If there’s one thing I’ve found unique covering Macomb County boys basketball compared to any of my other beats, it’s that I find myself highly anticipating the next season starting as soon as the current one ends.
I’ll scour the postseason honor squads to see how many non-seniors were selected and should be returning.
Which team will return loaded with stars? Will the promising young talent blossom or wither? Who will rise to the top — will it be a traditional power or an unknown, emerging from an offseason of hard work and maybe a little luck?
While I could go on and on with questions, I feel safe to make a few statements.
Warren De La Salle, fresh off another impressive postseason run, will be in trouble when it comes to keeping up its district title streak. The Pilots pulled off number 11 in a row this past season, but two young teams that traditionally play in their district displayed flashes of brilliance at times this season and should be two of the region’s top squads come next year.
Roseville High will feature three of the area’s top players in its starting lineup in Traye Williams, Brandon Gouch and Dominique Pointer. Williams will be a junior, while forwards Gouch and Pointer will enter their senior year.
Warren Mott was loaded with young talent as well — headlined by twin towers C.J. Olaniyan and Joey Asbury. The junior pair led the Marauders to the program’s most prosperous season in a long time.
“We return eight of our top 10,” Mott coach Derek LeFevre said following the Marauders’ district semifinal loss to De La Salle.
The coach called the loss — a game in which Mott led by one point at halftime before eventually falling by 20 to the senior-laden Pilots team — a “learning experience.”
“That’s what we’ve got to take away from tonight. That’s going to be us next year,” LeFevre said.
“Next year, we’re going to be scary good.”
I can't wait.
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