Trying to keep this comprehensive list limited to players with some mutual interest, here’s a rundown of more Titan targets for the classes of 2009 and 2010:
Kyle Cain, a 6’7 forward from Thorton Fractional (Chicago) North, scored 12 points in an upset of No. 12 Hyde Park and nearly led TF North to an early-season upset of No. 10 Thorton, scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. His team is 2-1. Cain verbally committed to UDM in early November but didn’t sign.
One of Perry Watston’s correct observations towards the end of his career was his statement in the June 24th, 2007 issue of ESPN the Magazine (still searching for the online version of the article to link) that the revitalization of grassroots basketball in Chicago has dramatically enhanced the development of players in the city.
He noted that Chicago players were again starring on college championship teams around the country after a decade-long drought that was triggered by the collapse of the grassroots system. A similar broken system is beginning to stifle prep ball in Detroit, but that’s a long-winded essay for another time.
CityHoops wholeheartedly agrees and, despite being Detroit homers, hopes that coach McCallum keeps the pipeline to Chicago OPEN to supplement a strong local, in-state recruiting presence.
Off the soapbox, on with the roundup …
Jon Horford, younger brother of Al, had a monster 31 and 17 game last week in a win over Lansing Waverly. Horford, a 6-foot-9 junior, is the brother of Al (one of many relation recruits to eye this season in Michigan) and has been on the radar for quite some time.
Lamar Lee, a Titan signee, has those in the program excited about his ability to be an impact scorer. He is averaging 12.4 points in seven games and is 19-of-35 from deep on the season (54 percent). He’s hit 16-of-17 from the line and is averaging about three assists and one steal.
Another early signee, Curtis Eatmon, has his team at 13-3. One of only two players to start all 16 games, Eatmon has averaged 7.7 points in 20 minutes thus far as his team has a deep roster and deep rotation. His other numbers haven’t been impressive: 24 percent from 3, 66 percent from the line, and 16 assists to 32 turnovers. Not good as of lately for the 6-4 guard.
Will Clyburn stood out last year alongside Dominique Buckley at Romulus, and is now flourishing as a JUCO freshman at Marshalltown Community College. Clyburn, a 6-foot-6 wing forward, is averaging 18.5 points and 9.4 rebounds, and also leads the team in assists (three), steals (one) and blocks (1.7).
DeAndre Nealy – don’t know if the interest is as mutual as it needs to be, and according to those with knowledge of Nealy’s recruitment, there have been mid-major plus schools putting in the work for a while now, so Detroit might be at a disadvantage getting in late. Mott CC and head coach Steve Schmidt do have a history of taking city stars, developing them athletically and academically, then returning them to the Motor City.
Nealy is a 6-foot-6 jumping jack forward who is a beast defensively. Currently terrorizing the JUCO ranks, Nealy would be a factor at any level (despite the common questio of his size) because of his superior leaping ability. He plays hard, goes hard after rebounds and blocks shots. He’s averaging 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and an absurd 9.4 blocks per game (85 total in nine games) - granted, against some uneven JUCO competition.
Filed under: Detroit Titans, recruiting Tagged: | Curtis Eatmon, DeAndre Nealy, Jon Horford, Kyle Cain, Lamar Lee, Will Clyburn
