Former local high school basketball stars and teammates, Jon Tassin and Chris Clarke, were reunited on the hardwood last season. Both suited up for Morehouse College down in Georgia this past winter and did Oakland County proud with their respective performances for the Maroon Giants in the 2010-2011 campaign.

Tassin and Clarke, both 6-7 forwards, each played at Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the mid-to-late 2000s. Starting a majority of the Maroon Giants' games last season, Tassin averaged eight points and four rebounds a night. Clarke came off the bench to average five points and five boards per contest.

In high school with the Eaglets, Tassin and Clarke were members of St. Mary's squads that won a Catholic League title in 2007 and made a trip to the state semifinals in 2006. During Clark's senior year, the Eaglets advanced to the Class A quarterfinals. Over his final two seasons with OLSM, Tassin averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds a game, shooting close to 40 percent from three-point range. Showing off his superb athleticism, Clarke put in 9.5 points and grabbed 7.5 rebounds a night during his high school career.

The pair played with a venerable treasure trove of future college athletes while at St. Mary's as prepsters. Counted among their teammates were Kalin Lucas (Michigan State), Dave Curletti (Northwestern), Dion Simms (Michigan State for football), Taurian Washington (Ohio State for football), Dionte Allen (Florida State/Ohio State for football), Robert Bolden (Penn State for football) and Gary Hunter (Dayton for football).

Neither Tassin nor Clarke started their collegiate careers at Morehouse. Each took a winding road to the historically Black college located in Atlanta. Originally, Tassin was verbally committed to stay near home and play for Greg Kampe and Oakland University. Current North Farmington head coach Todd Negoshian recruited Tassin to OU when he was Kampe's assistant with the Golden Grizz.

But Tassin didn't wind up at Oakland. Instead he attended community college getting his grades in order before getting on campus and putting on the maroon and white.

Clark was originally slated to go to Southern Methodist down in Dallas and played at Temple University out in Philly prior to making Morehouse his home.

Next season, with Tassin a senior and Clarke a junior, the Maroon Giants should be formidable, as they return the bulk of their roster from a 14-14 team that went 14-11 in conference action.

 

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