Michigan State Readies For Sixth-Straight NCAA Tournament
3/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 18, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
2002-03 Michigan State BasketballMichigan State (19-12)vs. Colorado (20-11)
March 21, 20037:10 P.M. ESTSt. Pete Times ForumTampa, Fla.
Radio: Spartan Sports Network - Will Tieman (Play by Play), Gus Ganakas (Color). Flagship - WJIM (1240 AM/97.5 FM)
TV: CBS - Ian Eagle (Play by Play), Jim Spanarkel (Color), Derrin Horton (Sidelines)
Michigan State Game Notes
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The Opening Tip
Spartans Appear In Sixth-Straight NCAA Tournament - Michigan State will be making its school-record sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, playing as the No. 7 seed in the South Region. The Spartans have won five of their last six games and nine of their last 13. MSU's first round opponent, Colorado, has won four of its last five games and eight of its last 12.
MSU In The NCAA Tournament - Michigan State is making its 17th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, with a record of 33-15 in its previous 16 tournaments. MSU has made five trips to the Final Four (1957, 1979, 1999, 2000 and 2001) and captured the National Championship in 1979 and 2000. (For complete results, records and box scores of MSU in the NCAA Tournament, see pages 249-265 of the MSU Media Guide.)
MSU In The First Round - In its 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, Michigan State has a record of 13-3 in the first round. The three first-round losses came in 2002 (North Carolina State, 69-58), 1995 (Weber State, 79-72) and 1985 (Alabama-Birmingham, 70-68).
MSU In Exclusive Company - Michigan State ranks sixth among all schools in NCAA Tournament winning percentage for teams with at least 20 tournament games. MSU's .688 winning percentage (33-15) trails only Duke (.765, 75-23), UCLA (.734, 80-29), Kentucky (.701, 89-38), North Carolina (.698, 81-35) and UNLV (.698, 30-13).
MSU As A No. 7 Seed - Since the NCAA first assigned seeds in the 1979 NCAA Tournament, Michigan State has been the No. 7 seed just once. In 1994, No. 7 seed Michigan State defeated No. 10 Seton Hall, 84-73, before falling to No. 2 Duke, 85-74.
Spartan Opponents In NCAA Tournament - After review of the NCAA Tournament field of 65, it's clear that Michigan State did play one of the tougher schedules in the country as nine Spartan opponents are in the tournament. The list includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina Asheville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Syracuse and Wisconsin. MSU has a 7-6 record against teams in the NCAA Tournament. According to Collegerpi.com, Michigan State owns the 12th-toughest schedule in the nation.
Coach Izzo - In his eighth year, Tom Izzo (Northern Michigan, '77) is 186-77 (.707), 92-40 (.697) in the Big Ten, as the coach of the Michigan State basketball program. He is the third-winningest coach in MSU history, trailing only Jud Heathcote (340) and Benjamin VanAlstyne (232) in total wins. Izzo's 167 wins in his first seven years give him the fifth most by a coach in his first seven seasons of coaching in college basketball history. In his seven seasons of coaching, Izzo has won National Coach of the Year honors three times, including NABC honors in 2001. In 1999, Izzo was named national coach of the year by Basketball Times, while earning similar honors from Associated Press, Basketball News and the USBWA in '98.
NCAA Success - Tom Izzo enters the 2003 NCAA Tournament as the active coach with the best NCAA Tournament winning percentage for coaches with a minimum of 10 games. Through five tournaments, Izzo has an NCAA record of 16-4 for a winning percentage of .800. He is followed by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski at .795 (58-15). Overall, Izzo trails only Cincinnati's Ed Jucker (.917; 11-1), LaSalle's Ken Loeffler (.900; 9-1), San Francisco's Phil Woolpert (.867; 13-2), UCLA's John Wooden (.825; 47-10) and Indiana's Branch McCracken (.818; 9-2)
Izzo In Postseason Play - Tom Izzo has a 25-10 record in postseason play, including a 16-4 record in the NCAA Tournament.
Izzo Joins Elite Company - With Michigan State's 69-61 win over Purdue on March 1, Tom Izzo became just the third coach in Big Ten history to compile 90 or more conference wins in his first eight seasons. Indiana's Bob Knight earned his 90th triumph in season seven and current-Purdue mentor Gene Keady reached his 90th win in season eight. For his career, Izzo is 92-40 in conference games.
