Basketball Spotlight Gears Up For Huge Weekend

Basketball Spotlight is gearing up for a huge weekend. We are traveling up and down the East Coast to bring you the best coverage. Here’s a list of the events we will be covering this weekend.

12U Nationals: Basketball Spotlight will cover the 12U Nationals Championships in Hampton, VA. This event will bring together to top 12 U teams in the country without a doubt. We will be covering games on Friday and have the reports ready that night. There should be some great action.

Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase: Saturday we will be in Philadelphia at Temple University for the Philly Hoops Elite 80. Some of the top talent in the region has already signed up for this event. Basketball Spotlight will be there to provide recaps and possibly check out some players for the All Star Classic.

Team Nelson Invitational: We will cap our weekend off Sunday at the Team Nelson Invitational in Philly. This will give us a chance to watch some of the top teams 14U teams do battle before they head to Orlando. Hopefully we can answer a few questions like who’s the #1 14U team in the region.

We will do our best to give you results quickly as possible.

Amar Stukes Soars To All Star Classic

Amar Stukes of the Higher Ground Warriors has been chosen for the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic Powered By Converse. The smooth two-guard was very impressive during the AAU Mid Atlantic Regional Final Four. He attacks the cup with grace and explodes for buckets when needed. Recently, Amar starred at the Philly USA Development Clinic where he once again showed his top notch ability on both ends of the floor. His play should carry over once he hits the high school level.

Check out Amar and the rest of his South as they take on the boys from the North at the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. The game will take place Saturday August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ.

Diary Of A Baller: Jordan Forehand Entry #20

Hello Basketball World!

It's your boy, Jordan. Just wanted to start off by saying thank you to Mike Melton for selecting me to be a part of the Basketball Spotlight All-Star Classic. It is an honor to play with so many great players. Mike has given us all a lot of recognition that we might not have received anywhere else.

Right now, I am down in Clarksville, Tennessee playing with my 15U team, Sports University, in the 15U Nationals. We advanced to the Championship bracket and are 4-1 overall. This morning, we beat the Long Island Lightning (Nick) team, who were seeded number one in the tournament. We play again this afternoon against the Gauchos. It's funny that the tournament is set up so that all the NY/NJ teams play against each other. Here we are in Tennessee and we are still playing against each other. We are having a lot of fun down here. It is very hot, so our outside activities are limited until later in the afternoon. We played our game this morning at Austin Peay University. All of the gyms we have played at are air conditioned. That definitely helps.

The 15U Nationals are a very big thing down here. The whole tournament is followed in the sports section of the local newspaper. (The Leaf-Chronicle/www.theleafchronicle.com)

Last night, we filled up on pasta and chicken parm. Pasta, the night before, is a good energy source before any physical activity. It worked for us this morning, hopefully it will work again this afternoon.

During breaks in between games, I still do my summer reading along with learning(daily) new vocabulary words. Got to keep the brain working over the summer.

That's it for now.

J4-Out

Philly USA Youth Development Clinic Recap

Mike Riddick Brought His Game Last Night

The Philly USA Youth Development Clinic took place last night at the Haverford School in Pennsylvania and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. This event brought together to top 8th Graders in the Mid Atlantic Region. Here’s a breakdown of the ballers that impressed us.

Top Performers

Mike Riddick Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- This was my first look at Riddick and I was impressed. The lead guard has the size, creativity and strength to do whatever he wants on the floor. He drove past smaller guards and was also able to convert in the lane. Riddick is a combo guard was a scoring mentality while also playing the game with a lot of confidence. Keep an eye on this kid.

Malik Starks Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Mark my words if this kid continues to progress he will be a force to reckon with. Starks is very long and attacks the cup from different angles. Once he enters the lane he uses his length to stretch out for easy buckets. Yesterday he looked like a miniature Tracy McGrady when attacking.

Darius Robinson Guard (Chester, PA)- Robinson was very smooth when scoring at will. His outside shot was falling as usual but I was impressed with the way he sliced through the lane for floaters and lay ups. He has made noticeable strides in terms of speed and ball handling.

