tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20828618104628288442024-03-13T07:28:22.494-04:00Burney's BytesBurney's Bytes will focus primarily on the local preps sports scene, but will also touch on some college and pro athletics, mostly in regards to athletes who hail and have played high school sports in Oakland County. My goal for the blog is to be conversational and anecdotal, a more relaxed and free formal take on high school athletics than you see in regular game day coverage.Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.comBlogger1856125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-76767447680052965132017-03-08T12:11:00.000-05:002017-03-08T12:48:16.373-05:00YoSent from my iPhoneScott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-19475333041427815682015-09-21T22:40:00.001-04:002015-09-21T22:40:24.431-04:00blog<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">headline: Steal At The Hill</font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Can you say grand larceny?<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Ferris State's football program just got a steal in the recent commitment of Saginaw Arthur Hill defensive end <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lawrence Gordon</b>, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound tidal wave of swagger coming off the edge. He has more than 20 sacks since his sophomore campaign and is raw potential in every meaning of the term. Gordon is the kind of kid that could have easily landed at the DI level. That's the kind of upside we're talking about here. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Burney wouldn't be shocked if Gordon winds up as an All-American pass rusher at the DII level in a few years. His closing speed and natural off-the-ball talent is the type you can't teach. This is an outstanding grab in the recruiting game for Ferris State – the Bulldogs are 2-0 so far in 2015.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-45921348107899806372015-08-30T23:45:00.001-04:002015-08-30T23:45:39.760-04:00Saying Goodbye Is Never Easy<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">With a heavy heart and tons of unbelievable memories, Burney is saying goodbye to blogging strictly about OC. Don't worry folks, I'll still be around the area, working for The Oakland Press in a game-and-feature-story capacity, but in terms of blogging, I'm taking Burney's Bytes statewide. </font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The</font> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">OC</font> will still be well represented and always have the biggest piece of my soul possible – hey, this is where I grew up, where I made my bones as a writer, so I would never completely abandon it. Check my Twitter @Burneystweets for more details this week on where to find me in the Blogsphere <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-26969559632213103522015-08-29T23:52:00.000-04:002015-08-30T00:08:56.283-04:00Whiteout Warning<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Walled Lake Western junior football player <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cody White</b> is climbing the recruiting charts. White is a 0-to-100 HUSTLER to the MAX, with room to grow. That's scary! The nastiness is only in the early stages. Watch out opposing secondaries, you've been put on notice.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The 6-foot-3 wide receiver recently collected his first Big 10 offer from Wisconsin - his father is former Detroit Lions cornerback Sheldon White. On Thursday night in the Warriors exhilarating comeback win over Lowell on the road, he made four grabs for 92 yards against constant double-team coverage. This kid is just coming into his own. The more comfortable and confident he gets out there on the edge, beating smaller dbs down field, making them look downright silly as he did in some instances Thursday, the more dangerous he'll get. Can you say PRIMETIME PLAYMAKER? <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-85881202015416192942015-08-27T23:45:00.001-04:002015-08-27T23:45:52.488-04:00Another Crowning<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Da Dynasty</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> are the champs…..again.<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> The "Saint" didn't stand a chance!<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">For the second straight year, Da Dynasty hoops squad has won the summer league championship at the famed St. Cecilia Gym. A majority of the Da Dynasty's roster is made up of former Oakland County prep studs now putting in work at the college level. Over the course of the past two campaigns, the club is 26-2. They bumped off a team comprised of Grand Valley State cagers 66-54 in the league finals.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Alright, let's ROLL CALL It OC-style:<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Corey Green (MH Bishop Foley/N. Georgia St.) </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– Purely dominant as a senior at Foley, excelling down in PEACHVILLE with his game that is a perfect mix of aggressive and smooth<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Chewy Ukandu (OL St. Mary's/Edinboro)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – One of the more underrated backcourt gems to emerge from the county ranks the last handful of years<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Nate Stepney (Ferndale/Edinboro)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – A straight GUNNER with a nose for the bottom of the net and, superior finishing ability near the rim and that MONSTER extra gear in his move to the rack<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Jacob Dotson (Ferndale-UN)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Plain and simple, a BOSS & a HOSS on the blocks!