Izzo's Two Decades - The 2002-03 season marks Tom Izzo's 20th with the Spartan basketball program. Now in his eighth year as a head coach, Izzo spent 12 years as an assistant under Jud Heathcote.
Izzo Vs. Ranked Opponents - Tom Izzo is 47-36 against foes ranked in The Associated Press Top 25. This includes wins in 35 of MSU's last 50 games against ranked opponents. This year, MSU is 4-3 against the AP Top 25.
2002 NCAA Tournament Recap
March 15, 2002 - North Carolina St. 69 - Michigan State 58
* Michigan State was a No. 10 seed for the second time in school history.
* Chris Hill scored a game-high 21 points, hitting 5-of-11 from the field, 4-of-9 from three-point range and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
* Michigan State held a 30-18 halftime lead, but North Carolina State opened the second half on an 11-2 run to get back in the game quickly.
* North Carolina State outscored Michigan State, 31-17, from the foul line.
* The first-round loss was just the third in MSU history and the first since 1995.
More NCAA Tournament Notes
Southern Hospitality - Michigan State is making its second appearance in the South Region, which has only been in existence since 1998. In 2001, the Spartans parlayed a No. 1 seed in the South to a third-consecutive trip to the Final Four. The Spartans did play in the Southeast Region in the 1990, 1994 and 1995.
MSU In The Second Round - Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, Michigan State has advanced to the second round on nine occasions. MSU has a 6-3 record in second-round games, including four straight wins.
Two Titles Not Too Shabby - Michigan State is one of just 12 schools to have won two or more NCAA Championships. Cincinnati, Kansas, Louisville, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State and San Francisco join MSU with two titles. Only Duke (3), North Carolina (3), Indiana (5), Kentucky (7) and UCLA (11) have won more titles than MSU.
Colorado Notes
Coach Patton - Ricardo Patton (Belmont, '80) is in his eighth season as the head coach at Colorado with a career record of 125-102. He is making his second NCAA Tournament appearance, having first led the Buffaloes to the 1997 tournament. Patton has guided the Buffs to a 20-11 record this season, the second 20-win season in his tenure.
Spartans Vs. Buffaloes - The Spartans and Buffaloes have met just three times, with MSU holding a 2-1 series advantage. The two teams last met on Dec. 28, 1988, when State downed CU, 60-57, at the Far West Classic in Portland, Ore. The Buffaloes won the first meeting between the two schools on Dec. 28, 1956, 90-87, at the Big Seven Classic in Kansas City, Mo.
Scouting The Buffaloes - Colorado earned an at-large bid out of the Big 12 Conference ... junior guard Michel Morandais (17.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and senior forward Stephane Pelle (12.4 ppg, 9.6 rpg) were selected to the All-Big 12 Coaches Second and Third Team, respectively ... the Buffs finished atop the league in defensive rebounds (28.62 drpg) and blocked shots (7.62 bpg) and second in offensive rebounds (14.5 orpg) ... Pelle and sophomore center David Harrison rank among the Big 12 leaders in double-doubles with 12 and nine, respectively.
Buffaloes Vs. The Field - Colorado is 6-4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament field with wins over Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Penn, Colorado State and Oklahoma State, while falling to Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma (twice).
Common Opponents - Michigan State and Colorado share three common opponents in Loyola, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The Buffaloes went 2-2 as they defeated Oklahoma State and Loyola and lost twice to Oklahoma. Michigan State was 1-2 as it defeated Loyola and lost neutral-site games to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Florida Notes
Coach Donovan - Billy Donovan is 148-72 in his seventh season as head coach at Florida. Overall, he is in his ninth season as a collegiate head coach, with a record of 183-92, having spent two seasons at Marshall prior to taking over the Gator program. He has a career record of 8-4 in the NCAA Tournament and is one of just five coaches in the history of college basketball to play and coach in the Final Four.
Spartans Vs. Gators - The all-time series between Michigan State and Florida is tied, 2-2. The series includes an 89-76 Spartan victory in the 2000 NCAA Championship game in Indianapolis. In the two years following the championship game, the two squads split a pair of games, with each team winning on its home court.