Amar Stukes Guard (Germantown, PA)- What is not to like about this kid? Stukes uses substance instead of flash when getting the job done. He’s very smooth and knows how to score over shot blockers. Amar lets the game come to him and is a very unselfish player. Every time I watch him he reminds me more of Dexter Strickland.

Aaron McGlawn Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- The sparkplug guard changes the pace of the game once he enters. He pushes the rock like a blur and gets into the lane at a drop of a hat. His change of direction and ball handling makes him difficult to defend. He does need to work a little on his outside shot.

Jerry Price Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Speaking of nice point guards look no further than Price. He’s a true showman the can create opportunities for himself as well as teammates. He has complete confidence in his ability and seems to generally love playing the game. He has a Jonny Flynn type smile and demeanor on the floor.

Karon Crawford Forward (Chester, PA)- Crawford used this opportunity to get noticed. I like some of the tools he showed on the floor. He has good size but can also put the rock on the floor. I really believe his best days of basketball are ahead of him.

Basil Malik Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- He had to be the quickest guard in the building. Malik finished off plays and put tremendous pressure on the defense with some quick moves off the dribble. This kid has a true future somewhere in sports because of his quickness alone.

Steve Griffin Guard (Philadelphia, PA)- Griffin played with a high motor last night. He leaked out in transition and exploded to the lane during the half court action. On defense he was a pest forcing several turnovers and playing the passing lanes. I like how hard he plays on the floor.

Howard Sellers Guard (Coatesville, PA)- Sellers was instant offense. He can create space off the dribble and pull up from anywhere. I like his stroke from the perimeter and the effort he gave on the defensive end. He’s just a natural scorer and always a threat on the floor.

Our Next Stop on the Showcase Trail will be the Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase next Saturday at Temple University.

Baby Baller Abroad Feat. John Venturi Entry # 3

11 year old John Venturi of Point Pleasant, NJ has traveled to Vienna, Austria to represent the USA in the 12U Junior Olympics from July 4th to July 14th. He has decided to take Basketball Spotlight along for the ride. John will be sending us updates on his international experience on and off the court. Here’s his final entry.

Hey USA - John here with my final post from Vienna, Austria.

Basketball competition began a couple days ago with a big SURPRISE!!! No 12U!!! Because not enough countries had 12U teams, we were put into the 14U bracket. We ended up going 1-3 in pool play.

The Czech Republic tore us up in our first game. They were too big and strong and they dominated us from the start. I had 12 points - 2 3s in each half, but committed too many turnovers. We played well in our next game against Switzerland, but lost by 11.

Our only win came against Austria. We were up by 6 at the half and coasted to a 26 point win. We needed to beat Romania in our final pool game to get into the Championship Round. We didn't! Romania led from the start and beat us easily 83-36.

I averaged just under 14 ppg and had a great time playing with and against players from all over the USA and the world. Oh, I almost forgot, USA #1 14U team won the Gold Medal by beating Hungary.

Last nights' Closing Ceremonies were amazing, with everyone singing, dancing and having one last night of fun.

I hope you all enjoyed my journal. See you all at the Nationals in Cocoa Beach. TEAM BATTLE bringin' it!!!

John

Conrad Chambers Chosen For All Star Classic

Conrad Chambers of Team Nelson is one of the slickest guards in the country. At the Elite 80 Expo he used his ball handling to carve his way through some of the top defenders in the region. Chambers was seen on You Tube shaking defenders out of their boots and finishing at the cup. His play helped TN take home the trophies at the Grand Finale and earned him a spot in the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic Powered By Converse.

I can’t wait to see Chambers and the rest of the South squad square off against the boys from the North August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. It should be a true dandy! Stay tune as Basketball Spotlight profiles the rest of the players selected to participate in this event.

Reggie Cameron Ready For All Star Classic

Reggie Cameron has been one of the best shooters in the region for years. His sweet stroke has brought his team a lot of success and caused frustration for the opposition. This season his squad the Playaz Basketball Club is in the running for the Team Of The Year Award and Reggie is a big reason why. They won numerous tournaments including the Rumble In The Bronx, Game Over Classic and Blow Up. Cameron’s play has earned him an invite to the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic powered by Converse.

Next season Reggie will be taking his game to the loaded Paterson Catholic Cougars and should be in line to become one of their next stars. Be sure to check out Cameron as he teams with the rest of the North to battle their South counterparts at the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. The game will take place August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. Basketball Spotlight will be profiling the other participants in this event in the coming days.