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Jordan Konior (Detroit UD-Jesuit-UM-Dearborn/N. Georgia State) </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– Savvy point guard with an outstanding feel for the game, the definition of unselfish and a high basketball IQ<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-9371682629118435802015-08-25T22:35:00.001-04:002015-08-25T22:35:54.957-04:00Burney's 2015 Football Preview - The Teams<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">OC Top 10 – Here We Go Again……Wk. 1 2015<o:p></o:p></font></span></b></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">1 OL St. Mary's – So many toys to play with in PORRITTVILLE on both sides of the pigskin the Eaglets should consider moving their home games down to Orlando at Disney World<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">2 Clarkston – Carter Linton is Living Large & In Charge these days in C-Town!!</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> The Linton name still looms heavy and full of heart in the Wolf Den....aka....no relief in sight for the comp!!</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">3 West Bloomfield – The LakeShow aka The Action Jackson show is back and ready to up at the ante for the <font face="Arial">BIG </font>Green Gridiron Machine</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> off Orchard Lk. Rd., be afraid, be VERY afraid!!</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">4 WL Western – Might actually be the second best team in the OC, even though Burney is checking them in at No. 4 to start the season<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> .<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">......yeah, the Warriors are THAT good!!!</font></span></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">5 Novi Detroit CC – Can you say rebound? Bock is Beautiful and quite BALLERRIFIC don't ya think?</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> ShamrockNation Hustles Harder!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">6 Oak Park – You can't stop WR-DB Miles Daniel for the Knights of the OP Gridiron Table, you can only hope to contain him!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">7 Southfield – Eric (Red) McArn will have a breakout campaign this year, establishing himself one of the top backfield prospects in the state's Class of 2018 and filling the gap in the 'Jays offense left with the injury to Matt Falcon<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">8 Lake Orion – The O is going to be 'OH WOW' again in the Dragons' Den this fall<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">9 RH Adams – Danny Sanders is Burney's sleeper special in the OAA White, big-time playmaker in the passing game, will stretch the field for the Patritto Pigskin Prowlers like an OC Golden Tate <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">10 Waterford Mott – The Corsairs are 4 REAL!!! Any questions?...…….didn't think so!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-54699890935225350052015-08-24T23:58:00.001-04:002015-08-25T00:30:45.387-04:00Burney's 2015 Football Preview - The Players<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The OC Top 25<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">1 Khalid Kareem (FH Harrison Sr. DE) - Rare specimen of a pass rusher, a human, walking, talking quarterback sack, a field general's worst nightmare, the REAL DEAL HOLYFIELD off the edge, think an OC JJ Watt of sorts: quickness, strength, instinct, work ethic, wow factor, grit, ambition, finishing ability<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">2 Trishton Jackson (West Bloomfield Sr. QB-WR)- The TRUTH!! Plain and simple.....in EVERYTHING he does, no matter what!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">3 Josh Ross (OLSM Jr. LB)- Smartest, most punishing linebacker in Metro Detroit!!!....Yeah I said it!!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">4 Dez Fitzpatrick (Wat Mott Sr. WR) - Smartest, most consistent pass catcher in the whole OC!!!!!.......Please make a note!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">5 David Reese (Farmington Sr. LB-RB) - The BEAST is loose, all forthcoming Falcons opponents please prepare for IMPACT!! <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">6 Ade Ogundeji (WL Central Sr. DE) - Probably the largest upside of any defensive linemen prospect Burney has ever covered!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">7 K.J. Hamler <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(OLSM Jr. WR) - The No. 1 slot receiver in the state.......That's a Burney-Certified FACT!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">8 Cameron Kolwich (OLSM Sr. OL) - Tough-as-nails at the point of attack, best technique of any lineman in the area<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">9 Cedric Boswell (Birmingham Groves Sr. RB-CB) - Blazer of a ball-toter and lockdown cornerback, in other words, a VERY, VERY SPECIAL COMBINATION<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">10 Navon Mosley (West Bloomfield Sr. S-SB) - The most versatile athlete in the OC, will kill the comp softly, loudly and with the game on the line in a variety of manners on both sides of the ball<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">11 Carter Dunaway (Brother Rice Jr. TE/DE)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">12 Tom Kowalkoski (Novi Detroit CC Sr. OL)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">13 Nolan Eriksen (Clarkston Sr. RB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">14 Kyle Thomas (WL Western Sr. QB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">15 Emanuel Jackson (Novi Sr. ATH)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">16 JaRaymond Hall & Marquan McCall (Oak Park Jr./Soph