BCAM’S RETRO MR. BASKETBALL

For 30 years, BCAM – the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, in association with the Detroit Free Press, has sponsored the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, given to the state’s top prep senior. Lansing Eastern’s Sam Vincent was selected in the spring of 1981 as the recipient of the first award.

BCAM is proud to announce a new project designed to recognize the sport’s top high school players from years past.

“Retro" Mr. Basketball - honoring the state's top senior prep basketball players will span the years 1920 through 1980. The project will evolve over the next ten seasons. This year, BCAM honors seniors from 1920, 1930, 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970 and 1980. Next year, the organization will honor seniors from 1921, 1931, 1941, 1951, 1961 and 1971. In 2019, the list will be complete.

As with the current honor, the goal is to focus on high school careers. Hence, information pulled from All-State and All-Tournament teams is used to guide the committee as they select nominees for the award.

While gathering statistical information on players from the 1920s and 1930s present challenges, BCAM did not want to avoid honoring athletes from the era when the center jump was a dominate feature of the game.

“BCAM has considered trying to go back to years previous to 1981 and coming up with players that that would have been named Mr. Basketball if there was such an award at the time,” notes BCAM executive director Tom Hursey. “The Retro Mr. Basketball project accomplishes this goal. The basketball fans of Michigan will enjoy going back in time and either agreeing with or finding fault with our committee’s winners. Either way it will be fun reminiscing about days gone by.”

Here are this year’s nominees and winners of BCAM’s Retro Mr. Basketball.

(Winners are listed first in ALL CAPS, followed by those selected as nominees by the committee in alphabetical order.)


1980
TIM MCCORMICK – CLARKSTON
6-10½ center, McCormick earned 2nd team Parade Magazine All-American honors. Earned top All-State honors from the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit News, and the Associated Press. Averaged 24.7 points and 17.6 rebounds per game as a senior.

M.C. “Tony” Burton III - Grand Rapids Catholic Central
The son of former Muskegon Heights and University of Michigan star M.C. Burton, the 6-6 Burton was selected as a 1st team Class B selection by AP and the Free Press and earned Dream Team status from the News.

Randy Morrison – Olivet
Earned All-State honors in both his junior and senior season at Class C Olivet. Scored 479 points in 14 games.

Anthony Scott – Grand Rapids Creston
6-4 forward, averaged 22 points and 13 rebounds a game as a senior.


1970
RICK DREWITZ – GARDEN CITY WEST
Averaged 29 points a game, the 6-7½ Drewitz scored 42 points in the Class A semifinals as West fell victim to Pontiac Central and Campy Russell, 84-79.

Dave Freeman - Battle Creek Central
A 60 percent shooter from the floor, Freeman averaged 20 points per game for the Bearcats.

George Kubiak - Carrollton
Top ballplayer for the Class B runner up. Averaged 25.5 points per game as a senior, scoring over 1,000 points in his two season with the varsity.

Larry Tatum – Muskegon
Shot .723 from the floor and averaged 24 points for the Big Reds.


1960
PETE GENT – BANGOR
“Accumulated a 22.6 scoring average shooting with either hand,” noted Hal Schram in his Free Press All-State write-up. The 6-2 Gent scored 21 as Bangor knocked off top-ranked Grand Rapids Lee, 57-45 for the Class C state title. An author, he penned several books, including “North Dallas Forty” following a pro career in the NFL.

Bill Chmielewski – Detroit Redeemer
Standing 6-10, Chmielewski averaged 23.4 points and 18 rebounds per game for the Class B state champs. A 4th team Parade Magazine All-American.

Doug Herner - Lansing Sexton
Member of the 1959 and 1960 Class A state champions. Scored 290 points in 22 games as a senior.

Fred Thomann – Taylor Center
Scored 415 points in 19 games for a 21.9 average


1950
CHARLIE PRIMAS – DETROIT MILLER
A three-year veteran for coach Will Robinson’s Trojans, the 6-2 Primas earned top All-State recognition from the Detroit Times, the Free Press and the News as a senior. He led Miller to two consecutive Metropolitan League titles. Played college ball at Wayne State.

Milton Mead – Bay City Central
Established a new Saginaw Valley League scoring mark with 269 points in 12 contests. Played at the University of Michigan.

Jim Plecas – Detroit Catholic Central
Three-letter winner, established a new Parochial League record as a senior with 232 points in 12 games. Led Catholic Central to the Class A semifinal round of the tournament in 1950. Attended Yale.

