will not have his best player in David Holloman. Holloman whom played combo guard is graduating early for Indiana to play College Football. Clancy does have a ton of proven experience and a solid sub varsity program coming up to play varsity. He has Corbin Smith, Josh Buggs, Jy Smith, AJ Knox, and Marshall Dennis. These five players will be leaned on heavily to step up with Holloman no longer at Avondale. Interior is a big question though even though Knox is in the inteior. It will be very interesting to see what the Yellow Jackets do this season because usually teams do improve under a new coach in their second year. The Yellow Jackets are in an interesting spot there is nowhere to go but up for them.
Ferndale University: The Golden Eagles enter the OAA after being an independent for a long while. They have had success in the past but 2019-2020 was a struggle. Ferndale University won six games and fell to Ferndale in blowout fashion in the pre-district last season. The Golden Eagles should be a very interesting team to watch in 2021. I don’t think the talent is there for this program right now. Coach Iskandar Shamoun will have a ton of challenges though with a young and inexperienced team but if everything goes right they should be competitive but are they in the mix right now, probably not but Ferndale University will get there.