OL)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">17 Jakkar Jackson (Farmington Sr. S-RB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">18 Justin Clark (West Bloomfield Sr. CB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">19 Jaylen Wiggins (Lake Orion Sr. CB-WR)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">20 Evan Foster (West Bloomfield Sr. S-WR)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">21 Trevor Tank (South Lyon Sr. LB-RB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">22 Jake Baldwin (Wat Mott Sr. QB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">23 Alex Bock (Novi Detroit CC Sr. SB-DB-K))<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">24 Kyle Wood (RH Adams Jr. QB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">25 Sam Johnson (Southfield Fr. QB)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">*Southfield's Matt Falcon isn't listed because the UofM-commit out of the backfield was lost for the year last week as a result of an ACL tear suffered in a scrimmage<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-16545435310316038302015-08-21T23:48:00.001-04:002015-08-21T23:48:08.413-04:00Brew Town Lowdown<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The Wildcat is going to Wisconsin. </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Break out the cheese & beer.</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Novi senior boys basketball standout <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kameron Hankerson</b> recently committed to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee</i></b> for his college hoops. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Hankerson is a fast-rising prospect and had a big-time offseason KICKING BUTT AND TAKING NAMES on the AAU circuit. At 6-foot-5, he can play on the wing or at either guard spot. He's got that 'IT-FACTOR' written all over him, a SUPERSONIC SLEEPER RECRUIT with an upside that sits on somewhere near the moon right about now. WILDCAT NATION <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">out </font>in Novi are some <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">mighty </font>luck<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">y</font> fans right about now, too.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">And, man, are they in for a treat come tipoff for the 2015-16 campaign when Kameron "KAM I AM ABOUT TO GO HAM ON YO"U Hankerson puts the comp in the frying pan and ignites a flame seen all over Metro Detroit with his CAGE SKILL and steady stream of IN-YOUR-FACE court antics. Go on and get busy, bro, your boy Burney sees you putting in work!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-1942103683505591622015-08-19T23:59:00.001-04:002015-08-20T00:04:58.258-04:00Need To Know Basis<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">A few new faces on the OC prep gridiron in 2015 to be on the watch for<o:p></o:p></font></span></b></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Sam Johnson (Southfield QB) – Best freshmen in the area….think a football version of Foster Loyer last year <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jake Baldwin (Waterford Mott QB) – Top out-of-county transfer, will be wearing a stethoscope around his neck this fall because he's about to SURGICAL on the KLAA<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Richard Bowens (OL St. Mary's SB/DB) – No. 1 JV call-up, will make a big impact quickly<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Mitch Heaton (Clarkston LB/DE/TE) – Will be the Wolves' 2015 version of Cole Chewins, can you MAJOR LEAGUE BALLER ALERT IN C-TOWN?<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Sam Khoury (Birmingham Seaholm QB) – The Maples new signal caller is one cool customer who waited in the wings last season and is ready to lead TEAM DEWALD back to the playoffs <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Marquan McCall (Oak Park OL-DL) – Brickhouse….NUFF SAID!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Austin Brown (Novi Detroit CC) – The best 'fab frosh' field general not named Sam Johnson, could see time early under center<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Kourtney Manley (Clawson) – Dynamic dual threat about to erupt like a VOLCANO of PLAYMAKING....Take it 2 THA BANK!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Cody White & Javon Gabriel (WL Western) – The best pair of receivers you don't know yet, but will VERY SOON!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-1796611579457615882015-08-18T23:25:00.001-04:002015-08-18T23:29:53.178-04:00Getting Back At It<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Here's a look at two local prep football players coming off injuries as juniors about to register GINORMOUS senior campaigns on the gridiron this fall<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Drew Casey (Lake Orion)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Smart, smooth, savvy safety with ballhawk instincts and blunt-force trauma-type hitting ability, definition of a leader, coach on the field, quarterback of the Dragons' secondary <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>A.J. Chuchla (WL Northern) </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– Personifies a Primetime Playmaker rushing the rock, speed, power, endurance, durability, nose for the end zone, prototypical Sir-Grind-A-Lot whether taking the pigskin up through the middle or around the edge <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-23937215895911824612015-08-17T23:43:00.001-04:002015-08-17T23:47:46.178-04:00Rest In Peace - Eternally Little E<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Oakland County lost an excellent athlete and an even better person last week with the sudden passing of West Bloomfield alum and current Saginaw Valley State football player <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eric Wynns</b>. What an epic loss. My heart goes out to the Wynns family tenfold. This is not something that should happen, it's not fair – the cutting down of a young life that was so vibrant and full of potential.