Division 1, but not done

Ferndale senior Treyvon Lewis, who has signed with Loyola.

If you care about the game, it can’t be all smoke-blowing with young prospects. There is no such thing as a perfect 16- or 17-year-old basketball player, and even the best at those ages have much to work on to reach their ultimate goals. To that end, here is some constructive criticism for some of the state’s future Division 1 prospects. Make the right choice. Stay out of the portal. Become a legend.

Max Burton  6-10  Sr  Williamston: He signed with Western Michigan. The scouting report on Max is if he hits his first 3, the opponent is in for a long night. But he’s too valuable defensively and with his overall skill at 6-10 to not still contribute ‘bigly’ even if he’s not scoring 20.

Cooper Craggs  6-8  Sr  Novi Catholic Central: He signed with Oakland. Craggs is a power player who gathers to leap, and needs to work on quick-twitch explosion without having to bend so much, as there won’t be time for that with the length of college players.

Mason Docks  6-0  Sr  Williamston: He signed with UMBC. He can sometimes be too ball dominant as a dribbler, can keep the ball hotter moving.

Treyvon Lewis  6-5  Sr  Ferndale: He signed with Loyola. A couple times per game, on either end of the floor, Lewis flashes pro potential. Those could become more than flashes with a consistent motor.

Malik Olafioye  6-1  Jr  Ecorse: One of the most athletic backcourt players in the state. A point guard by size, but his game is that of a volume shooter who doesn’t have the shot selection and clock-score awareness of a point guard.

Xavier Thomas  6-5  Jr  Brother Rice: His versatility is a strength. Until it isn’t. When he would try to be a point guard and lose the ball as a freshman, is understandable given youth. To still be doing it as an upperclassman, is harder to forgive.

Kyler Vanderjagt  6-4  Sr  Grand Rapids Northview: He signed with Belmont and just surpassed 1,000 career points for Northview. Highly skilled, he could be an even more impact recruit with some nastiness, meanness and edge; and will need a a more consistent 3 when he can’t bully guys in the lane like high school.

Curtis Williams  6-6  Jr  Brother Rice: He’s being recruited at the high-end major level as a classic shooting wing. And when he’s in his groove, like Friday night’s pump-fake game-winner against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, what a shooter he is. Sometimes he aims instead of shoots it, indicative of a lack of looseness in his overall game.