Breslin Bound: Class C
Each day brings us closer and closer to the start of the regular season here in Michigan. While we’re certainly quite some time away from the state championship, the beginning of the road to the Breslin Center will be here before we know it. Plenty of things can and will happen to make things interesting as the season progresses – breakout seasons, impact underclassmen, upsets and injuries are just a few possibilities that could make the season interesting. That, however, remains to be seen. Let’s take a preseason look at some Class C teams that have a legitimate shot at playing in the Breslin Center this year:
Detroit Edison – As they return much of their core from last year, DEPSA is once again a top team in Class C this year. They have the D1 trio of Gary Solomon, Pierre Mitchell and Deante Johnson. Those three alone give them enough size and talent to compete with nearly all of the Class C teams in the state and that’s not even taking into account junior forwards Dreyon O’Neal and Brian Taylor. With 4 of those 5 standing 6’4″+, there will be few teams in the state who can match their size. Talented, athletic, big – DEPSA should be the preseason favorite to take home the Class C title this year.
Flint Beecher – Beecher has been one of the most successful programs in recent history, regardless of class. Last year, Beecher took home the Class C title for the third year in a row thanks to great performances for current Eastern Michigan guard Malik Ellison. With his departure, Ellison passes the torch to the next great Beecher guard in Jalen Terry. Terry, alongside teammate Ernie Sanders, won the Peach Jam this year, which is often considered the top AAU tournament in the country. The dynamic duo will look to make up for the 7 seniors Beecher graduated last year. Regardless of who they have on their floor, Beecher has shown that they come to compete every night, bringing an intensity and aggressiveness on defense that allows them to compete with anybody.
Detroit Pershing – Pershing looks to be one of the better teams in Class C this year. Led by seniors D’Juan Seal, Charles Brown, Ron Hill and Johnnie Davis, the Doughboys should get a ton of production from their upperclassmen. D’Juan Seal exploded for a monster AAU season and was one of the hottest prospects in the state but is yet to receive a D1 offer. My prediction is that Seal will play the season with a chip on his shoulder, as he is undoubtedly just as talented as many of the players who hold D1 offers already. He should be responsible for a good chunk of the production but he won’t have to carry – Pershing has plenty of talent. Look for them to make a deep run in the playoffs this season.
Grandville Calvin Christian – Calvin Christian is led by 6’10 senior Blake Verbeek. The versatile big can stretch the floor out to the three point line and is a matchup problem for many bigs. Verbeek is joined by 5 others fellow seniors in Joe Klunder, Eric Hoogland, Brad Klerkstra and Zach Smith. Also, the Squires have one of the top sophomores in the state in Brock Stevens. Last year, Calvin Christian’s playoff run was cut short when they fell to eventual state runner-up Covenant Christian. However, looking back a year before last year, Calvin Christian made it all the way to the state final game, gaining then-sophomores such as Blake Verbeek valuable playoff experience. This year, with the experienced squad should be hungry to avenge last year’s early exit and use that to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Other notable Class C contenders include: Covenant Christian, Detroit Loyola, Glen Lake and Dansville