With teams from all over metro Detroit and beyond, and with all six courts under one roof, Oakland’s team camp has been an annual Bank Hoops venue for over a decade. Here are some of the standouts from the 2015 version.
Corey Allen 6-2 Sr Ypsilanti: While Ypsi’s new guard, Belleville transfer Mike Bruce, has the flashier first step, Allen is more of a bottom line guy. Can shoot it but also can cobble together a 20-point line using his strength to get into the paint and onto the line. Gets a recruiting bump coming from strong high school program. Produces enough to keep MAC and Horizon schools on him.
Matt Beachler 6-3 Jr Lowell: Lived up to his shooter’s rep with Oakland coach Greg Kampe watching, with a six three-pointer game. Beachler has an Oakland offer, along with CMU, Northern Illinois, Toledo and VCU
Braden Burke 6-10 Sr Stevensville Lakeshore: He may have had a wake-up call, and played with direction and focus for Lakeshore. Took no mercy matched up against normal sized high school posts, burying and finishing over them; used his length over them in pursuit of rebounds. Burke has the hands and feet coaches’ covet in their bigs. The key is getting them in synergy with his heart and head.
Jermaine Jackson 5-9 Jr Macomb Dakota: Tum Tum Nairn with a jumper. Keeps constant pressure on defensive opponents, and does it with the next-level gear you need to become a high major point guard. Explodes into lane and will be even more dangerous there when he uses the backboard more consistently than trying to go over the top. Jackson does a good job of setting up Dakota’s standout big man, 6-8 sophomore Thomas Kithier, while also playing well off of his post. Passes with either hand and is smart about feeding the hot hand.
Troy Lattimore 5-11 Fr Walled Lake Northern: Northern was due, having lost Tabin Throgmorton to Clarkston. A year later here comes an influx of talent in Lattimore, another freshman 6-5 Spencer Brown and Ethan Ancick a 6-5 sophomore who played last season in Manton. Lattimore looks like a top 10 2020 guard as their high school careers commence. He’s able to create and hit shots and the ball usually got to teammates crisply.
Orlando Little 6-4 Sr Kalamazoo Central: The Maroon Giants played well even without their top player Devon Daniels. Little is a great high school player who can beat you up on the blocks and hit shots from various spots on the floor. Coaches may fret his tweener status, but production should win over enough of them.
Spencer Littleson 6-3 Sr Rochester Adams: He earned an offer from the home team, and has been shooting it like we’ve come to expect from Oakland guards. Because he has tools at his disposal and is assertive and confident, Littleson is able to still score it with defenses geared at him. Better point guard than some may realize.
Jaylin McFadden 6-5 Sr Detroit East English Village: It’s tough to find a team that’s clicked quite like East English Village in June. They have four players any of whom can be the star on the floor for stretches. McFadden is one of them because he can rebound like a forward and push the ball like a guard, but is even more dangerous running the lanes. High IQ team player who has a radar for the ball and cuts down the floor on defense.
Karmari Newman 6-4 Sr Detroit East English Village: Fearless shooter who hasn’t seen a line or landmark on a court he didn’t want to test as a launching pad. Long lefty and versatile streak scorer with some Mo Pete in him. Some coaches prefer Spencer Littleson to Newman because of his consistency. Both are among the best guards in the rising senior class:
- Justin Turner 6-3 Sr Detroit Renaissance
- Spencer Littleson 6-3 Sr Rochester Adams
- Karmari Newman 6-4 Sr Detroit East English Village
- Trishton Jackson 6-2 Sr West Bloomfield (MSU-fb
- Terrance Sewell 6-3 Sr Detroit Northwestern
Danny Pippen 6-7 Sr Detroit Allen: He’s one of the most enigmatic talents in the state, and showed the full spectrum at Oakland getting better as the weekend went on. Pippen is a rare athlete who can guard the rim and also step out on the floor and defend. Will have to get bigger to be a college forward, because he’s not a natural with the ball such as a slender guy like Paris Bass. At times settled for turnarounds and 3s instead of attacking.
Recent Comments