Friday, November 28, 2014

Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic is Locked and Loaded.


The Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic is filled to capacity. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support as we work to bring you the absolute best in middle school basketball. The schedule will be released by Tuesday evening. 

8th Grade Teams 
1. Team Phenom 
2. Philly Triple Threat- White
3. Slam City Elite 
4. Brooklyn Rens 
5. NYC Rens 
6. Northeast Finest
7. I 10 Celtics 
8. Playtime Panthers 
9. MJ Mavericks 
10. Bos Basketball
11. Turbo/CTA 
12. PYO Basketball  
13. Philly Triple Threat- Blue
14. Team Twelve Watchmen
15. NJ Warriors 
16. New Heights
17. Hilltoppers Heat
18. St. Michaels 
19. Harlem United 
20. Severn Elite
21. Give and Go
22. Harlem Jets 
23. Newark Pharaohs 
24. MABC
Closed

7th Grade Teams 
1. Slam City Elite 
2. Team Final 
3. Havoc City (Red)
4. I 10 Celtics 
5. Playtime 
6. PSA Cardinals 
7. Brooklyn Rens
8. Bos Basketball 
9. Philly Triple Threat
10. New Heights
11. Hilltoppers Heat
12. NY Rens 
13. St. Michaels 
14. Wiz Kids 
15. Boston Titans 
16. Boston Bobcats 
17. Havoc City (Blue)
18. Gym Rats Basketball 
19. Metro Mavericks 
20. Team IZOD
21. Ocean Elite
22. Gauchos
23. Milbank
24. Chester Elite
Closed

6th Grade 
1. Rens - Harris
2. Havoc City 
3. Rens - Kat
4. Playtime 
5. S Elite 
6. Team IZOD
7. YBE
8. Philly Triple Threat
9. Hilltoppers Heat
10. Unlimited Glory
11. Brooklyn Kings
12. Milbank 
Closed

5th Grade 
1. Rens 
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks
5. Philly Triple Threat
6. NJ Shore Shots
7. Hilltoppers Heat
8. Bannaker Kings 
9. CMEK
10. Unlimited Glory 
11. Metro Mavericks
12. Team IZOD
Closed

4th Grade 
1. Rens - White
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks (National Champs)
5. Philly Triple Threat
6.  Rens-Blue
7. New Heights 
8. MADE Signature
Closed



Wednesday, November 26, 2014

AGame Super Shootout Championship Recaps


The A Game Super Shootout took this past weekend and Basketball Spotlight made the trip down to Maryland. Here’s a recap of the champions from 3rd Grade Thru 6th Grade. We already posted the 7th and 8th Grade results.

New World Unlimited 

6th Grade Championship Recap: New World Unlimited seems like the new team to beat as they ran through the tournament. In the finals they defeated Hilltoppers Heat 43-23 to take home the crown. They will make their Basketball Spotlight debut at the Clash For The Cup January 10th and 11th.


Coalition Elite

5th Grade Championship Recap: Elite Coalition jumped on the scene and took care of business. They defeated Riverside Hawks 58-35 to win the 5th Grade Championship. Congrats to Elite Coalition for getting things done.

Havoc City Elite 

4th Grade Championship Recap: Havoc City Elite stepped up to the plate and held off a stubborn Maryland Pride team to win the 4th Grade Division. This new organization is making a lot of noise and we will see them December 6th and 7th at the Tip Off Classic.

New World Unlimited

3rd Grade Championship Recap: In battle of local clubs New World defeated B More Finest 42-38 to win the championship. Congrats to New World for winning the championship and we look forward to seeing them at the Clash For The Cup.

Basketball Spotlight Feature: Bryan Antoine Takes Next Step!

Bryan Antoine (Team RIO National)

In April Basketball Spotlight will be updating our rankings and one player that’s sure to make a raise is Bryan Antoine from Team Rio National. Antoine has been progressing and is currently ranked #19 in the country. We took a look at him this weekend and were extremely impressed with his skill set, explosiveness, shooting and ability to play on the defensive end. After scanning through our rankings it could be safe to say that Bryan might be the best guard in America. 

