Avondale caps inaugural The D Zone Rising Teams Classic with win over Skyline

AUBURN HILLS - Avondale capped the first The D Zone Rising Teams Tip-off Classic with a thrilling 64-62 win against Ann Arbor Skyline.

Playing on their home court, Avondale jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half with some hot shooting and pressure defense.

Skyline mostly dominated the second half, but Avondale made some clutch baskets down the stretch to keep the lead and seal the victory.

Avondale MVP: Jordan Clayton, 6-3 Sr.

Why doesn’t this kid have more college offers? He’s everything a D2 college coach could ask for. He’s an elite shooter with great size and length. He can now put the ball on the floor and create his own shot, and he plays some great defense. I think he’s extremely underrated and looks poised to show the state that he’s a high-caliber basketball player. This 19-point performance was a great start.

Skyline MVP: Noah Silkworth, 6-5 Sr.

Skyline’s star forward was quiet in the first half, recording just two points, but he came alive in the second half, utilizing a nice spin move in the post and even draining a 3-pointer. He finished the game with 14 points, showcasing the mix of physicality and grace that made him one of the darlings of summer ball.

Team Analysis

AH Avondale

Avondale featured a lot of length on the wing. Clayton stood out immediately as a great player, but junior guard Ja’Kobe Louris (6-4) also impressed with his all-around game. DJ Moody (6-3) is another long, rangy wing with a nice shot and did a good job driving into the paint. Junior forward Javontae Anderson (6-4) did a nice job off the bench and has some upside as he gets more comfortable on offense. Justin Greer-Sykes (6-2) provides the muscle, but he got into foul trouble in this game. Despite a lop-sided loss to Orchard Lake, this Avondale team has the look of a real force.

AA Skyline

Skyline is extremely well balanced and everyone knows their role. They are all great kids on and off the court, which makes you root for them. Silkworth is the team’s top post player and athlete, Braylan Brown (6-5) is a bouncy forward with great leaping ability and a versatile offensive skillset. Alex Brabec is a great 3-point shooter who helps stretch the defense and create room for the post players. Jake Rademacher (6-1) impressed with his ball-handling and driving ability. He drained some near-elite mid-range jumpers after great moves. Ben Solomon (5-11) is a solid lead guard who can also add to the scoring. Overall, this is a well-balanced team. The only slight concern is depth.