No rest for Ways

Wide receiver prospect Maurice Ways entered this week with the glow of his Detroit Country Day team's state basketball championship still lingering, but the class of 2014 standout is already making plans to transition into the football and recruiting mode.

"That actually started today," Ways said. "I went to the weight room and got in some lifting. Later this week I am going to start throwing passes with [DCD quarterback] Tyler [Wiegers] and we'll get that routine back. There are no days off, and today I am back in a football [mindset]."

Ways is also in the midst of transitioning into recruiting mode. Iowa, Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Toledo and Western Michigan have already offered scholarships, and spring practice visits have been set with several schools, starting this week.

"I am going to Michigan State Thursday and Ohio State next Tuesday," Ways said. "Then, I am in the process of scheduling some more with Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Iowa and Michigan real soon."

Michigan State is a team whose interest in Ways' has risen steadily in recent months, and he looks forward to a return trip to East Lansing later this week.

"I have been talking to Coach [Brad] Salem probably once every two weeks," Ways said. "They are very interested, want me to grow as a player and work hard this summer. Going to their spring practice this week is the next step in the recruiting process."

Ways also anticipates a spring practice visit down to Iowa. Earlier this month the Hawkeyes became the first BCS program to offer him.

"That was my first time talking to Coach [Bobby] Kennedy ever, and he said they saw my highlight tape and knew I was the receiver they wanted at Iowa, that I fit their program," Ways said. "I just need to learn more about them, learn more about the coaches, and taking a visit down there will be a big step in me getting to know them more."

Country Day beat Detroit Community 57-49 on Saturday for the Class B state title at Michigan State University's Breslin Center. Ways started at power forward and contributed to the win with six points, eight rebounds and two steals. He averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds on the season.

"It was a great win," Ways said. "We just all bought into the system and our theme for the playoffs was 'ownership.' We wanted to own every play, and our goal was to win it all. We lost it last year and we all had that feeling inside of us and the hurt that it felt. We knew the next time we went to the Breslin, we were going to leave with the trophy."

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Ways also put up big numbers on the football field last fall - his first on varsity - catching 51 passes for 952 yards and nine touchdowns. That season also finished with a state title game appearance, though Country Day dropped the Division 4 championship game to Grand Rapids South Christian with Ways scoring his team's only points on a 54-yard second quarter touchdown reception.