Team RIO National’s director Brian Klatsky has been coaching Antoine since 5th grade with the CJ Hawks and has seen his development first hand. “First, he has all the natural tools. Second, he has trained relentlessly with I’m Possible training and lastly when Scottie Lewis came to town he really pushed Bryan to get better. He’s a super kid not only on the floor but also in the classroom. He will be very excited to join Scottie Lewis and Alex Klatsky at Ranney School next year in high school” he finished. 

Basketball Spotlight will keep you posted on Antoine’s progress over this season. Stay tuned as we bring you more top players that will be performing on the Spotlight circuit this season.


2014 Basketball - Bryan Antoine Highlights from Next Play Productions on Vimeo.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Diary Of A Baller: Marquise Walker (Chicago, IL) Entry #11

Marquise Walker At School

Wassup, this is Marquise Walker with my basketball diary: 

Monday - Start of a big week for us we have our first scrimmage upcoming on Saturday so we won't get any days off this week. I got up early this week and went to school and took a Math test and made a 98 so I was happy as I went to practice. At practiced we worked on a lot of defense and pushing the ball up the court faster. After I went home ate supper, played some 2k and went to bed. 

Tuesday - Practice was short today as coach went to scout a game of one of our first regular season opponents. Practice was good today but coach stayed on me about jumping when I pass and one handed passes. After practice we went to the weight room, I did my push-ups and sit ups while the rest of the team lifted. After practice I went home and cooked some pizza, played some 2K and did my homework for Social Studies. 

Wednesday - A repeat of the first two days, I got up went to school and practice after school. Practice went long today as coach said we had a lot of stuff to get in before scrimmage on Saturday. We learned a new play and continued to work on defense. We are getting really good at defense and my help side defense has improved a lot. I now know how to play on both ends of the floor the whole game. 

Thursday - School was easy today, no homework from the day before and the week was almost over. We had practiced right after school today and it was really good. We all played hard and had fun sharing the ball and playing defense. Since I didn’t have homework I went home, watched some TV and played some PS4 until bed. 

Friday - School was easy today as the whole school was getting ready for the region championship football game against Paducah Tilghman. We won that game 36-0 and play in final 4 next week. I went to the Bowling Green game with some friends and Bowling Green lost for the first time in 53 games against Kentucky teams. Practice after school was good up until the end. Coach really got on me hard at the end and I had to do extra running for not playing good enough defense. I hate running but the discipline makes me a better player. After going to the football game I went home and went to bed excited about our first scrimmage tomorrow. 

Saturday - I woke up early and ate breakfast before going to the gym for practice at 10:00. We practiced for an hour before the game cause we didn't start until 12:00. The game went well and I played good. I even dropped a kid on a crossover and hit a three pointer off the move. I had 16 points and 8 assists, Day-Day had 24 points and Stacker had 25 for us. We beat Central Hardin, they was a really good team. After the game I went home, took a shower then went to the movies with my friends, came home and went to bed. 

Sunday - I woke up and ate breakfast and played 2k all morning before we went to the gym for practice. I went in early today because I wasn't happy with my jumper from yesterday. I made 200 shots inside the arc on the gun and 100 outside the arc. The team lifted before practice and I ran 1.5 miles while they lifted before practice started. Practice went good and we improved on our mistakes from the previous day, after practice I ate some Sonic, played 2k, did a lot of homework and wrote this diary. We scrimmage again tomorrow, I will let you know next week how I did.

From Basketball Spotlight To The Big Time: Where Are They Now? Class Of 2014!


In this ever changing youth basketball world there are always new tournament concepts, websites and companies emerging. Through these times Basketball Spotlight has always brought you the top talent to the floor. Year after year we our circuit and events help prepare the top players for the future. Here’s a look back at some of the top players from the Class of 2014 and where they ended up. 

