Basketball
Burney’s MHSAA All-NCAA Final Four squad (2000-2020)
In honor of the NCAA national championship game that would have been Monday night, here is Scott M. Burnstein’s all-Final Four squad, made up of players from the modern era of high school hoops in Michigan (2000-2020). The Guards Michigan State’s Mateen Cleaves (Flint Northern) — The point guard and captain. Michigan State’s Cassius Winston ...
Basketball
Burney’s Top 25 Michigan boys basketball state champions of the STATE CHAMPS! era (2003-2019)
1 Lansing Sexton 2012 (Class B) — NBA guards Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) and Bryn Forbes (Michigan State-Cleveland State) made up one of the greatest backcourts in MHSAA history. 2 Detroit Renaissance 2004 (Class B) — Talk about firepower: Joe Crawford (Kentucky), Malik Hairston (Oregon), Marcus Stout (Fordham), Tajuan Porter (Oregon) … any questions? 3 ...
Basketball
Burney’s 2021 Mr. Basketball (Way Too Early) Power Rankings — “The Dirty Dozen”
With the 2020 Mr. Basketball award going to Benton Harbor’s Carlos “Scooby” Johnson on Monday, here’s Scott Burnstein’s look at who might be in line for the hardware next season: 1 Pierre “P.J.” Brooks (Detroit Douglas F) — One of the best pure scorers in PSL history and that’s saying quite a bit. 2 Kobe ...
Basketball
All In-State Bobby Knight Team — The best Indiana-bred basketball players to suit up for The General at IU
BURNEY’S ALL IN-STATE BOBBY KNIGHT TEAM: The best Indiana-bred basketball players to suit up for The General at IU G Steve Alford (New Castle, at IU 1983-87) — The ultimate Hoosierland hoopster, best shooter of the Knight era, definition of a winner. G Randy Wittman (Ben Davis, at IU 1978-83) — Man, could this guy tickle ...
Basketball
The Difference Makers — Who will shine in March’s madness?
Five X-Factors to keep an eye out for on the boys basketball court this postseason: Quindarius Davis (Benton Harbor Sr.) — The best lock-down perimeter defender on the state’s west side. That’s a FACT, folks! Carmelo Harris (Flint Beecher Soph.) — Star in the making, learning the ropes from Mr. Basketball candidate and Oregon-bound floor ...
Basketball
Nearing The Finish Line — Michigan Mr. Basketball March Power Rankings
Here’s how Burney sees the race for the 40th annual Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, headed into the postseason: 1 Lorne Bowman (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s G) — Checks every box. Blew up in the CHSL title game. Any questions? 2 Tyson Acuff (Detroit Cass Tech G) — Making the biggest impact of any player ...
Basketball
FIVE FOR FIGHTING: Burney’s top 5 MHSAA scoring efforts of the modern era on the boys hardwood
In honor of the recent high-scoring games by Houghton’s Brad Simonsen (63 in OT loss vs. Ishpeming on Feb. 4), Mt. Clemens’ Javaughn Hannah (60 vs. Pontiac A&T on Feb. 4) and Ypsilanti Lincoln’s Emoni Bates, Burney gives you his top five scoring performances of the modern era of boys basketball in Michigan: 1 Larry ...
Basketball
SUDDEN DEPARTURES: Bomholt & Bowling leave bench before tourney time
As state tournament time approaches in Hoosierland, a pair of boys basketball coaches suddenly left their posts last week. Jerry Bomholt at Southwestern (Hanover) and Donnie Bowling at Indianapolis Manual are no longer in their jobs. Bowling tendered his resignation last Thursday. Bomholt told the Madison Courier last Wednesday that he was forced out of ...
Basketball
Burney’s Michigan Mr. Basketball Power Rankings — February 2020
1 Lorne Bowman (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s G) — Impossible to stop out of the backcourt, efficient, smooth and always ready to rumble. 2 Tyson Acuff (Detroit Cass Tech G) — Delivering one of the best senior campaigns in the annals of the historic PSL. 3 Carlos “Scooby” Johnson (Benton Harbor F) — Could easily ...
Basketball
Mid-Winter Indiana Basketball Notebook: Perkins, Pack join 1,000-pt. club; Hickman picks up offers
The players club was never a question. Now, they’re G-Men. Lawrence North senior Tony Perkins and Lawrence Central senior Nijel Pack both reached the 1,000-point plateau last week. Perkins, a 6-foot-4 slashing guard, is signed with Iowa and is the frontrunner in a tight Mr. Basketball race. The 6-foot-0 Pack is the arguably the best ...
Basketball
The Bucs Basketball Pantheon — Keon Thompson Jr. joins Merrillville’s Master Class
Merrillville junior hoop king Keon Thompson Jr. just broke loose for a school-record 52 points in a single game last week. He’s a shoo-in to end his prep career as the Pirates all-time leading scorer. Let’s take a look back at Bucs Baller past and break down the best Merrillville hoopsters of the modern era ...
