Spring time review/preview: Shaker Heights
As part of an offseason series I’ll take a look at some of the top high school programs in talent-rich Northeast Ohio and provide updates on how teams are shaping up. I’ll also provide updates on the landing spots of various members of the Class of 2018.
We’ll start off with Shaker Heights.
The Red Raider program received some national attention in recent days with emergence of Shaker grad and current Boston Celtic Terry Rozier.
Flourishing in his role as a starting guard in place of the injured Kyrie Irving, Rozier has played a prominent role in the Celtics advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals where they are squaring off with LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It is cool,” Shaker coach Danny Young, who coached Rozier in high school, said when asked about Rozier’s recent play.
Asked does Rozier give credit to Shaker in his development as a player and Young is quick to answer.
“I would hope so. We helped him get to that level,” said Young.
That said, Young is currently imparting his coaching expertise on team that is coming off a district title but loses its all-Ohio backcourt of Christian Guess and Dale Bonner, more on them later.
Young believes Shaker will again be competitive, citing the fact that since he’s taken over as coach his teams have always been in the hunt for a district title.
This next year should be no different, according to Young. Kevin Bishop (2019) a 6-5 forward returns. He averaged 8.0 points per game and 3.3 rebounds and scores most of his point on put back and inside looks. Getting into outstanding physical condition should be Bishop’s goal this summer, said Young. Bishop has received D-II and D-III interest said Young.
Dakota Cochran (2020) will also return. Cochran proved to be a solid offensive threat from 3-point territory for the Red Raiders and finished the year averaging 9.8 ppg., and 2.3 rpg., Cochran, who also plays football, is playing on the AAU circuit with the Rebels, where is he is a teammate of highly-touted point guard prospect Garvin Clarke (2020) of Euclid High.
Young will also have some family on the squad as Danny Young Jr., enters the ninth grade. Expect the Young Jr., 5’10 guard, to play a lot early. He is coming off an eighth-grade year in which he averaged 28 points per game along with 8 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
Christian Guess Update
Guess has still not signed with a college and is strongly considering going to a prep school, according to Young.
“Not sure of which one,” said Young.
In the meantime, Guess is playing AAU for OBC, Young said, and his impressive play in that setting netted him a scholarship offer from Canisus.
Guess, a 6-6 slasher, wants to play at a high Division I level. Playing another year at a prep school could be the route he needs to take to lock up that level of a scholarship offer.