Art Spoelstra – Grand Rapids Godwin
Top player in the Grand Valley League, the 6-8 center received 1st team All-State kudos from the Detroit News and the Detroit Times, and second team honors from the Free Press. Led Godwin to the Class B state semifinals in 1949, and the finals in 1950, where the unbeaten Wolverines were upset by Ishpeming. Attended Western Kentucky, then played in the NBA.


1940RALPH GIBERT – FLINT NORTHERN
Honorary captain of the Free Press All-State team. An honor-roll student, he scored 101 points in 18 games as a senior. Led Northern to back-to-back Class A titles in 1939 and 1940.

Roy Clark – Pontiac Central
According to the Detroit Free Press article covering the All-State team, “many persons considered Clark the best basketball player ever to play at Pontiac." Scored 206 points in 18 games.

Jack Fultz – Keego Harbor
Earned 11-letters during his high school career in basketball, football and track. Scored 287 points in 22 games for the Class C state runner-up squad. Outstanding passer.


1930
JOHN TOOKER – KALAMAZOO ST. AUGUSTINE
Captain and center for coach Harv Freeman’s Class C state champs. Dominated his position, and his ability to take the tip-off on nearly every occasion in the title game led to Augustine’s 40-9 win over Lansing St. Mary in the title game. Also a state track champion.

Hank Ceasor – Port Huron
A top all-around athlete in Port Huron, Ceasor earned 1st team All-Tournament honors for the Class A quarterfinalists.

Emanuel Fishman – Detroit Northern
Known for his one-handed push shot, Fishman hit the game winner with 35 seconds remaining as the Eskimos defeated Kalamazoo Central 16-14 for the Class A state championship. (Detroit Public League schools dropped from MHSAA state tournament competition the following year, and didn’t return until 1962.) Co-captain at Northern, he was considered the city league’s outstanding performer for the season.

1920HARRY KIPKE – LANSING CENTRAL
A 12-letterwinner, including three in basketball, Kipke served as captain and guard in his senior year. Was honored on the All-Tournament team when his team advanced to the semifinal round of the Class A tourney. Later played and coached at the University of Michigan.

Bruno Smokiewicz – Detroit Northwestern
Starred for Coach Bert Maris on league championship teams in 1919 and 1920, state title squads in 1917 and 1920, and a state runner-up in 1919. Named to the 1920 All-Tournament team. Later played pro ball for ABL's Detroit Lions and the ABL's Detroit Pulaski Post.

William Springsteen – Detroit Northwestern
One of six Honorable Mention players on the 1919 All-Tournament team, Springsteen earned 1st team all-tournament team honors in 1920. Also All-State in football as a center in the fall of both 1918 and 1919. Played college football and basketball at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Played professionally for the Frankfort Yellow Jackets of the upstart National Football League in 1925-26.

About BCAM: The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan was incorporated in the summer of 1976. The purpose of BCAM was for the betterment of basketball in the state of Michigan. Over 30 years later, BCAM has shown that it is the voice of high school basketball in Michigan. BCAM has also gained respectability nationwide by being a leader in clinics, academic awards, scholarship programs, websites, awards for players and coaches, official – coach relationships, and as a policy setter for national concerns.

Fastest to 1,000 points - is Central Lake's Jasmine Hines the one?

Central Lake's 6-3 sophomore Jasmine Hines picked up her 1000th point on Tuesday in a heartbreaking 55-54 loss to Onaway on Tuesday. Hines, who scored 646 points as a freshman, ended the evening with 36 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocked shots. The millennium mark caused Antrim Review sports editor Michael Smith to pose a question.

In state history among the girls, who was the quickest to 1,000? Jazz, as she is known in Central Lake, got there in her 34th varsity career game.

Wow – fastest to 1,000, huh? I can’t say that I have an answer to that.

As a comparison, Stephanie Hass, who spent her prep career playing ball at Harbor Springs Harbor Light Christian (1998-2001), finished her varsity career with 2,732 points. That's tops in state history. Hass scored 567 in 22 games as a freshman, and 677 as a sophomore in 22 games. Unfortunately, I don’t have a game-by-game breakdown.

As a sophomore, she averaged, 30.77 points-per-game, So she would have needed about 14 games to hit 1,000 point mark. Hass certainly may have done it sooner (she had a 52-point game as a sophomore). Hass finished her career with 642 in 21 games as a junior, then 846 in 22 as a senior. She then took her game to Saginaw Valley State.

