by orionontv | Aug 15, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Wednesday August 14th at 3:15 PM
Josh Nicks has been linked to Ferndale University since coming into the OAA but they will have a new coach this winter.
Nicks has has been named the new Boys Basketball Coach at Hazel Park confirmed by Hazel Park Schools and the D-Zone. Nicks led the Eagles to a 32-57 record in his four years at Ferndale University. He takes over for CJ Goff who stepped down last month and will have to learn a new conference in the Macomb Area Conference.
Nicks should have Jayce Goff coming back along with others for the Vikings. “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something but I can’t accept not trying” he said on X which was posted by Hazel Park Schools.
It will be interesting and adds a subplot because the Eagles are in the same district as Hazel Park along with Detroit Old Redford, Ferndale, Detroit Lincoln King Academy, and Detroit Jalen Rose Academy.
Whoever the new coach takes over at Ferndale University will have some experience and some work to do. The Eagles will be in the Gold with Oak Park, Harper Woods, Berkley, Southfield Arts and Tech, and Waterford Kettering this winter.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Hazel Park Schools on X
https://x.com/HP_Schools/status/1956050761948770550/photo/1
The D-Zone Basketball on X
https://x.com/TheDZoneBBall/status/1956064255637164254/photo/1
by Becky Andrus | Aug 15, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Updated Thursday August 14th at 8:00 AM
In a shocking turn of events, the Rex Walters era at Waterford Kettering lasted a summer.
Walters stepped down at Waterford Kettering on Wednesday which was shocking and stunning to the basketball community. He accepted the Men’s College Basketball coaching job at Regis University.
“I am sorry to say that I will not be coaching at Waterford Kettering High School. To the young men I got to work with, I just want to express how much I enjoyed the time spent with you, you are all good young men that worked extremely hard in the spring and summer. I know it was short and we had goals but I’m looking forward to following the team from afar. To the good people at Kettering HS and the Waterford School District you were nothing but great to me and I thank you for the opportunity” Walters wrote on X.
Regis University is a Division Two school in Denver, Colorado. Walters son Gunner who played at Adams is playing College Basketball in South Dakota.
Walters took over at Waterford Kettering in late March for Coach Steve Emert is back at Walled Lake Western coaching girls basketball.
Emert went 9-81 in his four years with the Captains which also went 2-44 in the last two years.
Waterford Kettering will have their third coach in five months this season. The Captains will have an experienced team in Jordan Jarrell, Gustas Garbenis, Haiden Bigelow, Braycen Harrington, Dylan Hamel, Josh Wagner, Jessie Redick, Brycen Land, Jack Buczek and Katim Jallow coming back.
Waterford Kettering will be coming back into the OAA from the Lakes Valley Conference this winter. They will be in the Gold with Oak Park, Harper Woods, Berkley, Ferndale University, and Southfield Arts and Tech and a very difficult district which has Clarkston, Lake Orion, Avondale, and arch rival Waterford Mott.
There is going to be a lot of questions about why Walters took the Waterford Kettering job only to exit stage right three months before the season starts and not even coach a game. It just doesn’t seem right.
Hopefully for the students and administration at Waterford Kettering they can find the right person who will be at Waterford Kettering for the long term and build their program.
It will be really interesting to see what happens with the Captains.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Here is the post on X confirming the move
https://x.com/CoachRexWalters/status/1955624475438756167
Press Release- Regis Rangers.
https://regisrangers.com/news/2025/8/13/rangers-hire-rex-walters-as-head-mens-basketball-
by orionontv | Aug 12, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Friday August 8th at 3:30 PM
Here is what I’m famous for the OAA football uniform grades.
Red
Clarkston (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Wolves made some changes to the uniforms last season which was an absolute disaster. The Michigan helmet stays which is the classic Clarkston look goes very well. The white jersey, white pants they wore against Belleville in week one last season looked awesome with the Michigan helmet. The new road white jerseys are absolutely hideous with yellow numbers along the blue pants, they added a yellow pair of pants for the postseason. If done correctly the white top with the yellow pants would be a good look but the white jersey top has to pop and on this uniform it does not pop at all. The home blue jerseys needs a lot of work. I think white lettering and numbers on this set does not look good at all, it’s too Hartland like. I’m not a fan of the yellow stripes on the elbows with white on the side or the font in white with the lettering and numbering, it’s not Clarkston. If the Wolves were to had went classic Michigan that look would be so much better on them. The alternate grey look saves the look but that was before Clarkston went to their current jersey set. These current home/road jersey set at Clarkston are an absolute disaster. GRADE F.