Where Are They Now? Class Of 2014!


Karl Towns Forward (New Jersey) 
Towns left Basketball Spotlight in the Class of 2015 but later reclassified up to 2014. He spent most of his middle years playing up in age for Team NJABC. He also played in the Basketball Spotlight Elite 80 Expo and the J.E.M. All Star Classic. He was the most sought after prospect in the state going to into high school and eventually chose St. Joseph’s Metuchen. Towns had a phenomenal high school career; winning two state titles, Tournament Of Champions crown, McDonalds All American and Gatorade National Player of the Year. During this time he also participated in the Olympic Games with the Dominican Republic. When it came down to college Karl jumped at the chance to for Kentucky University and is currently projected as a Top 5 pick in the up-coming NBA Draft.


Isaiah Whitehead Guard (New York) 
Whitehead hit our circuit with the stacked Juice All Stars. The scoring guard put up big numbers while leading the Juice All Stars to the Team Of The Year and he also collected the Player Of The Year. Whitehead capped off his middle school career playing at the J.E.M. All Star Classic before finishing as the #1 ranked player in our region. To no one’s surprise he decided to attend Lincoln High School where he led the Railsplitters to a couple of PSAL Championships while also winning NY Player of The Award and becoming a McDonalds All American. He now attends Seton Hall University where he’s a starting guard.


Shep Garner Guard (Pennsylvania) 
You can’t mention Isaiah Whitehead without bringing up Garner’s name because their battles were so serious. Shep toured our circuit with Youth Interlock and was one of the most intense and productive players to ever come through Basketball Spotlight. He finished his middle school career off at the J.E.M. All Star Classic while finishing #2 in our regional rankings. He went on to have a stellar career at Roman Catholic and shine on the AAU circuit with Team Final. Garner chose to stay in state for college and headed to Penn State University where he currently starts at the guard position.


Wade Baldwin Guard (New Jersey) 
Wade Baldwin played on our circuit with Team NJABC and showed some promise at times. He finished ranked #63 in our regional rankings and he must have taken it personal because on the high school level he turned into a monster. After first attending Immaculata, Baldwin transferred to state power St. Josephs Metuchen. He helped his new school win two state titles and a TOC crown. His improved size, explosiveness and aggressive style made him a hit on the AAU circuit with Sports U/IZOD. He garnered attention from several top schools before choosing Vanderbilt University where he currently gets major minutes at the guard spot. We can honestly say we missed on this kid.


Shavar Newkirk Guard (New York) 
Newkirk could take claim of putting Team Scan now PSA Cardinals on the map. Newkirk was the starting point guard for their squad on the Spotlight circuit all the way through. He helped them establish a regional name and collect a few championships. He finished his career off at the J.E.M. All Star Classic and was slated #10 in our regional rankings. He went on to star at Cardinal Hayes and Team Scan as they were introduced to the Nike Circuit. Shavar chose to stay in the region and attend Atlantic 10’s St. Joseph University where he’s logging heavy minutes at the point guard position.

Isaiah Washington Guard (Pennsylvania) 
I thought that Williamsport, PA was only known for the Little League World Series until Isaiah Washington showed up at the J.E.M. All Star Classic. The lanky guard was a late entry but made the most of his presence. He finished ranked #29 in our regional rankings before starring at Williamsport High School and for We R 1 AAU squad. Washington decided to stay close to home and sign with Penn State University where he’s playing the guard spot.


Khadeem Carrington Guard (New York) 
Carrington was introduced to Basketball Spotlight by Coach Smoke from Brooklyn. He played on our circuit with New Heights and finished his career off at the J.E.M. All Star Classic. He finished #22 in our regional player rankings. He went on to star at Bishop Loughlin and be named Daily News All City First Team. He later joined Isaiah Whitehead at Seton Hall University where he currently plays.

