Boys basketball: Top teams

Doughboys will let their actions do the talking

Tom Markowski / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- The Doughboys are hungry.

Detroit Pershing reached the Class A final last season and was defeated soundly by Saginaw, 90-71, last March.

As good as the road was to the Breslin Center in East Lansing, losing the way they did left the Doughboys yearning to complete the deal.

Pershing (22-5), the No. 1 team in the preseason rankings, returns three starters and a handful others that were part of the 10-12 player rotation coach A.W. Canada used throughout parts of the season.

The starters returning are junior Keith Appling and seniors Derrick Nix and Dion Dismuke.

Junior Juwan Howard and senior Dennis Perry likely will make their way into the lineup to start the season, but Canada could go with senior Ben Ritchbow.

Two transfers, juniors James Mills from Detroit Allen Academy and Kiedez Foster from Detroit Crockett, would work their way in as starters as well.

"Last year's experience was good for those who were there," Canada said. "We're improving. They're willing to learn, they're willing to listen.

"This team has a clean slate. They have a totally different mission than last year. The chemistry is better and the pieces to this team are different. Last year we didn't mind giving up points. On occasion we gave up too many. Will we slow it down? It doesn't matter. We can do both."

In addition to a state championship, which is every good team's goal, the Doughboys have the sites set on the Detroit Public School League title. One of the truly great programs in this city's history, Pershing hasn't won a PSL title since 1996.

In a guard-dominated league, Pershing has the best. Appling was one of the top players in Detroit last season as a sophomore, and now he's ready to take another step forward and become a leader, not just a role player. He's 6-feet-2 and can play the shooting and the point guard positions. Dismuke is a natural point guard but when Canada goes to his bench watch for Appling to move to the point at times.

"We're a team that plays with energy and poise," Appling said. "We're aggressive. We're just going to work. The city? That's our first goal."

Much of Pershing's success, Appling says as much as 50 percent, depends on the play of Nix, a 6-9 center. Nix signed with Michigan State; Appling is expected to follow as he's given MSU a verbal commitment. The two are more than teammates and friends. They're like brothers.

Nix, at 285 pounds, weighs 15 pounds less than a year ago and said he's stronger and faster, and has more endurance.

"He's more mobile now," Appling said. "He gets up and down the floor better."

Nix agreed.

"I'm in better shape," he said. "You'll see a better team this year. We have better leadership. The coaches and us adjusted to the mistakes we made and we know what it takes to get back to the Breslin."

Other key players include Tevin Conrad, a 6-8, 290-pound senior center, and Ramon McAfee, a 6-7 junior who played on the junior varsity last season.

Other teams to watch

2. Detroit Country Day (21-5), B: Three starters return plus a point guard, Ray McCallum Jr., who transferred in from Indiana. McCallum (6-0), a junior, is the player that completes this team. Seniors Donnavan Kirk (6-10), DeShonte Riley (6-11) and Jordan Dumars (6-5) have loads of experience. Benny Fowler (6-2), one of eight players who played football, won't start until likely late December. Senior Devin Pyykkonen will start the season against Ann Arbor Pioneer (Dec. 12). Amir Williams (6-10) and Urbane Bingham (6-7) are two of five sophomores who are part of the rotation.

3. Saginaw Arthur Hill (20-3), A: Four starters return plus four others who saw significant playing time. Junior Maurice (5-8) is a three-year starter who averaged 19 points and eight assists last season. Omari Humes (6-4) is a fine athlete who's likely to play receiver in college. Mike Shaw (6-7) is being recruited for football and baseball. Junior Tyler Dwyer (6-3), a transfer from Saginaw Heritage, will start on the wing. Chris Webb (6-2) likely will start as the shooting guard, and freshman Jordan Hare (6-7) could be the top reserve.

