OC Pre-Season Top 10

1 Birmingham Detroit Country Day – It's scary to think that Ray McCallum could play any better this year than he did last. That said, I think he will. Amir Williams is a rock in the post. The development of juniors Chris Fowler, Kenny Knight, and Lee Bailey will be a key to the Yellowjackets success.

2 Southfield-Lathrup – The Chargers are a lot more than just Roy Marble, Jr. Fellow seniors Bryan Coleman and Drew Gilchrest have the ability and instinct to make teams' pay if they try to double Marble and leave them open.   

3 Southfield – Watch for 6-5 junior forward Jalen Floyd to have a breakout year for the Blue Jays. The devastating backcourt of Carlton Brundidge and Pee Wee Barnes will give defenders fits all season long.

4 Clarkston – The Wolves will be a work in progress until at least late-January. Forward Matt Kamienieke and point guard Tyler Scarlett – senior co-captains and the lone returning starters off last season's final four squad are a nice foundation, but the real question is how fast junior transfer Marcus Hardy, senior Jordan Clark, and the rest of the sophomore JV call-ups can adapt to the steep expectations and tremendous pressure that comes along with being a primetime player in the C-Town hoops program. Head coach Dan Fife and his sideline genius by itself makes Clarkston a top 5 team

5 Pontiac – The Phoenix will be dangerous with veteran guards "Ant" Adams and Jabari Martin leading an attack augmented by four quality transfers: Leroy Jackson (WL Northern) and Jawan Moody (OLSM) among them

6 Birmingham Seaholm – Richaud Pack and Shawn Conway are a lethal combination. Senior forward Jack Quigley will be the team's vocal leader and do all the dirty work in the paint for the defending conference champ Maples.

7 Holly – Senior forward, Lance "The Hammer" Hopkin is a straight out stud muffin – possibly the most underrated player in the county. The Broncos veteran-laden line-up will hold things down until transfers Thomas Lovachis (Stockbridge) and Josh Fugate (Lakeland) come on board to strengthen the team's offensive arsenal in January.

8 North Farmington – High-octane guard Kyle Vinales is one of the best scorers in the state. His Raiders' running-mates, Robert Hogans, Tommy Doyle, and Thurgood McCants will come into their own this season. Big Urb Bingham joins the fray in January and by early February N. Farmington could be playing at an elite level.

9 AH Avondale – Don't sleep on the OC's other Yellow Jackets hoops squad this year. Avondale's junior class is deep and talented. Tony Harris and Ray Tillman make-up a superbad backcourt and De Marquis Johnson can shoot it from the outside as good as anyone in the area.

10 Orchard Lake St. Mary's – Not having Gary Hunter until second semester due to an injury suffered in the state playoffs is a tough blow towards building early on-court chemistry. Senior Evan Webster will have to step-up fill Hunter's void as the team's floor leader. Mike Furlong is one of the best 3-point shooters in the area.