Lake Orion (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Dragons went old school with the football uniforms but they made a little kinks to the uniforms. The all green and all white with the green V-Neck look with players names on the back is classic Lake Orion but they can mix and match especially the white top and green pants would also be a good look. There are no stripes but the LO V-neck collar returns which to me is a red flag. The uniform looks classic with names on the back. The only down side is the road uniforms say DRAGONS as well and not LAKE ORION. The pants have the classic stripes on the sides with the Dragons logo along with the green LO helmet makes the uniform a perfect combination. The LO V-neck return is a red flag. GRADE B.
Adams (Uniform Provider-Adidas): The Highlanders have a yellow helmet which has the script Adams which I questioned why they did that??? They had to change their home jerseys after the state banned yellow as a primary jersey. Adams has two choices when it comes to their jerseys, they have a home brown look with the brown pants and yellow outlying or their alternate charcoal uniform which has been their big game look but sometimes they could be hard to read. The look is an upgrade over the brown jerseys and white pants look and or the brown and yellow look which has been their traditional look. The road whites are different with the brown and yellow stripes on the elbows. Overall I’m not a fan of these jerseys. GRADE D.
West Bloomfield (Uniform Provider-Home/Road/Alt-Nike, Third jersey-Russell Athletic): The Lakers changed their uniforms and they look great. The white pants are classic along with the green and white uniforms. The all white look great with the green V-Neck and elbow piping looks great. My best guess is the home green is the opposite which is great. The all black uniforms look solid along with the military uniforms but the white helmet is just not there. The new uniforms look great along with the helmet design a lot like Alabama but the helmet needs a paint job, green would be much better and smoother. GRADE B.
Oxford (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Wildcats have a new coach in Trevor Potts but he kept the classic simple uniform whether it’s the home blue or road white uniforms. They went with a yellow helmet which is different from past tradition when they wore blue helmets. The design with the small wildcat with the OHS on top of the sides along with the white stripe is too LSU like, which doesn’t seem right. The simple plain uniform looks very nice especially with yellow or blue pants. They have a alternate uniform which is black on black which is really nice and they wear these for special occasions. Oxford should NEVER wear white pants under any circumstance, they have been bad luck in the past. The uniform is great the helmet needs work. GRADE B.
White
Harper Woods (Uniform Provider-Zenith): The Pioneers have an interesting uniform combination. They have three helmets and a very good uniform design. I like the black and maroon helmet much better than their white helmets. The uniform top looks great whether if it’s maroon, black, or white jerseys and pants. They have a pink uniform that they wear in October for Cancer Awareness Month is a great look. The black or maroon helmets make the uniform look very strong but the white helmet, not so much. GRADE B.
Southfield Arts and Tech (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Warriors got out of the Adidas looks and went to Nike in 2023. The all blue uniforms with the blue helmet looked very good along with the all white with red helmet as well but I’m not a fan of the Warriors name on the back of the road uniforms but in talking to Coach Keith McKenzie he mentioned they are getting new road uniforms. They have multiple combinations with the home red or blue uniforms along with red, white, or blue pants. The Warriors look so much better in the Nike uniforms. They went back to the blue helmet with the S A&T logos which is fine. The home uniform looks great but the road uniforms needs some modifications which hopefully they get. GRADE B.
Groves (Uniform Provider-Nike, Alternate-Zenith): The Falcons uniform combinations are interesting. They have a great home uniform but a subpar road uniform. The green helmet looks great with the old classic Atlanta Falcons bird on both sides of the helmet. The home green, gold, and black look is a great look for the Falcons especially the green and black at home games. The road white uniforms is just too plain with green lettering and numbers. The alternate uniforms look good with an all black with black pants. I really like the green and black look at home and the all blacks, the whites are too plain. GRADE C.