Scouting The Gators - Florida earned an at-large bid out of the Southeastern Conference ... the Gators are appearing in their fifth straight NCAA Tournament, establishing a school record ... Florida's 24 regular-season wins are a school record ... Florida's No. 2 seed is the highest in school history.
Gators Vs. The Field - Florida is 6-4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament field with wins over Alabama, Auburn, Kansas, Louisiana State, Maryland and Mississippi State, while falling to Kentucky (twice), Louisiana State and Stanford.
Common Opponents - Michigan State and Florida share two common opponents in Kentucky and South Florida. The Spartans were 2-0 against the teams, while Florida was 1-2.
Sam Houston State Notes
Coach Marlin - Bob Marlin (Mississippi State, '81) is in his fifth season as the head coach at Sam Houston State with a record of 85-56. Overall, he is in his 10th season as a collegiate head coach, with a career mark of 208-91, having served for five seasons at Pensacola Junior College.
Spartans Vs. Bearkats - The Spartans and Bearkats have never met on the basketball court. Michigan State is 4-0 against teams from the Southland Conference, including 3-0 vs. Lamar and 1-0 vs. Nicholls State.
Scouting The Bearkats - The Bearkats earned their first trip to the NCAA Division I tournament after capturing the Southland Conference Tournament Championship, downing Stephen F. Austin, 69-66, in overtime ... SHSU's last tournament appearance on the national level came in the 1986 NCAA Division II tournament ... the Bearkats boast Southland Conference Player of the Year Donald Cole,a 6-8 senior that averages 17.6 ppg and 8.2 rpg ... according to the latest NCAA statistics (March 10), Sam Houston State ranks fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage defense.
Bearkats Vs. The Field - Sam Houston State did not play an NCAA Tournament team during the 2002-03 regular season.
Common Opponents - Michigan State and Sam Houston State did not share a common opponent this past season.
2003 Big Ten Tournament Notes
* Maurice Ager tied his career high with 15 points vs. Ohio State and led the Spartans in scoring for the tournament, averaging 12.0 points per contest.
* Michigan State outscored Ohio State, 19-2, in second-chance points.
* After scoring just 17 first-half points vs. Ohio State, the Spartans scored 37 in the second half.
* Michigan State held Purdue to just 42 points in the quarterfinal contest, marking the third fewest points scored in tournament history.
* MSU struggled from the field, shooting 34 percent from the floor in the two games.
* Michigan State's win over Purdue was its first in the Big Ten Tournament since the 2000 championship game.
MSU Basketball Notes
Looking For No. 20 - A win against Colorado would give Michigan State its 20th victory of the season, marking the fifth time in six years that the Spartans have accomplished that feat. Of the 12 20-win seasons in MSU history, Izzo has been involved in nine of them, including four as head coach.
Back To The Bay - Michigan State will be making its third NCAA Tournament appearance in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. In 1994, the Spartans were a No. 7 seed in the Southeast Region in St. Petersburg. MSU also played in the 1999 Final Four in St. Petersburg.
Finishing Strong - The Spartans enter the NCAA Tournament playing some of their best basketball of the year, having won nine of their last 13 games overall and finishing the Big Ten season winning eight of their last 10 games.
Best On The Boards For Sixth-Straight Year - With a rebounding margin of +4.6 in conference games, Michigan State led the Big Ten in rebounding margin for a sixth-straight season. In fact, Michigan State has led the conference in rebounding margin in Big Ten games in seven of Tom Izzo's eight years as head coach, finishing second in 1996-97. This is the first time in the history of the Big Ten that a school has led the conference in the same statistical category for six straight seasons.
MSU's Month - Over the last five seasons, including this year, Michigan State has a record of 28-6 in the month of March. For his career, Tom Izzo is 35-13 in March.
Spartans Benefit From Balanced Scoring - In four of the last six games four different Spartans have scored in double figures, and not surprisingly, Michigan State won all four games. MSU is 8-1 this season when four or more Spartans score in double-figures.
A Critical Pair - Sophomores Alan Anderson and Kelvin Torbert are critical to MSU's success. When both players have strong games, MSU is very tough to beat. In fact, the Spartans are 11-0 in 2002-03 when both Anderson and Torbert score in double figures.
