GSCeltic names his Top 10 Grand Rapids area basketball players:
Loy Vaught East Kentwood 6-9 PF
Chris Kaman Tri-Unity Christian 6-11 C
Matt Steigenga Grand Rapids South Christian 6-7 SF
Geno Carlisle GR Ottawa Hills/GR Union 6-4 G
Drew Neitzel Wyoming Park 6-2 PG
Steve Scheffler Forest Hills Northern 6-9 C
Ben Handlogten GR South Christian 6-10 C
Melvin McLaughlin GR Creston 5-9 G
Lee Lafayette GR South High 6-6 F
Katie Feenstra GR Baptist 6-7 C
#4 Geno Carlisle Ottawa Hills 6′4 G
Geno Carlisle has played in a wide variety of places when it comes to his basketball career. My favorite is the driveway of my childhood home near the Grand Rapids/Kentwood border. Here in GR, many know Carlisle’s skills whether they remember him at GR Union or at Ottawa Hills. While the basketball scene has always been doted on by the local media, Carlisle didn’t get the amount of press deserved for a talented kid coming out of Grand Rapids.
Upon leaving GR in 1994, Geno went off to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He led the Wildcats in scoring 14 times during his Freshman season and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team after his sophomore year, in which he averaged nearly 15 points. Always searching for the next challenge, Carlisle transferred to Cal-Berkeley. Having to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules, Carlisle was selected to compete on the USA Select 22-&-under team that faced off against “Dream Team 3″ at the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons. Carlisle was scoreless in six minutes of play.
When he arrived in the PAC-10 in 1997, Carlisle led the Golden Bears in scoring and was named to the All-Newcomer team. To follow that up, during his senior year in 1998-99, Geno led Cal to the postseason NIT Tournament title at Madison Square Garden in NYC.
Going undrafted in the NBA meant Carlisle would begin his professional career in the CBA with the Rockford Lightning. Carlisle left the CBA to chase his dream internationally until 2002 when he returned to the newly formed NBDL and the Mobile Revelers. Geno returned to the NBA Summer League in 2004 with the Orlando Magic and played in six games for the Portland TrailBlazers in the 2004-05 season, making his debut on November 17, 2004.
Carlisle’s father, Clarence, was drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1973, but was released before the season.
(photo credit: Willamette Weekly)
#5: Drew Neitzel Wyoming Park 6′2 G
Drew Neitzel graduated from Wyoming Park HS in 2004 as the All-Time leading scorer (2,462) and in assists (692). He was named Mr. Basketball in Michigan, Class B Player of the Year and named to the Parade All-American 4th Team following his senior season.
He would go on to play for Tom Izzo at Michigan State the next year, playing in 33 games and starting 14 of the last 15 games for the Spartans. Named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, he would help the Spartans reach the Final Four at Ford Field in nearby Detroit. Over the next three years, Neitzel would
become the starting PG for Izzo and be named to the All-Big Ten First Team in his junior year. Neitzel is the Spartans career leader in FT% (.866) and is among the leaders in assists (4th, 582), 3-point field goals made (3rd, 273) and 3-point field-goal attempted (3rd, 684), and points (14th, 1,534).
After being undrafted during the 2009 NBA Draft, Neitzel agreed to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ summer league team. After stints in Germany, Portland(summer league) and France, Drew was added to the Dallas Mavericks training camp roster.
Currently, Neitzel is the analyst for the radio broadcast of the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBADL.
Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
#6 Steve Scheffler Forest Hills Northern 6’9 C
Steve Scheffler graduated from FHN in 1986 and even my 8th grade basketball coach couldn’t stop him in the paint. The big lefty was trouble for opponents here and at Purdue for Gene Keady.
Drafted 39th overall by the Charlotte Hornets, he played 7 seasons in the NBA, averaging 1.9 points. After seeing action in 50 games over his first 3 years with Charlotte, Sacramento and Denver, he played in 124 more over the next 5 years as a SuperSonic and ended his career in Seattle. In the 1996 NBA Finals, he saw action against Michael Jordan’s Bulls. Scheffler’s brother, Tom, played at Purdue and then with the Portland TrailBlazers during the 1985-86 season.
