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How quickly a team's fate can change in their era of the fluid player. Isaiah Sykes is in his second week of eligibility at Detroit Denby, his third school in as many years. The 6-foot-5 guard just happens to be one of the state's top 10 seniors, and not surprisingly the arrival of Sykes, and another Detroit Finney refugee, 6-5 senior Brandon Williams, has bolstered also-ran Denby to the ranks of the PSL's elite. They Tars beat Detroit Southeastern Friday, 79-73 and it wasn't that close. A homecourt win over Class A No. 2 Pershing this Tuesday would virtually guarantee Denby the other playoff bid from the PSL East. Sykes and Williams join a third terrific senior who is a Denby holdover, 6-3 Derrick Barden. An unknown as a junior, he had a terrific off-season with the Family and keeps getting better. Barden led Denby with a game-high 28 points. It was Sykes who was the catalyst, as the Tars took it to 'em early, never trailed, and led by over 20 in the second half. He has the height and bulk of a high school power forward, and the handle and vision of a college point guard. No wonder he took the ball wherever he wanted against Southeastern's defense. He made 6-of-7 first-half shots, and finished with 24 points.
Sykes isn't Denby's only under-recruited and unknown D1-talented senior. Barden is a muscular, hard-nosed, inside-outside scorer with a good motor. He gets after it defensively. Barden finishes aggressively with dunks, and made all three of his three-point attempts against the Jungaleers. Where Barden can improve are in his guard skills, his ability to create his own shot. That might be redundant right now, though, because when Sykes has the ball in his hands, his teammates are going to get good shots. Williams was once very highly regarded, and he's now realizing those expectations. He's really improved since the summer. He's so active, and had a couple huge dunks against Southeastern. But it's hard not to still classify him a 'tweener forward. The game's best-known player was Brandan Kearney, a 6-6 junior who has committed to Michigan State. He had to fill in as Southeastern's full-time point guard. In the second half he went from set-up man to aggressor, as SE found some life. He scored 15 with four assists and six steals. He's good defensively because he knows how to counter his reach with his quickness so he's good in space and rarely out of position. Right now Kearney is most effective as a scorer pulling up, and will finish better as he gains strength. 6-1 junior Devonte Carter led Southeastern with 21 points. Known as a three-point sniper, he used his size to go inside and lived at the foul stripe as the Jungaleers made it interesting late. 6-6 senior Johnny Lindsey was a bright point off Southeastern's bench. Ironically, he's a transfer from Denby, and had a big dunk in his old gym. He played a lot late, as 6-8 junior Percy Gibson lacked assertiveness inside. |