Mike Williams Guard (New York) 
Mike Williams got busy on our circuit for years with The City. He helped the new form squad win several Spotlight championships and establish their name around the country. He finished ranked #60 which was mostly due to him not being seen playing with his class (he played his age). Williams went on to be a star player at Bishop Loughlin joining his teammate Khadeem Carrington on the Daily News All City First Team. When it came time to pick his college he chose to head to the Garden State and Rutgers University.

Monday, November 24, 2014

A Game Super Shootout 8th Grade Championship Recap: DC Premier Takes Home The Championship

DC Premier Takes Home Crown

DC Premier used a balanced attack as they defeated Team RIO National 63-56 to win the A Game Super Shootout. DC Premier had a good weekend from Marvin Price , the Mitchell Twins and Shariff Kenny. Their coach john Perry was happy with the early tournament championship. “This was a good tournament for us to play in considering we have not had one practice this year. It allowed us the opportunity to work against good competition. My hat goes off to all the coaches who participated this weekend. We looking forward to playing some of the other top teams in this class 2019” he finished. 

Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate DC Premier and look forward to seeing them at the Tip Off Classic December 6th and 7th. Stay tuned as we bring you more coverage from the A Game Super Shootout.

A Game Super Shootout: 7th Grade Championship Recap: Terror Squad Still Rolling!

Slam City Elite Wins The Crown

On Friday morning things looked bleak for Slam City Elite after a few departures. But it seemed like the Maryland bunch used this as motivation as they won the A Game Super Shootout 54-43 over Team Takeover in the 7th Grade Championship. The “Terror Squad” showed resilience as they came from behind in each game they played. 

Coach Francis was ecstatic with his team’s effort over the weekend. “We are tremendously happy as a team this Monday morning; and frankly I couldn’t be any prouder of how the kids responded to the level competition and the adversity of the game on and off the court leading up to and throughout the weekend. What many have failed to realize across the country to date is that this band of brothers aren't playing for titles or trophies, they are not playing for press clippings. They already have that and have achieved on the biggest stages out there and that’s why there are numbers next to each of their names already. Discussions have already begun to take place at the collegian level for this group of players proving that from an opportunity standpoint the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and the parts are pretty damn good! This team plays for the name on the front of the jerseys not the names on the back. This is why we have won to this point and why we will continue to compete on a high level. Our continued team success guarantees future individual success and anyone that truly knows and understands how this game works knows that this is truly what winning is - ensuring kid’s college educations are paid for, period” said Francis. 

You can catch Slam City AKA “Terror Squad” at the Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic in Neptune, NJ. December 6th and 7th. Stay tuned as we bring you more feedback from the A Game Super Shootout.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Word On The Street: Lights, Camera, Action!


The AAU season is right around the corner and in this segment of Word On The Street we will take a look at player movement and other interesting topics concerning middle school basketball. 

Word On The Street

Williams On The Move! 

Word from out of Potomac Valley is that highly ranked 7th Grade forward Terrence Williams has decided to part ways with Slam City Elite. My sources say that Williams will run a little with Team Rio National 8th Grade group until settling in with his former squad Team Takeover. This could be an immediate blow for the Terror Squad as Williams was the most dominant 7th Grade player in the region. We will keep you posted on this move.
Allison and Clowney Head North! 

It also seems like Slam City Elite has lost some of their depth as guard Austin Allison and tough forward Demon Clowney have decided to head up Interstate 95 and join Team IZOD. Coaching and recruiting guru Reggie Carter has returned to the middle school level and is looking to once again make his presence felt. He was the mastermind behind the famed Supreme Team now I’m hearing he has something else brewing. The addition of Allison (shooter) and Clowney (inside) gives them a step in the right direction.


A & E Crew To Follow Rio Pair! 

Word out of the Garden State is that A&E has been spotted at the Ranney School to do an elite player documentary on Team Rio’s Alex Klatsky and Scottie Lewis. As you know Lewis arrived in NJ last season and sent shockwaves through the middle school basketball scene. It will be very interesting to see how this final project turns out. Basketball Spotlight will keep you posted as this transpires.


