Redford should be Mr. Basketball

Brad is on a roll.
This stat line from the last week deserves a double-take.
Brad Redford is definitely tuning up for the playoffs. Last Tuesday, he dumped in 50 points against Caro. Then on Friday night, Redford dropped 52 points on Vassar. In a makeup game on Saturday night in North Branch, his state-record 102 consecutive free throws made came to an end as the senior racked up 38 points on the Broncos.
Then, Tuesday night against Garber, Redford set a school record by scoring 53 points on the Dukes.
That's 193 points in his last four games, an average of over 48 points a game.
Also, Redford just set a state record on Tuesday night, when he connected on his 116th three pointer of the season in the win over Garber.
He's closing in on an average of 40+ points a game, which is almost unheard of in this era of the defensive dominated style of play that everyone employs.
And yet, there are still those in the media who oppose Redford as the easy choice for Mr. Basketball.
The Saginaw News' Hugh Bernreuter recently wrote a piece about Redford where he wrote that Redford is a great shooter, yet Saginaw's Draymond Green was more deserving of the Mr. Basketball award than was Redford.
Sorry to say, but I think Mr. Bernrueter is wrong.
I have never in my life seen a high school shooter as good as Brad Redford. He's shooting over 98-percent from the free throw line this season. He's over 47-percent from behind the three-point line.
And it doesn't matter who he plays against. Brad would be just as good in any league in the state. I've been covering the Flint Metro League over the past month at the County Press, and with all good players in that conference of mostly Class A schools, Redford would still be the best player if he were in that area.
I've heard other writers who cover the Saginaw Valley Conference state that Redford is hands down the best shooter in the state of Michigan.
It's just more difficult for a kid from a small town to win the Mr. Basketball award when the most press is usually given to the players from the Detroit area. With the state's biggest papers being from the Motor City, and with Mr. Basketball being an award voted on by the press; it just makes sense that most every year the award goes to a player from the Detroit area.
But this year should be different.
Wheh Buena Vista's Mark Macon won the award, it was because he was the best player in the state.
When Arthur Hill's Jason Richardson claimed the award, it was because he was the best player in the state.
This year, no single player in the state means as much to success of his team than does Redford. The Eagles are still undefeated at 17-0. That's because of Redford. Take him off that team, and Frankenmuth is just a second tier team in the Tri-Valley East. That's a fact.
Draymond Green might not even be the best player on his team.
I guess we'll see when the post season awards start to come out if the voters agree. All I have to say to them is....go watch the kid play. He's an amazing shooter who has the exact same release on his shot no matter where he is on the court. He always has his eyes on the basket. He can create with the ball and he moves without the ball better than anyone I've ever seen. He passes the ball and has better court presence and vision than anyone I've ever seen play the game. The only thing he can't do, and this is only because I'v never seen him do it, is dunk the basketball.
But the Mr. Basketball award isn't about highlight film-like dunks. It should go to the best player in the state. Redford is just that player. He has made the three-point shot a highlight reel worthy play. He is more technichally sound than any kid I've ever seen. And he is THE BEST PLAYER IN THE STATE.
He should be a runaway winner when the MR. Basketball winner is announced.
Enough said.

Girls Districts start Monday.
Girls Districts start this next week, and to honor that, Christian, Jon and I will be making our picks for the winners and posting them on here. Follow and play along with us if you like.
Who knows, if you can out pick us, we might even have to pony up and buy you a cold drink.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Outstanding analysis Andrew. I agree completely. There is no other more qualified "Mr. Basketball" this year than this kid. His skills are amazing. It isn't about potential, its about performance.
Anonymous said…
I watched the highlight reel posted on youtube.com for Redford and I would take that highlight over a dunk any day. What amazes me is how far out he shoots. The guy drops off him and he is 30ft from the basket and hits the shot. Good luck to him the rest of the year and I wish he was playing for a michigan school next year.
We may not be able to see him at a Michigan school, but I am sure we will see him down the road in the NCAAs.
Anonymous said…
Good points, Andy. However, even though the Detroit media influences Mr. Basketball, it is the memebers of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan who vote on the award. He will get mine!
Anonymous said…
Redfords a great player, and the state is fortunate to have several great players as nominees this year. However the most deserving candidate for Mr. Basketball is 6'2" PG Dominique Buckley of #3 ranked Class A Romulus, who has played the highest impact ball vs the strongest schedule in the state and the toughest opponent players across from him night in and night out. Buckley's had the best senior season by far, as without him Romulus would not be ranked #3 in the state, and certainly not have their only two loss season record against all the the states top ranked teams!

Popular posts from this blog

The Big Game.

Still talkin' football

Craziest Gyms in the Thumb?