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Wynns died in a car accident on his way up to start training camp at SVSU. He attended both WB and Birmingham Groves during his high school days. SVSU was projecting him to be a significant contributor on the gridiron for CardinalsNation this fall in the passing game (Wynns aka "Little E") as a slot receiver.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The news has hit the area, many are effected and emotionally crushed. His dad, Reggie, is a true gentleman and master of his craft, running the Rising Stars recruiting service, helping local prepsters connect with colleges so they can continue their respective careers at the next level.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Burney send his thoughts and prayers to Reggie and the entire Wynns, Rising Stars and SVSU family (not to mention the ones at WB and Groves) in this trying time. Little E was a BIG personality, a class act and the kind of person (like his pops) who found great pleasure in boosting others up, aiding them in fulfilling their dreams while filling a role as a counselor the past few years in Rising Stars summer ball. HE IS MISSED DEARLY!!!! RIP<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-3443408573610962012015-08-15T23:39:00.001-04:002015-08-17T23:49:11.260-04:00Exiting The Den<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The Cougar Den needs a new coach. Stoney Creek girls basketball coach <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brad Crighton</b> has stepped down to spend more time with his family.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">His absence will be greatly felt. Crighton was the architect of the Creek's ascent to the top of the OC Lady Hoop scene. This past winter, he took his Cougars into their sixth straight Class A district championship game. His squads always competed with heart, hustle and class.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">As a prepster himself, Crighton was an outside gunner extraordinaire for the Rochester Adams Highlanders in the 1990s.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-22859601127095600992015-08-13T23:14:00.001-04:002015-08-14T01:06:04.154-04:00Under The Microscope: Groves Youth Troop<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Birmingham Groves is about to unveil a pair of sophomore sensations on the gridiron. These two tenth-graders are Grade-A college prospect <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">material<font face="Calibri"> </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">aka </font>coaches</font> and scouts at the next level are about to be licking their chops.</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Let's take a gander at this high-powered duo of underclassmen and FUTURE-IS-NOW Falcons' Flamethrowers</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Collin Heard</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Lockdown cornerback in the making, fantastic technique at the position for such a youngster, think an OC Jabril Peppers, PRIME TIME PLAYA 4 REAL, getting ready to set the area's secondary scene on fire, will be in NEON DEON MODE early and often in 2015 <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Griffin Best</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Already nicknamed 'The Bear' for his behemoth size and INSTANT IMPACT STATUS at the heart of the Falcons' D-Line, will be a total ANIMAL in the trenches for Team Flaherty, the kind of BOSS&HOSS that brings the pain on every single snap, plugs gaps and swallows up opposing quarterbacks and ball-carriers at a rapid rate like a runaway Pac-Man<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-44951892308940693792015-08-12T23:19:00.001-04:002015-08-12T23:19:32.632-04:00Under The Microscope: Rice Air Raid<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>OC 2015 Prep Football Portfolio</span></i></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>: Birmingham Brother Rice quarterback breakdown<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Johnny Tracy (JR</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>) – Won the starting job in the offseason, quiet moxie in the huddle and in the pocket picking apart opposing secondaries, impressive leadership qualities, student of the game and the position.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Steve Krajewski (SOPH)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Will probably see spot duty and push Tracy hard in practice as the scout team field general, plucky, persistent and professional<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Mariano Valente (FR)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – This signal-calling phenom is a dual threat with a WOW factor in everything he does on the gridiron<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">, by the time he's a junior could be a full-fledged SUPERSTAR!!