Rio Heading Abroad?

We also got word that Team Rio National will likely be heading to Europe this summer for the European Legend Fabien Fond Basketball tour. These stops would include Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy. The European Legend Fabien Fond group is currently in Boston working with the Celtics through I’m Possible Training. This should be an interesting experience for these youngsters.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

From Basketball Spotlight To The Big Time: Where Are They Now? Class of 2013!


In this ever changing youth basketball world there are always new tournament concepts, websites and companies emerging. Through these times Basketball Spotlight has always brought you the top talent to the floor. Year after year we our circuit and events help prepare the top players for the future. Here’s a look back at some of the top players from the Class of 2013 and where they ended up. 

Where Are They Now? Class Of 2013!

Austin Colbert Forward (Virginia) 
Colbert made a splash during the Basketball Spotlight All Stars Classic and finished #1 in our regional rankings. The lanky forward was highly touted heading into St. Patrick High School. He played for St. Patrick’s for a couple of years before making a stop at Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and finally graduating from Gil St. Bernard’s in NJ. After some heavy recruiting Colbert decided to attend the University of Illinois where he’s currently a reserve forward.

Jared Sina Guard (New Jersey) 
Jared spent several years on the Spotlight circuit with Hoop Heaven while also playing in the Elite 80 Expo and the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. He was ranked #7 in our regional rankings. For high school he attended Gil St. Bernard and became the school’s all-time leading scorer. After graduating high school Sina decided to stay home and attend Seton Hall University where he currently starts in the backcourt.

Rondae Hollis Jefferson Forward (Pennsylvania) 
Jefferson literally grew up in the Spotlight circuit. He played with Educated Athletes which eventually became Team Nelson. The southpaw helped them capture a few championships, while also playing in the Elite 80 Expo and Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. He finished #8 in our regional rankings but ended up as the best player. His next stop was Chester High School, which he turned into a national power, while becoming a McDonalds All American. He chose the University of Arizona where he currently starts at the forward position. 

Reggie Cameron Forward (New Jersey) 
Cameron was one of the best shooters to come through our circuit. As you know he rocked with the Playaz Basketball Club and helped his squad become a regional power. He also played in the Elite 80 Expo and Basketball Spotlight All Stars Classic. He finished as the 10th best player in our regional rankings. He attended Paterson Catholic and then transferred to Hudson Catholic after PC closed. His play in high school and on the Nike Circuit with the Playaz earned him a scholarship to Georgetown University where he plays the wing position.

Dwayne Foreman Forward (New York) 
DJ Foreman was seen on our circuit playing with the Trenton Hurricanes and Westchester Hawks among others. He played in the Elite 80 Expo and the Basketball Spotlight All Star Classic. He was ranked #22 on our regional list and seems to have projected better than many that were ahead of him. He bounced around a little in high school before settling at Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia. He ran on the Nike circuit with Boo Williams and stretched to 6’9. He chose to play at Rutgers University in the Garden State where he currently starts at the forward spot.


Davon Reed Guard (New Jersey) 
Reed played on our circuit with the KBR Fliers. He was definitely one of the players that we projected wrong as we had him ranked #56 in the region. Once he got to Princeton Day School his game took off. He also rocked with Team Final on the Nike circuit. After a memorable scholastic career at the Princeton Day, Reed decided to attend the University of Miami. He was a projected starter this season before getting injured.

From Basketball Spotlight To The Big Time: Where Are They Now? Class of 2012!


In this ever changing youth basketball world there are always new tournament concepts, websites and companies emerging. Through these times Basketball Spotlight has always brought you the top talent to the floor. Year after year we our circuit and events help prepare the top players for the future. Here’s a look back at some of the top players from the Class of 2012 and where they ended up. 

 Where Are They Now? Class Of 2012!

