By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Warren Weekly | Published April 14, 2023
WARREN — A year removed from their first-ever Michigan High School Athletic Association Division I state championship title, the players on Warren De La Salle Collegiate’s boys basketball team understood a target would be on their backs entering the 2023 season.
Not just from their weekly Catholic High School League conference opponents, which held three teams in the MHSAA top 10 in Division 1 with Detroit U-D Jesuit (sixth), Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (first), and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s (ninth), but also getting every team’s best night in and night out as the returning champions.
After defeating St. Mary’s during their road to a state title last season, De La Salle would fall to St. Mary’s 55-44 in the quarterfinals of the MHSAA state tournament on March 21 at University of Detroit Mercy, ending their 2023 season.
De La Salle and St. Mary’s were deadlocked at 39 in the fourth quarter, but St. Mary’s was able to pull away courtesy of St. Mary’s sophomore and The Associated Press Michigan Division 1 Player of the Year Trey McKenney’s 28 points on the night.
De La Salle coach Gjon Djokaj had high praise for McKenney, who buried crucial free throws down the stretch in the fourth quarter to help St. Mary’s pull away.
“We were prepared to play anyone who came out of that region, and it happened to be Orchard Lake, who probably has the best player in the state regardless of class,” Djokaj said. “He kind of showed out the other night.”
While a bitter pill to swallow, De La Salle’s ability to overcome adversity showcased a positive outlook for the 2024 season.
Losing a key senior starter to start the season to go along with one of the most difficult schedules in the state, De La Salle battled through the season to the best of their ability, utilizing their young talent.
“We put together one of the toughest schedules in the state, and we were able to really continue to be a great defensive team through wins and losses,” Djokaj said. “We hung our heads on defense, and we continued to work and get better. Obviously, losing Triston (Nichols) in the beginning of the year created a role change for every single player on our team really late into the offseason, so it took us a little time to establish those things and get comfortable in them.”
Losing Nichols, a dynamic senior guard, was a nearly impossible feat to overcome, especially after having the task of filling the shoes of all-state guard Tamario Adley, but De La Salle’s seniors shined when the team needed them most.
Led by a pair of all-state seniors in Michael Sulaka and Nino Smith, De La Salle cruised to a 17-9 record this season, finishing third in the conference.
Senior Adam Broski, Carson Kraiza, and Jack Yanachik all provided reliable leadership as well for De La Salle.
Djokaj said Sulaka and Smith’s growth this year was pivotal to their success.
“He’s (Smith) a great all-around point guard, a defensive-minded point guard, and a great facilitator that can play at a lot of different paces, and Mikey (Sulaka) is a really young big man who is just scratching the surface of how good he could become,” Djokaj said. “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He’s literally a gym rat. Once he gets to the next level, he’s really going to blossom into a big-time talent.”
While their on-the-court presence was an immeasurable impact, their contributions to the underclassmen not only supported De La Salle this season, but will leave a mark in the 2024 and 2025 season, specifically for sophomores Phoenix Glassnor, Armoni Portis and Braeden Holder.
Due to injuries this season, Glassnor, Portis and Holder found themselves maturing quicker than expected as Glassnor and Portis graced the starting lineup and Holder became a reliable six-man option.
Glassnor said the seniors helped him grow throughout the season.
“They played a huge role, especially Nino (Smith) for sure,” Glassnor said. “He’s kind of taken me under his wing and made me a better person not just on the court but also off the court.”
Glassnor, Portis, Holder, and junior Nnaemeka Ikechi, who manned the frontcourt this season for De La Salle, will be called upon next year as leaders for a young De La Salle basketball squad.
Ikechi, who sat out last year due to transferring, was finally able to solidify a role with his new squad, and will look to be the senior leader the team will rely on alongside juniors Nicholas Speiser and Tyler Thompson.
Djokaj said the team plans to channel its culture more as the offseason nears.
“Leaning into this year, I think we need to go back to our roots a little bit more,” Djokaj said. “As a coach, focus on the culture a little bit more. With this group, there’s so many new faces and so many new parts. Building the team, I think it’s important for them to go through that growing phase again. From a basketball aspect, just continue to keep the work ethic and the skill development so we can figure out what these kids do best and put them in the best position to be successful.”
While the sophomores and juniors look to continue the foundation the senior class helped build, it’s important to showcase the importance of the 2023 senior class.
Impactful juniors on a history-making state title last season, the seniors continued to help elevate the De La Salle basketball program each year, facing one of the toughest schedules in the state.
As they bid their final farewell to De La Salle, Djokaj said this will be a senior class that will always have a special place with him.
“When I first got the job, they were all sophomores, and we had great senior leadership to mentor them,” Djokaj said. “They were just really hungry, really involved in all aspects of our program, and they just hit the ground running. They were really sponges when it came to learning our system and our culture, and they just kind of carried that each year making it better and stronger. The success that they’ve had over the last three years is not a surprise to anyone because of their hard work and dedication.”