2020 GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic in Review

For the second straight year, the GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic was a fantastic success. The day was filled with great performances by some of the top players and teams from the state of Michigan and beyond. Two Big 10 recruits (Lorne Bowman and Matt Nicholson) shared Most Outstanding Player honors, and the night was topped off with a thrilling battle between the host Grand Blanc Bobcats and the #1 ranked Orchard Lake St. Mary's Eaglets that went down to the final shot in front of a packed gym of nearly 2500 fans.   

And it wasn't just the fans who thought it was a great day. Participants, sponsors, media, scouts, and college coaches all agreed: 

Links for tweets are (clockwise, starting top left: Former Northwood University Head Coach Bob Taylor, of sponsor Old Man in the Gym, (with quoted tweet from sportscaster, Jeanna Trotman, Mid-Michigan Now); OLSM Head Coach Todd Covert; Brother Rice Head Coach Rick Palmer; The Family youth basketball organization. 

There were all kinds of highlights at this year's events, including two that got included in the HUDL Top 5 Epic Dunks for Michigan and one that skipped over the state highlights to be ranked #3 in the Top 5 Plays of the Week for the entire country:

RESULTS

Game 1: Clio 58 – Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 38
               MVP: LaTa'vius Vaughter (Clio)

Game 2: Brother Rice 78 – Saginaw Arthur Hill 66
               MVP: Curtis Williams Jr. (Brother Rice)

Game 3: Powers Catholic 70 – Macomb Dakota 62
               MVP: Owen Lobsinger (Powers)

Game 4: Clarkston 65 – Carman-Ainsworth 56
               MVP: Matt Nicholson (Clarkston)
Game 5: Chicago Thornton 83 – Saginaw 64
               MVP: Brandon Hall (Thornton)

Game 6: Orchard Lake St. Mary's 69 – Grand Blanc 63
               MVP: Lorne Bowman II (OLSM)

The six game MVPs from the 2020 GOTTAGETIT Hoop Classic. Top row: Lorne Bowman (OLSM), Brandon Hall (Thornton) & Matt Nicholson (Clarkston). Bottom row: Owen Lobsinger (Powers), Curtis Williams (Brother Rice) & LaTa'vius Vaughter (Clio)

ALL GOTTAGETIT TEAM

First Team

Lorne Bowman (OLSM)^co-MOP

Matt Nicholson (Clarkston)^co-MOP

Brandon Hall (Thornton)
Fletcher Loyer (Clarkston)
Sir'Real Smith (Saginaw)

^MOP – Most Outstanding Player

Second Team
Tim Jordan Jr. (Arthur Hill)
Owen Lobsinger (Powers)
Mark Miller (Grand Blanc)

LaTa'Vius Vaughter (Clio)

Curtis Williams Jr. (Brother Rice)

Third Team
Noah Baylis (Powers)
Jon Brantley (Brother Rice)
Mekhi Bloodworth (Loy Norrix)

Ty Rodgers (Grand Blanc)
Ryan Rollins (Macomb)

TOP INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

Most Points:

29 - Foster Loyer (Clarkston)

28 - Lorne Bowman II (OLSM)

28 - Sir'Real Smith (Saginaw)
22 - Brandon Hall (Thornton)
22 - Tim Jordan Jr. (Arthur Hill)

Most Field Goals Made:

10 - Tim Jordan Jr. (Arthur Hill)
  9 - Noah Bayliss (Powers)

  9 - Matt Nicholson (Clarkston)

  9 - Ryan Rollins (Dakota)
  9 - Sir'Real Smith (Saginaw)

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made:

 5 - Fletcher Loyer (Clarkston)*
 4 - Patrick Hollis (Carman-Ainsworth)

 4 - Owen Lobsinger (Powers)

 4 - Elvis Machul (Arthur Hill)

 4 - Sir’Real Smith (Saginaw)

 4 - Curtis Williams (Brother Rice)

Most Free Throws Made:

10 - Lorne Bowman II (OLSM)

  8 - Fletcher Loyer (Clarkston)
  6 - Brandon Hall (Thornton)
  6 - Koby Langdon (Hamady)
  6 - Mark Miller (Grand Blanc)

  6 - Sir'Real Smith (Saginaw)

Most Rebounds:

27 - Matt Nicholson (Clarkston)*

13 - Mark Miller (Grand Blanc)

12 - Owen Lobsinger (Powers)

12 - LaTa’Vius Vaughter (Clio)

