Expect to see improvement and an injection of both passion and pride in the Hazel Park boys basketball program this winter thanks to Vikings' first-year head coach Brandon Barrett.

Prepping at Southfield-Lathrup and starting at point guard for some pretty nasty Chargers cage squads in the 1990s, Barrett arrives at Hazel Park after an assistant coaching stint with Troy Athens. Last year, he helped Athens' sideline general Dave Scott spark the Red Hawks to a district championship.

Barrett has also been a fixture on the AAU circuit (one of the true "good guys"), developing local young hardwood talent for years. He is respected and loved by his players, tough, but fair in his methods and philosophy on the bench.

Don't be surprised to see Barrett's buddy and former high school teammate Greg Grays, who was an all-state selection and played in college at Penn State and then the University of Detroit-Mercy, coaching at his side this season in VIKINGLAND.

Break out the Elvis music, because the Hazel Park Hoop Factory is about to be ROCK'N & ROLL'N very, very soon!!

The OC's newest and freshest B&B is now officially open for business.