North Farmington tops Hamtramck at The D Zone Rising Teams Classic

AUBURN HILLS - North Farmington defeated Hamtramck 53-47 in the penultimate game of The D Zone Rising Teams Tip-off Classic.

As expected, this was a hard-fought, physical battle between two talented teams and two tremendous coaches.

In the end, North Farmington made crucial shots and stops at the end to show they can again be a contender this season.

North Farmington MVP: Connor Brown, 6-5 So.

Brown displayed physicality, patience and a great finishing touch around the rim. As a sophomore who may still be growing, he looked the part of a college prospect. The Raiders are in a rebuilding year after losing four starters from last season’s state runners-up squad. Brown should ease that transition as he begins a promising career.

Hamtramck MVP: Ty’Ron Jackson, 6-4 Sr.

Jackson was a bright spot for Hamtramck on a day when made buckets were hard to find. Jackson is an athletic wing who excels at getting to the basket. He’s good at using his length and skill to get around defenders guarding the hoop. He should have plenty of scoring opportunities as the season progresses, especially if his 3-point shot keeps falling.

Team Analysis

North Farmington

The Raiders have some great young talent in Brown and freshman guard Troy Waldron Jr., (5-11) but they also have some senior leadership in Rob Smith (5-10). Smith is a well-built point guard who can score off the bounce and use his strength to get into the lane and finish through traffic. Dion Morgan (5-10) is another feisty guard who can also knock down 3-pointers. He had some nice moments on last season’s elite team, and he should be a key contributor this year. Overall, with great coaching and some rising players, this team should again be tough to beat.

Hamtramck

It seems like Hamtramck is still searching for an identity. It’s still very early in the season, but this team just hasn’t quite clicked. They have some nice pieces, like Devin Mixon (5-10) and Brian Jenkins (6-3). They have great coaching and the hunger to win. This team should develop more chemistry as the season goes on. They need to find their offensive identity and stick with it.