This article was compiled by: Mike Faletti and Paul Carmona

Ypsilanti-- The 15-Under Michigan Mustangs have started the AAU season off with the reputation of “Michigan’s best” as far as 15-under teams go. When rumors swirled around of the “star power” on this team, everybody wondered if the players would be able to put the team first and not worry about egos. After one week of play, the Mustangs seem to be on track to play a big role in not only the state of Michigan, but nationally as well.

The Mustangs finished last weekend with a perfect 5-0 record, which resulted in an AAU Great Lakes State Championship. All egos were buried in the dirt as the Mustangs took the court, without any practice, and played beautiful “team first” and unselfish basketball.

In their first three games, the ‘Stangs were virtually untested, as they defeated Team Legion, 69-30, Southfield Transition, 80-46, and the R & G All-Stars, 79-42.  Setting the tone were point guards Juwan Moody and Patrick Lucas-Perry who spread the ball around evenly to their teammates.  In the first three games not one player scored more than 14 points, and against Transition six players scored eight points.    

In the semifinals, however, they would get their first real test of the young AAU season when they faced Common Bond.  The ‘Stangs trailed by as many as 10 points in the second quarter, but were able to cut Common Bond’s lead down to, 48-43, at the half. In the third quarter, the ‘Stangs picked their intensity up defensively thanks to the play of guards Dell Simon and Ray Tillman off the bench, and held Common Bond to only six points in the quarter, as they took an eight point heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter is where superstars rise to the occasion and that is when the trio of Brandan Kearney, Matt Poches, and Percy Gibson stepped up. The trio hit many big shots and made many big plays in the final quarter to give the ‘Stangs an 80-74 victory.

The ‘Stangs finished the weekend off with a, 106-73, blowout of the Flint All-Stars in the championship game. Poches was named the MVP of the tournament after the game. Poches, playing the sixth man role, was reminiscent of the old days of John Havlicek, who played the same role for the world champion Boston Celtics back in the ‘60s.

   

Look for much bigger things down the road from the 15-Under Michigan Mustangs!

 

PLAYERS (alphabetical order)

 

Pierre Brackett, 6-3 wing, Flint Hamady, 2011- Versatile enough to play on the perimeter and go down low to bang on the block. Brackett always seems to get his hands on loose balls while priding his game on defense and hustle.

Dan Chilcote, 6-5 wing forward, Jackson Lumen Christi, 2011- Chilcote wasn’t around for the team’s first tournament, but his presence was well missed. He gives this team a weapon that can score facing the basket or with his back to the basket.

Bryn Forbes, 5-9 point guard, East Lansing MS, 2012- One of two 2012 players that are playing up this summer. Forbes has one of the best pure strokes on this roster. He’s learning on the job how to be a floor leader. A true point guard!

Percy Gibson, 6-7 power forward, Detroit Southeastern, 2011- Gibson defines the term “beast”; he just bullied everyone he matched up against over the weekend. He isn’t the tallest player in the 2011 class, but he is by far the most developed. He is also starting to realize just how good he is.

Dennis Hogan, 6-5 wing forward, Detroit Douglass, 2011- Hogan just might be the most athletic player on this team. He can score with either hand as well as knock down the elbow jumper, also a very aggressive offensive rebounder.

Demarquis Johnson, 6-3 wing, Auburn Hills Avondale, 2011- Another Mustang with a pure stroke from beyond the arc. Shooting is his forte, while he develops his all around game.

Brandan Kearney, 6-4 combo guard, Detroit Southeastern, 2011- At 6-4, Kearney has the whole package. The duo of Kearney and Poches gives the Mustangs two dangerous weapons on the wing. Kearney can spot up and shoot from anywhere on the floor, but his greatest attribute is his court vision, he can complete passes through the tiniest of spaces. He is beginning to attack the basket more aggressively now as well.

Patrick Lucas-Perry, 5-11 point guard, Flint Powers, 2011- L.P. can play either the one or the two. He has natural point guard instincts that come from having a high basketball I.Q.

Juwan Moody, 5-9 point guard, Orchard Lake St. Mary‘s, 2011- Moody is the zone buster. Time after time teams tried to zone the Mustangs, but Moody found space every time, and hit the long ball to break down the defense. Moody is a natural point guard with great leadership skills, but his ability to stop on a dime, square up, and shoot the high percentage shot is what makes him special.

Matt Poches, 6-4 wing, Hartland, 2011- Just like Kearney, Poches is also a dangerous wing. Even though he can hit jump shots, Poches prefers to attack the basket. He has great balance and body control, which allows him to get off shots while being fouled. His aggressiveness usually results in trips to the charity stripe. He is also a very good offensive rebounder.

Dell Simon, 5-10 combo guard, Saginaw Arthur Hill, 2011- Every team needs that tough hard-nosed bruiser and that is exactly what Simon is. The football standout hit a few 3-pointers this weekend, but he impressed with his quick hands which forced steal after steal. His performance off the bench in the semifinals was one of the keys to the Mustangs victory.

Ray Tillman, 5-11 combo guard, Auburn Hills Avondale, 2011- Tillman is a point guard, but he is so good at scoring and getting into the paint that he is listed as a combo guard. He is long and strong, and also has great body control in the air. He is also one of the hardest workers on the team. Like Simon, without his contributions off the bench, the Mustangs may not have won the tournament.

Denzel Valentine, 6-3 wing, Lansing Waverly MS, 2012- The second of two players playing up from the class of 2012, but you couldn’t tell by his play. Valentine threw down dunks and knocked down 3-pointers on a consistent basis for the Mustangs. He is also very good at hitting the open teammate.

Darren Washington, 6-8 center, Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2011- Washington is still just 14 years old. He will be a diamond in the rough for the Mustangs as he continues to grow into his body and develop.