Kyle Anderson Guard (New Jersey) 
Nicknamed Slo-Mo this former Diary Of A Baller came through our circuit with the famed Long Island Lightning and represented himself in the Clash For The Cup All Star Classic. He finished #1 in our regional ranking and was awarded NJ Player Of The Year. He next won a National championship in high school while becoming a McDonalds All American. He signed with UCLA and was a Bruin for two seasons before getting drafted this past summer by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1st round.


Omar Calhoun Guard (New York) 
This pure scorer from over the bridge got busy under our lights with several New York teams including New Heights, Rich Soil and D1 Sports. Omar finished #8 in our regional rankings which now seems to be a little low. Calhoun’s size and ability to make get clean looks helped him star in high school with Christ The King and on the AAU circuit with the Gauchos. He currently plays for reigning NCAA national champions UConn as a starting guard.


Amile Jefferson Forward (Philadelphia) 
Jefferson starred on our circuit with Philly Finest which later joined Team Philly. He anchored this squad which was won of the toughest teams in the region to defeat. He finished #4 in our final regional rankings. The lanky forward also became a star in high school at Friends Central before becoming a McDonalds All American and selecting Duke University where is currently a starting forward.


Kerwin Okoro Guard (New York) 
Okoro was one of the most dominating middle school players during his time at the Spotlight. His play also hit the national scene while helping Long Island Lightning to two AAU National Championships. He finished #2 in our Top 50 regional rankings behind his teammate Kyle Anderson and was awarded our Metropolitan Player Of The Year. He spent his high school tenure playing at St. Raymond’s and on the AAU circuit with the Lightning. He originally chose Iowa State before opting to come closer to home and play at Rutgers University where he currently starts at the guard spot.


Savon Goodman Forward (Pennsylvania) 
Goodman was the big name on Team Finals first 8th Grade squad. The athletic wing showed off his hops every chance he got. His play on the floor and potential had him ranked #3 on our regional list. He played a few AAU squads in high school before ending his career with the Playaz Basketball Club. He originally chose the bright lights of Las Vegas and UNLV before transferring to Arizona State where he will be eligible to play next season.


Daniel Dingle Forward (New York) 
Dingle was the 3rd piece of the Long Island Lightning three headed monster. His versatility allowed him to play both forward positions helped them win several titles on the local and national level. He finished number 10 in our regional rankings. He joined Okoro at St. Raymond’s and for the Long Island Lightning. For college he took his talent to Philadelphia and Temple University.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Basketball Spotlight Princess Signs Letter Of Intent!

Dejane "Snoop" James (Hartford, CT)

Basketball Spotlight has long been the home for the Future Phenoms when it came to boys’ basketball. But we also had a girl who broke through our circuit and caused havoc. Her name is Dejane “Snoop” James. James starred with CT 300 and CBC during her early years hooping. Now the Weaver High School player has just signed a letter a Letter of Intent to Hampton University in Virginia. James was not only able to hold her own but outshine a lot of the boys competing at the time. Despite protest by several coaches Basketball Spotlight found no wrong in letting the young lady get busy. After leaving the Spotlight circuit and playing AAU basketball and high school ball for Capital Prep and Weaver High School. 

James relishes her moments at the Spotlight circuit, “Spotlight was my first time playing at an elite level. Playing against players like Tyus Battle and Jamir Harris made me and Shaquana realized that we could be special. I think I became a D1 player at Spotlight. Even though we lost, every time I came back I got love from players and parents were all happy to see a girl play against elite boys” she finished. 

Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate “Snoop” on her accomplishment and would like to crown her the official Princess Of Basketball Spotlight.

Basketball Spotlight Class Of 2022 (5th Grade) Top 25 National Player Rankings


Basketball Spotlight got a chance to watch the Class of 2022 at several national events including the Future Phenom Camp. Below is our list of the Top 25 5th Graders in America. Please remember this ranking is just our opinion and should be taken as such. Also remember these players are very young and have a lot of room to grow. Stay tuned as we update these rankings in April. 

