Slick Vitalis' Super 6 Preview 2007/2008

Great Lakes Christian Crusaders

GLC's lineup was set before landing #1 overall pick Trevon Hughes on Signing Day. Hughes joins a scary lineup that includes seniors Geary Claxton, DJ White and Dan Coleman, junior Goran Suton, and rising sophomore Raymar Morgan. Hughes, a sophomore, is the old man of the recruiting class for GLC, who also signed two freshmen, Robbie Hummel and Kalin Lucas, and Top 10 prep star Delvon Roe to a letter of intent. Roe injured his knee after Signing Day and is expected to miss his H.S. senior season, but should be ready for his Super 6 debut in '08/'09. Overall, a great class for the Crusaders, who look like they're ready to win now, and down the road.

Slick's Spin: GLC is the only Super 6 team without a regular season or tournament title this decade. That will change in '07/'08. In fact, Coach Shipman is so excited about this year he actually updated the team website!

Preseason Rank #1
Recruiting Grade: A-

'07/'08 Signees
Trevon Hughes WIS 6-1 So
Robbie Hummel PUR 6-8 Fr
Kalin Lucas MSU 6-0 Fr
Delvon Roe MSU 6-8 HS

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Superior Baptist U Crusaders

SBU has the top backcourt duo in the league, with Drew Neitzel and All-World freshman Eric Gordon. When they explode at the same time, the Crusaders will be tough to beat. While Gordon gets all the press, fellow frosh Jordan Crawford has done plenty of scoring through the preseason and should play a major role this year. Jamelle Cornley and Michael Flowers, once automatic starters for SBU, will have to fight for playing time behind Crawford and other newcomers, including Juco transfer Nemanja Calasan. Coach Wellwood used the #6 overall pick to sign prep big man BJ Mullens, who'll be worth the wait. Tarrance Crump, the former Hershey recruit, was taken with the last scholarship on Signing Day.

Slick's Spin: The combo of Neitzel and Gordon is so good, they won't need much help. If Crawford shows any consistency, watch out for the defending champs!

Preseason Rank #2
Recruiting Grade: B+

'07/'08 Signees
BJ Mullens OSU 7-0 HS
Jordan Crawford IND 6-4 Fr
Nemanja Calasan PUR 6-10 Jr
Mike Tisdale ILL 7-1 Fr
Lawrence Westbrook MIN 6-0 So
Tarrance Crump PUR 6-1 Sr

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U Nelson Christian Doves

UNC is not a team of superstars, but they could sneak up on the rest of the league. Coach Nelson has a young squad (and getting younger), with only two seniors on the roster: Spencer Tollackson, who returns after flirting with the NBA, and big man Othello Hunter. Super Soph Deshawn Sims is poised for a breakout year for the Doves, who continued their youth movement on Signing Day by adding four freshmen and a sophomore. The class is headed up by Scott Martin, a player that looks like a four-year guy you can build around. Martin is joined by frosh Chris Allen, who signed with UNC last year as a prep. Allen has big-time scoring potential, but will it be this year? Sophomore Armon Bassett's stock rose quickly in the preseason, and he could help fill the shoes of Tyler Smith, who transferred out of the Super 6.

Slick's Spin: Scott Martin is a future PTP'er, but all of the underclassmen will have to mature quickly for the Doves to be a serious threat this year.

Preseason Rank #3
Recruiting Grade: B-

'07/'08 Signees
Scott Martin PUR 6-8 Fr
Armon Bassett IND 6-1 So
Blake Hoffarber MIN 6-4 Fr
Jarryd Cole IWA 6-7 Fr
Jon Leuer MIN 6-11 Fr

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Robert Montgomery U Knights

RMU had its share of drama during the off-season, but got a boost on Signing Day when freshman Manny Harris slid to the #2 overall selection. Harris might need to score 30+ a game to keep Coach Mockler's crew in the title hunt, because the rest of the roster is filled with M.I.A.'s. Sophomore Kevin Coble, expected to rank among the league scoring leaders, took a leave of absence and may not return this season. Jamar Smith will sit as a result of his D.U.I., and A.J. Ratliff is sidelined with academic-itis. If Coble and Ratliff return this year, the Knights have a chance to contend for a title. If not, they'll need Brian Butch to be consistent, which he's never been. Still, the future looks bright for the Knights, with Harris, JaJuan Johnson and IU-bound Devin Ebanks forming the nucleus of a great class. RMU also added senior Jason Okrzesik, who was under the radar on Signing Day, but could be a steady contributor.

Slick's Spin: Coach Mockler has too many unexpected holes to fill this season, but if the team stays together for a couple of years, they'll be adding lots of hardware to the RMU trophy case.

Preseason Rank #4
Recruiting Grade: B+

'07/'08 Signees
Manny Harris UM 6-5 Fr
Devin Ebanks IND 6-8 HS
JaJuan Johnson PUR 6-10 Fr
Durrell Summers MSU 6-5 Fr
Jason Okrzesik NW 6-1 Sr

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Hershey Red Storm

UH hopes to be in the hunt for a regular season championship, which they haven't won since the 2000 season. The Red Storm has veteran leadership, with seniors Jamar Butler, Brian Randle, Lawrence McKenzie and Justin Johnson, but it's a freshman that could be the key to UH's season. Seven-footer Kosta Koufos will take over for Greg Oden and is expected to carry a lot of the scoring load. He could get help from junior Trent Meachem, one of Slick's unsung heros.

The Red Storm nearly signed Scott Martin with their first pick, but instead went with senior Justin Johnson, who seems to lack the "can't miss" status usually attached to the third overall selection. High schooler William Buford will be worth the wait, while freshmen Jon Diebler will have to wait for his turn at Ohio State.

Slick's Spin: Hershey's regular season championship drought has come with some consolation prizes, including four titles in the last five Super 6 Tournaments. UH also won the team scoring title last year, but Coach Gibbs wants a real trophy this season. Not gonna happen.

Preseason Rank #5
Recruiting Grade: C+

'07/'08 Signees
Justin Johnson IWA 6-6 Sr
William Buford OSU 6-5 HS
Jon Diebler OSU 6-6 Fr
Jeff Peterson IWA 6-0 Fr

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Oskee Wow-wow Warriors

Shaun Pruitt is the only senior on Coach Slocum's team, which has undergone a complete makeover following the dominant OWW squads of 2005 and 2006. Pruitt is the best of several Illini players on the roster (no surprise there), including junior Rodney Alexander and freshman PG Demitri McCamey. Another freshman, Michael Thompson, was the Warriors top selection on Signing Day. He could lead Northwestern in scoring, but that might only be worth 12 ppg. The Warriors will get help soon when Tony Freeman returns from a broken foot. If Freeman is anywhere near 100 percent, OWW should have enough firepower to put together a winning season.

Slick's Spin: Even if OWW doesn't win it all, with names like Ekpe Udoh and Jamal Abu-Shamala on the roster, typing the lineup will be fun again this year.

Preseason Rank #6
Recruiting Grade: C

'07/'08 Signees
Michael Thompson NW 5-10 Fr
Rodney Alexander ILL 6-7 Jr
Demetri McCamey ILL 6-3 Fr
Kelvin Grady UM 5-11 Fr
Ralph Sampson III MIN 6-11 HS