Big Ten Afternoon

Two local future Big Ten football players had big time afternoons on Saturday.

First, in the biggest recruiting news so far for the area's Class of 2011, Birmingham Seaholm's Shawn Conway was offered and accepted a scholarship to play at the University of Michigan starting a year from this fall. The verbal commitment is the first for the county's very talented upcoming senior class of gridiron gladiators. Conway is a wiry and fast wide receiver with big hands who is a serious deep threat whenever he lines up on the edge. He also plays a mean defensive back and is a playmaking return specialist. Making his way up to Ann Arbor Saturday morning along with his coach Chris Fahr, for a visit with Rich Rodriguez and the whole Wolverines recruiting staff, Conway had no idea that a scholarship offer was about to be put on the table.  The 6-5 physically-aggressive speedster will be considered a "sleeper" in nationwide recruiting circles (he's only played one full season of varsity ball and his team last year was only 3-6, so they and by happenstance, him, didn't get much pub - , however, once people get a look at this kid in the Maize and Blue, there will be no doubt that RichRod and Co. made the right decision to bring him into the fold up in the "A-Squared." The Maples "Big Punisher" could very well end up being a star in the next level and if he does, you can tell all your peeps that you read it here first! Big Pun.....er Shawn is my main man and I coudln't be happier for a kid whose had a rough go of it early on in life and used it as motivation to lift himself to greater heights instead of falling victim and succumbing to it. Way to go, Shawn, You've earned everything you got!!!! Oh yeah, Big Pun is also a major league hoop hound, averaing a double-double of 22 points and 12.5 rebounds, for the 16-1 Seaholm boys bball team.

While Conway was in the midst of getting his dream of be able to play "primetime" college football fulfilled, Iowa-bound Kevonte Martin-Manley was getting his hoop-on over in Birmingham, helping his Brother Rice Warriors take down Pontiac ND Prep 53-40 in a CHSL Tournament quarterfinal game. Martin-Manley is practically as deadly on the hardwood as he is on the football field burning DB's at his wide receiver position. Averaging 20 per night, he is arguably the best individual hoopster in the entire Catholic League. Against NDP, he had a rock solid overall floor game, registering nine points, seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals. The Warriors and head coach, Ed Shaffer will play AA Gabriel Richard Tuesday in the tourney semi-finals with a chance to advance to the CHSL finals at Calihan Hall for the first time in over twenty years on the line. Standout junior sniper Joey Alessi, was a thorn in the side of the Fighting Irish all game long, posting a game-high 21 points while grabbing 7 rebounds.

"We've got to be ready for Gabriel Richard, they're a real, real good team," Schaffer said. "We've got to play a complete game. We'll go back to work the next few days in practice and start preparing. These guys love to work hard and that's what we'll be doing. We played a great third and most of the fourth quarter today. We need that kind of effort the entire game against Richard. This is our first tourney win in a while and it was hard earned."