</font></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-29680869473604820382015-08-11T23:58:00.001-04:002015-08-12T00:21:58.670-04:00Strong Up The Middle<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Some run-stuffers on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Berkley Bears</b> D-Line to keep a watch out for this football season<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Cullen Sanner</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The Captain: A genuine Sir-Grind-A-Lot, natural leader, great gridiron instincts and 0-to-100 HUSTLER in other words a BALLER&SHOTCALLER!! <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Floyd Hudson</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The Undertaker: This monstrosity at the point of attack reminds me of retired NFL all-pro gap-plugger Glibert "The Grave Digger" Brown, in size and style of play, thus from now on Hudson shall be known as "The OC Grave Digger," a ball-carrier's worst nightmare<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Dante Little</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The Trench Terror: Classic big, but agile BOSS&HOSS in the trenches, the kind of player bursting with energy and coachability, gutty interior presence with a nasty edge in the heat of battle <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-11976245027066149002015-08-10T22:53:00.001-04:002015-08-11T00:16:12.190-04:00An Orchard Full Of Playmakers<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Defending D3 state football champion <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orchard Lake St. Mary's</b> possess a stable of running backs that should be the envy of all other clubs in the OC. The Eaglets' Nest is lock and loaded in the backfield for the repeat effort this fall. TEAM GP has the kind of depth at this position that's just straight sickness.</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> Please someone get these fellas some THER-A-FLU ASAP</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Alright</font>, <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">let's <strong><em>Roll</em></strong></font><strong><em> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Call</font></em></strong> It:<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Brandon Adams (RB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Surefire member of Burney's All-Time OC Heart & Soul Squad, perfect combination of power and finesse <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Justin Myrick (RB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Shifty, change-of-pace back with a knack for finding gaps in the line and exploiting them for first-down yardage<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Ryan Johnson (RB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Slippery speedster ready to breakout BIG TIME in 2015!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>P.J. Bauer (FB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – There's not a better goal-line ball-carrier in the Catholic League……..Yeah, I Said It! <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Josh Ross (FB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The No. 1 linebacker in the OC might see touches in the backfield this year and if he does, he'll be hard to bring down<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Shermond Dabney (FB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Rugged rock-rusher up the gut, loves contact, a MASTER of right through-the-middle<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Troy Marks (RB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – This senior sleeper is displaying a game and running style that is exactly on the mark<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Richard Bowens (SB)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Will burn the comp to a crisp in his inaugural varsity campaign……That's a Burney-Certified Guarantee!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>K'ren Cunningham (SB) </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– Will burn the comp to a crisp in his inaugural varsity campaign……That's a Burney-Certified Guarantee!!<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-61269844032953372112015-08-09T23:48:00.001-04:002015-08-09T23:56:38.733-04:00Nothing NEW, Just Magnificent<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Birmingham Seaholm's <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Justin Newberry</b> could be the best running back in the OAA you don't know about yet. Well, he's ready to detonate for his senior season, so don't say your boy Burney didn't warn you.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Newberry is a JUKE-MASTER GENERAL and the most recent of a long line of MapleNation FACTOR BACKS. In other words, he's a primetime player with home-run potential on every touch of the rock.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Tough to catch in the open field and tough to bring down in between the tackles, Newberry is as reliable and shifty as he is versatile and thirsty for the clutch. We might have to start calling this kid "The Delivery Man" 'cause he can get the job done and deliver the goods on every snap!!....Please make a note!!<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-27597946575521417242015-08-08T17:54:00.001-04:002015-08-11T00:15:35.449-04:00Suddenly Vacant - Saint of The Hardwood<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">News broke earlier this week of George Porritt resigning his post atop the Orchard Lake St. Mary's boys basketball program, opening up one of the best head-coaching jobs in the county.