In The Classroom - Besides being accomplished athletes, the Michigan State basketball team excels in the classroom. The Spartans boast a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.07. Nine different Spartans own a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better, while seven different players posted a 3.0 or better in the Fall 2002 semester. Five different Spartans, including Aloysius Anagonye, Adam Ballinger, Brian Westrick, Adam Wolfe and undergraduate assistant Mat Ishbia will receive their bachelor's degrees in May 2003.
A Class Act - Chris Hill earned third-team Verizon Academic All-America honors with a 3.90 grade-point average. The Spartan guard is one of just two sophomores to be honored. Hill becomes the fourth Spartan to be honored, joining Ralph Simpson (1970), Greg Kelser (1979) and Matt Steigenga (1990, Third Team). He has also been named to the All-Big Ten Second Team, the NABC All-District 11 Second Team and earned Verizon Academic All-District honors.
Turnover Margin Critical - With Michigan State committing a large number of turnovers, turnover margin is a key indicator of MSU's chances of victory. The Spartans are 12-3 when committing the same number or fewer turnovers than their opponents. However, they are just 7-9 when committing more turnovers.
Battling Turnovers - After averaging 16.0 turnovers in the non-conference, Michigan State is doing a better job of taking care of the ball against conference opponents, committing 13.5 turnovers per game. Overall, the Spartans are averaging 14.5 turnovers on the season, with a -0.3 turnover margin.
From Way Downtown - In less than two years, Chris Hill has established himself as one of the finest shooters in Michigan State history. He is currently fourth on the MSU career list with 150 made three-pointers. With three more three-pointers, Hill will pass Jason Klein (152) to move into third place. His career three-point field-goal percentage of .421 ranks sixth in MSU history. This season, Hill is 84-of-208 (.404) from three-point range and 56-of-111 (.505) from inside the arc. Hill's 84 three-pointers this season rank fourth on the MSU single-season list, trailing Morris Peterson (85; 1999-2000), Shawn Respert (92; 1993-94) and Shawn Respert (119; 1994-95). Hill also established a new school single-game record for three-point field goals made (10) and attempted (18) vs. Syracuse, as the 10 makes also set a Big Ten record.
Rebounding And Defense Key In Victories - Michigan State's defense and rebounding are two keys to its performance. In MSU's 19 wins, the Spartans are holding opponents to 37.3 percent shooting and own a rebound margin of +5.9. In the 12 losses, MSU opponents are shooting 44.5 percent, including 39.0 percent from long range. On the boards, the Spartans own a +4.6 advantage in the defeats.
Little Things Make A Difference - Michigan State has had a legitimate chance of winning every game but one this year. In 11 of its 12 losses, MSU has either been ahead or trailed by four points or less with three minutes or less remaining. Against Villanova, the Spartans trailed by one point with three minutes remaining. In the Oklahoma State game, MSU led by six points with 4:47 left and by one point with 1:43 left. Against Toledo, the game was tied in the final minute, while MSU trailed by just one point with less than 20 seconds remaining vs. Oklahoma. Against Iowa, the Spartans had a one-point lead with under two minutes left and had the ball in a tie game with one minute remaining. In the Purdue loss, MSU was down by just three points with 1:13 remaining. Michigan State trailed Minnesota, 69-65, with 1:48 remaining and possession of the ball. MSU and Michigan were tied with under two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Against Wisconsin, the score was tied at 48 with less than five minutes and the Spartans trailed by four points with less than a minute remaining. In a one-point loss to Syracuse, the Spartans had three shots at the game-winning basket in the last 10 seconds. Most recently vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, the game was tied at 54 in the final minute of play.
Ager Influences Bench Attack - When Maurice Ager is healthy and in the lineup, the Spartans have a much more potent bench. In the 23 games in which Ager has played, MSU's bench is outscoring the opponents' benches by a combined 229 points, an average of +10.0 per game. By comparison, MSU's bench was outscored by 34 points in the eight games that Ager missed, an average of -4.25 per contest.
