Written Tuesday March 26th at 10:10 AM

This is way too early for me to even think about with spring sports underway, here is the early top 24. I am including Waterford Kettering and Waterford Mott even though they are not in the OAA yet. It is spring break and these are NOT the official rankings that comes in August.

Here is the Early Top 24 for NOW.

1. Adams: Highlanders have a ton of proven experience and proven young talent to make a deep run this fall.

2. Harper Woods: Pioneers have a ton of proven offensive talent, defense is a serious concern.

3. Stoney Creek: Cougars are the most dangerous team in the OAA.

4. Clarkston: Wolves have a ton of proven offensive talent, defense is a serious concern.

5. Lake Orion: Dragons have to find their identity, if they do look out.

6. West Bloomfield: Jamal Shakespeare has to do a ton for the Lakers.

7. Oxford: Wildcats have the talent but they don’t have a new coach yet.

8. North Farmington: Stone Trevino is a player to watch this fall.

9. Farmington: Falcons lost a ton but have some proven talent coming back.

10. Groves: Falcons lost a ton, have a lot of questions heading into fall.

11. Seaholm: Maples were young last season, this is a darkhorse in the White.

12. Bloomfield Hills: New Coach Scott Merchant should bring spice to the Blackhawks.

13. Rochester: Falcons have some questions heading into fall.

14. Southfield Arts and Tech: Can the Warriors make progress after a rough season???

15. Oak Park: Could this be the year the Knights put it all together???

16. Troy Athens: Could this be the year the Red Hawks put it all together???

17. Waterford Kettering: Coach Brian Barnes has done a great job with the Captains.

18. Waterford Mott: New coach means transition period which has to happen during the season.

19. Avondale: Changing systems is a serious concern for the Yellow Jackets.

20. Berkley: Coach Casey Humes needs his Bears to take the next step in his second year.

21. Ferndale: Eagles lost a ton of talent and have a new coach. Tough transition period is ahead.

22. Royal Oak: Ravens starting to develop identity, next step is a question mark.

23. Troy: Colts lost a ton of experience, will be very interesting to see who steps up.

24. Pontiac: Phoenix replacing a ton from last season.

Written Monday March 24th at 3:11 PM

The OAA enrollment sheet is out for the 2025-2026 school year.

Here is the enrollment sheet which is the number of students each school has heading into the 2025-2026 school year. The enrollment sheet decides who’s in Divisions One, Two, and Three for all sports.

Troy 2285

Lake Orion 2140

Clarkston 2114

Troy Athens 1946

Rochester 1765

Oxford 1717

West Bloomfield 1708

Stoney Creek 1686

Bloomfield Hills 1630

Farmington 1576

Adams 1489

Royal Oak 1388

Southfield Arts and Tech 1305

Berkley 1215

North Farmington 1201

Groves 1162

Seaholm 1115

Waterford Mott 1077

Waterford Kettering 991

Avondale 960

Oak Park 905

Pontiac 770

Harper Woods 710

Ferndale 709

Ferndale University 442

Ferndale/Ferndale University combined 1151

Divisional Alignment All Sports except football 788 and up.

Division One

Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Rochester, Adams, Stoney Creek, Avondale, Oak Park, Waterford Kettering, Waterford Mott, North Farmington, Farmington, Groves, Seaholm, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Royal Oak, Southfield Arts and Tech, Berkley.

Division Two

Pontiac, Harper Woods, Ferndale, Ferndale University

Football Only

Division One: 1400 and Above.

Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford, Troy, Troy Athens, Rochester, Stoney Creek, Adams, Farmington, West Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Hills.

Division Two: 1020 to 1399. ^ Co-Op, & Opted Up originally Division Three.

Royal Oak, Southfield Arts and Tech, Groves, Seaholm, Berkley, North Farmington, Waterford Mott, & Oak Park, ^ Ferndale.

Division Three: 589 to 1019.

Waterford Kettering, Avondale, Pontiac, Harper Woods.

Enrollment sheet

https://www.mhsaa.com/sites/default/files/Enrollment%20and%20Classification/202526enrollmentlist.pdf?time=1742841907036

Written Saturday March 22nd at 10:00 AM

Ferndale will have a new girls basketball coach next season.

Eagles coach Devin Pettaway has stepped down coaching the program after the 77-27 regional final loss to Detroit Edison last week.

The MHSAA website confirmed the Ferndale job is open.

Pettaway took over for Coach Keith Paris who stepped down midseason. They also saw their two incoming transfers in Kamira Page (Southfield Arts and Tech) and Gabriella Brooks-Foster (Macomb Dakota) transfer out of Ferndale as well. It’s unknown where they both went.

The Eagles went 10-16 this season finishing last in the Red with a 2-8 record.

