The Detroit Spring (Hoops) Showcase

This past weekend GBW was in Ferndale covering The Detroit Spring Showcase, and there was young talent in house. We had a chance to see players from The Family 16’s, Team Detroit 16’s and 17’s, Detroit Fire, and King James 16’s. Here are some of the players that caught our eye -- you will certainly hear from them in the near future.

Team Detroit

Javonte Hawkins, 6’4 Flint Powers guard 2012. The kid has a nice game and a lot of athleticism rolling through him; staying in front of him was a problem for many defenders yesterday. Javonte gets it going by attacking the rim for buckets he also has a solid jumper to keep you guessing. The young man does it on both ends of the floor, defending and rebounding. Clearly he is well on his way to being a high-major prospect if he continues at the pace he is going.

A.J. Mathews, 6’3 Ann Arbor Huron PG 2011. I have always appreciated this kid's game because I like what he brings to the table. A.J. is a very savvy player who gets it done -- he sees the floor well, and he's someone who understands the game from his position. Yesterday he showed his ability to shoot the rock from long range and looked solid doing it. When you are picking teams he might not be the glamour pick but when you watch him play you will certainly wish you'd picked him first.

The Hickoff Crew, 6’4 Fenton guard/forwards 2012. Ryan and Dillion -- I couldn’t tell those two apart but each kid made the same type of play. Mid-range jumper … GOOD! Rebound put back … Good! A steal here, a steal there. These two really bring it when they are on the floor. I had a chance to see them last year at Michigan’s Elite camp and they were solid there as well. My next mission will be to find a way to tell them a part so I can break down their games better … I guess I need to talk to mom or dad.

Detrich Lever, 5’10, Plymouth Canton, PG 2011. Speedy point guard, gets in the lane to score, tricky with the rock. On a team with talent he is trying to find the balance of when to score and when to pass -- that is tough coming from your high school team and being the number one option. He is getting it done. Playing with this team will really help in his development at the point, and that is coming along just fine.

Leo Edwards, 6’8 Cass Tech forward 2013. Coach Dixon is putting together some talent over at Cass Tech, and this long talented young man had it going good. He can put it on the floor, he can pop from 15 feet and in, he rebounds and blocks shots. What you like about him is he comes to play solid talent that will only get better.

King James

Jordan Hare, 6’9 Saginaw Arthur Hill 2012. Wow, the kid can play! When I first had a chance to see him he was a gangly freshmen 6’7 and playing in the post on varsity. Now in the words of the great poet, The Notorious B.I.G., “Things done changed." He plays on the perimeter, he drives it to the basket and shoots jumpers, and he has some swagger to him. On back to back plays he caught a rebound, went back up and mashed it home; and the very next play ran the floor, his teammate threw it off the rim, he caught it and dunked it. Still adding to his game, but this kid is going to go from local to national real fast.

The tournament gets an assist from Paul Carmona from Team Detroit; he made calls to some of the more talented teams in the tournament and they came down just for him. Paul deserves huge kudos as one of the good guys on the circuit.