Basketball Spotlight Presents "The Spotlight Experience"

Basketball Spotlight is proud to present “The Spotlight Experience”. The video will give you a look inside Basketball Spotlight tournaments and events. Hear from some of the top players and coaches as they give you some insight on what to expect when you travel to a Basketball Spotlight tournament. We at Basketball Spotlight will try our best to continue to bring you the best events and coverage. Enough said enjoy the video!

The Spotlight Experience Video

Jordan Forehand Joins All Star Classic

Jordan Forehand went on a circuit tour this season and performed well in just about every event. He started the year off shining at the NJ Adidas Jr. Phenom Regional Camp as he left the camp with the top player honors. He’s next stop was the Elite 80 Expo where once again he showed the skills of being one of the top players in the region. During the AAU season Forehand suited up for several squads mainly the NJ Shore Shots and Sports University. He capped off his showcase season with an excellent showing at the Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp where he torched opponents averaging close to 30 points a game before getting injured. He finished the camp ranked as the 21st best player. His play has earned him a spot in the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic powered by Converse.

Forehand hasn’t made a high school choice as of yet and hopefully we will be there when he breaks the news. Be sure to catch Jordan and the other All Stars as they take the floor for the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic powered by Converse August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. Stay tune as Basketball Spotlight will profile the remaining selections for this event.

Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase (Register Online Below)

PhillyHoops.net has partnered with Five Star Basketball to create the Elite 80 Showcase. The purpose of the Elite 80 Showcase is to create exposure for basketball players in the Tri-State area. Due to the success of last year's Super 60 Showcase, we are expanding this year's Elite 80 Showcase into a 2-day event to be hosted by Temple University.

On Saturday, July 18th, from 12-5pm, the area's top 80 rising 7th-9th graders will play. On Sunday, July 19th, from 12-5pm, the area's top 80 rising 10th-12th graders will play. Spots will be filled on a first come-first served basis. There are still a few spots left.

Event: Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase

Grades: Class of 2013, Class of 2014 and Class of 2015

Date: July 18th

Place: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Cost: $50

Registration: Make Check Payable To:
Maximize Basketball, 4030 Elson RD. Suite 1
Brookhaven, PA 19015

To Register Online Click Here

Questions Please Contact Camp Coordinator Marcus Couver at 267-236-3518

Baby Baller Abroad Feat. John Venturi Entry #2

11 year old John Venturi of Point Pleasant, NJ has traveled to Vienna, Austria to represent the USA in the 12U Junior Olympics from July 4th to July 14th. He has decided to take Basketball Spotlight along for the ride. John will be sending us updates on his international experience on and off the court. Here’s his second entry.

Hey America, its John from Austria,

The last three days have been a blur. We went back the Prater Amusement Park and visited the Shonbrunn Palace, Vienna Opera House and Mauthausen Concentration Camp. On each trip we travel with kids from different countries. Most of the kids understand English so it’s easy to make new friends. The palace is the royal residence. It is huge and has amazing gardens, fountains and sculptures. The Opera House was built in 1863 and destroyed during World War II. It was rebuilt in 1955. When our tour guide spoke softly from the stage we could hear him all the way in the back. The Concentration Camp is outside of Vienna. It was a prison where the prisoners were forced to work 12 hours every day until they were either too weak or too ill to work anymore. When that happened they were sent to another prison to die. Everyone here was very quiet. It was a sad place.

Our practices have become a little easier. We continue to work on our motion offense and man-to-man defense. We played an intra-squad game to get used to the international rules. (Don't ask me to explain!) I knocked down a couple of 3s and hit a runner in the paint. Hopefully, the intensity we show in practice will carry over into the tournament.

Last night we all attended the Welcome Dinner where speeches were made and gifts exchanged. In a couple of hours the Opening Ceremonies begin and play starts.

I'll check back with you in a few. What's up TEAM BATTLE?

John

Basketball Spotlight Awards Ceremony Coming Soon!