It's All About Boardwork - Through 31 games, the Spartans have a +5.4 rebounding margin to lead the Big Ten, outrebounding 22 of their 31 opponents and tying three others. In Tom Izzo's eight seasons as head coach, Michigan State has outrebounded its opponent in 220 of 263 games (83.7 percent).
Shooting For Seventy - The 70-point barrier seems to be an important one for Michigan State's offense. The Spartans are 10-3 when scoring 70 points or more, but just 9-9 when failing to reach 70 points.
The Soft Touch - Senior Aloysius Anagonye is among the top field-goal shooters in Michigan State history. Anagonye is shooting .567 for his career (270-of-476), which ranks sixth in MSU history. This season, Anagonye is leading the Big Ten with a .618 field-goal percentage.
Block Party - Senior Aloysius Anagonye ranks third on the MSU career blocked shots list with 88 rejections. Anagonye's teammate, Adam Ballinger, ranks fifth on the career blocks chart with 72.
Freshmen Starters Under Izzo - Throughout his eight years as head coach, Tom Izzo has shown a willingness to put a freshman in the starting lineup. Consider the following freshmen who have all started under Izzo: Maurice Ager (4 games), Aloysius Anagonye (5 games), Alan Anderson (23 games), Charlie Bell (30 games), Mateen Cleaves (24 games), Doug Davis (1 game), Paul Davis (5 games), A.J. Granger (7 games), Chris Hill (12 games), Andre Hutson (26 games), Jason Klein (10 games), Erazem Lorbek (12 games), Morris Peterson (18 games), Zach Randolph (8 games), Jason Richardson (3 games), Antonio Smith (20 games), Marcus Taylor (9 games), David Thomas (3 games) and Kelvin Torbert (26 games).
Spartans Hit Hard By Injuries - Injuries are a part of sports, but they usually don't hit a squad as hard they have attacked the Spartans this season. In fact, Michigan State's Jan. 16 practice marked the first time this season that all 13 scholarship players participated in the same practice, only to see Paul Davis injured in that practice. The Jan. 18 Minnesota game was the first contest in which all 12 non-redshirting scholarship players participated, although Davis' ankle injury limited him to four minutes. Alan Anderson (3), Maurice Ager (8), Rashi Johnson (9) and Adam Wolfe (8) have combined to miss 28 games due to injury, while several other Spartans, including Kelvin Torbert and Paul Davis, have missed multiple practices throughout the year. While people understand the effect that missing games has on the team, the effect of missed practices is not as easy to comprehend. With a young Spartan team, practices are essential to developing continuity among teammates.
Getting To The Charity Stripe - Last season, Michigan State shot 77.1 percent (442-of-573) from the free throw line, ranking fifth in the nation. The problem was that MSU attempted just 18.5 free throws per game, finishing the year with just 12 more attempts than its opponents. This season, the Spartans are shooting 73.5 percent (504-of-686) and are averaging 22.1 attempts per game.
Not Always Free - Although the Spartans are getting to the free throw line more this year, they are struggling to take advantage of the opportunities. Through the first seven games of the year, Michigan State shot 77.7 percent (122-of-157) to lead the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans then hit a skid where they shot just 69.1 percent (192-of-278) over the next 11 games. In reality, they were shooting much worse than that, but were aided statistically by a 29-of-30 effort vs. Ohio State. Over the last 13 games, however, the Spartans have shown improvement, making 75.7 percent (190-of-251) of their attempts. In the Spartans' 12 defeats, they are shooting 69.9 percent (167-of-239) from the line, compared to 75.4 percent (337-of-447) in the 19 victories.
Looking For A Second Option - Chris Hill is leading Michigan State in scoring at 14.0 points per game. No other Spartans, however, are averaging double-figures. Michigan State has not had just one player average in double figures since the 1955-56 season when Julius McCoy averaged 27.2 points. While Hill is currently the only Spartan in double-figures, several players are contributing to the offensive attack as MSU has eight players averaging at least 5.6 points per game or more this season and five averaging at least 7.4 or more. In Big Ten games, however, the Spartans had better balance, as Hill (11.7 ppg) is joined by Alan Anderson (10.6) and Kelvin Torbert (10.3) in double figures.
