Classing It Up

It's not commonplace, but sometimes you can apply to the MHSAA for reclassification, being allowed to change grades in school.

There are two current cases of note regarding reclassification that have ties to the Oakland County prep sports scene.

First, former Birmingham Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills Andover basketball star Christian Pino has reportedly successfully reclassified from the Class of 2012 to the Class of 2013, giving him another senior year at Romulus.

Pino will share the backcourt with national-recruit Wes Clark and returning all-league gunner E.C. Matthews at Class A powerhouse Romulus this winter.

Sitting out last season with a knee injury, Pino started at point guard as a freshman at Andover and then as a sophomore and junior at Seaholm before transferring to Romulus just prior to the opening of the state tournament in 2011.

When he was a sophomore, Pino helped lead Seaholm to a OAA White league championship.

On the heels of Pino being granted reclassification, Walled Lake Western's Miroslav Jaksic, a 6-foot-11 D1 European recruit via Canada, is also appealing to the state for a change in classes from the Class of 2013 to the Class of 2014.

Belgrade-native Jakisc is a multi-dimensional cage talent with deep shooting range, solid footwork and a satiny touch around the rim. In his first year adapting to the American high school scene, Jaksic averaged a respectable 11 points and 8 rebounds per game.