Louis O’Neal Classic: Storylines to Watch
The Louis O’Neal Classic on the campus of Saginaw Valley St University has taken on various forms through the years. Originating as an event on Martin Luther King Day. It is has evolved into premier early season showcase. Here are a few storylines to watch from this Saturday’s event. Full schedule is listed below
An Intriguing Opener…
Historically the openers of these type of showcases can be categorized as “hit or miss”. As the gym is often still filling up and the early starts can tend to throw off what are usually young teams. That is not the case with this years opener. Mt Pleasant versus Bay City John Glenn has the potential to be a competitive and entertaining game.
For starters it is rematch from last year’s event. Which was won by Mt. Pleasant. However John Glenn was slightly shorthanded resulting from suspensions during a skirmish in the preceding game. I have no inside info, but I have feeling the Bobcats asked for another shot at the Oilers. Hoping this time to be at full strength.
This contest will also feature two high level and consistent grassroots performers. Mt Pleasant will be helmed by versatile backcourt prospect Easton Day (pictured) A lead guard who can really score efficiently . While also running and initiating the offense from the point. John Glenn will counter the backcourt attack with a powerful post unit fronted by 6-6 post Sean Wesolek. Wesolek is fundamentally sound and intelligent old school post who has excelled with The Process AAU program. He won’t be alone down low. As 6-7 Jimmy McCrum is showing improvement. Both McCrum and Day played with the REAL Basketball AAU program.
A Big Stage for an Emerging shooter
I’m sure Caro is a fine Thumb region community. However, outside of Josh Asslein (look it up kids) it’s not particularly known as a hoops hotbed. Connor McGary a 6-2 junior guard is looking to change that. The shooter is attracting college interest after strong grassroots campaign with the Motor City Grizzles.
On Saturday he gets a chance to show his game off on the “big stage”. I use the quotes intentionally. The Ryder Center is a unique facility that high school players are not used to shooting in. It is literally a big stage with high ceilings and unique sight lines behind the basket. If McGary can navigate this against Birch Run. He could possibly open up some more eyes statewide.
New Eras Beginning…
Two prominent programs and frequent participants in this showcase come in looking quite different. For nearby Saginaw Heritage they begin the post Tyler Ode era. The Toledo bound power guard had an outstanding career at Heritage. He was joined by fellow year contributor Braylon Isom who is also headed to the MAC to play football (Miami-OH)
Those are two gigantic holes to fill. They will look to fill it with the junior tandem of Jaylin Cooper and Noah Arnold. Cooper is a thin 6-5 perimeter prospect who will need to play with more strength this year. Speaking of showing strength 6-8 post Noah Arnold did that this spring/summer with the REACH travel program throughout the Midwest. They will take on an emerging Rochester Adams program that features some intriguing talent as well. Heritage’s juniors could make a loud statement of staying power with a win.
While Heritage’s changes are on the court. perennial Detroit Catholic League power Warren De La Salle has a big change on the bench. Welcoming Denarryl Rice after their former head coach moved up to the college ranks. Much of the rotation returns for a squad that notched a thrilling overtime victory last year against Flint Hamady.
However last year they were missing star guard Phoenix Glassnor as he recovered from injury sustained during the football season. If the high scoring Toledo commit is ready to go this Saturday. The headlining contest with Freeland should be entertaining. Glassnor and Freeland shooter Wilson Huckeby are two of the better scorers you will see.
Questions for #1….
I broadcast high school football. I don’t cover it on a statewide scale. I do know that Riverview Gabriel Richard is playing a state championship game in…. about six hours. This leads to some questions for their hardwood squad on Saturday.
Even if there is not a ton of overlap among their main players. Have they been able to have a full practice? How charged up will 6-8 center Charles Kage be to play at his future college home? Where will the teams state of mind be one day after a state championship contest?
They haven’t drawn the best opponent to answer those questions against. One of the largest high schools in the state— Grand Blanc. After a period of coaching instability. GB is looking to return to the state championship conversation they lived in the past half decade. They have the young talent to do it in the next few years. The penultimate matchup could go in a wide variety of ways. With all the noise, if Richard can earn a decisive victory. That would be a loud statement to the rest of Division III.
