Oakland men’s basketball coach Greg Kampe was on WXOU radio on Wednesday and touched on several key subjects. Here are some highlights.

— Kampe answered several questions on the recruiting class, here is what he had to say on a few.

On 7-footer Ilija Milutinovic, Kampe said he is not a typical European player. He can play near the basket and has outstanding ball skills for a 7-footer. Kampe said the big question was getting him physically fit where he can play 25-30 minutes. Milutinovic was offered $250,000 to play professionally in Serbia but came to Oakland in hopes he can get to the NBA.

On Drew Maynard, Kampe said he loves shooters and Maynard has unlimited range and he likes having several shooters in Maynard, Erik Kangas and Blake Cushingberry.

On point guard Matt Samuels, he said Samuels has a Derick Nelson type body on a 6-0 frame. He is also very confident, which Kampe likes. He hopes Samuels can push Johnathon Jones because nobody did last year. And hopefully Jones won’t have to play as many minutes.

My take: This recruiting class is coming in with a lot of hype. One thing Kampe mentioned though is Samuels and Milutinovic are both 20-year-old freshman so their adjustment period might be shorter. It seems that nobody’s job is safe and practices are going to be intense. Hopefully that will translate into wins for Oakland.

— Kampe discussed other Summit League teams’ recruiting classes. He said North Dakota State, IUPUI and Oral Roberts are all pleased with their classes, but he hasn’t really seen any of the kids they are bringing in.

My take: Like Kampe I haven’t seen any of the recruits going there so I can’t comment. But with that said I don’t think any of the junior college transfers these teams are getting are going to have the impact Kampe’s class has the potential to have.

— Kampe also touched on Detroit Mercy and gave some interesting comments. He said Oakland had a chance to join the Horizon League, but Detroit had a role in Oakland not getting in. He also said he had no interest in playing them because he doesn’t see how it will benefit Oakland. He believes they have passed Detroit in recruiting and doesn’t see a need to play them. But he did add he might play Detroit if they called, but he wasn’t going to call them.

My take: This would be a great rivalry and fun for the fans, but I don’t see it happening. There is too much bad blood between the two schools and what do they really have to gain by playing each other?

— Kampe also touched on the schedule, which he said he doesn’t expect to complete until mid-August. Kampe also wished George Hill luck and said he hopes Hill gets drafted.

My take: I can’t wait to see the schedule, but I also can’t wait for the season to get here. Is summer almost over? Lol.

Overall it was a good interview by Corey and Brad. For the complete interview go to
http://www.wxousports.com/Audio.html

— Looking through the girls soccer all-state teams I was a little surprised to see Birmingham Marian goalkeeper Whitney Sarkis left off the Division 2 teams. Sarkis was a first team all-state selection last season and had a much better year this season. She split time in goal last season, but helped lead Marian to the state semifinals. This year she lost one game all season (in districts) and gave a total of five or six goals all season, but was likely left off because the Mustangs lost in the first round of districts to state runner-up Bloomfield Hills Lahser. I don’t know exactly how the all-state teams are made up and in general they do an outstanding job, but seeing Sarkis left off just puzzled me.

— I was looking over Oakland’s women’s basketball schedule and there are some solid home games again this season. The Golden Grizzlies open up the season by hosting Columbia and also host Georgia, Siena, St. Bonaventure, Marquette and Rochester College.

On the road Oakland has a pair of games in Cozumel, Mexico against South Carolina-Upstate and Texas-San Antonio. Other non-conference road games include Niagara, Purdue and Saint Louis.

Oakland has two road conference games in December against Southern Utah and UMKC. The biggest competition for the Summit League title will once again be regular season champion South Dakota State and tournament champion Oral Roberts. The Grizzlies host South Dakota State on Jan. 5 and Oral Roberts on Feb. 9.

The men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball schedules are also up on the Oakland Web site. Hopefully the men’s basketball schedule will be released soon.

— I’m looking forward to the NBA draft this Thursday for a few reasons. One I am interested to see if the Pistons do a draft-day deal and two I am curious to see if IUPUI's George Hill gets drafted. If he does maybe it will bring some more credibility to the Summit League.

Lake Orion's Bethany Watterworth verbally committed to the Oakland women's basketball team this week. She averaged 15.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and three assists last season for the OAA III champion Dragons. She was also an all-county dream team selection by The Oakland Press this season.

This is what was written about her in the all-county article — A versatile 6-foot-2 forward/ center who can also handle the ball and score from the perimeter, Watterworth was an all-around threat all year long, averaging 15.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game this season for the OAA Division III champion Dragons. Should be one of the state’s best players next year.

