MLK frontcourt tough

Detroit King center Matthew Coffey (left) and forward Traves Turner defend against Lansing Waverly.

Detroit Martin Luther King was without its leading returning scorer in Saturday’s scrimmage at Lansing Waverly, senior point guard Chansey Willis who was back in Detroit winning a football state title with the Crusaders. To the fore stepped MLK’s frontcourt, one of the state’s best.

6-8 senior Matthew Coffey is a transfer from Mt. Clemens who instantly gives King the top center in the Detroit PSL. He’s a serious rebounder with effort on both sides of the glass, and will pursue missed shots all the way out to the sidelines. Coffey is heads up and a talker on defense, despite being heavy as well as tall he consistently goes hard when tagging and recovering on ball-screen hedges. Offensively his greatest value is as a put-back guy and screener. Shot didn’t look too bad on a pick-and-pop but didn’t take many. If Coffey buries you early can hurt you in the kill zone; off-hand jumphook would go a long way.

Coffey is so big and draws attention, that his presence at the 5 is liberating for MLK’s 4, 6-6 junior Traves Turner. He’s tough crashing from the week side and running the wings on the break. A strong finisher. If basketball feel and perimeter scoring develop to match the frame and motor, Turner could jump up the rankings.

The third man in the post rotation is 6-6 junior Jonathan Coffey. He brings defensive energy and above-the-rim scoring off the bench. Watch out if he gets a jumpshot to match the jumping.