Southfield-Lathrup hoop king Roy Marble, Jr. is much improved from last season. The 6-6 Iowa-bound senior is averaging 28 points and 12 rebounds per game and showing a much more aggressive, attacking nature in his on-the-court demeanor. This increase in versatility will serve him well playing in the rough and rugged Big Ten Conference throughout the next few years. Marble, Jr. is a hardwood assassin with killer offensive-instincts that I compare to a local prep version of Reggie Miller or Ray Allen. In fact, I'm going to nickname him "Jesus Shuttlesworth", after Allen's cinematic alter-ego in the 1998 Spike Lee classic, "He Got Game." Living up to the comparison, Marble, Jr. scored 33 points – including four 3-pointers and four slam dunks points – and grabbed eight rebounds in the Chargers' defeat of Detroit Denby last Saturday night.

Drew Gilchrest, Marble, Jr.'s teammate, also played a big role in Lathrup's win over Denby and deserves his own nickname. A three year-varsity performer, Gilchrest has been rock-solid in the Chargers' backcourt – a jack of all trades on the hardwood if you will. Often overshadowed by his all-state running buddy, "Shuttlesworth", Gilchrest flies under the radar, but there is no doubt that his contribution to the Lathrup line-up is an integral cog in the Chargers' attack.  His play down the stretch against Denby was the definition of money in the bank. Therefore, I have decided to nickname him, "G-Money". Gilchrest pumped in three straight hoops over a 90 second span in the final three and a half minutes of the game to propel Lathrup to it's second "W" of the year.

While we're on the subject of nicknames, "The Natural" a.k.a. North Farmington's Kyle Vinales, lived up to the moniker I tagged on him last week in his final outing prior to the New Year when he broke out huge again and dropped his second consecutive 40-point performance on a very good Detroit Henry Ford defense. Keep getting busy for Burney, KV and bust up a few dozen nets or so while in the process. Junior DCD transfer and D1 power forward-recruit, Urban Bingham's arrival into the line-up in January is certain to open things more up for Vinales (Grand Valley State) on the outside. Now, that's a scary thought!

It appears that former Birmingham Detroit Country Day star, Jordan Dumars, is on the move back to playing hoops again in his home state. A two year starter for the Yellowjackets and a member of the 2007 Class B state championship team, Dumars, a 6-6 wing with outstanding shooting-range, graduated from Country Day last spring and accepted a scholarship to play his collegiate ball at the University of South Florida. Now, it appears his future at the next level will be at an in-state school, either, Michigan, Michigan St., or the University of Detroit-Mercy. Apparently, Dumars was displeased with his experience down south and has left the USF program, returning to his family's Franklin Township residence to stay over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Heeding counsel from his father, NBA Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons GM, Joe Dumars, Jordan is apparently "leaning towards" ending up in Ann Arbor and playing for UofM head coach John Belein and the 3-point happy-Wolverines offense. Since scholarship availability is scarce in the UofM program at this moment, rumors are that he would be brought into the fold, at least initially, as a preferred walk-on. Dumars is a great kid, but he is a very one-dimensional player - he's an excellent stand-still perimeter shooter, yet currently lacks multiple facets to his overall game. That said, Belein's program looks like it would be a great fit – Especially, when Southfield's Carlton Brundidge (a master "drive-and-kick" specialist) arrives on campus in 2011.    

Former DCD star, Alex Legion is transferring for the one-zilliionth time. This time, Legion is leaving Illinois for a destination still yet to be determined. Legion, an all-state swingman for the Yellow Jackets in his junior season, left the program his senior season to play for national prep powerhouse, Oak Hill Academy. Originally signing with Michigan, he decided to go to Kentucky instead. Unhappy with his time in Lexington, he transferred to Illinois. No doubt, Legion is a talent. However his reputation as "tough to coach" has hounded him for years and it's not really surprising he's going on his third college hoops program in the past four years.