Duane Graves Looks Ahead to First Black Hawks Basketball Season

The first tip-off won't happen until late this fall, but the inaugural season of the Bloomfield Hills High School Black Hawks basketball season got under way of sorts last week with the first organizational meeting. And new Head Coach Duane Graves couldn't wait to get started.

The long-time Lahser High School coach who piloted the Knights to consecutive Oakland Athletics Association Blue division and regional title crowns, was recently named the head coach of the Black Hawks. And he has his sights on making a statement in the school's first season following consolidation with Andover High School.

"I'm honored and and very excited to be coaching Bloomfield Hills High School," said Graves, who earned North Metro Coach of the Year honors from the Detroit News after last season's 18-7 campaign. "We're going to continue to have a great program that we've been building on here, and we've got great kids coming from Andover and the middle schools that will keep it going."

Helping him do that will be the trio of Lahser players entering their final high school season; Yante Maten, Armand Cartwright and Khalil Gracey.

Big Three, Big Results

Maten and Cartwright earned all-state honors last monthBasketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

Maten, a 6-foot-9 inch center that can play any position on the floor, led Lahser to consecutive league and district titles by averaging 15.6 points, 13.4 rebounds and 5.2 points per game this winter. His season included several dominant performances and a series of memorable plays, punctuated by his game-winning shot to defeat Orchard Lake St. Mary's in the MHSAA playoffs.

Cartwright earned honorable mention from the Detroit Free Press, Oakland Press, and was on the OAA Blue First Team. He was second on the team in scoring (14.2 points a game), third in assists and won the 'Mr. Hustle Award' from the coaching staff due to his continuous effort.

"He is the leader on and off the court," Graves said. "The things that Armand brings to the Knight aren't measurable on the stat sheet."

Gracey also earned honorable mention from the Detroit Free Press, Oakland Press, and was on the OAA Blue First Team. He led the team in assists (4.4 per game) and broke the school record for steals with 70 (2.9 per game). Graves said the team voted him most improved player in 2013.

Coming Together

But Graves, who was voted OAA Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches for the second straight season in 2013, is among the first to acknowledge that how well the trio of stars rebound from their season ending loss to Rochester in the regional final, depends also on how well he meshes the talent on the first Black Hawks squad.

Andover finished 2013 with an 11-10 record, and fell to Seaholm in the district quarterfinals. Juniors Dylan Dietch and Todd Weiss, and sophomore Josh Bender could be among the Baron players to watch as Graves tries to make the most of the combined squad.

"It's going to be an extraordinary opportunity for somebody to build something from scratch and take two good really solid teams and programs and make them one," he said. "I think we're going to be competitive for years to come, and putting the schools together will do a lot for our athletes."

Part of that process is getting started early with team and booster meetings now, and making sure the teammates and families have an opportunity to bond before the rigors of the season. Graves said the preparation will last all summer long.

The Black Hawks basketball team, on paper, has the potential to be the best combined squad looking ahead to the first Bloomfield Hills High School. Which sports team are you most excited to watch in the school's inaugural season?