Program strength is a huge concern with Ferndale. The Eagles should have Zahra Richardson, Iyana Davis, Kaniya Watts, JaNiya Larry, and Malia Taylor coming back but some of them could leave Ferndale and go elsewhere according to a source.

It will be really interesting to see the direction Eagles Boys Basketball Coach, and Athletic Director Juan Rickman goes with his next coaching hire. Program strength is a huge concern for Ferndale heading into next season.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Ferndale Girls Basketball-MHSAA Website

https://www.mhsaa.com/schools/ferndale/girls/varsity/basketball/2025

Written Friday March 14th at 2:45 PM

Updated Friday March 14th at 3:50 PM

The OAA will again have 23 schools in 2026-2027.

According to Brandon Folsom of Hometown life, the Farmington schools (North Farmington and Farmington) will depart the OAA and join the Lakes Valley Conference in all sports effective in the fall of 2026-2027.

The Farmington schools will get a chance to renew some old rivalries with the Livonia schools (Livonia Churchill, Livonia Stevenson, Livonia Franklin) who are also joining the Lakes Valley Conference in 2026-2027 along with the South Lyon (South Lyon, South Lyon East), Walled Lake (Walled Lake Northern, Walled Lake Central, Walled Lake Western), and Huron Valley schools (Milford, Lakeland.)

“The decision was made with careful consideration as we believe the Lakes Valley Conference provides a better geographic and competitive fit for our schools. The opportunity to compete to compete against like sized schools and reduce travel demands for our families were key factors in the transition. Joining the LVC aligns us with schools of similar size, ensuring a more competitive and balanced playing field for our student athletes. With member districts having multiple high schools and student populations around the same size we will be facing similar opponents with similar resources and talent pools” said Farmington District Athletic Director Allyssa Robinson to Folsom.

The Lakes Valley Conference made a statement announcing the Farmington schools into the Lakes Valley. “The Lakes Valley Conference is proud to announce that Farmington Public Schools and Livonia Public Schools will be joining the conference in the fall of 2026. This exciting expansion marks a significant step forward in the LVC’s commitment of enhancing competitive excellence in Arts, Athletics, and Academics along with fostering community engagement across the region.” The conference said in a statement.

The Farmington schools came into the OAA from the Western Lakes Activities Association where the league merged with the Kensington Valley Conference in 2002. There were three schools at the time in Farmington but Harrison closed in 2018 leaving the Farmington schools at two schools in Farmington and North Farmington.

The Farmington schools had strong appearances in all sports in the OAA from baseball, football, girls basketball, softball, track, and boys basketball in their 23 years in the league.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude to the Oakland Activities Association for many great years of competition, collaboration, and shared experiences. We have valued being part of this outstanding league and appreciate the leadership, sportsmanship, and tradition that defines the OAA. Although we are leaving the OAA we look forward to seeing them across the fields, gyms, and pools in our non conference schedule for years to come” Robinson concluded.

Robinson made mention that there is a possibility that the Farmington schools could see the OAA in the non league after leaving the league in 2026-2027.

The sports that this move will impact the most will be boys basketball, girls swimming, boys swimming, baseball, and softball.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Here is the story from Folsom confirming the move.

https://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/2025/03/14/farmington-public-schools-will-also-join-the-lakes-valley-conference/82376765007/

Lakes Valley Conference Statement

https://x.com/amicovich/status/1900621501096681511/photo/1

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Written Wednesday March 19th at 7:52 AM

WEST BLOOMFIELD vs Belleville- Friday Noon.

The Lakers are back at a really familiar place, East Lansing, Michigan.

West Bloomfield is back at Michigan State after a convincing 57-35 win over Utica Ford II in the State Quarterfinals holding the Falcons to a season low 35 points. The Lakers will have a rematch with Belleville on Friday afternoon at the Breslin Center. The Tigers won the first meeting 84-49 at Belleville in the OAA/KLAA Challenge on December 12th.

Sheridan Beal who is the team’s only returning starter had 17 points, Breanna Gamble-Jones had 11 points, and Breasia Gamble-Jones also had 11 points for West Bloomfield against Utica Ford II.

The Lakers were 1-4 playing a brutal non conference schedule not mentioning the Red as well but they have gone 18-4 since then.

West Bloomfield fans are really familiar with Belleville seeing them in Football many times.

The Tigers have a ton of proven experience and are well coached under Coach Jason Wilkins. Belleville features Sydney Savoury who is the sister of Orchard Lake St. Marys guard Jayden Savoury. Savoury basically saved the Tigers in their 59-54 win over DeWitt in the State Quarterfinals scoring 29 points. Belleville has others besides Savoury that can do some damage.

Belleville was in the Final Four falling 54-45 to Grand Blanc last season. The Tigers are 26-1 with their only loss being 57-52 to Wayne Memorial on February 1st.

This will be a really interesting matchup to say the least.