Basketball Spotlight will be hosting our first Summer Awards Ceremony at halftime of the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. During this time we will be honoring several players and coaches for their accomplishments during this past AAU season. The awards that will be presented are as follows;

Player Of The Year (11U Thru 14U)

Scholar Athlete of The Year (14U)

Team Of The Summer (11U Thru 14U)

Coach Of The Year (11U Thru 14U)

To nominate someone for one of these categories contact Mike Melton at basketballspotlight@hotmail.com

Britton Lee Leaps Into All Star Classic

Britton Lee exploded on the scene last summer at the Hoop Group Jr. Elite Camp. The quick guard continued his good play during the Elite 80 Expo in December while helping his team bring home the title. Lee was injured during the Atlantic City Showcase but rebounded with good showings at the Mid Atlantic AAU Regional Championship and the Basketball Spotlight MDC. His play on the floor and leadership ability earned him a spot in the Basketball Spotlight All Star powered by Converse.

Britton will be trying to help the South squad knock off the powerful North troops. Be sure to check out Lee and the rest of the All Stars as they take the floor at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ August 15th. Stay tune because there’s a few spots remaining.

Foreman Makes All Star Classic List

Dwayne Foreman Jr. has been selected to represent the North at the Basketball Spotlight All Star powered by Converse. Foreman started the season off with the Playaz but found a home with the Westchester Hawks. He performed well at the Elite 80 Expo and starred for the Hawks in numerous tournaments around the country including the Atlantic City Showcase. DJ capped off his season with an impressive showing at the Adidas Jr. All American Camp in San Diego, CA. He finished ranked in the Top 20 and played in the All American Game. Next season he’s headed to Don Bosco Prep and should see some varsity action.

Check out Foreman and the rest of the Class of 2013 All Stars as they take the court at Life Center Academy Saturday August 15th. Stay tune as Basketball Spotlight will profile the remaining 17 players headed to this event.

Diary Of A Baller: Jordan Forehand Entry #19

Hello Basketball World!

It's your boy Jordan. This week, I am laying low, trying to get some rest and prepare for the 15U Nationals in Clarksville, Tennessee. My team, Sports University, will have a couple of practices just to fine tune our coaches game plan. The competition will be intense and we must be ready to match that intensity.

I'll be doing a lot of stretching and core strengthening, as well as some running and shooting drills.

I will also be able to catch up on some summer reading material for school as well as some language arts study guides.

Other than that, nothing too much to report...for now!

J4-Out
11-17-94

Baby Baller Abroad Feat: John Venturi

11 year old John Venturi of Point Pleasant, NJ has traveled to Vienna, Austria to represent the USA in the 12U Junior Olympics from July 4th to July 14th. He has decided to take Basketball Spotlight along for the ride. John will be sending us updates on his international experience on and off the court. Here’s his first entry.

Hey USA - this is John checking in from Vienna, Austria where I'm getting ready to compete in the 12U Junior Olympics basketball tournament. We will be playing against 31 other countries and I hope we can bring back the gold medal. It's been a crazy first 3 days.

This past Saturday (the 4th of July) my dad drove me to Newark Airport where I met 24 other athletes. There were boys and girls who will be playing basketball, soccer and bowling in Austria. There are other sports being played in other countries around the world. It was really cool seeing my friend Jimmy, from Shoreshots 12U AAU team at the airport. We spent most of the 8 hour flight talking, watching satellite TV and sleeping.

On Sunday we started practicing. The first practice included all players from all age groups and was run by Rollie Massimino. My dad told me Coach Massimino's Villanova team pulled off one of then biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history by beating Georgetown in 1985. I thought the first practice would be easy but it was hard, with a lot of skills work and defensive drills.

After practice we all went back to the player's village which is set up with a big cafeteria, a wild game room and a pool.

Yesterday we joined our assigned teams and began practicing with our team coaches. At 11, I am the youngest basketball player here. Our coach worked us hard. We practiced a spread offense with lots of weak side cutting and screening. He said that 12U teams must play man-to-man defense so we worked on that also. In the afternoon we went to a local amusement park. I have no trouble sleeping after these days are over.

Well, that's it for now. I'll get back to you in a few days. All the best to my TEAM BATTLE family.


