Highlights of Dean in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwTIOaWuo60

“The Dean of Novi”

Caleb Dean has put Novi basketball on the map this year.  Last year Novi struggled to a below .500 season and the finger was pointed at their 6-9 center star.  This year Novi found out what winning was like and now Dean should shoulder a good share of the credit.  Dean is his fourth year of varsity basketball for the Wildcats and no year could have been sweeter. Novi, who started the season as underdogs, has posted a 12-2 conference record, that’s good enough for the league title.  Dean is a true post player but he has the mobility to get up and down with the guards, which is evident in the highlight real above.    

Novi Wildcats

While Caleb is the “Dean of Novi” he had a new commander to answer to with the hire of new Head Coach Cory Heitsch.  Heitsch delivered a K.V.C. crown in his first season in charge of the Wildcat program.  Dean’s 17 points and 9 rebounds a game average stayed fairly the same from his junior season but the numbers this year in the win column went up tremendously.  “Coach has done a great job this year, he made the whole student-athlete experience fun, Dean said, “He’s just made it fun to play basketball and that’s what our team missed last year.”           

Novi is far from a one man team, the Wildcats also feature a junior backcourt that can, one day; also take their game to the next level.  “We’re playing quality basketball right now; everyone is on the same page.” Dean stresses, “We worked real hard over the summer and me and the guards just blend together real well.  Teams can’t focus in on me because they can hurt you any night as well.” 

Kensington Valley Conference

This is the final year of the Kensington Valley Conference because next year the teams have formed a super conference called the Kensington Lakes Activities Association.  23 teams were divided into four divisions, sending most of the K.V.C. teams to be separated into different divisions.  “It was real important for us to win the K.V.C. this year, we knew in the back of our minds that this would be the last year and we would be remembered” Dean said, “We felt like we had something to prove this year as a team.” 

The road to the K.V.C. was far from easy.  Novi started the season with an uphill battle and a 3-4 record but the Wildcats managed to win 12 of their next 13 conference games to wrap up the league title. 

The K.V.C. isn’t known for their basketball and the conference lacks plenty of respect around the state.  The fact is the K.V.C. features players that would find as much success in other conference if you consider Vonn Jones (Hartland), Mike Fugate (Lakeland) and Novi guard Chris Bellamy and Brandon Bradford.  “You know our conference is tougher than what people think; people that don’t give us respect have never even been to a K.V.C. game.  Especially in the last two or three years our conference has come a long way.  If you doubt that teams in the K.V.C. can play, then just come out and watch a game,” declares Dean.

Michigan Mustangs

Prep basketball players are given the chance to prove their skills in AAU basketball.  Elite players are given the chance to prove their skills on “the circuit” Dean has spent his summer playing for the Michigan Mustangs.  The Mustangs are an Adidas sponsored team and are considered one of the nation’s top programs.  Dean has played with the Mustangs since his freshman year.  “Playing with the Mustangs was just the best experience.  It gave me an opportunity to play on the circuit with the best players in the nation.  After spending summers playing with the Mustangs it gave me so much confidence coming back and playing at Novi.” Says Dean    

Recruiting

Like most prep players, Dean is trying to focus on his senior season and not get caught up worrying about next year.  This year Dean has proven he can lead a team and win at the same time and colleges are taking notice.  “I am currently being recruited by Boston University, Buffalo, I.U.P., and University of Missouri Kansas City, along with a couple others,” said Dean “After the season I will take a few visits and then weigh my options.”      

Internet message boards

For some odd reason Dean has also become a huge topic on internet message boards.  Grown adults have taken shots at Dean and his Novi team, but Dean has proven the critics wrong.  “I don’t let it get to me and I try not to even think about it.  We have had a lot of controversy around our team with the coaching change and all.  There was a lot of negativity and people were pointing the finger at me when we were loosing but now that we are winning and won the K.V.C. all the doubters have gone away; but my team deserves all the credit.” states Dean 

Rest of the way out

Now that Dean and company have wrapped up one of their season goals it’s on to the next.  Says Dean, “We want to win our district, we respect all the teams in our district, but I feel we are the favorites to advance.  After that we just want to make some noise in regionals and see what happens after that.”