Most Dunks:

  4 - LaTa’Vius Vaughter (Clio)*

  3 - Matt Nicholson (Clarkston)

  1 - Lavell Brodnex (Saginaw)

  1 - Ty Rodgers (Grand Blanc)

  1 - Ryan Rollins (Dakota)

  * - GOTTAGETIT Record

TOP TEAM PERFORMANCES

Most Points Scored:

83 - Thornton

78 - Brother Rice

70 - Powers Catholic

69 - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

66 - Saginaw Arthur Hill

66 - Grand Blanc

Fewest Points Allowed:

38 - Clio*

56 - Calrkston

58 - Loy Norrix

62 - Powers Catholic

64 - Chicago Thornton

Most Field Goals Made:

32 - Chicago Thornton*

28 - Brother Rice

27 - Powers Catholic

26 - Macomb Dakota

25 - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made:

12 - Chicago Thornton*

  9 - Saginaw Arthur Hill

  8 - Brother Rice

  7 - Carman-Ainsworth

  7 - Grand Blanc

  7 - Powers Catholic

Most Free Throws Made:

15 - Clarkston

14 - Brother Rice

14 - Clio

13 - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

11 - Chicago Thornton

11 - Grand Blanc

11 - Saginaw Arthur Hill

Best Free Throw Percentage:

76.5% - Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

75.0% - Carman-Ainsworth

71.4% - Clarkston

70.0% - Brother Rice

69.2% - Powers Catholic

  * - GOTTAGETIT Record

Hall of Fame Motivation

Coach Thomas presented Jones with a GB Hoops hoodie

At practice today we had a special guest in Flint legend and member of the Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame, Linnell Jones. 

From the time she was eight, Jones grew up dreaming of becoming a professional basketball player--in a time where there were no professional basketball leagues for women!Jones focused on that dream nonetheless, playing on boys teams as a child because there were no girls basketball programs in Flint. She worked unswervingly toward her goal, starring in high school at Flint Northwestern, playing in college, and ultimately earning an invitation to try out for the US Olympic Team in 1980. It was there that she caught the eye of a coach who connected her with the St. Louis Streaks of the WBL, where she became the first woman from Flint to play professional basketball. Her career would continue in Italy, where she was a five-time All-Star and three-time league MVP, once scoring 84 points in a game.

In addition to a passion for basketball, Jones has always had a passion for her community, and she continues to this day sharing her passions, motivating others to follow their dreams just like she had followed hers.That is precisely what she did today, addressing the team after practice...and what a motivation her words and example were!

The Bobcats listen intently to Jones

Chicago Trip

Over Christmas break, we were invited to play in The Wildcat Holiday Challenge at Thornton High School in Chicago. It was a blast as we knocked off Proviso East out of Maywood, Illinois by a score of 83-44.

We celebrated with a great post-game dinner that night, and enjoyed time together on Navy Pier the next morning, followed by a team lunch before heading back to Michigan!

Win Over Detroit Douglass

The Bobcats pulled off a thrilling season-opening win against Detroit Douglass and highly-rated recruit, Pierre Brooks Jr. in the Horatio Williams Showcase. Watch the entire game below.

Hype Video

A new season begins tonight! And Jon Carmody has us fired up! 🔥🔥🔥

The start of a new season 🐾🏀😈🔥 pic.twitter.com/2dQbuFM6hM

— Jon Carmody (@voicebobcatsjr) December 12, 2019

Path to Greatness: Ty Rodgers

Jonathan Deutsch of Mid-Michigan Now takes a look at sophonore Ty Rodgers, and his journey along the Path to Greatness.

Bobcat Madness Highlights

Jacob Carlson finds Ty Rogers for the windmill

 

Jacob Carlson with the long outlet to Ty Rodgers for the two-hand jam

 

R.J. Taylor with the corner three

 

Connor Williams to Amont'e Allen to Ty Rodgers for the alley-oop

 

Mark Miller shows off his range

 

Nate Brown with the floater

 

Austin Perry with the offensive board and put-back

 

Braylon Neal hits Andre Ridley with the lookaway

 

Braylon Neal behind the back to R.J. Taylor

 

R.J. Taylor from three

 

Ty Rodgers with the dunk in warmups 

 

Mark Miller with the 360 in warmups

 

Slo-mo of Matai Swain's two-hand windmill

2019-20 Schedule

Thanks so much to the fantastic Jon Carmody for the great graphic design work!

