In the most recent issue of Bounce, #16, which just landed in mailboxes around the world, we went deep into the heart of Detroit – which has long been a premiere breeding ground for hoops excellence – to capture that Motown essence. If you haven’t already done so, make sure to get your hands on it. The buzz is already approaching collector’s item status

We asked Detroit basketball historian and co-founder of detroitpslbasketball.com, Bill Hoover, Jr., to select an All-Time, All-Decades basketball team for Metro Detroit. For this purpose, “Metro Detroit” is defined as Detroit and the surrounding area from which the Detroit Free Press/News selects its annual All-Metro teams. Decades were limited to 30 selections and, as a result, many incredible talents did not make the cut. To check those who just missed, you’ll have to scroll to the end.

CDR – Chris Douglass-Roberts
photo: commercialappeal.com

2000-2010
Eric Evans, Detroit Rogers/Northwestern, ‘08
Dominique Buckley, Romulus, ‘08
Paul Williams, Detroit Renaissance, ‘08
Corperryale “Manny” Harris, Detroit Redford, ‘07
Kalin Lucas, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, ‘07
Durrell Summers, Detroit DePorres/Redford Covenant, ‘07
Tracy Smith, Detroit King/Mt. Zion Prep, ‘07
Jordan Crawford, Detroit C.M.A./Hargrave Military, ‘07
Ramar Smith, South Kent Prep/Detroit King, ‘06
DeShawn “Petey” Sims, Detroit Pershing, ‘06
Mike Bramos, Grosse Pointe North, ‘05
Chris “CDR” Douglas-Roberts, Detroit Cass Tech/Northwestern, ‘05
Tajuan Porter, Detroit Renaissance, ‘05
Joe Crawford, Detroit Renaissance, ‘04
Malik Hairston, Detroit Renaissance, ‘04
Dion Harris, Detroit Redford, ‘03
Brandon Cottom, Detroit Kettering/Detroit DePorres, ‘03
Paul Davis, Rochester, ‘02
Lester Abrams, Pontiac Northern, ‘02
Maurice Ager, Detroit Crockett, ‘02
Brandon Jenkins, Detroit Southeastern, ‘02
Walter Waters, Detroit Southeastern, ‘02
Ricky Morgan, Pontiac Northern, ‘01
Rawle Marshall, Detroit Mackenzie, ‘00
Arthur “Doc” Johnson, Detroit Pershing, ‘00
Rickey Paulding, Detroit Renaisance, ‘00

CWEBB – Chris Webber
photo: sportingnews.com

1990-1999
LaVell Blanchard, Ann Arbor Pioneer, ‘99
Willie Green, Detroit Cooley, ‘99
Brent Darby, River Rouge, ‘99
Aloysius Anagonye, Detroit DePorres, ‘99
Michael Williams, Detroit Mackenzie/City, ‘99
Dane Fife, Clarkston, ‘98
Antonio Gates, Detroit Central, ‘98
Shane Battier, Birmingham Detroit Country Day, ‘97
Greg Stempin, Harper Woods Notre Dame, ‘97
Andrew Mitchell, Detroit East Catholic, ‘97
Rashaad Philips, Ferndale, ‘96
Ken Johnson, Detroit Henry Ford, ‘96
Winfred “Wimp” Walton, Detroit East Catholic/Pershing, ‘96
Albert White, Inkster, ‘95
Jermaine Jackson, Detroit Finney, ‘95
Guy Rucker , Westland John Glenn, ‘95
Robert “Tractor” Traylor, Detroit Murray-Wright, ‘95
Willie Mitchell, Detroit Pershing, ‘94
Maurice Taylor, Detroit Henry Ford, ‘94
Derrick Dial, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘93
Todd Burgan, Detroit Benedictine/Detroit Pershing, ‘93
Ira Newble, Southfield, ‘93
Paul Grant, West Bloomfield/Birmingham Brother Rice, ‘92
Katu Davis, Detroit Northern, ‘91
Jalen Rose, Detroit Southwestern, ‘91
Chris Webber, Birmingham Detroit Country Day, 91
Voshon Lenard, Detroit Southwestern, ‘91
Shawn Respert, Redford Bishop Borgess, ‘90
Lorenzo Orr, Detroit Osborn/Southeastern/Pershing, ‘90
Howard Eisley, Detroit Chadsey/Southwestern, ‘90

