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Top 25 Teams: February

Preseason No. 1 Clarkston is back on top in the February team rankings.

  1. Clarkston 12-1 (No. 5 in previous ranking): Last we checked in with the defending Class A champion the Wolves were fresh off a loss to East English Village. With some distance it’s easier forgive a loss when you have a top 50 national recruit like EEV’s David Dejulius playing at his peak. Clarkston reasserted itself as the bully of the block Tuesday going into Hazel Park and bringing down the high-flying and previously unbeaten Vikings 73-39. Top Available Prospect: 5-11 Sr CJ Robinson.
  2. Benton Harbor 13-0 (No. 1): Offensive juggernaut averaging 83 points per game. The Tigers have length and talent across the board, more now with transfers second-semester eligible. They showed they could win a close game, 71-70 over Chicago Bogan on a neutral court, and will be tested against Saturday at Grand Rapids Union against No. 5 Hazel Park. TAP: 6-6 So Carlos Johnson.
  3. Ann Arbor Skyline 12-0 (No. 4): This school didn’t exist the last time Ann Arbor won a state title. Now Skyline has a chance as few groups of players are in sync with each other quite like Brandon Wade, Ryan Wade and Jack Ammerman. TAP (tie): 5-11 Sr Jack Ammerman & 6-2 Jr Ryan Wade.
  4. East English Village 12-2 (No. 7):  While the rest of the PSL East has been cannibalizing itself, East English hasn’t lost since before Christmas. TAP: 6-4 So Jayshawn Moore.
  5. Hazel Park 11-1 (No. 2): Took their first and only loss Tuesday to new No. 1 Clarkston. TAP: 6-3 Sr Carl Bow.
  6. Canton 13-0 (No 10): Came through January clean including 30-point wins over Wayne Memorial and Westland John Glenn. TAP: 5-11 Jr B. Artis White.
  7. New Haven 13-0 (No. 14): Blowing through the MAC-Blue schedule. While Romeo Weems is a potential McDonald’s All-American who just picked up offers from Oregon and Rutgers, New Haven has other guys who can go like much-improved senior guard Tavares Oliver and Austin Sherrell a 6-7 senior who was offered by Lake Superior State. TAP: 6-6 Jr Romeo Weems.
  8. River Rouge 13-0 (No. 16): Freakishly good defensive team. In January the Panthers allowed no opponent more than 45 points and two of those unlucky souls couldn’t even reach 20. TAP: 6-1 Jr Nigel Colvin.
  9. Flint Carman-Ainsworth 9-1 (No. 17): Undefeated in January. Lone loss remains to No. 1 Clarkston in the first week of the season. TAP: 5-11 Sr Jakavien Lewis.
  10. Godwin Heights 11-1 (No. 21): The Wolverines were undefeated in January. TAP: 6-2 Sr Lamar Norman.
  11. West Ottawa 10-1 (NR): The Panthers are proving 2017 was no fluke Their lone loss was to Godwin Heights in the season opener. WO has the length and experience to blanket you in its halfcourt D. Only two opponents have broken 50 points. Big matchup Saturday at Grand Rapids Union against No. 9 Carman-Ainsworth. TAP: 6-3 Sr Drew Pedersen.
  12. Grand Ledge 11-1 (NR): The Comets streaked undefeated through January, beginning with a defeat of East Lansing the Trojans’ first regular season loss in over two years. Grand Ledge plays host Friday to Okemos with lone possession of first in the CAAC-Blue at stake. TAP: 6-3 Sr Alex McCready.
  13. Detroit Henry Ford 11-3 (NR): Henry Ford is going to be a problem in Class B. The Trojans have Cass Tech’s number with a pair of wins over a team that entered January No. 2 in the state. A win Friday over Northwestern will give Henry Ford the PSL West title, which not many saw going into the season. The way senior guard Anthony Roberts is playing he should be going to Kobe not Bryant. TAP: 6-2 Sr Deontae Ulmer.
  14. Detroit U-D Jesuit 10-3 (NR): Bolstered by the return of the state’s top 2019 center Jalen Thomas from Las Vegas, the Cubs lost just one game in January and that was out of state. TAP: 6-4 Jr Daniel Friday.
  15. East Lansing 10-2 (No. 6): Took January losses to Grand Ledge and Okemos the latter East Lansing without the services of Brandon Johns. Johns is one of the most talented forwards to play in Michigan in the past 25 years. Among the legends of that quarter century Shane Battier won three state titles; Draymond Green two; Johns can still join the likes of LaVell Blanchard and Winfred Walton with one state championship. TAP: 6-4 Sr Noah Schon.
  16. Detroit Cass Tech 10-3 (No. 2): Came into 2018 undefeated but .500 since. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, with Renaissance on Friday, Grand Rapids Christian on Saturday then the start of the Detroit PSL tournament, of which Cass is the defending champion. TAP: 6-3 So Tyson Acuff.
  17. Detroit Renaissance 9-3 (NR): The Phoenix didn’t lose a game in January. And the best is yet to come, as the top talent is in the junior class. TAP: 6-7 Jr Carrington McCaskill.
  18. Southfield Christian 10-2 (No. 12): Didn’t lose in January, but Class D school drops a bit because of weak league and the two teams that beat Southfield Christian, Pershing and Edison, have fallen on hard times. TAP: 6-4 Jr Harlond Beverly.
  19. Warren De La Salle 10-3 (No. 25): Just one January loss, by 20 at U-of-D. The Pilots have a chance to avenge that loss next Friday and claim a share of the Catholic League-Central regular season title. TAP: 6-5 Sr Jordan Winowiecki.
  20. Old Redford 10-2 (NR): A recent loss to Chandler Park not withstanding, this roster is as talented as any in the state. They’ve twice topped 100 points. TAP (tie) 6-3 Jr Mark Watts & 6-8 So Isaiah Jackson.
  21. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 10-1 (NR): Ended an undefeated January by doubling up 2017 Class B runner-up Ludington. The Cougars’ only loss came before Christmas to Godwin Heights.  TAP: 6-8 Sr Jacob Polakovich.
  22. Wayne Memorial 10-3 (No. 13): The Zebras’ losses are to top 10 teams — Clarkston, Skyline and Canton. TAP: 6-1 Jr Terrence Williams.
  23. Troy 9-3 (No. 24): See Wayne above, the Colts’ only losses are to top 10 teams — Canton, Clarkston and Hazel Park. TAP: 6-4 Sr Jason Dietz.
  24. Belleville 8-4 (NR): A preseason top 10 team that fell on hard times early but showed some life this week with a win over Romulus. TAP: 6-1 Sr Kaevon Merriweather.
  25. Petoskey 11-1 (NR): Didn’t lose in January. Going with point guard by committee, which will be put to trial in March. TAP: 6-5 Sr Seth Mann.

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