"History Made" State Championship Gear

 

Click here by June 2nd to purchase "History Made" state championship gear.

Associated Press Statewide Honors

The Associated Press announced their postseason awards today for boys Division 1 basketball, and a trio of their awards are coming to Grand Blanc.

 

Headlining the list of honorees was junior Ty Rodgers, who was named Division 1 Player of the Year in the state of Michigan. The 6'7" wing averaged 17.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, leading the state champion Bobcats in both categories this season. Rodgers shot an phenomenal 62.0% from the field, due in part to the fact that so many of his baskets come on highligh-reel slams. He threw down 46 dunks in the Bobcats’ 17 contests, and had a streak dating back to last season of 21 consecutive games with at least one slam dunk. Rodgers currently holds offers from 14 Division 1 schools: Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Maryland, Houston, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, Temple and Rhode Island, with more to come, no doubt! Here are his season highlights.

Also garnering First Team All-Sate honors was RJ Taylor. The sophomore point guard averaged 16.7 points per game, leading the Bobcats in scoring in eight of their ten regular season contests. He tallied 25+ points on three occasions, including a career-high of 31. Where he really shines though is as a playmaker. Averaging 6.8 assists per game this year, he just may be the best passer in the state. While being the engine that set the pace for Grand Blanc's high-octane offense, Taylor only turned the ball over 34 times all season long, despite leading the Bobcats in minutes played for the second straight campaign. 

 

Head Coach Mike Thomas also received honors as the Division 1 Coach of the Year after leading Grand Blanc to the first basketball state championship in school history. COVID-19 caused a delayed start to the season, a two-week mid-season quarantine, and a number of cancelled games. With Coach Thomas at the helm though, the Bobcats navigated these and other difficulties to put together a very successful (though shortened) regular season, topped off by an extraordinary post-season run, in which they beat the two top-ranked teams in the state, each of which were riding 27-game winning streaks. It was the third state championship of in Coach Thomas's career, the first two coming during his tenure at Kalamazoo Central. In 2010, both the Detroit Free Press and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan named him their Michigan High School Coach of the Year.

State Championship Game Highlights

State Championship Game - Full Game Broadcast

 

ALL-SVL

 

2021 Hype Video

"Dread it, run from it...destiny arrives all the same." 

The time has finally come. After months of waiting, basketball season is upon us. After having their season cut short last year, Grand Blanc is coming back with a vengeance. The Bobcats are on the Road to Redemption, as they look to claim what is rightfully theirs. 

Jon Carmody gets us ready with this AMAZING hype video!

 

Video Credit:

ABC12 

WJRT 

Athlazon 

Ballislife 

BReal Studios 

Detroit Post Production 

Eric Gets Buckets 

Grand Blanc TV - GBTV 

Mid-Michigan now on FOX66 & NBC25 

5 Star Certified 

 

Josh Rechsteiner Signs with Adrian

Wednesday afternoon, senior guard Josh Rechsteiner signed his letter of intent to attend Adrian College and play basketball at the MIAA school.

 

In Rechsteiner, the Bulldogs add a hard-working, sharp-shooting guard. Adrian's Acting Head Coach Tim Kaiser said, "Josh brings a competitiveness that will add a lot to our program the day he steps on campus. Playing for a great high school program like he has will prepare him to contribute in many different ways. His shooting and defensive abilities are things we are excited to see and we are excited to see the impact he leaves during his four years at Adrian!"

Grand Blanc High School's head coach Mike Thomas agrees, “Josh's biggest strength is how he leads by example. He has great shooting and defensive ability, and is a non-complainer.” Coach Thomas added, “Josh is a hard-working, dedicated basketball player who has all the tools to become a good college basketball player.  He will bring a Gottagetit mentality to Adrian College.”

Thomas and the Bobcats expect Rechsteiner to play a prominent role this season, as they defend their SVL title and aim for a trip to Breslin. Below, find a video of highlights from Rechsteiner's junior year.

2020-21 Schedule Released

The Grand Blanc Boys Basketball program released its 2020-21 schedule today. Last season, the Bobcats faced the toughest schedule in the state of Michigan, with an opponents’ winning percentage of .730! This year promises to be more of the same, as we not only have a challenging 12-game Saginaw Valley League schedule, but we also face eight non-conference foes who averaged a record of 18-4 last year, including two of the three teams that beat Grand Blanc. They are:

• Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, who was considered by many to be the top team in the state last year. Senior guard and Northwestern recruit Julian Roper will have lots of help from a pair of 6’8” seniors in Peter Nwoke and Harrison Oguchukwu, and two of the top juniors in the state in guards Kareem Rozier & Jason Drake.

• Detroit Douglass, led by Michigan State recruit Pierre Brooks and 6’10” senior forward Javontae Randle. Last year's season-opening battle between these two teams was a thriller, and this year's promises to be just as exciting.
  

• Beecher is always tough and no doubt will be tough again, led by one of the top uncommitted seniors in the state, guard Keyon Mennifield. Many people thought Beecher was the top team in the state last year coming into their season-ending battle with Grand Blanc at the Dort Event Center with an 18-1 record. The Bobcats came out on top, snapping an 18-game Bucs win streak. You can bet they'll be looking for revenge!