DC – Derrick Coleman
photo: si.com

1980-1989
Michael Talley, Detroit Cooley, ‘89
Carlos Rogers, Detroit Mackenzie/Northwestern, ’89
Mike Peplowski, Warren DeLaSalle, ‘88
Doug Smith Detroit Mackenzie, ‘87
Steve Smith, Detroit Pershing, ‘87
Anderson Hunt, Detroit Southwestern, ‘87
Victor Alexander, Detroit Denby, ‘87
Terry Mills, Romulus, ‘86
Derrick Coleman, Detroit Cooley/Northern, ‘86
Willie Burton, Detroit DePorres, ‘86
Negele Knight, Detroit DePorres, ‘85
Jon McIntyre, Detroit Catholic Central, ‘85
Leslie Rockymore, Detroit Southwestern, ‘85
B.J. Armstrong, Birmingham Brother Rice, ‘84
Demetreus Gore, Detroit Chadsey, ‘84
Clarence “Bill” Jones, Detroit Southwestern, ‘84
Ben Gillery, Detroit Murray-Wright/Cody/Central, ‘84
Grant Long, Romulus, ‘84
Antoine “The Judge” Joubert, Detroit Southwestern, ‘83
Steve Beck, Detroit Southeastern, ‘83
Patrick Ford, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘82
John Shasky, Birmingham Brother Rice, ‘82
Roy Tarpley, Far Rockaway (NY)/Moblie Blount (AL)/Detroit Cooley, ‘82
Anthony Watson, Detroit Cooley, ‘82
Renardo Brown, Highland Park, ‘82
Derrick Gervin, Detroit Cass Tech/Finney/King, ‘81
Tim McCormick, Clarkston, ‘80
Gary Plummer, Detroit Osborn, ‘80
Kevin Willis, Detroit Kettering/Pershing, ‘80
Barry Spencer, Detroit Catholic Central, ‘80

THE ICEMAN – George Gervin
photo: detroitpslbasketball.com

1970-1979
Fred Cofield, Ypsilanti, ’79
Walker D. Russell, Pontiac Central, ‘78
Joe Kopicki, Warren Fitzgerald, ‘78
Stuart House, Detroit Redford St. Mary’s/Denby, ‘76
Tony Fuller, Detroit Servite/St. Martin DePorres, ’76
Alan Hardy, Detroit Northwestern, ‘75
Terry Duerod, Highland Park, ‘75
William Mayfield, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘75
Greg Kelser, Detroit Henry Ford, ‘75
Bruce Flowers, Berkley, ‘75
Earl Cureton, Detroit Finney, ‘75
John Long, Romulus, ‘74
Cyrus Mann, Detroit Southeastern, ‘74
Terry Tyler, Detroit Central/Northwestern, ‘74
Johnny Davis, Detroit Murray-Wright, ‘73
Tom LaGarde, Detroit Catholic Central, ‘73
Tony Robertson, Detroit Southwestern, ‘73
Bob Elliot, Ann Arbor Pioneer, ‘73
Coneil Norman, Detroit Kettering, ‘72
Eric Money, Detroit Kettering, ‘72
Larry Fogle, Brooklyn Eli Whitney (NY)/Detroit Cooley, ‘72
Robert “Bubbles” Hawkins, Detroit Pershing, ‘72
Lindsay Hairston, Detroit Kettering, ‘71
Terry Thomas, Hazel Park, ‘71
James McElroy, Detroit Murray-Wright, ’71
Dan Roundfield, Detroit Chadsey, ‘71
Campy Russell, Pontiac Central, ‘70
George “Iceman” Gervin, Detroit King, ‘70
Cliff Pratt, Detroit Murray-Wright, ‘70
Mike Robinson, Detroit Northeastern, ‘70