Hill Ranks Among Big Ten Leaders - Chris Hill ranks in the top 10 in five Big Ten statistical categories (all games), including eighth in assists (3.71 apg), seventh in steals (1.55 spg), third in three-point field-goal percentage (.404), second in three-point field goals made (2.71) and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.49). In conference games, he ranks 10th in assists (3.44 apg), tied for 10th in steals (1.38 spg), eighth in three-point field-goal percentage (.333), eighth in three-point field goals made (1.88) and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.77).
The Breslin Experience - Although MSU's Big Ten-record 53-game homecourt winning streak was snapped in 2002, the Breslin Center continues to be one of college basketball's great homecourt advantages. Since the start of the 1998-99 season, Michigan State has won 73 of its last 77 regular-season games in Breslin, a winning percentage of .948. In addition, the Breslin Center has been sold out for 83 consecutive games.
Home To Mr. Basketball - The last four recipients of Michigan's Mr. Basketball Award, presented to the top high school player in the state, have all gone on to wear a Spartan jersey. Jason Richardson (Saginaw Arthur Hill HS) won the award in 1999, followed by Marcus Taylor (Lansing Waverly HS) in 2000, Kelvin Torbert (Flint Northwestern HS) in 2001 and Paul Davis (Rochester HS) in 2002.
The Golden Arches - Michigan State is becoming the home for McDonald's All-Americans. Over the past four seasons, five McDonald's All-Americans have joined the Spartan squad, including Jason Richardson in 1999, Marcus Taylor and McDonald's All-American All-Star game MVP Zach Randolph in 2000, Kelvin Torbert in 2001 and Paul Davis in 2002.
Coaching Consistency - One of the keys to MSU's success is continuity on the coaching staff. The four members of the coaching staff have been at MSU for a combined 43 years. Tom Izzo is in his 20th season as a Spartan, having spent the first 12 as an assistant. Associate head coach Brian Gregory is in his 10th year at MSU and fourth year in his current stint. Mike Garland is a college teammate of Izzo's and has been an assistant for seven of Izzo's eight years as head coach. Mark Montgomery is in his second season as an assistant, after four years (1988-92) as MSU's point guard.
Spartans In The NBA - Michigan State led the Big Ten with eight players on opening day rosters in the NBA. Listed below is an update on eight former Spartans currently on NBA rosters: (Stats through March 16.)
Mateen Cleaves (Sacramento): 12 GP, 4.6 mpg, 1.3 ppg, 0.8 apg currently on injured list Jamie Feick (New Jersey): 0 GP, currently on injured list Morris Peterson (Toronto): 63 GP, 36.0 mpg, 14.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.1 apg Zach Randolph (Portland): 62 GP, 16.2 mpg, 7.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg Jason Richardson (Golden State): 66 GP, 32.4 mpg, 15.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.0 apg Steve Smith (San Antonio): 41 GP, 21.1 mpg, 7.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.4 apg Eric Snow (Philadelphia): 64 GP, 38.7 mpg, 13.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 7.0 apg Kevin Willis (San Antonio): 55 GP, 12.0 mpg, 4.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg
Spartans Keep Reloading - Michigan State signed three players to National Letters of Intent in the early signing period. The class is a consensus top-five class, including a No. 4 ranking from recruiting analyst Dave Telep.
Shannon Brown (G, 6-3, 190, Maywood, Ill./Proviso East) is the consensus pick as the No. 1 shooting guard in the nation. As a junior, he averaged 24 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals en route to earning first-team all-state honors. Overall, Dave Telep and Bob Gibbons have him ranked as the No. 9 player in the nation.
Brandon Cotton (G, 6-0, 170, Detroit/DePorres) averaged 28.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior. He earned Class C All-State and All-Detroit honors from both the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News. Cotton is ranked the No. 17 player in the nation and No. 3 point guard in the country by PrepStars.com. Cotton led DePorres to a 17-4 record and a Catholic AA Division title.
Drew Naymick (C, 6-10, 235, Muskegon/North Muskegon) averaged 21.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 6.4 blocks as a junior, earning Class C All-State honors. He also shot a remarkable 70.6 percent from the field. Over the summer, he gained significant national experience while playing at the 2002 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival (with Brown and Cotton) and participating at the Nike Camp where he was named to Dave Telep's All-Nike Camp team.
