Changes at the Top

Some great local boys basketball coaches left their posts recently;

 

Southfield-Lathrup's Mike Avery, who had been on the bench with the Chargers since 1997, has been replaced by assistant Desmond Denham. Avery, a member of arguably the best prep squad of all-time in the state - the 1984 and 1985 Flint Northwestern teams - took Lathrup to numerous district and league titles during his tenure. He led the Chargers into the Class A Elite 8 in the early 2000s, with future NFL'er Jason Jones in the line-up.

 

Clawson's Bill Shellenbarger resigned last week to go back to school and earn a graduate degree. Coach SHELL completely turned the Trojans program around since he came on the scene a few years back. Under his superior guidance, Clawson claimed back-to-back league crowns and won more games than they had in almost 20 years.Word out of TROJANSLAND is that Shellenbargers's No. 1 assistant Jasper Ocampo, a former hardwood standout at MH Bishop Foley and then at Rochester College, is in line to take his place roaming the sidelines. Jared Ocampo, Jasper's son, is one of the best shooters in the Oakland County and will be a junior next season with the Trojans.

 

Ferndale's Tom Staton also resigned last week, following several successful seasons on the bench where he led a long-needed resurgence for Eagles hoops. Staton was an all-state guard for Ferndale in the 1970s and played college ball in the Big 10 at Michigan, where he played in a NCAA Final Four and an Elite 8. While heading his alma mater on the court, he navigated Ferndale to a league title in his first year at the helm back in 2010 and then a district championship this past winter.