Foster Loyer makes his Moneyball debut as Aim High is overrun by Clarkston supporters
DIMONDALE – By the time Team Showtime and Team Quicksilver tipped off Tuesday to begin the second night of the Moneyball Pro-Am, the stands at Aim High Sports were just as filled as the opening night — this time with a lot more blue and gold apparel.
And with those colors came unwavering attention to incoming Michigan State guard Foster Loyer.
The Clarkston community came out in droves to see its former star participate with his Michigan State teammates for the first time. And Loyer had his hands full — he was matched up with Cassius Winston, who will be MSU’s primary playmaker this season.
Loyer held his own, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting with four 3-pointers in a losing effort for Team Quicksilver, 110-98. Every time he touched the ball on the perimeter, the Clarkston faithful got loud. Fans had their hands up, ready to flash the three-point gesture if they thought a shot was coming. A behind-the-back pass to teammate Xavier Tillman drew loud applause despite the play not resulting in a basket.
His counterpart, Winston, finished with 35 points, knocking down only one 3-pointer while dishing out seven assists. Winston showed Loyer he has a lot to work on still, but the two have developed a close friendship early in the process.
“I can’t say enough about how great he (Winston) has been,” Loyer said. “Playing together, playing against each other, it’s going to make us both better. To be able to come out here and compete with a lot of one-on-one, today we just had a lot of fun with it.”
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After the game, Loyer was the most popular player among the kids and fans. He was occupied during most of the second game signing jerseys and basketballs, taking pictures with families and listening to the praises of everyone who stopped to chat.
Loyer was the leader and catalyst that fueled Clarkston basketball to win back-to-back Class A state titles. He wasn’t shocked by the amount of Clarkston supporters that came to watch his first Moneyball game. He fully expected it. And he’s willing to bet they keep that same support going forward through his career.
“They have given me some of the best support I could ask for these past four years,” Loyer said. “We always travel really well. We usually had more people at other people’s gyms then they did. I can’t say enough about the community and the fan support we get. It’s great and we know it’s going to carry on for the rest of our career here.”
The Clarkston faithful had more than just Loyer to cheer for, as Loyer is on the same Moneyball team as his high school teammate and Toledo guard Spencer Littleson, who finished with eight points. And when Game 2 between Team Splatter and Team Definition began, most of the Clarkston fans stayed to watch MSU forward Thomas Kithier play for Team Splatter.
Kithier, who transferred from Dakota High School to Clarkston last year, was ruled ineligible to play for the 2017-2018 season.
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“The Clarkston community is just unbelievable,” Kithier said. “I don’t think any other community would have handled (my situation) better than they did. If anybody asks me where I’m from, I tell them Clarkston because of the way they carry themselves and the way they supported me. One of the best communities someone can grow up in.”
Kithier finished with 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds in his Moneyball debut, which saw Team Splatter defeat Team Definition 100-92.
In the final game of the evening, Team Glory, led by freshman Marcus Bingham Jr.’s 25 points bested Team Vintage 100-95, despite Nick Ward playing every minute for the second straight game and dropping 54 points on 24-for-35 shooting.
The Moneyball Pro-Am tips off again on Thursday, July 5 at 6 p.m. with Team Glory against Team Quicksilver.