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Let's take a look at the race for the job<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The frontrunners<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></b></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Todd Covert</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Eaglets alum, longtime Porritt protégé and right-hand man on the bench <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Brandon Cassisse</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Eaglets alum, all-stater as a prepster and DI college letter-winner at Oakland University, recent GP protégé <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The rest of the field (other possible candidates)<o:p></o:p></font></span></i></b></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Denny Butcher</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Former St. Mary's head coach in the 1990s where his '94 club was literally a second away from claiming a state crown, the last sideline general the program had before Part II of the Porritt era began in 1999, veteran of several benches in Metro Detroit since departing the Eaglets Nest, just left his job at Hartland back in the spring<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Kris Daiek</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Eaglets alum, Porritt protégé, Riverview Gabriel Richard girls hoops coach<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Ricky Palmer</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Former Birmingham DCD top assistant and the legendary Kurt Keener's ace protégé, knows private-school mentality, emerging master tactician and motivator at a very young age: whether he gets this job or not, wherever he lands next (he's been off the bench since Keener left DCD for Arizona two years ago), the school that gets him is getting a rare gem in the making on the sideline, the best not-yet head coach in the OC<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Robert Rogers</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Former Pontiac Northern and BH Cranbrook head coach – only back-to-back state championship winning coach at the Class A level in OC history, has been off the bench for over a year, could be looking to jump back in, understands that part of the county as well as anyone and has experienced in the private-school ranks from his days at Cranbrook in the 1990s<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Jeff Jayson</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – Current Waterford Mott coach (w/ a Sweet 16 appearance under his belt a few years back) , a premier young coach from that part of the county that could be looking for a change of scenery <o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Tom (Papa Nogo) Negoshian </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– Former North Farmington head coach, current Raiders' No. 1 assistant under his son Todd (aka Little Nogo), one of the most respected names in the state's prep coaching ranks, has ties to EagletsNation from once coaching at the old St. Mary's College on the Commerce Campus and being a friend of GPs <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">(might Little Nogo be tempted to apply for the prestigious Eaglets post too?)<o:p></o:p></font></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><o:p><font face="Calibri"> </font></o:p></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-5261783107938976462015-08-07T11:33:00.001-04:002015-08-07T11:39:48.049-04:00The Southern Way<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Farmington Hills Harrison senior girls basketball star <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kristin Nelson</b> might go down as the greatest female hoopster in Hawksnation history – yes, she's THAT good. And the mark she's already left on the Harrison program is indelible. The crownings speak for themselves<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> (first-ever basketball district title</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">, girls or boys, in school history, a league championship in the ultra-competitive OAA Red)</font>.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Earlier this week, Nelson, a lethally-smooth combo guard with BIG PLAY written all over her game, committed to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Southern Illinois University</i></b> for her college ball.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Southern Illinois is a rock-solid squad competing in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis finished 17-13 in 2015.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Nelson and her running mate on the hardwood Amber Stephens, another senior backcourt gem certainly bound for the college ranks, will have Harrison in the hunt for more hardware for its trophy case come this winter. So go and check out The Big Green Hoop Machine aka TEAM MICKLASH for one more season of K&A KAGE FEVER…...you won't be disappointed and that's a Certified Burney Guarantee!! <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-87027602155070226202015-08-06T10:23:00.001-04:002015-08-06T10:26:38.533-04:00Steel-Hardened Spirit<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Spencer Littleson</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> meet the Steel City.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">It's your new home until the end of the decade.</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> And it fits you quite well if Burney does say so himself.</font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Littleson, Rochester Adams's star senior boys basketball player, committed to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Duquesne University</i></b> in Pittsburgh earlier this week. A <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">gutty </font>6-foot-4 shooting guard with MAD MOXIE to his game and a winner's edge on and off the hardwood, this kid can light it up from downtown like few I've ever seen. He gets into THE ZONE the moment he steps on the floor, before the ball is even tipped. That's the kind of talent we're talking about here. The kind that drops 20 in the blink of an eye, 30 if you're slipping on 'D' and will be good for at least 3-5 <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">triple<font face="Calibri">s </font>per</font> outing, if not more. Oh, and he's the definition of coachable, the picture of tireless hard work and commitment on the hardwood and as humble as they come. </font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><o:p>Colleges in Pennsylvania seemed to enjoy Littleson's style - who wouldn't right?; Besides Duquesne, he had an offer from St. Joseph's in Philly.