De La Salle’s Armoni Portis puts the ball on the floor to drive to the hoop. (BRADY McATAMNEY – MediaNews Group, file)
The bar has been set high for basketball coaches at De La Salle.
Denarryl Rice knows that and he embraces it.
“It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to — coming into one of the top leagues and divisions in the state,” Rice said at the recent Horatio Williams Foundation basketball camp at Detroit Mercy’s Calihan Hall.
“Gjon Djokaj did a great job with this ball club and left me with some great seniors so it’s not like I’m starting from scratch. It’s more implementing my style of play and philosophy.”
Djokaj, who led the Pilots to the state Division 1 championship in 2022, left to become head basketball coach at Oakland Community College. Rice is only the fourth basketball coach at De La Salle since the school moved to Warren in 1982. The first two, Gary Buslepp and Greg Esler, also compiled impressive records when they sat in the lead chair.
Rice, also known as “D.Rice”, was impressed with his first interaction with the team at the Williams camp, which featured many of the top prep teams in the state.
“I like how well the guys get along,” Rice said. “When we get together it’s a good vibe already. With them adjusting to me and me adjusting to them, it’s all coming together. The first time I talked to the guys I told them that we’re going to be a family and do things together.”
Rice knows all about family. He was the oldest of seven children.
“Coming from a family like that, all I know is togetherness,” he said with a smile.
Rice’s teams should be fun to watch; They’ll be reminiscent of Nolan Richardson’s furious defensive approach that was labeled “40 minutes of hell.”
“I’m following the concepts of Nolan Richardson and Jerry Tarkanian — pressure offensively, pressure defensively,” Rice said. “I played for George Tarkanian (Jerry’s son) in junior college and I learned a lot from him. Some of his philosophy I’m going to translate to De La Salle.”
One of Reed’s mentors is longtime North Farmington coach Tom Negoshian.
“He’s taken me under his wing and shared a lot of knowledge and experiences with me,” Reed said. “He’s only a phone call away to seek any advice I need.”
Another mentor was the former Detroit Piston and University of Detroit standout Earl Cureton.
“Before he passed he told me my time would come to be a head coach, to just hang in there,” Reed said. “A couple months later I became a head coach. He was a huge person in my life.”
Reed is counting on seniors Phoenix Glassnor, a Toledo basketball commit, and Armoni Portis to provide the leadership and experience that will keep the Pilots a force in the Catholic League’s Central Division.
“Phoenix is a great leader,” Reed said. “I’ve known him for a long time and his game has gotten better each year. He should be a Mr. Basketball candidate. He’s going to help my transition a lot, just by bringing his leadership.
“Armoni Portis may be under-appreciated a little bit but I think he’s in for a big senior year. Arman does exactly what it takes to win. He’s sometimes overlooked because of Phoenix’s volume and that he’s such a good player but Armoni has a huge ceiling and he can definitely play at a high level.”
The 41-year-old Reed plans to be a hands-on coach.
“I’m still young enough that I can get out there and show them what I’m teaching,” he said. “I was a point guard so the leadership comes naturally. I can share my experiences from a coach’s perspective. I can show those guys the ropes and what they can expect.
“It’s going to be a little rocky in the beginning, gaining everybody’s trust. But we’re all on the same page. Our goal is to win and win now. I’m not coming in to build. I’m coming in to pick up where coach Djojaj left off. I appreciate the whole De La Salle culture. Everybody understands excellence and what that entails.”