Meet the 2019 Hal Schram Michigan Mr. Basketball finalists
There is a common denominator running through all four of the finalists for the Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award.
All of them do far more for their teams than their positions require.
“I think we got our fingers on the right guys; there’s not much doubt for me,” said Al Snyder, chairperson for the Mr. Basketball award. “These guys are for real and they’re ready to play. They’ve worked on their game, there’s no doubt about it. they’ve got the skills and they’ve continued to push themselves.”
This is the 39th year of the award, given to the top senior in the state by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan and the Detroit Free Press. The award is named for Hal Schram, who covered high school athletics for the Free Press for more than 40 years.
All of the finalists are versatile players who have gone above and beyond what is asked of them to make their teams successful.
Canton’s B. Artis White is a 5-foot-11 guard who not only led his team is scoring and assists, but was also the best rebounder.
Romeo Weems, the No. 1 player in the state, helped New Haven win the Class B state championship as a sophomore. At 6-7, he has proven to be an exceptional perimeter player as well as an inside force.
Chandler Turner’s scoring and rebounding helped Detroit Renaissance reach the PSL championship game while Joe Moon IV emerged as a scoring machine and his defense helped make Westland Glenn competitive.
Moon’s play this season dispels the theory that this award is determined during players’ junior seasons.
“There was this group that took off and some were able to catch up, like Joe Moon,” said Snyder. “He’s been steady with his stats. This group is just head and shoulders of the rest of them.”
Only BCAM members are permitted to vote for this award, which will be presented Monday, March 11 at the Free Press.
Here is an alphabetical look at the finalists:
Joe Moon IV
Westland Glenn, 6-0, guard
College: Undecided.
By the numbers (averages): 27.5 points, 5.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Perimeter shooting.
Best move: Uses a between the legs, crossover double move to get by a defender for a jump shot or a drive to the basket.
Favorite athlete: Dwayne Wade.
Favorite book: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
Top opponent: Ashton Hagans (Covington, Ga.).
When my basketball career is finished I will... “be a marine biologist.”
Overview: He was the best kept secret in the state until this season began and he has been sensational from the jump. He has always been the defensive stopper for Glenn, but now his offense has been lights out and has scored more than 1,300 career points. His range has improved and he is hitting 44 percent from beyond the arc. He had a good junior season and he has parlayed that with an excellent summer to become a Division I recruit.
Chandler Turner
Detroit Renaissance, 6-6, guard
College: Bowling Green.
By the numbers: 23 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Rebounding.
Best move: Catches the ball and uses a quick first step with a dribble to get to the basket for a lay-up or pull-up jumper.
Favorite athlete: LeBron James.
Favorite book: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
Top opponent: Daniel Friday (U-D Jesuit).
When my basketball career is finished I will... “be an architect.”
Overview: The top player in the Public School League, he has been able to tune out all of the noise of Renaissance’s late coaching change and play above it. His rebounding has improved exponentially this season. He has become a better shooter as well, hitting 41 percent of his 3-point shots. In addition to his scoring, he also distributes the ball well and finds open teammates.
Romeo Weems
New Haven, 6-7, forward
By the numbers: 28.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 steals, 4.2 assists and 2.8 blocks per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Perimeter shooting.
Best move: Coming down the court with the ball and uses a crossover dribble to get into the paint for a dunk or a pull-up jump shot.
Favorite athlete: LeBron James.
Favorite book: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee.
Top opponent: James Wiseman (Memphis).
When my basketball career is finished I will... “find a way to continue to take care of my family, maybe as a sports analyst.”
Overview: He has been the top player in this class since his freshman season. He helped New Haven to the Class B state championship as a sophomore and semifinals as a junior. He was a member of USA Basketball’s U17 national team last fall. He is a wing player, but he is capable of playing all five positions and he is an intimidating force in the paint, changing more shots than he blocks.
B. Artis White
Canton, 5-11, guard
College: Western Michigan.
By the numbers: 21.5 points, 5 assists, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals per game.
Biggest area of improvement: Scoring at the rim.
Best move: Grabs a defensive rebound and takes it coast-to-coast for a lay-up.
Favorite Athlete: Allen Iverson.
Favorite book: “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” by Rick Riordan.
Top opponent: Rocket Watts (formerly of Detroit Old Redford).
When my basketball career is finished I will... “be a TV announcer.”
Overview: He is one of the state’s quickest players with the ball in his hands. Despite his size (5-11) he is Canton’s leading rebounder and he is a one-man fast break. He has always been a good perimeter shooter, but now he attacks the basket with a vengeance and has the ability to score after contact. He has also develop a good pull-up jumper and floater.
Mick McCabe is a former longtime columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @mickmccabe1.