Pro am enjoys new home in Burton

By Lisa Paine
Posted Thursday, June 26, 2008

 E-mail this page    Printer-friendly page

By Lisa Paine
INDEX Sports Editor
BURTON — Trent Inc., a team that features some of the area’s best high school graduates, is now 3-0 after the inaugural games of the 20-year-old Flint Pro Am basketball league which moved from Flint to Bentley last Friday.

Lapeer West grad Chris Hutton, destined for Albion, Grand Blanc grad Adrian Hunter, headed to CMU in the fall and Takais Brown, a 6-foot-10 talent from Carman-Ainsworth and the University of Georgia were among the best on Bentley boys varsity coach Jeremy Trent’s team.

“The games were phenomenal. The crowds were decent for our first effort with 150-200 at each game. We were hoping to get a better turnout than that, but Earl (Jordan) says that usually picks up as the league progresses through the summer,” Trent said.

Jordan, involved in the league since its inception, should know because he has followed it through several locations in Flint through the years.

Hutton drained a 3-pointer with about 30 seconds on the clock to lift Trent Inc. to a one-point lead Friday. Brown scored 24 points and Towsend 14. In the 7:30 p.m. game, the Red team was led by Janon Cole with 19, while Taylon Davis chipped in with 12.

“Adrian and Hutton are two of the best high school-level kids playing in a long time. Mateen (Cleeves) commented on that as he watched them play,” Trent said.

Others slated to play in the league include Zack McGee from Carman-Ainsworth, Jermaine Towsend from Flint Central, now playing D2 ball, and Alvin Peagus from the National Championship Mott Community College team. He’s headed to play for D1 Florida Atlantic come winter.

Trent’s squad is tied for first place with the multi-talented Team Ypsilanti that beat Mateen Cleeves’ squad, 108-104, in overtime Saturday night. Cleeves’ team went on to beat a squad that included former Flint Powers Catholic standout and soon-to-be Michigan State player Laval Lucas-Perry. Perry was supposed to be part of Trent Inc., but Trent said he opted to play for a different team.

“It was a really good weekend, but we need better turnout,” Trent noted. “That should happen with Mateen back this weekend, and Charlie Bell, who was out of town taking care of some NBA union business, will be on the court. Morris Peterson, Corey Hightower, Kelvin Torbert and Antonio Smith will all reunite as part of the famous Flintstones, so that will be something special to watch.”

Games will play every Friday-Sunday through mid-August, and this Friday, Cleeves’ team will play at 7:30 p.m. against Yspilanti and Trent Inc. will face the team that Lucas-Perry defected to. That squad includes Grand Blanc grad and U-M player Zack Gibson and they will tip off in the 6 p.m. game.

Saturday and Sunday games will start at 3 p.m. with the final games beginning at 8 p.m. A small $2 donation is asked at the door because the NCAA-sanctioned event cannot charge admission.
“The talent level is phenomenal. You can come and go as you please and watch games all evening, all weekend,” Trent said.

William Hatcher, who Trent coached at Carman, and Bell will certainly be playing this weekend. Lamar Rice, a 6-foot-9 Clemson grad, will join the squad as soon as his mini-camp requirements are completed. Several other topnotch players are slated to join in the next couple of weeks as their commitments are completed.