"She is the complete basketball player that is an ultimate team player,” Lake Orion head coach Steve Roberts said. “She makes everyone of her teammates better by involving them.”

I'll have more on Watterworth in the paper later this week.

IUPUI's George Hill has decided to stay in the NBA draft and has hired an agent. I got a chance to see Hill play a few times and I'm not surprised he impressed NBA scouts enough to decide to come out this year. He seemed like a nice guy during the press conferences so I wish him the best.

This is obviously good news for Oakland. Hill would have been the favorite to win the Summit League Player of the Year award had he elected to come back. Now the likely favorites are Oakland's Derick Nelson, Southern Utah's Geoff Payne, Oral Roberts' Robert Jarvis and North Dakota State's Ben Woodside and Brett Winkelman, who were all first-team selections last season.

IUPUI will still be solid and looks like it has a pretty solid recruiting class coming in. If I had to turn in my preseason ballot today my top six would be 1. Oakland 2. Oral Roberts 3. North Dakota State 4. IUPUI 5. Southern Utah 6. IPFW Maybe I'm being a homer picking Oakland, but I think this team has a ton of potential.

I haven't had a chance to really blog about Oakland's busy spring signing period, but it's been pretty impressive. It's really hard for me to comment too much since I haven't seen Matt Samuels or Ilija Milutinovic play and very little of Larry Wright, but the coaching staff seems really excited. My only question is will there be enough minutes to go around. I'll blog about this later in the week. Just wanted to get at least one Oakland entry up with all the news that has broke in the last few weeks.

Oakland County’s streak of having at least one girls soccer state champion came to an end this season. The streak lasted 20 years. The last time a county team failed to win a state title was 1987 when Plymouth Salem won the Class A title and Saginaw Eisenhower won the Class B title. No county team even reached the finals that season. The following year was also the first year a county team won a girls soccer state title. The MHSAA started offering girls soccer in 1983 and the county failed to win a title during the first five years with Madison Heights Bishp Foley capturing the county’s first state title in 1988 when the Ventures won the Class B crown.

This season two county teams reached the finals with Bloomfield Hills Lahser falling in a shootout to Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central in the Division 2 title game and Madison Heights Bishop Foley losing 1-0 to Kalamazoo Christian.

I don’t think a streak like this will happen again because 20 years is a long time. Of course there are more state titles to go around these days than there was when the streak started, but there is also a lot more talented teams outside the county than there used to be. The streak probably didn’t mean much to any of the players, but I was sad to see it end. Hopefully it won’t be more than a one-year drought.

Here is a list of the county’s state champions during the 20 year streak.

2007 — Novi - Division 1
2006 — Novi - Division 1
2005 — Novi - Division 1
2004 — Birmingham Marian - Division 2; Detroit Country Day – Division 3
2003 — Troy – Division 1; Birmingham Marian – Division 2; Madison Heights Bishop Foely – Division 3
2002 — Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Division 3
2001 —Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Division 2; Clawson – Division 4
2000 — Troy Athens – Division 1; Detroit Country Day – Division 4
1999 — Rochester Adams – Division 1; Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Division 2; Detroit Country Day – Division 3
1998 — Birmingham Groves – Division 2; Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Division 3
1997 — Madison Heights Bishop Foley – Class B
1996 — Detroit Country Day – Class B
1995 — Birmingham Seaholm – Class A; Madison Heights Bishop Foley Class B
1994 — Troy – Class A; Madison Heights Bishop Foley Class B
1993 — Troy Athens – Class A; Madison Heights Bishop Foley Class B
1992 — Rochester Adas Class A
1991 — Troy Athens Class A; Detroit Country Day Class B
1990 — Madison Heights Bishop Foley Class B
1989 — Troy Athens
1988 — Madison Heights Bishop Foley Class B

Division 2
Bloomfield Hills Lahser (14-9-1) vs. No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (23-1)
A rematch of last year’s Division 2 finals, which Forest Hills Central won 4-1. The Rangers have had a memorable season, ending Hudsonville Unity Christian’s unbeaten streak and only suffering one loss to Lowell. Forest Hills Central features 2007 Dream Team selection Clare Stachel and have outscored its opponents 28-2 in their playoff run. All signs point to the Rangers being the favorite.