 

Summer News

It's been a busy summer as there were all kinds of happenings for our Grand Blanc Bobcats. Here are some of the highlights in case you missed them:


Cedric Givens (2019)

• Signed with Indiana Tech

 Joe Rechsteiner (2019)

• Picks up another scholarship 

Kevin-David Rice (2020) 

• Ranked #14 senior in Michigan by PrepHoops.com
• Profiled for Mid-Range Monday on PrepHoops.com
• Official offer from Denver University
• Selected to participate in prestigious 2019 NCAA College Basketball Academy

Mark Miller (2020)

• Attended week-long leadership program at the US Military Academy, West Point, New York
• Recognized as one of six potential future coaches among Michigan high school players
• Featured in Prospect Spotlight on PrepHoops.com 
• Top 100 seniors in Michigan according to PrepHoops.com

Matai Swain (2020)

• Top 100 seniors in Michigan according to PrepHoops.com
• Attended Elite Basketball Academy at Harvard
• Attended MIT Elite Basketball Acadecamp at MIT

Jimmie Collins (2020)

• Highlight Video

Nate Brown (2021)

• Northwood Elite Camp
• Oakland Team Camp
• Kent State Elite Camp
• Ranked among top 200 juniors in Michigan by PrepHoops.com 

Jack Rechsteiner (2021)

• Ranked among top 200 juniors in Michigan by PrepHoops.com
• Played with Oakland Elite team that battled deep into the Platinum Championship Bracket in the NY2LA Next Level Invitational, the Brawl for the Ball, and the Hard Work Region Finals. 

Josh Rechsteiner (2021)

• Ranked among top 200 juniors in Michigan by PrepHoops.com
• Played with Oakland Elite team that battled deep into the Platinum Championship Bracket in the NY2LA Next Level Invitational, the Brawl for the Ball, and the Hard Work Region Finals.   

Ty Rodgers (2022)

• Official offer from Rhode Island
• Unofficial visit to Ohio State
• Unofficial visit to Louisville
• Played in the Peach Jam
• Discussion from Coach Cam Podcast (from 40-43 minutes in)
• Recognized by PrepHoops.com as among the most explosive in Michigan  
• Participated in Nike Elite 100 Camp

R.J. Taylor (2023)

• Named MVP of the Bank Hoops Underclassmen All State Camp

Amont'e Allen-Johnson (2023)

• Named to Bank Hoops Underclassmen Camp Class of 2023 First Team

Givens Commits to Indiana Tech

Graduating senior Cedric Givens announced today that he will be attending Indiana Tech to continue his education and his basketball career. The Warriors went 22-12 last year, en route to winning the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championship.

Givens, a four-year varsity player and a key contributor throughout his career. This was especially so this season as he averaged 12.2 points per game and led the Bobcats in scoring in seven separate games en route to earning all-conference honors in the SVL.

When making the decision, basketball wasn't the only part of the equation for Givens, who was a strong student in high school. "I feel it's the best fit for me and is going to help me reach me potential. Also, academically it was the right choice for me being that the school had my major (mechanical engineering) and a great professor I'm looking forward to learning from."

As he moves on to college, Givens is thankful for his time as a Bobcat. "The coaching and having to be strong mentally to play at Grand Blanc really prepared me for the next level," he said. "Also, being a senior and having to lead by example helped with my preparation as well."

Bobcat Head Coach Mike Thomas said, "I am very proud of Cedric. This is a new chapter to his life and I truly believer that he is prepared to accomplish wonderful things in the future!"

Cedric Givens at his signing ceremony, flanked by his mother, LaKeitha Givens, and Bobcat Head Coach Mike Thomas.
Standing are Indiana Tech Head Coach Ted Albert and Grand Blanc Assistant Athletic Director Clint Alexander.

Summer League Schedule

Incoming JUNIORS will play the following games (all played at New Standard Academy):


Saturday, June 8, 3pm vs. Frankenmuth

Saturday, June 8, 5pm vs. Powers Catholic (Orange)
 
Sunday, June 9, 4pm vs. Carman-Ainsworth
 
Sunday, June 9, 6pm vs. Linden
 
Tuesday, June 11, 6:30pm vs Ypsilanti
 
Tuesday, June 11, 8:30pm vs. Davison
 
Sunday, June 16, 12pm vs. Flint
 
Sunday, June 16, 2pm vs. Flushing
 
Monday, June 17, 5pm vs. Oxford
 
Monday, June 17, 8pm vs. Beecher
 
Wednesday, June 19, 6pm vs. Saginaw
 
Friday, June 21, 4pm vs. Clio

Friday, June 21, 6pm vs. Powers Catholic (Blue)

Tuesday, June 25, 5pm vs. Imlay City

Beginning Monday, July 8 there will be a single elimination playoff tournament.

