Roundball in the NBA

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

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

Outlook: Huron has had a stranglehold on the Southeastern Conference Red Division, and this year looks no different. Three starters return along with two others who saw significant time. Seniors Cheah Rael-Whitsitt and Mia Long will anchor the team, along with Emily Marsh and Kara Wilson. Rael-Whitsitt, a 5-10 power forward, averaged 8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game a year ago. Junior guard Kaylyn Brownlee is expected to have a breakout season. Marsh should be a good one, and newcomers Sasha Thomas, Dani DiGiovine, Shamim Wambere and Michaela Glenn provide depth. A bunch of newcomers should help Huron stay on top. The team has a killer schedule that features Arbor Prep, Midland Dow, Southfield Lathrup and Country Day. - Detroit Free Press

Ann Arbor Huron (21-2, Class A): Huron has three starters back, led by 5-11 senior forward Cheah Rael-Whitsitt (8.8 points, 5.7 rebounds) and 5-6 senior Mia Long. Junior guard Katlyn Brownlee and 6-0 junior Emily Marsh are expected to have strong seasons, with contributions also coming from junior guard Kara Wilson. Coach Steve Vinson has a solid sophomore class in 6-0 Shamim Wambere and guards in Sasha Thomas and Dani DiGiovine. - Detroit News

Ann Arbor Huron (1-0): Huron has been the most dominant team in the SEC Red for at least the last six years and returns the favorite. The River Rats opened the year by beating up on Ypsilanti Arbor Prep, which finished in the final four of Class C a year ago. Mlive

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

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

Outlook: Nine players return from a team that lost to top-ranked Midland Bullock Creek in overtime in the districts. Center Cassidy Boensch is a threat in the middle who has scored 939 points, pulled down nearly 700 rebounds and blocked 400 shots. Jenai LaPorte is a four-year starter who has signed with Grand Valley State. She’s the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,152 points. Back from an ACL injury is Kalle Martinez, a junior who has a school-record 35 points in a game and has committed to play at CMU. Jamie Brisson is a four-year returning starter. Other players in the rotation are junior Kenedy Clyde, sophomore Jericho Long, Megan Luczak and Jessica Duncan. Maddie Payne will see action on the wing, and other bench help comes from Dakota Cunningham, Elisabeth Christie, Olivia Nicholas and Savannah Solomon. - Detroit Free Press

Bay City John Glenn (15-4, Class A): Standout junior guard Kalle Martinez is back from an ACL injury and that’s good news for coach Cory Snider, now in his sixth season of running the show. Martinez has lots of options to work with, including 6-3 senior center Cassidy Boensch (Grand Valley), who had a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) in a win over Southfield-Lathrup Saturday, and 5-6 senior guard Jenai Laporte (Grand Valley), who is the program’s leading scorer and a great perimeter threat. - Detroit News

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

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

Outlook: This could be the team making it to the Breslin Center from the west side of the state in Class A. Deep and talented, seniors Sadia Johnson and Taylor Washington will lead the way, but the most talented player could be underclassman Toshanae Owens, a matchup nightmare for opponents. The three will receive plenty of help from Arjanae Morgan. - Detroit Free Press

Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.

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

Outlook: The Lady Crusaders lost just two games last year, and both were to Birmingham Marian, the eventual Class A state champion. As always, King will be a threat in the Detroit Public School League but must replace a boatload of starters. Coach William Winfield will run, and run, and run with this group led by Alicia Norman, a junior who already is a three-year starter. - Detroit Free Press

Detroit King (24-2, Class A): It lost the PSL’s premier player in Janae Williams and its inside punch of Leah Mathis and Malayasia McHenry, but King still has a standout guard in three-year starter Alicia Norman to build around. Norman averaged 12 points while running the offense last season, helping King reach the state semifinals. Jasmine Flowers, a 6-2 senior, will be counted on to score in the paint with the absence of Mathis and McHenry. - Detroit News