Thursday, December 27, 2012

Hardwood Memories - Reflections of a Decade

Let's take a look back at who were the OC's Top 20 prep boys hoopsters 10 years ago this month, according to The Oakland Press' 2002-2003 preview.
1 Ije Nwankwo (Birmingham DCD) – In-your-face forward that was pure power in the paint……..was signed with Purdue
2 Vova Severovas (Birmingham Groves) – Dominant inside presence in the OAA, averaging monster double-doubles over both his junior and senior seasons…was signed with Wright State
3 Bates Gay (Pontiac Northern) – This jumping jack Huskies wing was a starter on Northern's back-to-back Class A state title squads in 2001 and 2002
4 Adrian Schaffer (RH Adams) – A big, aggressive and fundamentally-sound guard that signed with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, but ended his career at the next level as a star locally at Rochester College
5 John Andrews (OL St. Mary's) – Went inside-out with the best of his day in the frontcourt for the state-power Eaglets
6 David Holston (AH Avondale) – High-scoring sparkplug point guard that went on to have a prodigious college career at Chicago State
7 Antonio Bonds (Pontiac Northern) – The ultimate pace-setter of a point guard for the high-flying Huskies hoop squads of the early 2000s
8 DaJuan Warren (Southfield) – Great finisher on the break that was also a star quarterback for the Bluejays in the fall….went on to play football in college at Illinois.
9 Rashaan Redmond (Pontiac Central) – Physical post player with that trademark 'Yaktown tenacity that made a 6-5 big fella play 6-9.
10 Robert Jolley (OL St. Mary's) – Long, lanky and athletic center for Team PORRITT
11 Brandon Cassise (WL Central-OL St. Mary's) – Playmaking combo-guard that was equally lethal scoring or creating….went on to have a solid D1 college career at Oakland University
12 Brad Brinkman (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Prototype CHSL forward….as RUN DMC once said…TOUGHER THAN LEATHER
13 Jeff Jayson (Waterford Mott) – Bulldog backcourt gem that would go on to become an all-American in college at Aquinas….has recently resurfaced in the county's coaching ranks as a fast-rising superstar tactician in-the-making, taking his alma mater to league and district titles in his first season on the bench last winter
14 Giordan Watson (Birmingham Groves) – Heady point guard that played in college at CMU
15 John Cantrell (Pontiac Northern) – Crafty and efficient shooting guard
16 Jason Trotter (BH Andover) – Big-time stat man in both, the points, blocks and rebounding department for the Barons
17 Matt Emmenecker (Novi) – Super steady floor general and ace defensive stopper
18 Javon White (Pontiac Central) – Sly and swift lefty guard that came to 'Yaktown from the PSL
19 Tony Watkins (OL St. Mary's) – Velvety-smooth forward with a lengthy wingspan and pogo stick-like jumping ability
20 Jason Missoglia (Troy Athens) – Versatile swingman on the hardwood that was also an all-state talent on the soccer field for the star-studded Tim Storch-led RedHawks kicking contingent

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