Player rankings aside, Muskegon's Deyonta Davis may be the most impactful big man in high school basketball.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Keith Guy (238-49 career record, 12th year as head coach)
2013-14 record: 28-0, Class A state champions
KEY RETURNERSBlake Andrews (6-2, Jr., G)
Deyonta Davis (6-9, Sr., F/C) – Michigan State verbal commitment
Jamel French (6-4, Jr., F)
Joeviair Kennedy (6-4, Sr., G)
Daryl Kirkland (6-2, Sr., G)
Linwood Lee III (6-0, Jr., G)
Michael Littlejohn (5-10, Jr., G)
Jason Loera (5-10, Sr., G)
IMPACT NEWCOMERSAnthony Bethea (6-4, So., G/F)
BIG RED STORYLINES* Three schools have gone back-to-back in Michigan's largest classification since the turn of the century (Pontiac Northern 2001-02, Saginaw 2007-08 and Kalamazoo Central 2010-11). The Big Reds will be favored to become the fourth after running the table last winter. "It's not something we are going to shy away from," Guy said. "But like I told our team, we have to get better. I have to coach better and we have to be a better team than we were last year. It's going to be the biggest game of the year every night when we go into somebody else's building."
* A MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2013-14 after posting 15 points, 13.5 rebounds and 7.1 blocked shots per game, Davis will be the focal point for Muskegon this time around. College and pro considerations aside, there may not be a more impactful big man in all of high school basketball. "I haven't seen a player like him come through," Guy said. "He has tremendous natural ability, unbelievable timing, great hands and I haven't seen a big run the floor like him. On top of all that, he is a total team player."
* Muskegon's football and boys basketball teams have combined to go 48-3 over the past two years with a hoops title and runner-up finish on the gridiron. Guy encourages his players to participate in multiple sports and expects to have as many as eight athletes from the football team on his varsity roster.
KEY DATESDec. 20 –
Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.)Jan. 3 –
Curie (Chicago)Jan. 17 –
Romulus (Mich.)Feb. 7 –
Whitney Young (Chicago)March 5 –
River Rouge (Mich.)
