Photo by Erin Sanchez West Bloomfield High’s Blake Johnson puts up a shot Dec. 29 during practice. With no returning starters, the Lakers are still learning what kind of team they have.

• Farmington High boys hoops among talented, deep OAA Blue Division • With defendign champ gone, OAA White boys hoops race is wide open

New teams highlight 2009-10 OAA Red boys hoops season

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

Clarkston High ran away with the division last season, finishing 13-1 on its way to the Class A state semifinals.

West Bloomfield High (11-3), Pontiac Northern (8-6), Oak Park High (7-6), Southfield High (6-8), Southfield-Lathrup (5-8), North Farmington (4-10) and Pontiac Central (1-13) followed the Wolves.

This year, Pontiac Northern and Central have consolidated to make Pontiac High, and Auburn Hills Avondale moved into the division from the White.

Clarkston lost a lot of talent from its championship team, and rival coaches see this year’s race as anyone’s to win.

“Clarkston is good. They’re not as deep as they have been, but they’re still very good,” West Bloomfield coach Andre White said. “It’s going to be a tight race, and the team that plays the hardest and executes the best is going to win the conference.”

White added that he believes Southfield High and North Farmington also have to be considered favorites. He said  his team can make a splash despite not having a returning starter.

“Nobody wins a championship in December, so we’re just trying to improve,” he said.

North Farmington expects to get a boost in its frontcourt come January, that’s when junior Urban Bingham, a Farmington resident who transferred from Beverly Hills Detroit Country Day, becomes eligible.       

“He’ll be the biggest kid we’ve had in quite some time,” North Farmington coach Tom Negoshian said of Bingham, who stands 6 feet 7 inches. “We’re hoping that if we’re still in the running somewhere in January, hopefully, he’s going to help us out.”