1960-1969
Ralph Simpson, Detroit Southeastern/Pershing, ‘68
Charles “Razor” Edge, Detroit Northeastern, ‘68
Curtis Jones, Detroit Northwestern, ‘68
George “Instant Heat” Trapp, Highland Park, ‘67
Frank Russell, Pontiac Central, ‘67
Spencer Haywood, Belzoni (MS)Detroit Pershing, ‘67
Earle Higgins, Ann Arbor, ‘66
Rudy Tomjanovich, Hamtramck, ‘66
John Brisker, Hamtramck, ‘65
Willie Betts, River Rouge, ‘64
Willie “Spider” Griffin, Detroit Northeastern, ‘64
Willie “Stick” Iverson, Detroit Pershing, ‘64
Cliff “Chain” Williams, Detroit Southwestern, ‘63
John Trapp, Highland Park/Monrovia (CA), ‘63
Al Hairston, Mt. Clemens, ’63
Shaler Halimon, Romulus, ‘63
Sam Williams, Detroit Northern, ‘63
Mel “Baby” Daniels, Detroit Pershing ‘63
Ken Wilburn, River Rouge, ‘62
Oliver Darden, Detroit Western, ‘62
Jerry Pettway, Detroit Northern, ‘62
Henry Akin, Troy, ‘62
Bobby Joe Hill, Highland Park, ‘61
George Peeples, Ecorse, ‘61
Joe Hamood, Dearborn Fordson, ‘61
Dorie Murrey, Detroit Cass Tech, ’61
Reggie Harding, Detroit Northeastern/Eastern/Nashville Christian, ‘61
Bud Acton, Troy, ‘60
Maurice McHartley, Detroit Central, ’60
Archie Clark, Ecorse, ‘60

1950-1959
David “Smokey” Gaines, Detroit Miller/Northeastern, ‘59
Ira Harge, Detroit Northeastern, ‘59
T.Z. Tennille, Detroit Miller/Northeastern, ‘59
Felton Rogers, Detroit Eastern, ‘59
Bill Buntin, Detroit Cass Tech/Northern, ‘59
“Marvelous” Mose Montgomery, Detroit Northeastern/Northern, ’59
Lonnie Sanders, Detroit Pershing, ‘59
Dave DeBusschere, Detroit Austin, ‘58
Charlie North, Detroit Northeastern/Northwestern, ‘58
Ed “Stone” Stewart, Detroit Miller/Northeastern, ‘58
Steve Jordan, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘57
Sam Oliver, Detroit Southeastern, ‘56
Ron Summers, Detroit Northwestern, ‘56
Gunars Vitolin, Detroit Chadsey, ‘56
Allen “Jocko” Hughes, Detroit Miller, ‘55
Ellis “Appleseed” Appling, Detroit Miller/Webster (LA), ‘55
George Lee, Highland Park, ‘55
George “Baby” Duncan, Highland Park, ’54
“Diamond” Jim Boyce, Detroit Northwestern, ‘54
Henry Hughes, Inkster, ‘53
George “Swinging Gate” Gatewood, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘53
Walt Godfrey, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘53
George Brown (Wroten), Detroit Cass Tech, ‘53
Murphy “Big Daddy Cool Breeze” Summons, Detroit Northwestern, ‘52
Frank Tanana, Sr., Detroit St. Andrews, ‘51
Walt Owens, Detroit Northwestern, ‘51
Willie Scarborough, Detroit Moore, ‘50
Charlie “Kingsnake” Primas, Detroit Miller, ‘50
Ernie “Daddy Wag” Wagner, Detroit Northern/Northeastern, ‘50
Guy Sparrow, Pontiac, ’50