Basketball Spotlight Class of 2022 Top 25 National Player Rankings 

1. Antonio Sellers Guard (New York) 
2. Kameren Rodriquez Guard (New York) 
3. Knasir McDaniel Guard (District Of Columbia) 
4. Keyon Webb Forward (North Carolina) 
5. Bryce Griggs Guard (Texas) 
6. Jaden Johnson Guard (Maryland) 
7. MyKel Kelley Guard (Pennsylvania) 
8. Jacob Newman Guard (North Carolina) 
9. Josiah Johnson Guard (California) 
10. Sonny Johnson Jr. Guard (Ohio) 
11. Grant Ott Large Forward (Indiana) 
12. Sammy Scott Guard (Maryland) 
13. Josiah Harris Forward (Ohio) 
14. Devon Williams Guard (Maryland) 
15. Donovan Leak Guard (Virginia) 
16. Ramel Lloyd Guard (New York) 
17. Jason Moore Forward (Maryland) 
18. Dean Newsome Guard (Pennsylvania) 
19. Sean Jones Guard (Ohio) 
20. Farrell Crowell Guard (District Of Columbia) 
21. Chris Winborne Guard (Maryland) 
22. Javon Tracy Guard (Indiana) 
23. Isaiah Freeman Guard (Pennsylvania) 
24. Cameron Johnson Guard (Ohio) 
25. Evan Young Guard (Utah)

Diary Of A Baller: Marquise Walker (Chicago, IL) Entry #10

Marquise Walker (Chicago, IL)

Wassup its Marquise Walker with my weekly diary. 

On Monday, I woke up and I was really sleepy. I got to school and I went into the locker room and chilled on my phone for a little bit. I got to my first period and we talked about how we are supposed to do fingerprints and we did some vocabulary words on how to figure out a crime. We usually use forensic science in Mr. Dargo's class. All of the other classes were not as exciting. After school I went to practice and we worked on a lot of offensive plays and a little bit on defense. After practice I went home, ate some dinner and took a bath before going asleep. 

On Tuesday, I woke up ate some breakfast, got ready for school, and headed out the door. I went to school and went to talk to some of my teammates. In school today I got a C+ on my test and that was not good enough for me at all. I will not accept that so I told my teacher I will be going to the retakes on Friday. I really like that my teacher would give me a second chance of doing my test. After school I went to practice and just went with the flow today. We did a lot of defense and afterwards I was really tired. I went home, ate out and then played 2k before going asleep. 

On Wednesday, I woke up and ate some waffles. I had a little extra time to go to sleep for at least 15 minutes. I woke up and went to school. School was fun but it was slow and it was a drag. In my Graphic Design class we worked on movie posters of you. I did mine on Hoop Dreams and put my pictures on the movie title and around it. After school I went home, played my game and fell asleep. I woke back up and drunk some water and watched TV a little bit then fell asleep for good. 

On Thursday, I woke up and went straight to school. School was fun but it was really hard to understand especially in Mrs. Prophet’s math class. I was really confused at first with the problems and situations until I finally asked her to break it down a little more so I could understand. Once she did that I got it right away. After school we had practice again and it was fun. We did a lot of scrimmaging and a lot of defense. Basically we did a lot of up and down. Afterwards we ran a little bit. Then when practice was over I went home and fell asleep quickly. 

On Friday, we woke up late. Today was the day I had to retake my math test. I am really nervous. I really think I will do well because I studied all last night. I went to school and went through my classes and turned in all my work. Then after school and I took my test it was pretty easy after I actually looked at it. I think I did really well. After the test I hurried to practice. Then we had a little 5 on 5 workout and then after that practice was over. Then I went home and got ready for the football game. It was really cold at the football game but I didn’t care it was a good game. After the game I went home and fell asleep. 