• Ypsilanti Lincoln of course lost Emoni Bates, but without one being crowned last year, they could lay claim to still being the reigning state champion. The Bobcats will open up against the Railsplitters at the Homer Williams Showcase.
  

• U of D-Jesuit came on strong in the second half of the season, winning 9 of their last 11, with their only losses coming in close games with top-ranked OLSM. Guard Sonny Wilson is one of the top sophomores in the state, and he will lead a talented roster.

• Muskegon went 20-2 last year (with one of those losses coming against the Bobcats) and will bring a talented, athletic squad to Grand Blanc for a late-season matchup on February 20^th.

• Birmingham Brother Rice has a trio of super sophomores in Xavier Thomas, Henry Garity, and Curtis Williams, who just might be the top sophomore in the state. Plus the Warriors will not be intimidated by the Bobcats, as they were one of just three teams to defeat Grand Blanc last year.

• Detroit Edison will visit Grand Blanc for the third annual Gottagetit Hoop Classic. Last year, Edison went 17-4 with impressive wins over UDJ, Detroit Douglass, Waterford Mott & Ferndale, and two of their losses came in close contests with Ypsilanti Lincoln and Clarkston, who were among the top teams in the state.

The Saginaw Valley League is going to a round-robin format without divisions, where all teams in the league will play each other once. This means that there will be a number of very intriguing matchups:

• A Mt. Pleasant team, whose only loss was to us in the SVL Championship Game.

• Coach Williams’ alma mater, the always tough Saginaw High, will be led by explosive 6’5” senior wing Lavell Brodnex, who turned a lot of heads this summer.

• Saginaw Arthur-Hill, who was led last year by a pair of very talented underclassmen Tim Jordan and Christian Smith.

• Saginaw Heritage, led by one of the top seniors in the state, Parker Day, who has already committed to Grand Valley State.

We will also of course renew annual rivalries with teams like:

• Carman-Ainsworth, who last year went 17-3 against teams other than Grand Blanc.

• Powers Catholic, who is led by senior Western Michigan recruit, Owen Lobsinger.

• Davison, led by Northwestern football recruit, senior Brendan Sullivan. 

See the full schedule here:

Josh Rechsteiner Commits to Adrian

Senior Josh Rechsteiner announced via Twitter Wednesday evening that next year he will be attending Adrian College, where the 6-foot tall Grand Blanc shooting guard will play basketball for the Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Division III Tournament last year.

When asked how Rechsteiner will help Adrian, Grand Blanc High School's head coach Mike Thomas said, "Josh's biggest strength is how he leads by example. He has great shooting and defensive ability, and is a non-complainer." Thomas added, "I'm looking forward to having Josh step up as a vocal leader for us this year, as well as being a good defensive stopper coming off the bench."

Writing for PrepHoops.com, Scott Hankamp noted this past summer that, "Rechsteiner has had an impressive summer and his 3 point shooting has been a big part of that. He’s shown an underappreciated quickness that helps free him up for a triple. College coaches will want to take a peak." 

Adrian's coaches did more than take a peak, last month offering him a chance to play there. After considering his options, Rechsteiner feels confident that he has found the right spot for him. "I really liked the coaches and the facilities." He also noted, "I felt really comfortable and felt like I could make the campus home."

Rechsteiner knows he can help the Bulldogs on both ends of the court. "I think I could contribute a great shooting threat and defense as well." That's in the future. as for now, he is focused on what this season holds for the Bobcats of Grand Blanc. "My goals for this season are to push my teammates while working on my own skills, and of course to win the state championship!"

 

 

Nick Pappadakis Commits to Delta

Bobcat guard Nick Pappadakis announced that next year he will be attending Delta College, where he will play basketball for the Pioneers."I chose Delta because I thought it would be a good fit for me both athletically and education-wise," said Pappadakis. "I already knew a few players on the team. I'm looking forward to continuing my athletic career in college and just having the opportunity to play."

The 6'0" guard was a key contributor off the bench for the highly rated Bobcats this year, providing them with a sharpshooter they could count on. He led all players on the Grand Blanc roster by shooting 40% from three point range, and also led the team in Effective Field Goal Percentage (a stat which accounts for the fact that three-point field goals are worth an additional point). He also supplied  energy whenever he was in the game, and plans on doing the same for the Pioneers. "I can contribute by scoring the ball and playing as hard as I can all the time."

Delta Head Basketball Coach Carlos McMath had high words of praise for Pappadakis and what he will bring to their program. "Nick is a great all-around player that has a high IQ, but more importantly provides a balance of shooting and ball-handling. He will be a consistent threat to score from deep but will also facilitate the offense, as he has a deceptive handle on the ball and can see the floor as well as anyone." McMath contninued,"We are excited to add him to the #DCBrotherhood!"

Grand Blanc Head Coach Mike Thomas concurred with McMath. "Nick is going to work very hard and be of great value to his team and teammates." Thomas added, "I want to wish Nick the best of luck as he will go on to do great things for Delta College. Keep moving forward and great things will happen for you!"

Pappadakis will join fellow Grand Blanc Hoops alumni with the Pioneers in Kevin-David Rice, who also graduated this spring, and Jackarus Smith who redshirted this past season at Delta.

Check out Nick's senior year highlights below!