Copyright 1996 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE – JUNE 12: Steve Scheffler #55 of the Seattle SuperSonics battles for a rebound in Game Four of the 1996 NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls at Key Arena on June 12, 1996 in Seattle, Washington. The Sonics won 107-86.
#7 Ben Handlogten GR South Christian 6’10 C
Ben Handlogten ruled the O-K Conference at South Christian. At 6’10, he dominated the local scene before heading off to Western Michigan University.
After not being drafted in 1996, he signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Pistons, but was cut before the season started. He played for the local CBA team, Grand Rapids Hoops in 1996-1997, then spent four years playing in Asia. He returned to the States in 2003, signing with the Utah Jazz. He was traded for Tom Gugliotta in 2004, waived by Phoenix and subsequently signed by utah again for the remainder of the season. Handlogten also played for the New Jersey Nets in November 2005. In 38 games over 2 seasons, he averaged 12.3 minutes and 4.3 points.
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
#8 “Sugar” Melvin McLaughlin, Creston HS
Nicknamed “Sugar,” Melvin was a long-range marksman who played before the three-point shot at Creston HS and CMU. He was named Mid-American Conference “Player of the Year” in 1982,
when he averaged 24.1 points a game, twice making first-team all-MAC. Sugar is CMU’s all-time leading scorer (2,071 points).Four times he broke the 40-point barrier, including a personal high of 46 vs. Bowling Green. His scoring average of 20.3 is third in CMU history, had a career FT percentage of .775 and is the career leader in steals at 196 and sixth in assists with 288. A sixth-round pick in 1983 by the Cleveland Cavaliers (#119 overall), but never suited up. In 2005, he was inducted to the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame. McLaughlin is a staple around the “Grand” Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament in GR.
(photo credit: MLive.com)
#9 Lee Lafayette, GR South High
Lee Lafayette was born in Pointe Coupee, Louisianna but played basketball in Grand Rapids at South High in the mid-60’s. “The Tree” was a 6-6 forward/center with guard-like skills who led South High to a 25-3 record and two City League championships before graduating in 1965. He was named to the Detroit Free Press All-State Class A First Team in both 1964 and 1965. He once scored 54 in a game in 1964. South High School is the alma mater of US President Gerald R. Ford and singer Al Green, who graduated the year following Lafayette. South High opened in 1914 and was closed in 1968. The building now houses the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center.Lafayette went on to play at Michigan State from 1966-1969 averaging 16.8 points and 10.2 rebounds. You can see him in action here: Lee “The Tree” Lafayette (Sophomore Year) – YouTubeIn 1969, Lee was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the 4th Round of the NBA Draft, but never played in the League.
#10 Katie Feenstra, GR Baptist (Northpointe Chr.)
Katie Feenstra comes in at #10 on my list of local Grand Rapids basketball players. After starring at Grand Rapids Baptist Academy(now Northpointe Christian) until 2001, Katie headed to Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
She was named to the Big South All-Rookie team in 2002 and followed that up by being selected the Conference Player of the Year each of the next three years. She was named the Big South Woman of the year in 2004, as well as being named an AP All-American Honorable Mention and Big South Tournament MVP. She finished her career in 2005 as the All-time Liberty and Big South leader in blocked shots(246) and field goal percentage(.624) She passed the previous block record on Feb. 14, 2005.
She was drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the 2005 WNBA Draft, but was traded to the San Antonio SilverStars for Margo Dydek, the tallest player ever in the WNBA. Later that year, she was named to the All-Rookie Team. Feenstra averaged over 15 points and 5 rebounds over her two years with the SilverStars but was traded to the Detroit Shock for Ruth Riley in February of 2007. One year later, she would be selected by the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Expansion Draft. She played one season in Atlanta before splitting time with San Antonio and Chicago in 2009. Katie left the WNBA after 15 games that season to play in the Chinese Pro League, where she spent three seasons.
On Tuesday, May 8, 2012, Cornerstone University announced Katie (Feenstra) Mattera would replace longtime head coach Carla Fles, who would retire after 13 years at the helm. Fles is the winningest coach in Cornerstone history and never had a losing season, Mattera has led the Eagles to a 53-27 record since, currently 18-9. You can see her coach February 18th vs. rival Aquinas College at Mol Arena in Grand Rapids, MI.