In 2010, the AH Avondale football team averaged over 40 points per contest, relying almost exclusively on the passing game. If the Yellowjackets season-opening win is any indicator, this year will be different and the same all at the same time. It will be the same because the 'Jackets will still stack up the points at a prodigious clip, alas their 55-18 stomping of Warren Fitzgerald last Friday. It will be different because this season Avondale will be considerably more balanced. 'Jackets gunslinger Mitch Robinson still had his requisite 4 TDs in the game – he passed for a state-record 46 in 2010 –, but tailback Mike Johnson did his best Chris Johnson impression by touching up the Fitzgerald defense for 160 yards and two scores, averaging a whopping 16 yards per carry. Expect more of the same from MJ in the future. This kid has star written all over him!

Recent Southfield HS grad and Bluejays basketball star Desmond "Pee Wee" Barnes has landed out west to continue his hoops career at New Mexico State Community College. Barnes joined forces with current UofM freshman Carlton Brundidge to take the Bluejays to back-to-back appearances in the Class A final four in 2010 and 2011.

Oak Park HS has hired Alonso Littlejohn has its new varsity basketball coach. Littlejohn has been at Southfield Christian the past two seasons.

The Oakland Activities Association will add a fourth division in basketball this winter.

Former Novi Detroit CC football star Mike Martin was named captain of the 2011 University of Michigan Wolverines this week

QUICK THOUGHT; Burney thinks that Troy HS hoops stud James Young should suit up for the Colts football team. Can you imagine 'The Chosen One' as a wide out, going up for jump balls against 5-9 defensive backs? 

OL St. Mary's senior Keith Stonestreet (WR/RB) has decided to don the No. 1 jersey for the Eaglets in 2011, taking the honors from Allen Robinson (WR), now at Penn St, who wore it last year

IMO - RH Adams Cory Clemons could be the best back-up quarterback in the area....just start calling my man CC the Johnny Moxon or Matt Saracen of the Highlanders gridiron squad.

Speaking of great fictional prepsters, there's been a Tim Riggins sighting iin Oakland County and his name his Rochester HS running back Cody Devoe....just like his fictional football counterpart, my main man Cody is a STRAIGHT PUNISHER in between the tackles for the Falcons and has some pretty awesome flowing locks!

Tweets of the week;

"With success, comes sacrifice," – Former North Farmington basketball star Kyle Vinales (Central Connecticut State)

"I love a girl who loves basketball' – Former Southfield-Lathrup star hoopster, Bryan Coleman (Wayne State)

"Don't try to be perfect….Perfection often makes for a boring person" – Birmingham DCD girls basketball star Aerial Powers

"I'm so ready for the fall 'cause that means were that much closer to the start of the hoops season," – Former Southfield-Lathrup basketball star, Roy Marble, Jr. (Iowa)

Caleb Stanko, a recent graduate of AH Oakland Christian, decided to bypass playing soccer in the college ranks as a Michigan Wolverine and jump right to the pros, signing with a club in German. As a sophomore in 2008, Caleb and his older brother Jacob, led the Lancers to a Class D state championship on the pitch

Lee Bailey, the recent DCD grad, has decided to not play football in college at UofDayton as originally intended and play hoops at Chaminade in Hawaii instead. When he was a junior, Bailey started at guard on the Yellowjackets Class B state title squad.

RIP Tom "The Killer" Kowalski

Twitter.com/Burneystweets