Boys 2008

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

4. Grand Rapids Catholic Central (19-5, Class B): Catholic Central returns four starters from a team which lost to Grand Rapids South Christian in the regional final. Michaela Faber and sophomore Kyra Bussell provide an inside presence at 6-1 while 5-8 sophomore guard Sophia Karasinski can score in a lot of different ways and rebound. Bussell and Karasinski already have been offered by Western Michigan. Guards Bri Spica and Shannon McNeely gives them experience in the backcourt with McNeely the team's best perimeter defender.

"We have a lot of experience and balance where we can go inside or score from the perimeter," Catholic Central coach Trevor Hinshaw said. "We go nine deep and this is a confident group where eight of these kids will play college ball somewhere."   Detroit News

3. Grand Rapids Catholic Central 2013-14 record: 19-5.

Outlook: Look for the return of the glory years for CC, which has a pair of dynamite sophomores in Sophia Karasinski, a good scorer and rebounder, and 6-1 Kyra Bussell, a low-post scorer who can hit shots from the perimeter. Michaela Faber, 6-1, will bang inside in the post. Bri Spica is a dangerous shooting guard. Junior Megan Belke is a high-energy player who will impact every aspect of the game, and Shannon McNeely is the team’s best on-the-ball defender. Sophomore Saniya Huggins adds depth at the point, and 5-10 sophomore Myka Cromwell and junior Jo-Ann Torres give CC the deepest backcourt in the state.     Detroit Free Press

CATHOLIC CENTRAL COUGARS

COACH: Trevor Hinshaw (3rd year).

2013-14 RECORD: 19-5 (8-2 OK Gold, 2nd place).

KEY PLAYERS: Megan Belke (Jr., F), Michaela Faber (Sr., C), Sophia Karasinski (So., G), Shannon McNeely (Sr., G), Shannon McNeely (Sr., G), JoAnn Torres (Jr., PG).

OUTLOOK: With the return of almost the entire team that reached the regional finals last winter, the Cougars are primed for a big season. Along with experience, the Cougars boast plenty of talent and players with college potential. Senior Michaela Faber is back for her third year on the varsity. Faber is a solid post player who has signed with Davenport University. Senior guard Bri Spica is another three-year veteran who is being heavily recruited. Senior Shannon McNeely is a three-year veteran at guard and the best defender on the team. Senior Samantha Rogers plays with a lot of heart. Junior Megan Belke is in her second year on the varsity and is drawing college interest for her well-rounded game. Junior JoAnn Torres is a heady point guard in her second season. Sophomore Sophia Karasinski is a highly-skilled guard who has already garnered Division 1 and 2 scholarship offers, as has sophomore post player Kyra Bussell. Sophomore Shaniya Huggins is a lightning-quick point guard, while sophomore Myka Cromwell is a crafty guard. “Our conditioning level and commitment to competing extremely hard will allow our girls’ talents to shine through,” Hinshaw said.   Mlive

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

3. Grosse Pointe South (22-2, Class A): The starting backcourt of Cierra Rice and Aliezza Brown return from a team which reached the regional semifinals last season. Rice, who will play next year at Illinois, averaged 18 points and was a part of a team which reached the state title game her freshman and sophomore seasons. Benna Ames, a 6-3 junior, will be the inside threat. Sophomore Anna Carmody is the perimeter threat and Kate Kish is the team's shut-down defender.

"We have 10 of 12 kids back from last year's team and five girls that started 10 or more games," South coach Kevin Richards said. "This is the deepest team I have ever had at South and it is our expectation to compete for the state championship."   Detroit News

8. Grosse Pointe South 2013-14 record: 22-2.

Outlook: This will be a versatile, deep team that revolves around three guards who can play any perimeter position. Cierra Rice (Illinois) averaged 18 points last season and is one of the best point guards, but she can also score in the post. Junior Anna Carmody can run the point and get into the paint and score. Aliezza Brown is a fine shooter and excels on defense. Junior Benna Ames, 6-3, is tough in the post and can step out and hit the perimeter shot. Katie Kish is a defensive ace.    Detroit Free Press

2. Grosse Pointe South (22-2)
Another team that lost just one senior (Bre'nae Andrews), there is a ton of talent returning for the Blue Devils. Senior Cierra Rice (Illinois) will be a Miss Basketball candidate and is one of the best playmakers at guard in the entire state. Rice averaged 18.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Senior guard Aliezza Brown gives South an excellent back court. The development of 6-foot-3 junior Benna Ames will play a key role in South's success this season.  Mlive

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

OUTLOOK: Warren-­Mott's basketball team hasn't even played a game but coach Jeff Olind figures

the Marauders can already boast of one major achievement.

"Eleven of our 13 players made the honor roll in the first quarter," Olind said. "That's as

important as winning games."

Warren-­Mott figures to do a lot of the latter, too, even after moving up to the MAC Red after winning the MAC White last season with a 12­-1 record and advancing to the state quarterfinals.

The Marauders lost co-­Player of the Year Kenny Goins, who is now at Michigan State, but they have Derek Murphy returning for his senior year.

Murphy and Goins gave Warren-­Mott a dangerous 1-­2 scoring punch last season.

"Derek is going to be our senior leader," Olind said. "We expect a lot from him. We think he'll be one of the best players in the county ­­ if not the best. He's 6-­5 so we're counting on him to rebound and step inside for us."

Murphy had a strong start last season, was slowed some by injuries during the middle of the year, but came on strong at the end in the Marauders' playoff run.

Besides Goins, Warren-­Mott lost Angello Proulx and Vondale Kelley. They'll be hard to replace, too, because both were strong defensively and were the team's vocal leaders. MiPrepZone 

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 20th Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)

OUTLOOK: The combination of team speed, a balanced offense and a deep bench has Kurt Wilson feeling confident that his Cavaliers will pass last year’s total wins.

“We’ll be very skilled,” said Wilson. "We'll be able to have five guys on the court that can score the ball throughout, even if we go nine deep, we’ll still have guys that can score the ball. We expect to improve on the 14 wins, we expect to play better defense and we expect to put it all together this year.”

A very athletic bunch, the Cavs’ back court is led by senior Jeff Golden and juniors Darrell Heard and Divan Shackleford. 

“Those three starting guards will have to carry a big load of scoring the ball from the outside and penetration and passing the ball so we can be in a position to score,” Wilson said. 

Senior forwards Parsean Cunetin and Damone Tillman, as well as junior A.J. Morgan, gives South Lake versatility on the perimeter and in the paint.

Alex Elkhoury and Stacy Howard will provide bench scoring, plus they give the Cavs up to six guards to pressure the ball on defense. MiPrepZone