District Champs!

For the first time since 2014, the Bobcats brought home a District title, defeating Lapeer 46-39 at Davison. Grand Blanc also defeated Davison 68-44 in the semifinals, and Carman-Ainsworth 40-39 in the first round.

2019 MHSAA Division 1-District 4 Champions

A Hard-Fought Championship Game Win

The Bobcat Coaching Staff

2019 GOTTAGETIT HOOP CLASSIC

RESULTS

Game 5 MVP, Kevin-David Rice

Game 1: Brother Rice 86 – Hamady 73
               MVP: Jon Brantley (Brother Rice)

Game 2: Grand Rapids Union 72 – Warren Lincoln 44
               MVP: Jeremiah Pittman (Grand Rapids Union)

Game 3: Powers Catholic 54 – Detroit Douglass 47 
               MVP: Owen Lobsinger (Powers Catholic)

Game 4: Benton Harbor 79 – Saginaw 70
               MVP: Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)

Game 5: Grand Blanc 61 – Chicago Thornton 53
               MVP: Kevin-David Rice (Grand Blanc)

ALL GOTTAGETIT TEAM

First Team
Jon Brantley (Brother Rice)

Ali Brewster (Hamady)
Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)^MOP
Freddie McIntosh (Saginaw)
Jeremiah Pittman (Grand Rapids Union)

^MOP – Most Outstanding Player

Most Outstanding Player, Carlos Johnson

Second Team
Koby Barnett (Saginaw)
Ari Brown (Chicago Thornton)
Jovon Hernandez (Grand Rapids Union)

Dante Hudgins (Warren Lincoln)

David Jabiro (Brother Rice)

INDIVIDUAL RECORDS

Most Points:

39 - Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)

33 - Ali Brewster (Hamady)

27 - John Brantley (Brother Rice)
26 - Jeremiah Pittman (Grand Rapids Union)
21 - Ari Brown (Chicago Thornton)

21 - Freddie McIntosh (Saginaw)

Most Field Goals Made:

14 - Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)

Game 1 Champions, Brother Rice

12 - Ali Brewster (Hamady)

10 - Freddie McIntosh (Saginaw)

10 - Jeremiah Pittman (Grand Rapids Union)
  9 - Dante Hudgins (Warren Lincoln)

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made:

5 - Jon Brantley (Brother Rice)
5 - Ari Brown (Chicago Thornton)

5 - Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)

5 - Demarco Minor (Chicago Thornton)

3 - 6 players

                                                   
Most Free Throws Made:

11 - Kevin-David Rice (Grand Blanc)

  8 - Jon Brantley (Brother Rice)

  6 - Ali Brewster (Hamady)

Game 2 Champions, Grand Rapids Union

  6 - Carlos Johnson (Benton Harbor)

  6 - Jeremiah Pittman (Grand Rapids Union)

  6 - Jamon Walker (Benton Harbor)

TEAM RECORDS

Most Points Scored:

86 - Brother Rice

79 - Benton Harbor

73 - Hamady

72 - Grand Rapids Union

70 - Saginaw

Fewest Points Allowed:

44 - Grand Rapids Union

47 - Powers Catholic

53 - Grand Blanc

Game 3 Champions, Powers Catholic

54 - Detroit Douglass
61 - Chicago Thornton

Most Field Goals Made:

32 - Brother Rice

29 - Grand Rapids Union
28 - Benton Harbor
28 - Saginaw

24 - Hamady

Most 3-Point Field Goals Made:

11 - Brother Rice

10 - Chicago Thornton
  7 - Hamady

  6 - Saginaw

Game 4 Champions, Benton Harbor

  6 - Powers

Most Free Throws Made:

18 - Benton Harbor
18 - Hamady

16 - Grand Blanc
11 - Brother Rice

10 - Grand Rapids Union
10 - Powers

Best Free Throw Percentage

81.8% - Benton Harbor

70.0% - Grand Blanc

69.2% - Hamady

68.8% - Brother Rice

Game 5 Champions, Grand Blanc

66.7% - Grand Rapids Union

66.7% - Saginaw