With all that being said don’t count Lahser out. The Knights have come together during this playoff run. Injuries and suspensions have prevented Lahser from having its full lineup until the start of districts. The Knights have taken out four ranked teams in their playoff run and face another in the Rangers. If Haley Kopmeyer plays her best then the Knights could steal this one.
Prediction — Forest Hills Central

Division 4
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (11-10-1) vs. Kalamazoo Christian (21-2)
Bishop Foley and Kalamazoo Christian have each only given up on goal so far in the playoffs so this could be a one-goal game. Bishop Foley played a much tougher regular-season schedule, but the Comets are the defending Division 4 state champions. This game will likely come down to one team making a mistake.
Prediction — Bishop Foley wins its first state title since 2003

Division 1
Ann Arbor Huron (16-2-2) vs. Grosse Pointe North (14-8)
Huron has not allowed a goal in the playoffs and its defense will likely be the difference.
Prediction — Ann Arbor Huron

Division 3
Hudsonville Unity Christian (24-1-1) vs. Williamston (20-4-2)
Heyboer and company win a fourth straight state title.
Prediction — Unity Christian


My record so far.
Semifinals - 5-3
Regional finals - 9-6
Regional semifinals - 11-1
Division 1 district finals - 3-2

I posted all the team's routes to the finals below if anybody wants to check them out.

Also I will be checking out the baseball and softball semifinals tomorrow in Battle Creek for the first time. I've heard good things about the event so hopefully it will be a good time. We have three teams there and I will be covering the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep softball game at 1:30 p.m. if anybody wants to stop by and heckle me about my picks feel free.

Division 2
Bloomfield Hills Lahser (14-9-1)
Districts
d. No. 1 Birmingham Marian 1-0 (OT)
d. Birmingham Seaholm 3-0
d. Bloomfield Hills Andover 4-1

Regionals
d. No. 8 Flint Kearsley 3-2 (2 OT)
d. No. 4 Auburn Hills Avondale 1-0

Semifinals
d. No. 7 Dexter 1-0

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central (23-1)
Districts
d. Forest Hills Northern 3-0
d. Ionia 8-0
d. Forest Hills Eastern 2-0

Regionals
d. Grand Rapids Christian 7-1
d. Petoskey 4-0

Semifinals
d. No. 6 Portage Northern 4-1

Division 4
Madison Heights Bishop Foley (11-10-1)
Districts
d. Birmingham Roeper 9-1
d. Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett 6-0

Regionals
d. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 3-0
d. No. 5 Ann Arbor Greenhills 1-0

Semifinals
d. Marine City Cardinal Mooney 3-0

Kalamazoo Christian (21-2)
Districts
d. Jonesville 8-0
d. Kalamazoo Hackett Christian 1-0

Regionals
d. Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian 6-0
d. Dansville 3-0

Semfinals
d. No. 6 Charlevoix 5-1

Division 1
Ann Arbor Huron (16-2-2)
Districts
d. Monroe 8-0
d. No. 9 Ann Arbor Pioneer 1-0
d. Saline 2-0

Regionals
d. Dearborn 3-0
d. No. 1 Northville 1-0 (SO)

Semfinals
d. No. 7 Portage Central 1-0

Grosse Pointe North (14-8)
Districts
d. Warren Mott 8-0
d. Warren Cousino 2-1
d. Royal Oak 2-1

Regionals
d. L’Anse Creuse North 3-1
d. Grosse Pointe South 1-0

Semfinals
d. No. 3 Utica Eisenhower 5-4 (OT)

Division 3
Hudsonville Unity Christian (24-1-1)
Districts
d. Wyoming Park 9-1
d. Zeeland West 9-1
d. Grand Rapids South Christian 3-0

Regionals
d. South Haven 8-0
d. Ostego 4-0

Semifinals
d. Suttons Bay 8-0

Williamston (20-4-2)
Districts
d. Laingsburg-Bath 2-0
d. Lansing Catholic 5-0
d. Ovid Elsie 3-0

Regionals
d. No. 9 Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central 5-0
d. No. 2 Flint Powers 2-1

Semifinals
d. No. 7 Birmingham Detroit Country Day 1-0 (SO)

Here are my predictions for the state semifinals (with the Oakland County games first) hopefully I will do better than my 9-6 performance in the regional finals.

Division 2
At Bloomfield Hills Andover
Bloomfield Hills Lahser vs. No. 7 Dexter — Prediction Lahser
The Knights have had a much more difficult route to the semifinals than Dexter. Lahser has had to go through No. 1 Marian, No. 2 Avondale and No. 8 Flint Kearsley. But the Knights have always found a way to win. Whether it be an overtime goal against Marian or rallying from a 2-0 deficit to win in double overtime against Flint Kearsley, Lahser has had that magic touch and I think it will likely continue Wednesday.