At a minimum, it sounds like Hines' is on a "Hass-like” pace. That's exciting! McCabe has her ranked at No. 15 on his annual list of the state's top ball players. Michigan State has already inquired about securing her ability after high school. I'm sure they won't be the last!

Hoopfest at MSU's Jenison Field House

March Magic Hoopfest Plays At Jenison Field House
During MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Jan. 26 - No one venue has seen more high school basketball championships in Michigan than Jenison Field House in East Lansing. For 31 years, one of the toughest tickets around was for the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Boys Basketball Finals.

Among the most storied memories in Jenison Field House:

• "The Shot" - A jumper by Bob Davis that bounced around the rim and finally went in at the final buzzer to give Lansing Everett an 80-79 overtime win against Highland Park in the 1959 Class A Final;
• The ferocious comeback in the final 45 seconds of the 1972 Class B title match when River Rouge scored the game's final eight points in a 65-64 win over Muskegon Heights - the last of the 12 championships the Panthers won under the state's all-time winningest coach, Lofton Greene;
• The Game of the Century in 1958 where two future professional stars - Dave DeBusschere of Detroit Austin and Chet "The Jet" Walker of Benton Harbor squared off for the Class A title, which was won by Austin, 71-68; and
• Three Upper Peninsula teams - Stephenson in Class B, Crystal Falls in Class C, and Chassell in Class D - all winning titles at Jenison Field House in 1956, and all by two points. Two years later, Chassell would win its third straight crown at Jenison, and it was also the last victory in what is still the longest winning streak in boys basketball history in Michigan - 65 games.

The memorable names to have played in the building in Final or Semifinal games includes: Earvin "Magic" Johnson of Lansing Everett; "Marvelous" Mel Peterson of Stevenson; Spencer Haywood and Ralph Simpson of Detroit Pershing; John Sperla of Flint St. Matthew; Jay Smith of Mio; M.C. and Ed Burton of Muskegon Heights; Pete Gent of Bangor; Wayman Britt of Flint Northern; Kimm and Paul Griffin of Shelby; Ernie Thompson of Saginaw; Antoine "The Judge" Joubert of Detroit Southwestern; L.C. Bowen of Benton Harbor; Jim Sarno of Covert; and numerous River Rouge players, including Willie Betts, the only player to ever start on four consecutive championship teams.

Twenty years since Jenison Field House saw its last high school basketball action and 35 years since it last hosted the championships, the building will come alive with yesterday's, today's and tomorrow's players and fans as it is transformed into a hardwood haven again when the inaugural March Magic Hoopfest takes place in conjunction with the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals at the Breslin Student Events Center, March 26-28.

The March Magic Hoopfest is being conducted in a partnership between the Greater Lansing Sports Authority, a division of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the MHSAA, with vital support coming from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at Michigan State University. The Hoopfest will cover the 40 thousand square feet of the Jenison Field House floor with a variety of basketball activities for all ages.

"The March Magic Hoopfest will take a great weekend of high school basketball games and help turn the MHSAA Championships into an event which will involve the Lansing area and the thousands of visitors coming to town," said John Young of the Greater Lansing Sports Authority. "If you're coming to the championships, the Hoopfest is a destination to visit before and after the games; and if you're not coming to the games, the Hoopfest is a wholesome, inexpensive, family activity."

"Some of our fans will remember the days when the buzz in the Lansing area each March was the weekend of the high school boys basketball semifinals and finals," said John E. "Jack" Roberts, executive director of the MHSAA. "All of the teams meeting for the opening luncheon and staying downtown across from the State Capitol at the old Jack Tar Hotel; games not only in the Field House, but in the Upper Gymnasium at Jenison, the old Civic Center downtown and at member schools - it was truly a community event.

"The March Magic Hoopfest will build on the excitement of the games for the fans of the participating schools, serve as another focal point of fun for spectators who continue to make attending the championships an annual affair, and involve the Lansing community in a whole new way."

A number of different basketball skills stations will surround the Hoopfest's Center Court area, which will feature youth and wheelchair basketball games. Center Court will also serve as the site of pre-game pep rallies for the participating teams the days of the semifinals. A Hall of History will feature the showing of championship games of years past, life-size photos of finals stars, and display boards from the Hometown Hoops Exhibit from the Michigan Historical Museum.