John

Introducing: Khalil Dukes

Name: Khalil Dukes

AAU Team: Connecticut Basketball Club

Position: Point Guard

Class: 2013

Breakdown: After watching loads of footage on Kahlil Dukes I must say I’m impressed with this kid’s style of play. The ultra quick point guard reminds me of Class of 2011 Connecticut stud Anthony Jernigan but with a better outside shot at this age. Like Jernigan, Dukes gets anywhere he wants on the floor, makes defenders disappear with dribble moves, can score the pill but enjoys dropping dimes to teammates. He rocks with Connecticut Basketball Club and has been blistering defenders all season. I had to joy to watch several Connecticut guards when they were young such as Jernigan, Tyrone Gardner and current St. Joseph Hawk Chris Prescott and Dukes seems to be next in line. Check Out His Highlights Below!

Dukes Highlights

Jordan Wasington Jumps Into All Star Classic

Jordan Washington has been a dominant force on the AAU scene for several years. The 6’6 Forward is currently ranked #1 in the NYC 2013 Class by Hoop Scoop Scouting Service. He was by far the best big man at the Elite 80 Expo and also had good showings at other events including Funsport Jr. Pro League. Jordan regularly suited up for the NYC Panthers and his play has earned him a spot in the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic powered by Converse.

Washington has a power game combined with soft touch and an array of moves around the basket. This event will give him the opportunity to see where he stands among the best players in the region. Don’t forget to check out Washington and the other All Stars as they take the court on August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. Stay tune as we profile the other 18 attendees headed to this event.

Team Nelson Invitational Almost Here!

Event: Team Nelson Invitational

Dates: July 17th Thru 19th

Place: Philadelphia, PA

Ages: 11U Thru 17U

For More Information Visit http://www.teamnelson.org/ or Contact Howard Hudson at 610-496-9963 or Hassann Muhammad at 484-614-8443

Video Feature: Shavar Newkirk Getting Busy

We recently featured Shavar Newkirk in our In The Spotlight column. We now have video of the Team Scan point guard getting busy. Here’s a look at Newkirk balling at various tournaments and camps in the region. The video link is below. If you have video of your young baller and think he has skills send it to basketballspotlight@hotmail.com.

Shavar Newkirk Video

Shafeek Is Taylor Made For All Star Classic

Shafeek Taylor put in serious work this AAU season. He started the year off with an impressive performance at the Elite 80 Expo where he helped his team take home the title. The wing forward for the Philly Peacemakers then tormented the competition at the Atlantic City Showcase and Mid Atlantic AAU Regional Championship while leading his squad to crowns in both events. Shafeek’s longtime coach Sabree Mathis is happy with Shafeek’s development and progress, “I love the fact that he can play all five positions on the floor and his willingness to do whatever it takes to help his team get the victory. His toughness is one of his greatest attributes” stated Mathis. This play has earned Taylor an invite to the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic and makes him a Player Of The Year Candidate.

Taylor will be representing the South in the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic powered by Converse. The event will be held August 15th at Life Center Academy in Burlington, NJ. Don’t miss a chance to see the future high school stars in action. There's 19 spots left stay tune and see who else will get the nod.

13U Nationals Update: Youth Interlock Puts The Lid On Juice All Stars

Youth Interlock flexed their muscles and ran away from the Juice All Stars 66-58. This win moves Youth Interlock into the quarterfinals tonight against Untied Stars of North Carolina. The winner will advance to the Final Four. This win also will secure Youth Interlock spot as the top 13U team in the region.

The Gauchos had a tough time with Houston Select losing to the powerful squad 60-41. The Choz along with Juice All Stars are still in the tournament and are capable of placing but cannot win the National title.

After winning two pool games Team NJ ABC’s lack of size caught up with them as they dropped 3 straight games to Elite competition. First they ran into the buzz saw called Youth Interlock losing 65-29. Then in the first round of the championship bracket play they fell to Kentucky Elite 67-39 before ending their tournament with a 41-40 loss to Emerald City Pioneers.

King Street Kings and Team Nelson are playing in the Classic Bracket and have a chance to meet in the quarterfinals. KSK must defeat Ohio Basketball Club and Team Nelson must get past Florida Storm for them to get it on.

We will try our best to keep you updated as Youth Interlock will try to bring home the crown.