1940-49
Charles “Tiny Brown/Goose Tatum, Jr.” Ward, Detroit Capron, ‘49
Chuck Holloway, Detroit Northern, ‘49
“Jumpin’” Johnny Kline, Detroit Northwestern/Northeastern, ‘49
Ken Burrell, Hamtramck, ‘49
Blaine Denning (Mitchell), Detroit Northern, ‘48
Sam Taub, Detroit Central, ‘48
Ramon “Spike” Wilkinson, Detroit Moore, ‘48
Aram Sarkisian, Detroit Southwestern, ‘48
Sammy Gee, Detroit Miller, ‘47
Wm. Sylvester Griffin, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘47
Bill Robinson, Detroit Miller, ‘46
Tom Mooradian, Detroit Southwestern, ‘46
Emil “Bones” Jones, Hamtramck, ‘45
Bob Taylor, Detroit Miller, ‘45
Ron Teasley, Detroit Northwestern, ‘45
Harold Pink, Detroit Northwestern, ‘45
Noah Brown, Detroit Miller, ‘45
Bill Krall, Detroit Redford, circa ‘44
Chuck Frankel, Detroit Northern, ‘44
Vic Stotts, Detroit Miller, circa ‘44
Vertis “Dollar Bill” Zeigler, Detroit Northern, ‘43
Woodruff “Boudreau” King, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘43
Silas Phelps, Detroit Northern, ‘43
Bobby “Showboat” Hall, Detroit Russell, ‘43
Tony Kaseta, Detroit Northern, circa 42
Don Lund, Detroit Southeastern, ‘41
Don Osterman, Detroit St. Theresa, ‘41
Clifton Mobley, Hamtramck, ‘40
Ralph Siewart, Mt. Clemens, circa ‘40
Collins Jones, Detroit Moore, ‘40

1930-39
Harvey Pierce, Detroit Southeastern, ‘39
Frank Sabo, Detroit Southwestern, ‘39
Frank Mekules, Detroit Western, ‘38
Art Stolkey, Detroit Holy Redeemer, ‘38
Bob Osterman, Detroit St. Theresa, ‘37
Kara Coates, Detroit Northern, ‘37
Bill Van Vleck, Detroit Northwestern, ‘37
James “Country” Davis, Detroit Miller, ‘36
Ed Parry, Detroit Eastern, ’36
Charles Pink, Detroit Northwestern, ‘36
Broadus Williams, Detroit Miller, ‘36
Bob Kerr, Detroit Western, ‘36
Howard McCarty, Detroit Northwestern, ‘36
Sam Lombardo, Detroit Miller, ‘36
Jack Piana, Detroit St. Anthony, ‘35
Barney McCoskey, Detroit Southwestern, ‘35
Herman Fishman, Detroit Northern, ‘34
James McIntosh, Detroit Northern, ‘34
Wilbur King, Pershing, ’34
Tony Ruggirello, Detroit Cooley, ‘33
Earl Meyers, Detroit Eastern, ‘32
Bobby Roth, Detroit Central, ‘32
Wayne Cruce, Highland Park, ‘31
Chester Laske, Hamtramck, ‘31
George Ford, Detroit Southeastern, ‘30
Harold Green, Detroit Northern, ‘30
Henry “Honey” Berris, Detroit Northern, ’32
Carl Bayer, Detroit Northern, ‘32
Emmanuel Fishman, Detroit Northern, ‘30
Charlie Jusctice, Hamtramck/Detroit Northern, circa. ‘31

