Mustangs Unbeaten at CDBA Classic

The Mustangs’ Trevion Williams is the top true post player in the state’s 2018 class.

The most dominating high school player at the 15th-annual Camp Darryl Classic was Trevion Williams. The Henry Ford Academy sophomore center double-doubled his way to MVP as his Mustangs 16U team ran the table in Kalamazoo. He proved an impossible cover throughout the weekend all the way to the 16U final, where at 6-8, 250 Williams dwarfed anyone from Parallel 45. When he caught it deep it was all over, because even on misses he was getting the ball back. Terrific hands, not going to lose rebounds. Can play out on the floor and get things going with his passing. Williams is a top 100 player nationally in 2018. To maintain that level or move up, he’ll have to add post footwork against defenders his height and improve fitness level/speed to keep up with athletic stretch 4s.

While Williams is the Mustangs’ only true post, they have good all-around size. 6-4 DeWitt sophomore Tanner Reha uses his strength to get into it on defense and can finish from all three levels; 6-5 Country Day sophomore Ashton Franklin is versatile, a grinder who will be a popular GLIAC recruit; 6-5 Roseville soph Zavon Godwin flashes A-10 talent a few times per game, angular bouncy creates own shot above the rim or mid-range, rebounds and push, can trap or block shots. The Mustangs began the season with a bonafide D1 backcourt of Belleville’s Davion Williams and Jenison’s Jacob Boonyasith. They both ended up part of the Great Spring Club Hop of 16, but the ball is still in good hands with 6-1 Goodrich soph Goliath Mitchell improving given more minutes at the point and tough two-way play from 6-2 sophomore Taylor McCaskill, who apparently is leaving Troy Athens for Detroit Edison.

Parallel 45 regrouped after losing leading scorer Jaylon Rogers late in the previous week’s Tulip Tipoff semifinal, to make it to the 16U championship game after winning the 15U title last season. This became the sixth tournament in which P45 was eliminated by the champion. Their guards can match up with any 16U backcourt in the state sans the Family. 6-2 Buckley sophomore Austin Harris can score at the basket or from deep; 6-1 Cadillac sophomore Kegan Brooks is a top shelf defender who can also play the point; 6-3 Frankfort sophomore Matt Loney is another good defender who contributes at every point on the floor; “center” Mason Gardner is really a 6-4 athletic, rugged sophomore wing from Boyne City; 6-2 Petoskey sophomore Seth Mann and 6-3 Benzie Central sophomore Devin Burkhardt are shooters who defend up. With Rogers out, the three-point shooting of 5-10 Traverse City Central sophomore Zeke Turner, confident drives of 5-10 Traverse City West sophomore Brady Stoerkel and competent decision-making from 5-10 Elk Rapids sophomore Grayson Krakow proved crucial.

The Mustangs were pushed late in one 16U semifinal by the West Michigan Lakers. 6-5 Saugatuck sophomore Teague Tiemeyer isn’t a big post player like his older brothers, but is an active lefty in the lane and on the glass who made the all-tournament team. He hit a shot at the horn to force overtime in an eventual quarterfinal win against CGR. Davion Moore led the Macomb County Cougars to the semifinals, he’s a 6-5 L’anse Creuse sophomore who is strong and athletic around the hoop. The one ‘super pool’ member that then didn’t make the semis was MBA’s Regional team. 6-0 Muskegon sophomore Willie Shanks is an aggressive point guard who puts pressure on the defense and 6-7 East Grand Rapids sophomore Elliott Bergsma is long with a soft touch.