Division 3
At Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
No. 7 Detroit Country Day vs. No. 4 Williamston — Prediction Country Day
The Yellowjackets better not look ahead to a showdown with Hudsonville Unity Christian in the championship game for the fourth time in the last five years because Williamston is a quality team. I heard Country Day’s Anna Sieloff showed off her goaltending skills in the shootout against Notre Dame Prep. The Yellowjackets will need Sieloff and Kayla Addison to be on their game offensively and they will advance.

Division 4
At Ultimate Soccer Arenas
No. 3 Madison Heights Bishop Foley vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney — Prediction Bishop Foley
The Ventures have proven so far they deserve the No. 3 ranking and should advance to the state championship game. I haven’t been to the Ultimate Soccer Arenas yet, but my question is do they have an outdoor field? And if not has a state playoff game ever been played indoors?

Division 1
At Holt
Ann Arbor Huron vs. No. 7 Portage Central — Prediction Portage Cenral (Sorry Eastside can’t go against them this round)

At Utica Eisenhower
No. 3 Utica Eisenhower vs. Grosse Pointe North — Prediction Utica Eisenhower becomes the first Macomb County girls team to advance to the finals

Division 2
At Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central
No. 2 Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central vs. No. 6 Portage Northern — Prediction Forest Hills Central sets up another final with Lahser

Division 3
At Hudsonville Unity Christian
No. 1 Hudsonville Unity Christian vs. Suttons Bay — Prediction Untiy Christian advances and goes for its fourth straight title Saturday

Division 4
At Holton
No. 1 Kalamazoo Christian vs. No. 6 Charlevoix — Prediction Kalamazoo Christian wins a tight one to keep its hopes alive for back-to-back titles.


Random thoughts
— Nobody is saying the MHSAA is perfect and Friday was a perfect case. The kids at Ann Arbor Greenhills and Grosse Pointe South have every right to question the decisions made Friday night.

How can they justify calling games with time on the clock and not coming back, while other teams were coming back at other sites to complete games. Just because there was a score at those sites doesn’t mean they should call the games. There was nearly 30 mintues left in the Bishop Foley-Greenhills game.

I’m not taking anything away from Bishop Foley or Grosse Pointe North because they have to take the victory, but I just feel bad for the kids who lost that way. It had to be hard for them to figure out why they were done, while other schools were coming back to complete games Saturday.

— Lots of people like to bash the state rankings and say there is bias and things like that, but look at the state semifinals. Of the 16 teams left 11 are ranked and one is an honorable mention. Of the other four teams, Ann Arbor Huron and Grosse Pointe North were ranked during the season just not in the final rankings. Lahser was not ranked, but even though everyone knew the Knights were talented it was hard to argue for them being ranked after their horrible start to the season and they entered the state tournament under .500. That leaves Suttons Bay as the only real surprise team that was never ranked.

Anytime someone does a ranking they will be criticized, believe me I know from experience, but considering how many teams there are in the state I have to say the coaches’ association did a heck of a job this year. Keep up the good work guys.

Last season Country Day, Notre Dame Prep and Bishop Foley were in the same Division 3 district with Bishop Foley emerging as the champion. A year later all three are in regional final games. Bishop Foley dropped down to Division 4 and is facing Ann Arbor Greenhills.

Country Day and Notre Dame Prep will face each other at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are looking forward to this matchup after the Yellowjackets eliminated them from the playoffs last season. Country Day looked good against Richmond, especially considering the weather conditions. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the Notre Dame Prep game, but I think everyone agrees the Fighting Irish, who were up 3-1 when the game was called, were the better team Tuesday night. Things won’t get any easier for the winner with Flint Powers likely waiting in the finals and then Hudsonville Unity Christian in the finals.

In the other all-Oakland County regional final OAA II champion Auburn Hills Avondale will get is rematch with Bloomfield Hills Lahser, which eliminated Avondale last season in districts. This should be a great game and the winner will likely reach the Division 2 championship game. I’ll go out on a limb and say whoever scores first wins. Also congratulations to Lahser goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer on being named a Parade All-American.

No Oakland County team remains in Division 1 after Novi lost to Northville, which fell to Ann Arbor Huron. Utica Eisenhower now has to be the favorite in Division 1, but things are pretty wide open.

Here are my predictions for the regional finals.