4. Warren DeLaSalle (16-8), A: Everybody is back from a team that lost in double overtime to Detroit Finney in a regional final. Alex Marcotullio (6-2), who signed with Northwestern, averaged 16 points and is one of the state's top perimeter shooters. Kevin McCarthy (6-11) committed to Lehigh and is a force on both ends. Sophomore Sterling Johnson (5-10) moves up from the junior varsity and will start at the point. Ben Hayes (6-3) is a strong power forward and Darryl Jackson and Josh Sinagoga give the Pilots solid guard play.

5. Saginaw (27-1), A: The two-defending state champions return one starter, senior Mike Green (6-0). With four seniors Saginaw could struggle a bit early. Tommy McCune (6-8) could be the state's top sophomore. Tre' Babers (6-4) is another top sophomore, and he's the cousin of Draymond Green (Michigan State). Senior Demetrius Simmons (6-2), who could start at the point, and junior Malcolm Shaw (6-3) are former Saginaw High students who spent last school year out of state (Simmons in Texas; Shaw in Illinois). Kevin Marshall, who at 6-5 and 208 pounds has the nickname, "Tank," is one of the state's top freshmen.

6. Clarkston (23-3), A: Three starters return, including senior Tommy Staten (6-5), who will see time at point guard. Junior Matt Kamieniecki (6-7) is 100 percent following minor knee surgery (cartilage). He had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal loss to Saginaw. Brandon Pokley (6-3) is one of the state's top 3-point shooters. Tom Ronk (5-7) will start at the point and is one of nine seniors. Brandon Verlinden (6-0), Tyler Scarlett (6-1), a junior, and Luke Prudhomme (6-1) will all see significant playing time.

7. Oak Park, (17-6), A: Two starters return plus senior Samuel Burton (6-2), a transfer who started at Detroit Central last season. The Knights have one of the top sophomore guards in Darryl Flemister (5-10). K'allante Miller (6-4) signed with Central Michigan. He averaged 19 points and seven rebounds for a team that won a district title. Junior Jalen Crawford (6-2) is the brother of Joe (former Kentucky player) and Jordan Crawford (Indiana, Xavier). William Mines (6-5) or Jeffrey Suber (6-2), both seniors, will be the fifth starter. "It will be hard to beat us because the system is in place," second-year coach George Ward said.

8. Detroit Finney (21-4), A: The Highlanders have no seniors. Junior Ray Reeves, Jr., the son of coach Ray Reeves, is a returning starter. Junior Isaiah Sykes (6-6), a transfer from Detroit Chadsey, will switch from the point to playing on the wing. Juniors Brandon Williams (6-6) and Davon Hayes (6-7) are post players, and Terrance Jackson (6-4) can play inside or out. Sophomore Ed Brown (6-1) averaged 30 points on the junior varsity.

9. Romulus (22-4), A: One starter returns from last season's state semifinal team, but a total of four are three-year varsity players. The Eagles will be small and quick. Rashard Porter (5-11) is a shooting guard who will be counted on to score 15-to-20 points per game. Filmore Bouldes (5-8) is the point guard and he played 8-to-10 minutes a game as a junior. Valdez Green (5-10) is a wing, and DeAndre Buckley (6-3) is one of the few inside players. Derek Kinney (6-3) will play center. There are 10 seniors on the team; nine will play.

10. Flint Powers (20-8), B: The Chargers reached the Class B final and return three starters plus 6-7 transfer Rodney Anderson. Shane Moreland (6-2), one of two seniors who will start, is a three-year starter. Patrick O'Brien (6-3) will play inside along with Anderson who started as a junior for Flushing last season. DeMarco Sanders (6-1) excels from the perimeter, and sophomore Patrick Lucas-Perry (5-11) will again start at the point. The top reserves are senior Kevin Pickens (6-3) and sophomore Pierre Brackett (6-3), a transfer from Flint Hamady who won't be eligible until January.

Teams to watch: Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (22-5), B; Detroit Cody (13-4), A; Detroit Southeastern (14-7), A; Grand Ledge (14-7), A; Grand Rapids Catholic Central (18-6), B; Jackson (19-4), A; Kalamazoo Central (19-4), A; Lansing Sexton (18-3), B.

You can reach Tom Markowski at tom.markowski@detnews.com.