</o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Expect Littleson, fellow OC SPLASH BROTHER Joey "Za Za" Ziniti and on-the-rise big fella David Rinke to anchor an Adams Highlanders club this winter that will be one of the best in the area and maybe by the end of the season, one of the best in the whole state.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-20982019888962723162015-08-05T12:05:00.001-04:002015-08-05T12:10:44.034-04:00Grabbing The Mike<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">The Bluejays nest is beaming because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mike Avery</b> is back on the sideline in Southfield.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Three years after leaving the boys basketball bench at Southfield-Lathrup, Mike Avery has been hired as the new coach at Southfield HS. This hire appears to place Avery in the driver's seat for the merger job next year following Lathrup shuttering and the two schools combining.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Avery is stepping into the former shoes of longtime Southfield coach Gary Teasley, who retired on the heels of the 2015 campaign. To put it mildly, this is a phenomenal land for BlueJays CageNation. The Big A is the picture of stability, class and surefire tactical skill with a clipboard in his hands and a whistle around his neck. </font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Over the past decade, Avery mentored a pair of THER-A-FLU SPECIALS aka all-state hoop kings in current NBA'er Roy (Devyn) Marble, Jr. and current Toledo point point guard Jon-Jon Williams. His presence will be a complete game-changer for 'Jays star junior floor general Amauri Hardy - he'll take his game to the next level under Avery's tutelage and that's downright scary since Hardy is already in the stratosphere in natural talent alone.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">When he was a prepster <font face="Arial">himself</font>, Avery was a starter on arguably the greatest high school squad in state history – the back-to-back Class A state-title winning 1984 and 1985 Flint Northwestern Wildcats before starring on the college level at Central Michigan.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-166607693846556432015-08-03T14:19:00.001-04:002015-08-06T15:35:06.388-04:00Who Was There - An Elite Gathering<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">The third-annual Michigan Elite 25 (a boys basketball camp bringing together the top 25 hoopsters in each class) tipped-off this week at the HYPE athletic facility in Dearborn. Below is a who's who of the large Oakland County cage contingent on hand for the brilliantly-crafted Tim McCormick (Mr. Big OC OG himself) production.</font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Dylan Alderson (Clarkston)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Carl Bow (Hazel Park)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jacob Brantley (North Farmington)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Marlow Brown (Southfield Christian)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Demetrius Champion (Birmingham DCD)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Michael Cosgrove (Birmingham Brother Rice)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jason Dietz (Troy)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Kameron Hankerson (Novi)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Will Harahan (Southfield Christian)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jordan Hogan (Farmington)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jordan Flowers (Southfield)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Michael Flowers (Southfield)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jordan Graham (Farmington)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Amauri Hardy (Southfield)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jacob Joubert (North Farmington)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Spencer Littleson (RH Adams)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Foster Loyer (Clarkston)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Charles Louis-Anderson (Southfield Bradford)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">A.J. Massucci (RO Shrine)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Taylor McCaskill (Troy Athens)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Chase McCormick (Birmingham Seaholm)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Giovanni Miles (Novi)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Tristin Mysen (Oxford)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Jayden Redeemer (Bloomfield Hills)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Hunter Schattler (Rochester)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Bobby Walton (Oak Park)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Brock Washington (Southfield Christian)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Bryce Washington (Southfield Christian)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Malik Williams (Farmington)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">C.J. Wilson (OLSM)<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-190037925359508362015-08-01T22:33:00.001-04:002015-08-01T22:34:55.832-04:00The Harrison Issue<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Rumors of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Farmington Hills Harrison</b> potential closing is already reverberating across the OC. <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In other words, the fallout has started.