Division 2
At Berkley
Dexter vs. Farmington — Prediction Dexter
Don’t count out Farmington, but the Falcons haven’t faced a team as good as Dexter so far in the playoffs

At Fenton
Bloomfield Hills Lahser vs. Auburn Hills Avondale — Prediction Avondale
The Knights need to start off better than they did against Kearsley because they won’t be able to make up a 2-0 deficit against Avondale. Lahser’s goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer is always the X-factor, but this could be the year for Avondale’s first regional title.

Division 3
At Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
Country Day vs. Notre Dame Prep — Prediction Country Day
It won’t be easy, but the Yellowjackets should prevail in a tight game.

Division 4
At Ann Arbor Pioneer
Bishop Foley vs. Ann Arbor Greenhills — Prediction Bishop Foley
This will be Bishop Foley’s biggest test in the playoffs so far, but the Ventures are battle tested from their Catholic League schedule and should be able to overcome Greenhills playing so close to home.

Bonus predictions (some are pure guesses so don’t bet the farm based on my pick)
Division 1
Portage Central vs Okemos — Prediction Okemos
Grosse Pointe North vs. Grosse Pointe South — Prediction South
Utica Eisenhower vs. Grand Blanc — Prediction Eisenhower

Division 2
Portage Northern vs. Chelsea — Prediction Chelsea
Petoskey vs. Forest Hills Central — Prediction Forest Hills Central

Division 3
Otsego vs. Hudsonville Unity Christian — Prediction Unity Chrisitan
Flint Powers vs. Williamston — Prediction Flint Powers
Tawas Area vs. Suttons Bay — Prediction Suttons Bay in My pure-guess special

Division 4
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Dansville — Prediction Kalamazoo Christian
Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker vs. Marine City Cardinal Mooney — Prediction Port Laker
Charlevoix vs. Grand Rapids Northpointe Christian — Prediction Charlevoix


My record so far
Regional semifinals: 11-1
Division 1 districts: 3-2

Novi proved to be the only Oakland County Division 1 team that won a district title. The Wildcats will now face undefeated and No. 1-ranked Northville in a regional semifinal at Liviona Stevenson.
These two teams have had quite a rivalry over the past few years. Novi has eliminated Northville in each of the last three years on its way to three straight state championships. The Wildcats defeated Northville in a district final in 2005, in the state finals in 2006 and in the semifinals in 2007. Back in 2004 Northville eliminated Novi on its way to a state championship.
This year should be another good one and if the past is any indication the winner might be the next Division 1 state champion.

A very interesting regional in Division 2 will be at Fenton. The regional features three teams ranked in the top 10 and last year’s state runner-up Lahser. The Knights face off against No. 8 Flint Kearsley. It will be Lahser’s toughest challenge since facing Marian in the first round of districts. The difference will likely be Lahser’s goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.
No. 4 Auburn Hills Avondale and No. 9 East Lansing should be another great game. The Yellow Jackets are in uncharted territory for them and they haven’t been tested yet in the playoffs. East Lansing handed No. 3 DeWitt its first loss in the district championship game. Avondale being relatively fresh might work to its advantage.

In Division 3 Pontiac Notre Dame Prep and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard will face off for a third time this season. Gabriel Richard won the last meeting and the two teams tied in their first meeting. The third match will be at the Fighting Irish’s home field. The two Catholic League foes should provide another exciting game.

Here are my predictions for regional semifinals. Some district champions have not been reported yet so I have no predictions for those games yet.
Division 1
Livonia Stevenson regional
Novi vs. Northville, 5 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Novi
Dearborn vs. Ann Arbor Huron, 7 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Huron

Division 2
Berkley regional
Dexter vs. Warren Regina, 5 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Dexter
Farmington vs. Trenton, 7 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Farmington

Fenton regional
Bloomfield Hills Lahser vs. Flint Kearsley, 5 p.m. Wednesday — Prediction Lahser
Auburn Hills Avondale vs. East Lansing, 6:45 p.m. Wednesday — Prediction Avondale

Division 3
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep regional
Birmingham Detroit Country Day vs. Richmond, 5 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Country Day
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 7 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Notre Dame Prep

Division 4
Ann Arbor Pioneer regional
Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Canton Plymouth Christian Academy, 5 p.m. Wednesday — Prediction Greenhills
Madison Heights Bishop Foley vs. Monroe-St. Mary Catholic, 7 p.m. Wednesday — Prediction Bishop Foley

Auburn Hills Oakland Christian regional
Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes vs. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 4 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Bay Port Laker
Marine City Cardinal Mooney vs. Burton-Genesee Christian, 6 p.m. Tuesday — Prediction Cardinal Mooney