Basketball

ROCKING THE BOAT: Unbeaten Chandler Park hoopsters disrupting the field in Division 2
Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy is undefeated, yet still somehow sneaking up on people in the Division 2 boys basketball ranks. Despite their perfect record, not many pundits put the Eagles in the same discussion with the likes of Division 2 frontrunners Benton Harbor and New Haven when the state tournament began two weeks ago. ...
Basketball

Ferndale cagers are coming into their own, peaking at the right time
From frontrunners to forgotten about, to now hot as a pistol. Ferndale’s boys basketball club is firing on all cylinders, torching nets en route to an unexpected state tournament run. The suddenly surging Eagles put up 90 points per outing in their thunderous three-night jaunt through the D2 districts in which they won their games ...
Basketball

Heart of the Matter: Burney gives a shout out to the grinders
Burney’s Boys Basketball All-Heart & Soul Squad Martell Turner & Darien Banks (Roseville G) — Defines the term double trouble, tidal wave of tenacity and finishing power. Tevan Blackmon (Saginaw G) — Wily workhorse out of the backcourt, “Rise and Grind” type. Griffin Yaklich (Saline G/F) — Perfect mix of ferocious and finesse, one of ...
Football

MIDWEST RECRUITING: East Kentwood sends another lineman to the Big Ten, as Dallas Fincher chooses MSU
The Big Nasties at East Kentwood are spreading the love around the Big Ten. On the heels of senior football stars Logan Brown (offensive lineman) and Mazi Smith (defensive lineman) signing with Wisconsin and Michigan, respectively, junior Dallas Fincher (offensive lineman) has ended his recruitment and committed to Michigan State. The bumper crop of current ...
Basketball

Powers that be: Burney’s LVC player rankings and awards
Burney’s LVC Boys Basketball Player Power Rankings 1 Andre Price (Walled Lake Northern Sr. F) – Gigantic senior campaign, played with a chip on his shoulder all year long. 2 Gunnar Gustafson (Milford Sr. C) – One of the best big men in the state, definition of a workhorse in the paint. 3 Kam Manley ...
Basketball

Checking in on the CHSL: Power index for Catholic League Cageland
Burney’s Catholic League Boys Basketball Player Power Rankings 1 Daniel Friday (Detroit U-D Jesuit Sr. G/F) — Full-throttle versatility, the definition of a leader and a warrior baseline-to-baseline. Signed with Brown. 2 Lorne Bowman (Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Jr. G) — The top college prospect in the league, sugary-sweet shooting stroke, an “off the ...
Basketball

POWER BALL JACKPOT: Burney’s power rankings of the best boys basketball players in the OAA
Burney’s OAA Power Rankings — Boys Basketball Players 1 Matt Nicholson (Clarkston Jr. C) — Best overall “big” in the state, has legitimate shot at a triple double every night. 2 Yusuf Jihad (North Farmington Sr. C) — The top center in the state’s Class of 2019, the most upside of any player in Oakland ...
Basketball

Down and dirty in the D: Burney’s PSL player power rankings
Burney’s Top 10 Detroit PSL Boys Basketball Players 1 Chandler Turner (Detroit Renaissance Sr. F) — Captivating talent on the wing, cash money playmaker whether in a half-court set or the transition game. 2 Tyson Acuff (Detroit Cass Tech Jr. G) — As promising a pure point guard as the PSL has had in its ...
Basketball

WATCHING THE THRONE: Burney checks in with the defending boys hoops champs
With less than a month to go in the regular season, all four defending boys basketball state champions appear poised to make serious runs at a repeat. Can you say BACK-2-BACK? These champs are ready to go BLING CRAZY one more time. So, let’s check-in with the title holders aka let’s WATCH THE THRONE: ...
Football

MIDWEST RECRUITING: Burney’s Heat Index has Michigan’s hottest recruits in the Class of 2020
Here’s a breakdown of the hottest junior football recruits in the MHSAA right now: Peny Boone (Detroit King RB) — Perfect mix of speed and strength, a specimen of a power back, Michigan and Michigan State offered last week, he’s said to be leaning towards Tennessee. Jordan Turner (Farmington LB) — Tenacious tackler, a total ...
Basketball

MIDWEST RECRUITING: Burney’s midseason Michigan basketball notebook — commitments, offers, records fall
Coloma’s ace gunner, senior floor general, Zach Goodline, recently committed to Huntington University, an NAIA program in Indiana. Goodline is a bulldog out of the backcourt, pouring in 30 points per game for Division 2 Coloma and nearing the 2,000 mark for his career. ————— Madison Heights Madison’s Austin Brown (pictured), maybe the best three-sport athlete ...