Rochester (Uniform Provider-Under Armor): The Falcons went back to their old school tradition with no gimmicks. Rochester has an all blue uniform with blue or white pants, the white pants being the main look at Rochester Stadium and a road white with white pants. The Falcons has the traditional blue helmet with the R on both sides with no gimmicks. They have an alternate black look for a game if it’s a big one. The Falcons also have a USA uniform they wear usually during week two which is great. I like that they finally figured out the uniform design and not go all Oregon like they did a few years ago which was the definition of fashion disaster. GRADE A.
Stoney Creek (Uniform Provider- Zenith): The Cougars released a new uniform set for Coach Rick Powell last season going with the all navy blue helmet and the navy blue jersey and game pants along with an all white look on the road. I like the design of the uniform set but it needs modifications. The gold doesn’t pan out as I thought it would. I don’t like the SC collar on the jersey, I think that’s too much. I think the Stoney Creek name is too small and the numbers are too big. The back of the jerseys says the players last names. It’s good look but some of the fonts need work. They also have different jerseys for different themes which is good as well. The main jerseys have it’s ups and downs. GRADE B.
Blue
North Farmington (Uniform Provider-Adidas): The Raiders went with three jerseys last season with each having a jersey and a set of game pants. The Adidas logo scares me but Coach Jon Herstein loved the look especially the black with the brown trim and the same with the white with brown trim. They finally got out of the white helmets which is a start and went with a gold helmet with the North Farmington Raiders logo on it last season. Herstein honored the Raiders and Harrison traditions with the gold helmets. The road white uniforms with the gold helmet looks strong along with the all black and golds as well. Great look, not a fan of the provider. GRADE B.
Seaholm (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Maples went back to Maple helmets which was a great start. They went with an all Maple look at home with maple pants and white lettering and a white jersey with white pants and maroon lettering on the road. It’s not like the uniforms from a few years ago when they had opposite colors on the elbows. I wished the Maple helmet were with the old uniforms of the past. Seaholm has a third jersey which is an alternate black look with black pants. It’s a plain and simple uniform with both home and road looks. GRADE B.
Troy (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Colts finally got Nike uniforms a few years ago and they look as sharp as ever. The home black has the COLTS name with black pants while the road white has TROY with white pants with both looks having the black TC helmet with the number on the other side. Troy is going to update the road white uniforms but no design changes, just an update to the pants which is a concern. I wish they would put name plates on the back of the road uniforms but they got the all black and the all white look nailed down. GRADE B.
Troy Athens (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Red Hawks are getting new uniforms but are not changing the design concept. The helmet will be is gold with the Red Hawks logo. The home look is solid with a red jersey and red pants. The road uniforms will be the same but in all white with red and gold trim along with white pants. The lettering and numbering have the same design concept with ATHENS on the front and gold numbering with the home look and red and gold on the road. It’s a good look but a gold pair of pants would make the home look even better even though red pants are awesome too. GRADE A.
Oak Park (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Knights changed uniforms last season. I really like the home red uniforms with the name OAK PARK on the crest with white pants with the Knights logo and the Jumpman photo. The all white look looks good and they changed to black helmets which makes it better with the OP on both sides of the helmet. I like the uniform design but NO WHITE HELMETS. GRADE B.
Bloomfield Hills (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Blackhawks went back to black helmets which made the most sense and brought back the traditional home black uniform with purple and white numbering. I liked the purple uniforms from the past but they changed the helmets from black then to white and then back to black for a few years. The helmet is black with the Blackhawks logo on both sides, there was one season they went white helmets which wasn’t a good look if they went with their home black look. The white uniforms looks plain with the BLOOMFIELD name in purple font with white pants. The home black uniforms look plain with the BLACKHAWKS name in white outline and the numbering in purple and black outline. This uniform set needs some work. GRADE C.
