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Post by commissioner on Oct 6, 2014 21:52:00 GMT -6
Detroit got commitments today from guard Josh McFolley and forward Gerald Blackshear, teammates at Detroit Western HS. Together with earlier commit Lacey James of Grand Rapids, that should round out Detroit's class of 2015. James is a consensus top 10 recruit in Michigan HS class of '15. McFolley was generally rated #20-25 during the 2013-14 HS season, but was ranked as high as 8th in the class (by the Detroit Free Press) and after a strong showing this summer on the AAU circuit and was pulling in offers (Oakland, Cleveland State, Kent State and Bowling Green all offered this summer). Blackshear was rated in the #10-20 range by most services. On paper it doesn't look quite as strong as the Titans' 2014 class, which included both of the state's First Team All-State Class A (largest class in Michigan) forwards in Aaron Foster-Smith and Jaleel Hogan, but it is definitely a solid class.
It may also be worth noting that Blackshear and McFolley are former teammates of Jermaine Jackson, Jr., ranked in the top 5 of Michigan's loaded class of '17. Jackson, a top early Titan recruiting target for 2017, is also the son of former Titan star and Horizon Player of the Year Jermaine Jackson. That's some good connections as the Titans compete with high majors for Jackson, who already holds offers from Auburn, SMU, and Northwestern, with schools including North Carolina and Louisville paying visits.
In addition to the rue freshmen Foster-Smith and Hogan, the Titans have redshirt freshman Paris Bass, a hot, late-blooming recruit from the Michigan Class of '13 (offers from Louisiana Tech, Rhode Island, Illinois State, and other high mid-majors, and a bunch of top tier schools - UConn, Arkansas, Iowa, Iowa State, Memphis, and others - looking hard when he signed with Detroit). That's a great core to work with. So Titan fans are feeling good. As one recruitment tracker in Michigan tweeted: "Josh McFolley, Paris Bass, Aaron Foster-Smith, Gerald Blackshear, and Jaleel Hogan. Future is bright at UDM."
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 7, 2014 8:23:26 GMT -6
For a Titan fan, that is great news. I hadn't thought about the Jermaine Jackson Jr. connection, but it's definitely worth noting. Could lead to something really big down the line.
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Post by commissioner on Oct 7, 2014 11:28:17 GMT -6
Meanwhile, it's pointed out to me that Michigan's #1 Scouting Service, Bankhoops, this summer ranked McFolley as the state's top point guard, James as its #2 SF, and Blackshear as its #4 power forward.
Just braggin'. (And have to, after Valpo signed Smits. A good recruiting week for the league's private schools.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 12:13:14 GMT -6
I continue to see great news for the Titans program as far as your recruiting goes and can't help but ask again...how do most of the fans on your message board feel about Coach McCallum? I don't get to peruse your board as much as I used to.
I know you guys once said that the McCallum haters were a relatively small group. Even being small, have they quieted down considering the job he's doing in recruiting?
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cjmcgow35
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Posts: 2 
Team: Detroit Titans
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Post by cjmcgow35 on Oct 8, 2014 12:27:06 GMT -6
I continue to see great news for the Titans program as far as your recruiting goes and can't help but ask again...how do most of the fans on your message board feel about Coach McCallum? I don't get to peruse your board as much as I used to. I know you guys once said that the McCallum haters were a relatively small group. Even being small, have they quieted down considering the job he's doing in recruiting? I'm a MaCallum supporter, he really has been a great recruiter but the only thing that bothers me about him is it seems like he has trouble with in game adjustments. That being said, I would still like to see him hang around for a while because of all the talent he's been bringing in. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2014 12:35:37 GMT -6
Cool! I think that's the situation with most programs...a coach who's a decent to good recruiter who doesn't necessarily have the x's and o's down pat. How many x's and o's Coaches are there out there anyway? Is Calipari a great x's and o's guy? I really don't think so, but he gets A1 talent that covers his shortcomings. If he was such a great x's and o's guy with the talent he's been getting he should have at least as many 'chips as Coach K. But that's just me.
I like your Coach...if for no other reason than he made Detroit relevant again and seems to be keeping you guys there for the foreseeable future.
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Post by motorcitysam on Oct 9, 2014 11:03:43 GMT -6
I continue to see great news for the Titans program as far as your recruiting goes and can't help but ask again...how do most of the fans on your message board feel about Coach McCallum? I don't get to peruse your board as much as I used to. I know you guys once said that the McCallum haters were a relatively small group. Even being small, have they quieted down considering the job he's doing in recruiting? I'm a MaCallum supporter, he really has been a great recruiter but the only thing that bothers me about him is it seems like he has trouble with in game adjustments. That being said, I would still like to see him hang around for a while because of all the talent he's been bringing in. Good post, CJ. That's an objective criticism and considered to be pretty accurate a lot of people. I would say recruitment and talent evaluation might be his greatest attributes. I wouldn't call him a great X and O guy, but there aren't that many out there. |
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Post by commissioner on Mar 29, 2015 11:31:51 GMT -6
Titan fans are excited as 2015 LOI signees Josh McFolly and Gerald Blackshear led Detroit Western to an undefeated season and the state class A (largest schools in (Michigan) title. McFolly had 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals and Blackshear 16 points and 12 rebounds as Western beat Saginaw Arthur Hill, led by 2015 Texas signee Eric Davis and 6-10 super-Soph Brian Bowen (generally ranked top 5 nationally in class of 2017) in the state final yesterday.
McFolly is generally rated as top point guard in Michigan this year, and Lindy's has him in the top 100 among all players nationally in class of '15. But the Titans are not alone in being excited. This has generally been a very good recruiting year for the Horizon, with Oakland, Valpo, and CSU especially pulling in some really nice recruits. We'll review all the classes after spring signing is done.
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