This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Sports

Lakers Boys Reverse Fortunes, Look Strong Approaching Districts

First-year head coach Jeremy Denha helps the West Bloomfield High School basketball team to double its win total.

This season has a completely different feel from last for senior Spencer Parker and the boys basketball team.

A year after a disappointing 5-16 season where at times teammates didn’t get along, the Lakers have doubled their win total and have an opportunity to compete for a divisional title. They face a big game Tuesday on the road at Clarkston, as the 9-3 Lakers take on Clarkston High, who stand 10-2. Much of the credit is given to a new head coach, a dominant player and a group of athletes who complement each other well and are on the same page.

First-year head coach Jeremy Denha has brought a disciplined mindset to the team, Parker said. Denha took the West Bloomfield job in June 2010 after spending three years as the head coach at Berkley High.

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parker sees the difference in himself and the team. The 6-foot-7 forward is averaging more than 23 points and 12 rebounds per game and has become a leader on and off the court.

“Coach wanted us to become much more disciplined both in how we play and how we are off the court,” Parker said. “This year it’s all about playing hard.”

Find out what's happening in West Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tall front court leads the Lakers

Parker is still considering his college options next year, and will likely end up at a Division 1 mid-major program or a high-end Division 2 school, Denha said. He is even more of an appealing player now than a year ago to colleges because Parker has evolved as a leader, his head coach said.

“We understand that he’s our best player and that everything offensively is tailored around him,” Denha said. “But where I’ve seen a lot of progress is his maturation as a young man and a teammate. He’s a quiet kid but he has developed into a leader.”

Denha said the team has sometimes reverted to bad habits, resulting in losses to teams such as Clarkston. But he said the Lakers have enough talent to peak later this month in time for a run in the state playoffs.

“When you look at the competition we have played all year in our division you have to be on top of your game every night,” Denha said, referring to Pontiac High, Southfield High, North Farmington High and Clarkston. “There really aren’t any easy games.”

Joining Parker in the front court is Nick Leventis, a 6-foot-5 forward who, like Parker, offers a guard-like skill combined with the size of a forward. That 1-2 punch of athletic players will give West Bloomfield a chance for a district title when the state playoffs begin in just over two weeks. The Lakers will open against  North Farmington on March 7. Other teams in the district include Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, Farmington and Farmington Hills Harrison.

For West Bloomfield to capture a title, the team will have to improve upon its consistency and decision-making, particularly in late games.

“We need to cut down on our turnovers,” Parker said. “I’m just glad this isn’t the same team as last year. We were more selfish then, but with (Denha) we have been able to buy into the team concept. It has allowed me to develop more naturally as a leader.”

Parker looking to play in college

To have success on the next level Parker will have to continue getting stronger and further improve his jump shot, Denha said. Parker agrees.

“I know that I have to learn to pull up for jumpers in the lane and not always take it to the basket because they will take more charges at the next level,” said Parker, who has improved his grades to the point where such schools as Oakland, Eastern Michigan, Wright State and South Alabama are recruiting him.

In fact Parker has improved his GPA by nearly 0.8 points — another sign of the maturity that will likely allow him the opportunity to earn a college scholarship.

But when it comes to the season, he said: “It’s not about me but the team. And I’m doing what I can to make my teammates better and take care of my business in the classroom."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from West Bloomfield