Fruits of Their Labor

Of all the local prep boys hoops teams around the area, one of the squads I'm most impressed with this year is Walled Lake Central.

First-year head coach Chuck Spolsky has the Vikings playing very good, fundamentally-firm basketball and at 4-2 moving into the heart of the season, Central appears to be a major factor in the race for the KLAA North title.

What's surprising about this is that Spolsky took the reins with a Central club that was ravished by graduation losses off last year's Class A district championship team.

Spolsky and his upset-minded Vikes cage crew have been undaunted by this fact and are thriving in the shadows, relishing their roles as darkhorses on the current Oakland County high school hoop landscape.

With the way they've been competing, the Vikings won't be underdogs for long.

It all starts with Central's ferocious tandem of playmakers on the perimeter; I'm talking about cat-quick senior floor general, T.J. Warren and talented junior wing Phil Nelson. These two have been destroying the comp so far this season. Warren, who came on strong late last season as a junior, is putting up close to 20 points and five assists per night. Nelson, a fast-emerging slasher and master Sir-Grind-A-Lot special on the wing – just like his big brother was a couple years back at WLC – looks to be in store for a breakout campaign in 2013 and is averaging 15 points and almost five rebounds and five dimes an outing.

Another name to watch for in the Vikings lineup this winter is Brandon Nafso, a rock-solid presence in the backcourt alongside Warren. Nafso, a senior and returning varsity letter-winner just like Warren and Nelson, is the kind of player always sure to make smart plays on offense and give you a pesky effort on defense, while providing leadership in the locker room and the right attitude in the huddle.

Awesome job, fellas!!!!!

Keep it up!!!