Farmington (Uniform Provider-Nike): This is not the best design when it comes to uniforms. I don’t like the helmet being white with the Falcons name scripted on the helmet. The home blue jersey looks very good but the helmet doesn’t click to go along with gray pants is very concerning. I know Coach Jason Albrecht wanted to go with the Dallas Cowboys look, this is just not it. If there is a team that needs to go back to a classic look like they did with the Penn State look then Farmington might have to do so. GRADE F.
Gold
Berkley (Uniform Provider-Nike): Berkley went back to the old tradition but something a bit different. They have blue helmets with the same design which is fine. The Bears are going with blue uniforms which looks great and white pants on both home and road. I’m going to miss the all maroon look but the old school blue with white pants at Hurley Field and the all white look on the road looks great anyway. GRADE A.
Royal Oak (Uniform Provider-Zenith): The Ravens kept their uniforms from past years making updates to it. The home black jerseys have the Ravens name in white with blue numbering. The elbows have white and blue stripes along with black pants. The road white uniforms are the same design but with white pants and with blue lettering. They have a black helmet with the Ravens logo on one side and the number on the other side. I forgot the provider but they look fine. GRADE A.
Ferndale (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Eagles kept the same look with the all brown look which is their main home look. They go all white on the road along with an all yellow look for big games. The helmet is dark brown which I really like a lot. This is a great uniform that can make the colors work to their advantage even though the font could be better. GRADE B.
Pontiac (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Phoenix have a solid color scheme. Pontiac has purple uniforms with black pants at home. They added a purple uniform with the PONTIAC name on them in white numbering. The road white is great with purple lettering and white pants. They also have black set which is great, there is something with purple that I like. GRADE A.
Avondale (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Yellow Jackets made some changes this offseason under new Coach James Carlisle went to more of a traditional look. He is putting name plates on the home purple uniforms which is very different. They have a classic home purple with yellow pants to go along with the purple bee helmet. They changed the road uniforms by going to Nike and introducing an all white set. The all black third jerseys look very good but it’s unknown when Carlisle will release them or go to more of a traditional set which is fine too. GRADE A.
Future Members
Waterford Kettering (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Captains really didn’t change much to the uniforms. The dark green looks really good on Waterford Kettering although I would like for them to get rid of the lightning rod on the jerseys. The helmet has the Captains logo on them which is fine and better than the WK from years past. They are bringing a new all white look which I’m curious to see. Waterford Kettering current look looks fine just need to make some changes with the helmet and no lightning rod on the jerseys and we’re good. GRADE B.
Waterford Mott (Uniform Provider-Nike): The Corsairs are going to change their look for new Coach Tra’Jan Seay. Waterford Mott will be going to Nike but they will keep some of the Adidas look which is very concerning. I’m not a fan of mix and match with different companies, that spells trouble in my book. The baby blue North Carolina helmets look good with the WM on the sides will look sharp. I’m not a fan of the Adidas navy blue jerseys and paints. I’ll be very curious to see what the new Nike jerseys will look on Waterford Mott. I think the light blue helmet with the all white look would look great. The jury is out when it comes to the Corsairs when it comes to their uniforms but until they get out of their Adidas look, the grade will be low for now. GRADE C.
by orionontv | Jul 28, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Sunday July 20th at 12:30 PM
Well with the football season not too far off, I figure looking at the conferences that clash with OAA schools and did early rankings this season. So here they are.