On the third day of the Hoopfest, a basketball clinic will take place for junior high/middle school students, conducted by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

The Greater Lansing Sports Authority has committed to conduct the Hoopfest for three years. When the MHSAA Girls Basketball Semifinals and Finals return to the Breslin Center in 2010, the Hoopfest will take place on back to back weekends.

Admission to the March Magic Hoopfest is $2 per person, and fans attending the MHSAA Boys Basketball Semifinals and Finals will be admitted free with their game ticket. The Hoopfest will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on March 26 and 27; and from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on March 28.

Michigan's representatives on the list of McDonald's High School Basketball All-American Nominees

It's always fun to check out the kids nominated for McDonald's All-American honors. This is the 32nd year for the boys game, while only the eighth year for the girls. Check out Michigan's selections, as well as the state's alumni. Interestingly, there are 35 guys but only one girl from the Great Lakes State to earn McDonald's All-American honors - can you name her?

Can you name the years when Michigan was represented by more than one player?

Enjoy!

The 2009 McDonald's High School Basketball All-American Nominees

GIRLS
Name, High School, City, State
Kimberly Bee, Communication & Media Arts High School, Detroit
Talisha Bridges, Kalamazoo Lox Norrix High School, Kalamazoo
Juanita Cochran, Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw
Sarah Davis, St. Clair High School, St. Clair
Kiah Douglas, Arthur Hill High School, Saginaw
Jourdan Erskine, Saginaw Heritage High School, Saginaw
Demeisha Fambro, Crockett Technical High School, Detroit
Michelle Gaedke, Edsel Ford High School, Dearborn
Emma Golen, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Mariah Gordon, Belleville High School, Belleville
India Hairston, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Elizabeth Hamlet, McBain High School, McBain
Shaakira Haywood, Plymouth High School, Canton
Jasmine Homles, Communication & Media Arts High School, Detroit
Nya Jordan, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Rennica Lee Merida, Thurston High School, Redford
Gabrielle Machado, Pontiac Northern High School, Pontiac
Ashara Maxie, Detroit Consortium College Prep High School, Detroit
Kimberly McKinney, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Chenise Miller, West Bloomfield High School, West Bloomfield
Amber Moore, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills
Kelsi Robinson, Plymouth High School, Canton
Jenny Ryan, Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw
Jessica Schroll, H.H. Dow High School, Midland
Iniqua Snell, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Faziah Steen, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Briauna Taylor, Livonia Franklin High School, Livonia
Brittany Taylor, Livonia Franklin High School, Livonia
Shareena Taylor, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Samantha Theut , Cardinal Mooney High School, Marine City
Jasmine Thomas, Flint Hamady High School, Flint
Courtney Townsend, Martin Luther King High School, Detroit
Sami Tucker, East Lansing High School, East Lansing
Bethany Watterworth, Lake Orion High School, Lake Orion
Destiny Williams, Benton Harbor High School, Benton Harbor

BOYS
Name, School, City, State
Eso Akunne, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor
Douglas Anderson, Kalamazoo Central High School, Kalamazoo
Matt Balkema, Warren Cousino High School, Warren
Willie Cruz, L'Anse Creuse High School, Harrison Township
Zach Eddy, Stevensville-Lakeshore High School, Stevensville
Demetrius Ford, Detroit Cody High School, Detroit
Javontae Ford, Forest Hills Northern High School, Grand Rapids
Austin Fowler, Brother Rice High School, Bloomfield Hills
Jordan Fowler, Holly High School, Holly
Michael Fugate, Lakeland High School, White Lake
Holden Greiner, Traverse City St. Francis High School, Traverse City
Austin Harper, Grand Haven High School, Grand Haven
John Hoskins, Warren Connor Creek Academy, Warren
Matt Howe, Gull Lake High School, Richland
Nic Jobe, Ida High School, Ida
Travonn Jones, Hartland High School, Hartland
Donnavan Kirk, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Anthony Manno, Dearborn Divine Child High School, Dearborn
Alex Marcotullio, Warren DeLaSalle Collegiate High School, Warren
K'allante Miller, Oak Park High School, Oak Park
Shane Moreland, Flint Powers Catholic High School, Flint
Jordan Morgan, U of D Detroit Jesuit High School, Detroit
Derrick Nix, Detroit Pershing High School, Detroit
Marshawn Norris, Napoleon High School, Napoleon
C.J. Paquin, Cedarville High School, Cedarville
Jamar Ragland, Detroit Loyola High School, Detroit
Da'Shonte Riley, Detroit Country Day, Beverly Hills
Nate Robertson, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor
Joe Simon, Marquette High School, Marquette
Ben Simons, Cadillac High School, Cadillac
Dion Sims, Orchard Lake St. Mary's High School, Orchard Lake
Thomas Staton, Clarkston High School, Clarkston
Jamie Stewart, Livonia Clarenceville High School, Livonia
James Still, Detroit Community High School, Detroit
Booker Stoudmire, Belleville High School, Belleville
Drew Valentine, Lansing Sexton High School, Lansing
Andrew VanDierendonock, Wyandotte Roosevelt High School, Wyandotte
Korey Vandussen, Zeeland East High School, Zeeland
Shayne Whittington, Lawrence High School, Lawrence