1920-29
DeForest Eveland, Detroit Northwestern, ‘28
Gus Finney, Detroit Cass Tech, ’28
Willie “Rockjaw” Stevens, Detroit Miller Jr. High, circa ’28
Ennis Stafford, Detroit Northwestern, circa ‘28
William “Sausage” Malone, Detroit Cass Tech, circa ‘28
Harry Rusan, Detroit Cass Tech, circa ‘28
James Haynes, Detroit Cass Tech, circa ’28
Walter Burch, Ferndale, circa ‘28
Al Milanki, Detroit Northeastern, ‘27
Joseph Major, Detroit Southwestern, ‘27
Arnold Smith, Detroit Southwestern, ‘26
Ernest Marshall, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘26
Carl Gussin, Detroit Central, ‘26
Norman Daniels, Detroit Southeastern, ‘25
Nolan Putnam, Detroit Southeastern, ‘25
Birkett Duty, Detroit Southwestern, ‘25
Joe Truskowski, Detroit Northeastern, ‘25
Tommy Clark(e), Detroit Cass Tech, circa ‘24
Lambert Springer, Detroit Southeastern, ‘24
Everitt Hill, Detroit Northeastern, ‘24
John “Bo” Molenda, Detroit Northeastern, ‘24
Frank Hojancki, Detroit Northeastern, ‘24
Harold Hendricks, Detroit Southeastern, ‘24
Virgil Noble, Detroit Southeastern, ‘24
Les Fairbairn, Detroit Northwestern, ‘24
Ernie McCoy, Detroit Northwestern, ‘24
Myron “Susie” Schecter, Detroit Northeastern, ‘23
Sam Babcock, Detroit Central, ‘23
Harold “Penny” Bejin, Detroit Western, ‘23
Robert Gunn, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘23

1910-20
Art “Red” Carty, Detroit Northwestern, ‘19
William Henderson, Detroit Northwestern, ‘18
Lee McElwee, Detroit Central, ‘18
Bruno Smokiewicz, Detroit Northwestern, ‘18
Eddie Smokiewicz, Detroit Northwestern, ‘18
Joe Dermody, Detroit Northwestern ‘16
Walter “Tillie” Voss, U of D High, circa ‘15
Les Clark, Detroit Central, ‘13
Vic Whitmarsh, Detroit Central, ‘12
Rake Keller, Detroit Central, ‘12
John Roxborough, Detroit Eastern, ‘10
Tom Roxborough, Detroit Eastern, ’10

1891-1909
Walter Bauld, Detroit Eastern, ‘09
Peter Ulbrich, Detroit Eastern, ‘08
Charles Roxborough, Detroit Eastern, ‘08
Joy Miller, Detroit Central, ‘05