Lakes Valley Conference
1. Walled Lake Western
2. WATERFORD MOTT
3. Milford
4. Lakeland
5. South Lyon
6. South Lyon East
7. WATERFORD KETTERING
8. Walled Lake Northern
9. Walled Lake Central
Saginaw Valley League
1. Grand Blanc
2. Davison
3. Saginaw Heritage
4. Lapeer
5. Traverse City Central
6. Traverse City West
7. Midland
8. Midland Dow
9. Mount Pleasant
10. Flint Carman Ainsworth
Kensington Lakes Activates Association
1. Howell
2. Belleville
3. Brighton
4. Northville
5. Livonia Franklin
6. Hartland
7. Dearborn
8. Dearborn Fordson
9. Novi
10. Livonia Stevenson
Macomb Area Conference
1. Macomb Dakota
2. Sterling Heights Stevenson
3. Romeo
4. Roseville
5. Utica Eisenhower
6. Chippewa Valley
7. New Baltimore Anchor Bay
8. Port Huron Northern
9. Utica Ford II
10. Madison Heights Lamphere
Flint Metro League
1. Goodrich
2. Fenton
3. Corunna
4. Flushing
5. Lake Fenton
6. Linden
7. Brandon
8. Owosso
9. Swartz Creek
10. Holly
Ottawa Kent Conference
1. Hudsonville
2. Grandville
3. Rockford
4. Byron Center
5. Muskegon Mona Shores
6. Zeeland West
7. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
8. Grand Rapids Northview
9. Grand Rapids Catholic Central
10. Grand Rapids West Catholic
Detroit Public School League
1. Detroit Cass Tech
2. Detroit Martin Luther King
3. Detroit Central
4. Detroit Denby
5. Detroit Pershing
6. Detroit Cody
7. Detroit Fredrick Douglass
8. Detroit Henry Ford
9. Detroit Renaissance
10. Detroit Southeastern
Southeastern Conference
1. Saline
2. Chelsea
3. Dexter
4. Temperance Bedford
5. Pinckney
6. Ann Arbor Pioneer
7. Jackson
8. Adrian
9. Tecumseh
10. Ann Arbor Huron
Rivers Cities Alliance
1. Lowell
2. Coopersville
3. Cedar Springs
4. Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
5. Greenville
6. Sparta
7. Allendale
Capital Area Conference
1. Mason
2. Portland
3. DeWitt
4. Lansing Catholic
5. East Lansing
6. Haslett
7. Olivet
8. St. Johns
9. Lansing Everett
10. Ionia
Huron League
1. Monroe St. Marys Catholic Central
2. Flat Rock
3. Riverview
4. Carleton Airport
5. Milan
6. New Boston Huron
7. Monroe Jefferson
8. Grosse Ile
Interstate Eight Athletic Conference
1. Battle Creek Harper Creek
2. Hastings
3. Parma Western
4. Jackson Northwest
5. Coldwater
6. Marshall
7. Battle Creek Pennfield
Western Wayne
1. Redford Union
2. Redford Thurston
3. Garden City
4. Dearborn Heights Crestwood
5. Dearborn Heights Robichaud
6. Romulus
7. Melvindale
8. Dearborn Heights Annapolis
Catholic League
1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central
2. Orchard Lake St. Marys
3. Jackson Lutheran Christi
4. Toledo Central Catholic
5. Warren DeLaSalle
6. Macomb Lutheran North
7. Riverview Gabriel Richard
8. Clarkston Everett
9. Grosse Pointe University Liggett
10. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard
by orionontv | Jun 17, 2025 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Written Monday June 16th at 7:23 PM
Southfield Arts and Tech has their new boys basketball coach.
The Warriors named Josh Lyle as their new boys basketball coach. He replaces Terrance Porter who stepped down in March.
The D-Zone’s Stu Carrolton confirmed the hire.
Lyle played at Eastern Michigan from 2011-2013 after transferring from Kentucky State. He averaged 24.6 points per game, 12 rebounds, and eight assists. He graduated high school from Lahser in 2010 according to his player profile page.
Lyle has been well known in the AAU circuit according to Mitten Recruit on X, he ran the D1 Elite AAU program and done several of the Mitten Recruiting events.
The Warriors really struggled last season falling 62-55 to Oak Park in the first round. They have Cameron Dickerson coming back but program strength is a serious concern for Lyle. Southfield Arts and Tech has a really tough district that has Groves, Seaholm, Berkley, Bloomfield Hills, and Birmingham Brother Rice. The Warriors will be in the Gold with Berkley, Oak Park, Harper Woods, Ferndale University, and Waterford Kettering this winter.
Lyle has a big challenge ahead of him rebuilding a Warriors program that has had success in the past but have been in a rut as of late.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Lyle-Eastern Michigan Player Profile
https://emueagles.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/josh-lyle/4268
D-Zone Tweet
https://x.com/TheDZoneBBall/status/1934744808339460363
Mitten Recruit X
https://x.com/MittenRecruit/status/1934790551934517532