McDonalds Alumni
Girls
Tiffanie Shives, 2005, Lansing Christian H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State

Boys
Earvin “Magic” Johnson, 1977, Everett H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State, Los Angeles Lakers*
Tim Andree, 1979, Brother Rice H.S., Birmingham, MI, Notre Dame
Tim McCormick, 1980, Clarkston H.S., Clarkston, MI, Michigan, New York Knicks*
Barry Spencer, 1980, Catholic Central H.S., Redford, MI, Notre Dame
Eric Turner, 1981, Central H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan, Detroit Pistons*
Sam Vincent, 1981, Eastern H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State, Orlando Magic*
Antoine Joubert, 1983, Southwestern H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan
Kevin Smith, 1983, Everett H.S., Lansing, MI, Minnesota
Roy Marble, 1985, Beecher H.S., Flint, MI, Iowa, Denver Nuggets*
Derrick Coleman, 1986, Detroit Nothern H.S., Detroit, MI, Syracuse, Detroit Pistons*
Anthony Pendleton, 1986, Flint Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, USC
Terry Mills, 1986, Romulus H.S., Romulus, MI, Michigan, Indiana Pacers*
Mark Macon, 1987, Buena Vista H.S., Saginaw, MI, Temple, Detroit Pistons*
Matt Steigenga, 1988, South Christian H.S., Grand Rapids, MI, Michigan State, Chicago Bulls*
Chris Webber, 1991, Detroit Country Day H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Golden State Warriors*
Jalen Rose, 1991, Detroit Southwestern H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Phoenix Suns*
Kenyon Murray, 1992, Battle Creek Central H.S., Battle Creek, MI, Iowa
Jon Garavaglia, 1993, Aquinas H.S., Southgate, MI, Michigan State
Willie Mitchell, 1994, Pershing H.S., Detroit, MI, UAB
Robert Traylor, 1995, Murray-Wright H.S., Detroit, MI, Michigan, Cleveland Cavaliers*
Albert White, 1995, Inkster H.S., Inkster, MI, Missouri
Winfred Walton, 1996, Pershing H.S., Detroit, MI, Fresno State
Mateen Cleaves, 1996, Flint Northern H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan State, Seattle Supersonics*
Shane Battier, 1997, Detroit Country Day School, Beverly Hills, MI, Duke, Houston Rockets
Dane Fife, 1998, Clarkston H.S., Clarkston, MI, Indiana
LaVell Blanchard, 1999, Ann Arbor Pioneer H.S., Ann Arbor, MI, Michigan
Jason Richardson, 1999, Arthur Hill H.S., Saginaw, MI, Michigan State, Charlotte Bobcats
Marcus Taylor, 2000, Waverly H.S., Lansing, MI, Michigan State
Kelvin Torbert, 2001, Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, Michigan State
Paul Davis, 2002, Rochester H.S., Rochester Hills, MI, Michigan State, Los Angeles Clippers
Anthony Roberson, 2002, Saginaw H.S., Saginaw, MI, Florida, Golden State Warriors*
Brandon Cotton, 2003, St. Martin DePorres H.S., Detroit, MI, Detroit
Olumuyiwa "Olu" Famutimi, 2003, Northwestern H.S., Flint, MI, Arkansas, San Antonio Spurs*
Joe Crawford, 2004, Renaissance H.S., Detroit, MI, Kentucky
Malik, Hairston, 2004, Renaissance H.S., Detroit, MI, Oregon