Just Missed (There are many great ones that missed this list, too.)
Blake Cushingberry, Romeo, ‘08
David Johnson, Detroit East Catholic/Madison Heights Bishop Foley, ‘05
Joe Carr, Detroit Renaissance, ‘02
Ricardo Billings, Detroit Rogers, ‘02
Darius Hollis, Detroit Mackenzie/City, ‘00
Maurice Searight, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, ‘00
Jimmy Twyman, Detroit Central, ‘99
Charles Kage, River Rouge, ‘98
Lorenzo Guess, Wayne, ‘97
Rob Griffin, Belleville, ‘97
Sylvester Dotson, Detroit Cooley, ‘96
Mike Chappell, Southfield-Lathrup’96
Travis Conlan, St. Clair Shores Lakeshore, ‘94
Bacari Alexander, Detroit Northern/Southwestern, ‘94
Jon Garavaglia, Southgate Aquinas, ‘93
Carlos Williams, Detroit Benedictine/Pershing, ‘93
Thomas McGee, Pontiac Central, ‘92
Dugan Fife, Clarkston, ‘92
Leonard Bush, Detroit Northern, ‘92
Kevin Hrobowski, Detroit Cody, ‘90
Tony Tolbert, Detroit St. Martin DePorres, ‘88
Steve Hall, Detroit Cass Tech, ‘88
Barry “High Rise” Hardy, Inkster, ‘86
Robert Godbolt, Detroit Kettering, ‘83
Derrick Kearney, Detroit Kettering, ‘83
Kevin Smith, Birmingham Brother Rice, ‘83
Greg Washington, Detroit Western, ‘81
Tim Andree, Birmingham Brother Rice, ‘79
Derek Perry, River Rouge, ‘79
Keith Smith, Detroit Mackenzie, ‘78
Edgar “Cupcake” Merchant, Detroit East Catholic/Northeastern, ‘77
Bill Phillips, Southfield Lathrup, ‘76
Wilbert McCormick, Detroit Northeastern, ‘76
Dedrick Reffigee, Detroit Southeastern, ’75
Turono Anderson, Detroit Kettering, ‘74
Ken “Moochie” Jones, Detroit Northwestern, ‘74
Tim Teasley, Bloomfield Hills Roeper, ‘72
Eartha Faust, Inkster, ‘71
Jeff Walker, Detroit Central, ‘70
Lovelle Rivers, Detroit Mackenzie, ‘71
Frank Tanana, Jr., Detroit Catholic Central, ‘71
Carl “Jamo” Jamison, Detroit Southeastern, ‘69
Steve Harris, Detroit Northwestern/Mumford, ‘69
Marvin “Corky” Taylor, Detroit Mumford, ‘69
Tom “Cookie” Marsh, Detroit Northern, ‘69
Jim Floyd, Detroit Northern, ‘68
Lamont King, Detroit Northwestern, ‘68
Lindell Reason, Detroit Murray-Wright, ‘68
John Mayberry, Detroit Northwestern, ‘67
Dan Fife, Clarkston, ‘67
Ron Binge, East Detroit, ‘66
Steve Fishman, Detroit Mumford, ‘66
Larry Moore, Detroit Mumford, ‘66
Frank Price, River Rouge, ‘66
Howard Heard, Detroit Southwestern, ‘65
Joe Neely, Detroit Northwestern, ‘65
Fred Smiley, Inkster, ‘65
James Pitts, Detroit Northwestern, ‘64
Jerry Geistler, Detroit Redford, ‘64
Ralph Brisker, Hamtramck, ‘64
Dennis Bankey, Detroit St. Thomas, ‘63
Dickie “Gartersnake” Crenshaw, Detroit Chadsey, ‘63
John Rowser, Detroit Eastern, ‘62
Ted Sizemore, Detroit Pershing, ‘62
Bill Yearby, Detroit Eastern, ‘62
Stan Washington, Detroit Northwestern, ‘62
Peller Phillips, Detroit Northwestern, ‘61
Mike “Rookie” Jackson, Detroit Eastern, ‘61
Bill Downs, Detroit Catholic Central, ‘61
Harold Montgomery, Detroit Northeastern, ‘61
Marvin Mitchell, Detroit Chadsey, ‘61
Bill Chmielewski, Detroit Holy Redeemer, ‘60
Gene “Torch” Lawson, Highland Park, ‘58
John Bradley, Highland Park, circa ‘58
James Hester, Detroit Miller, ‘57
Lawrence Hall, Detroit Northern, ‘57
Eric “Luke” Johnson, Detroit Northeastern, ‘57
Donald “Zip” White, Detroit Northern, circa ‘57
Rudy Nelson, Detroit Northwestern, ‘57
Tyrone “Hands” Douglas, Detroit Miller, ‘57
Chester Hicks, Inkster, ‘56
Jack Ward, Detroit Southeastern, ’56?
Craig Morris, Detroit Denby, ‘55
Raymond Dungen, Detroit Pershing, ‘54
Levi Davis, Detroit Miller, ‘54
Gene White, Detroit Northwestern, ‘54
Larry LaVercombe, Cooley, ‘54
Roland Dungen, Detroit Pershing, ‘53
Al Marcangelo, Detroit Southeastern, ‘53
Ron Kramer, East Detroit, ‘53
Ralph Goldstein, Detroit Central, ‘52
James “Rabbit” Johnson, Detroit Miller, ‘51
Jimmy “Horse” Reed, Detroit Northeastern, circa ‘50
Paul Dean, Detroit Miller, “circa 50
Clarence Straughn, Detroit Northern, circa
Walter “Pinky” Thompson, Detroit Central, ‘50
Lou Gibbs, Detroit Central, ‘circa
Werner Killen, Detroit Central, ’50
Joe Altobelli, Detroit Eastern, ‘50
Paul White, River Rouge, ‘39
Fred Fioretti, Detroit Southeastern, ‘33
Norman Kane, Highland Park, ‘29
James Lemen, Detroit, Eastern, ‘23