</font></font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Talk</font> is floating around this weekend that the floodgates might be opening in Hawksnation and several key players could be fleeing the nest prior to the start of camp in roughly a week. </font></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Specifically, </font>Burney got word Saturday that Harrison standouts <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tyrone Lyte </b>(WR/CB) and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brendann Brown</b> (RB/LB) are moving residences to the city of Southfield and have already enrolled at Southfield HS – they helped propel the squad into the D2 final four in 2014. There may be more Hawks players leaving on the horizon, people are telling me. And if they do, they'll be more big names. <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lyte and Brown are college recruits.</font> <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">This is a sad state affairs right now over at Team Herrington – both for the fact that John Herrington, the epitome of class and championship-level success on the MHSAA gridiron for the past four and half decades, has to deal with this entire ordeal and that the current predicament surrounding the tradition-steeped program seems to be sending personnel bolting for an exit out of town, which in turn may result in an uncharacteristically down campaign in what could end up being the legendary Hawksnation's last in the local prep pigskin ranks. <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-9297769119847086642015-07-31T23:29:00.001-04:002015-08-01T22:35:10.952-04:00Fresh-Faced Field Generals<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Here's a three-pack of new OC prep quarterbacks expected to make some noise on the football field in the OAA Red<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> this fall</font>.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Anthony Reiner (Clarkston)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The D.J. Zezula Era is over & Reiner is more than ready and able to take the reins of the Wolfpack offense…….my main man AR is rock solid, lock-and-loaded and on the verge of igniting the repeat effort under center for Team K-Rich<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Brenden Lewis (Oxford)</span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'> – The Glacier Wallington Era is over & Lewis is more than ready and able to take the reins of the Wildcats offense…..he's a steady eddie field general who learned the tricks of the trade in the shadow of the O-Town Iceman the past couple seasons<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><font face="Calibri"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>Caden Prieskhorn (Lake Orion) </span></b><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'>– This Super Sophomore has emerged as THE guy under center for Team Victory Bell and Max Horneffer is making the move to receiver…..Preikshorn is big, overly savvy for his young age and right about to BLAST OFF into the OC signal-calling stratosphere…..Yeah, I Said It!! (remember you heard it from your boy Burney first)<o:p></o:p></span></font></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082861810462828844.post-30131089817733849032015-07-30T22:30:00.001-04:002015-07-30T23:27:04.352-04:00Double Trouble Alert<font color='black' size='2' face='Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif'><font style="background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">With The Human Hologram aka all-state burner Josh Holloman off to college in Cincinnati, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Auburn Hills Avondale</b> will be filling some pretty big shoes in the backfield this fall on the gridiron.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">No worries, Team Deutsch is ready to roll out a gruesome twosome of ball-toters in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Vince Wright</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ahmad Sharon</b> and they could be on the verge of joining forces with senior captain and third-year starting quarterback <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Travis Janes</b> and spurring the Yellow Jackets' back into the playoffs after a two-year absence.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Wright is a workhorse, in other words a Straight G rushing the rock right up the gut. But he also possesses the breakaway speed and instinct that should allow him to exploit gaps in defenses for potential chunk plays<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Sharon is a multi-purpose slotback, the kind of kid that has future star written all over him. He'll line up all over the field in 2015, showing off his versatility. Strictly from the "TD-in-an-instant" department, Sharon has the chance to be Hologram 2:0....you blink, he scores WILL BE a common theme come fall......Please, make a note!! <o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">Janes is the "given" in this situation – you know what you're going to get from him every snap of every single outing, plain and simple game-changing intelligence, athleticism, a soft touch on his passes and a jitterbug quickness that always makes him a threat to take off from the pocket and hurt opposing clubs with his feet.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: 121.5pt;"><span style='line-height: 115%; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;'><font face="Calibri">So to sum it all <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">up<font face="Calibri">: </font>the</font> 'Jackets will be back stinging with supreme efficiency in about a month and although The OC Heavenly Hologram will be missed the cupboard in the Avondale backfield is far from bare.<o:p></o:p></font></span></div> <font face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></font></font>Scott M. Burnsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11195330429711598058noreply@blogger.com0