Bloomfield Hills alum Yante Maten faces Michigan State in tourney

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – The Bloomfield Hills Blackhawks basketball team made it all the way to the state title game in 2014 thanks in large part to senior Yante Maten.

"He just physically dominated everyone," said Jacob Hecker, a teammate of Maten for two years. "All the rebounds were his. He owned the paint."

"He dominated on defense, he dominated on offense. He really took over the game," said Mike Cowdrey, director of athletics for Bloomfield Hills.

The Blackhawks eventually lost in the title game to Muskegon, but No. 11 sure made a name for himself.

During his senior year, Maten averaged 19.8 points, 15.2 rebounds, 6.6 blocks, 4.8 assists per game and was named Michigan's Gatorade Player of the Year. Most every game was a who's who of big time coaches trying to recruit him, including Indiana's Tom Crean and Michigan State's Tom Izzo.

"One play Yante did a spin move and dunked the basketball, I looked over at Crean and he said, 'Yea, I want this kid,'" Cowdrey said.

In the end, Maten chose Georgia instead of the Big Ten. The freshman is already making a name for himself. He got his first collegiate double-double in the quarterfinal of the SEC tournament (13 pts/10 rebounds).

This Friday, this Michigan kid faces off against Michigan State in the NCAA tournament, leaving the Blackhawks family a little torn.

"Michigan State is my team," Hecker said. "I want Yante to play well, but I have to go with Michigan State to win the game. Sorry, Yante!"

Tip off for MSU vs. Georgia is 12:40 p.m. Friday from Charlotte, NC.


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Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.