Tillman, Cairo, McGhee ready for encore performance at East-West shrine

Lake Orion offensive lineman will play in Saturday's MHSFCA East-West All-Star Game at Central Michigan University. File Photo | Larry McKee, www.lmckeephotography.com

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

MOUNT PLEASANT — Ray Tillman had as good of a senior year as any male athlete in the area.

A two-sport all-stater, Tillman, a recent graduate from Auburn Hills Avondale, is finalizing his college plans for the fall. But he still has one last high school event to attend.

Tillman is among the 88 players chosen for the 31^st annual Michigan High School Football Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game this Saturday at Central Michigan University. Spencer Cairo of Rochester Adams and Blake McGhee of Division 1 state champion Lake Orion are also on the talent-laden East roster.

All-Star game tickets are $5 pre-sale and $10 at the gate on game day. Game time is 3 p.m. June 25 at CMU.

The 6-foot, 175-pound, Tillman finished with over 1,700 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns, breaking several single-season school records as a senior and leading the Yellowjackets to over 40 points a game and to the second round of the Division 2 postseason. In basketball, he averaged nearly 24 points, five assists and five rebounds a game and was all-state in various publications in both sports.

Tillman is waiting for the NCAA clearinghouse to go through in order to pick a college. He is leaning towards basketball, his first love, but has spoken to numerous Division I and Division II schools in both sports.

“I’m going to go out and have fun with this experience,” noted Tillman. “You don’t get a chance to do something like this all the time.

“Right now, I am just going to work hard and get ready for this game,” he continued. “In a few weeks, I will know exactly what route to take to college.”

Cairo was a force on the line for Adams and the 6-3, 285-pound terror is headed for Bowling Green. He played center and guard for the Highlanders and expects to play the same for the Falcons at the collegiate level.

“I think it’s an honor being able to go up and play with all of these guys,” said Cario, who plans to go into marketing in college. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun to go out there one last time (as a prep athlete).”

Cairo was a three-year veteran at Adams, which has made the postseason on 14 straight years. Last season Adams reached the district finals before falling to Walled Lake Central.

“This is a nice way to go out (of high school),” added Cairo. “Not everyone has a chance to go and play in these types of games. Being selected to play in a game like this shows that all of the hard work has paid off. I am really looking forward to it.”

Although soft-spoken, McGhee let his work on the field of duty do the talking. He was a three-year starter in the trenches for the Dragons, who were state runner-up his sophomore year and a first-time state champion last season. He will play at Saginaw Valley State this fall over offers from Ferris State, Northwood and Eastern Michigan, among others.

“This is kind of like (icing on the cake),” noted McGhee. “Last (fall) we won the state championship and now I have the honor of playing in the all-star game. It’s a good way to go out. It was an incredible senior year, winning the state. Now, I get to go out and represent my school one last time.”

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