New Year’s Resolutions for Michigan High School Basketball
When a new year starts, people from all over the world start making New Year’s resolutions. It can be anything from working out more to being nicer to people. High school basketball in the state of Michigan could use some…
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Continue ReadingWhen a new year starts, people from all over the world start making New Year’s resolutions. It can be anything from working out more to being nicer to people. High school basketball in the state of Michigan could use some resolutions. Here are two that I think would be great for the sport in Michigan.
Adding a shot clock
I don’t think this should just be a Michigan thing. High school basketball in every state should add a shot clock. Why? Well, it makes the game more strategic and forces coaches and players to perform better in late game situations. As of right now, if a team has a one possession lead with 45 or so seconds left, the losing team has to foul and hope free throws are missed. With a 30 or 35 second shot clock, the losing team can focus on playing sound defense and the offense is forced to execute.
Even in early game situations it requires coaches and players to run quality offensive sets, which creates a better flow. Also, for the players that will be playing at the next level, it gives them an opportunity to see what the game is like with a shot clock. It’s a minor detail, but for players moving to the next level, it’s a detail they don’t have to worry about adjusting to. Overall, I think it would be a positive for the game, because it makes coaches and players have to think and run smart offensive and defensive sets, while also allowing players to get ready for the next level.
Cost is obviously something that has to be discussed with something like this. It’s going to be expensive for every school to start using a shot clock. There is no denying that. I don’t have an exact plan to ensure everyone can afford a shot clock. However, I’d like to see the MHSAA try something different and test the waters of adding shot clock.
Lighten up on travel restrictions
The travel restrictions on high school basketball teams in Michigan is very hard to understand. There are a lot of rules that prevent Michigan teams from playing against other teams from around the country, which hurts the national brand of elite teams in the state.
According to the MHSAA handbook, for a high school basketball team in Michigan to compete with a school from another state or country, the schools must adhere to these rules:
1. All teams present are bona fide school teams.
2. All schools and teams are in good standing with their respective National Federation member high school
association (if eligible).
3. All National Federation* (see below) sanctioning requirements are fulfilled, if applicable. National Federation sanctioning is required for:
a. An interstate event involving two or more schools which is organized, conducted by, or titled or co-titled in the name of an outside organization or individual.
b. An event involving schools other than Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario in which (a) five or more states are involved or (b) eight or more schools are involved.
4. There is compliance with MHSAA travel limitations.
That leads us to the travel restrictions. The MHSAA has three rules in regards to travel restrictions for teams looking to play against out-of-state teams.
1. No member school shall compete in any interstate meet, contest or scrimmage which involves travel of more than 600 drivable miles round-trip for any participating team
2. Schools are prohibited from participating in two-team competition at multi-school interstate events where any team involved in any contest of the event must travel more than 600 drivable miles round-trip
3. For competition involving schools exclusively from and occurring only within Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Ontario, MHSAA member schools may compete regardless of the travel distance for any participating team
There is some leniency with these rules, but not much. I would like to see Michigan schools be able to play against top competition from all over the country. Could you imagine seeing last year’s Clarkston team take on the top team from Kentucky, Florida, Texas, etc? Clarkston may not win, but the exposure on the national stage would be huge for the state.
These travel limitations are also causing some of the top players to leave the state. Take Southfield Christian’s Harlond Beverly for example. He transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida earlier this year. In a July 2018 story by Jake Perper of Prep Hoops, Beverly stated, “The move down to Montverde wasn’t for recruitment or getting noticed more at all. It was just for improvement, being more college ready as a freshman and playing against the best competition in practice and games.”
Being able to play against top competition across the country does wonders for a players development. Some of the top players in Michigan are leaving the state because they feel they can play against better competition elsewhere. The teams in Michigan aren’t bad, but when you have an elite team like Clarkston last season, who was beating teams by 30 and 40 every game, they should be given the opportunity to play on a national stage.