Taking a look at the pre-season top ranked teams participating in the 21st Annual Motor City Roundball Classic.
Team Page (Team info, Schedule, Results, Stats)
Detroit Loyola (15-6) The Bulldogs have the youngest commit in Michigan with sophomore point guard PJ Mitchell committing to Central Michigan and strong guard play in senior Dequan Powell. Football players and a solid group of basketball players round out the group. See, District 73. - IPS Basketball
A regional finalist a year ago won’t have to worry about the University of Detroit-Jesuit this upcoming March unless they reach the Breslin but, will more than likely are on a collision course with Dakota in this season’s regional. The Raiders have a strong backcourt led by seniors Billy Thomas and Jacob Joubert will be boosted in a big way by junior transfer Amauri Hardy in December or after the semester in late January pending the MHSAA’s ruling on the transfer from Southfield. Junior power forward Nate Brooks moved to the area from Georgia this summer and will provide immediate production on both ends of the court. Senior forward Alex Darden is headed to the University of Cincinnati for baseball next season and for now will provide scoring, rebounding, and defense. - IPS Basketball
(20-4, Class A): North Farmington should battle Clarkston for the OAA Red championship and be one of the elite teams in Class A as well. The Raiders, who lost to Detroit Jesuit in the regional finals, return starters in 6-3 senior Jacob Joubert (9 points, 5 assists) and 6-6 senior Alex Darden (7 points, 7 rebounds), and have sixth man Josh Hogans, a 5-9 guard back as well, along with talented transfers in 6-3 junior guard Amauri Hardy from Southfield and 6-7 junior Nate Brooks from Georgia. Hardy and Brooks already have multiple offers from mid-major schools. - Detroit News
Outlook: The record might not be as impressive this season, but only because of a more challenging schedule that will make the Raiders state contenders come March. Jacob Joubert has started every game since his freshman season and is an effective point guard. Billy Thomas is a scorer from the perimeter as while attacking the basket. Junior Amauri Hardy, a transfer from Southfield, is a capable point guard who can play a variety of spots and will add depth. The player who might put the Raiders over the top is 6-8 junior Nate Brooks, a transfer from Georgia who is an athletic post player and can be a dominating force in the paint. - Detroit Free Press