On Saturday, I went to the middle school basketball games. I saw Veto from WACG and he was doing really well. Then I played some 1 on 1s with my friends. Then I watched my middle school team play against Vito's team and we lost, I didn't play though. After the game we went to the movies and we went to get something to eat. We finished up at the bowling alley. I had fun that night also. Afterwards I went home and fell asleep. 

On Sunday, I slept in. And I really did nothing until practice. In practice we played against some college players and we did kind of good even though we lost. After Practice I went home played the game and got on my phone and fell asleep. And I was so anxious to find out what I got on my test on Monday. 

See You Guys Next Week 
Marquise Walker

Moore Goes Backdoor For Dunk!

Wendell Moore currently checks in at #2 in our Class of 2019 National Player Rankings. This kid has been outstanding throughout the years and still continues to show improvement. Recently he showed off his athleticism by catching a backdoor lob for a dunk. It should be an exciting year with Moore and his CP3 All Star teammates.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic Is At Capacity!


The Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic is filled to capacity. We would like to thank everyone for their continued support as we work to bring you the absolute best in middle school basketball. 

8th Grade Teams 
1. Team Phenom 
2. Philly Triple Threat- White
3. Slam City Elite 
4. Brooklyn Rens 
5. NYC Rens 
6. Northeast Finest
7. I 10 Celtics 
8. Playtime Panthers 
9. MJ Mavericks 
10. Bos Basketball
11. Turbo/CTA 
12. PYO Basketball  
13. Philly Triple Threat- Blue
14. Team Twelve Watchmen
15. NJ Warriors 
16. New Heights
17. Hilltoppers Heat
18. St. Michaels 
19. Harlem United 
20. Severn Elite
21. Give and Go
22. Harlem Jets 
23. Newark Pharaohs 
24. MABC
Closed

7th Grade Teams 
1. Slam City Elite 
2. Team Final 
3. Havoc City (Red)
4. I 10 Celtics 
5. Playtime 
6. PSA Cardinals 
7. Brooklyn Rens
8. Bos Basketball 
9. Philly Triple Threat
10. New Heights
11. Hilltoppers Heat
12. NY Rens 
13. St. Michaels 
14. Wiz Kids 
15. Boston Titans 
16. Boston Bobcats 
17. Havoc City (Blue)
18. Gym Rats Basketball 
19. Metro Mavericks 
20. Team IZOD
21. Ocean Elite
22. Gauchos
23. Milbank
24. Chester Elite
Closed

6th Grade 
1. Rens - Harris
2. Havoc City 
3. Rens - Kat
4. Playtime 
5. S Elite 
6. Team IZOD
7. YBE
8. Philly Triple Threat
9. Hilltoppers Heat
10. Unlimited Glory
11. Brooklyn Kings
12. Milbank 
Closed

5th Grade 
1. Rens 
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks
5. Philly Triple Threat
6. NJ Shore Shots
7. Hilltoppers Heat
8. Bannaker Kings 
9. CMEK
10. Unlimited Glory 
11. Metro Mavericks
12. Team IZOD
Closed

4th Grade 
1. Rens - White
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks (National Champs)
5. Philly Triple Threat
6.  Rens-Blue
7. New Heights 
8. MADE Signature
Closed



Thursday, November 13, 2014

Basketball Spotlight Class 2021 (6th Grade) Top 35 National Player Rankings


The Class of 2021 is still shaping but seems to have a lot of talent on the horizon. Basketball Spotlight got a chance to watch these youngsters during the Spotlight circuit, NYBL, Future Phenom Camp among other events. Here’s our list of the Top 35 players in America. Stay tuned as we expand this list to 50 in April. Remember these rankings are just our opinion and should be taken as such. 

Basketball Spotlight Class of 2021 Top 35 National Player Rankings 

1. Zion Harmon Guard (Washington, DC) 
2. Trey Patterson Forward (New Jersey) 
3. Donnell Harris Forward (Florida) 
4. Seth Wilson Guard (Ohio) 
5. Paris Dawson Guard (California) 
6. Khalil Brantley Guard (Georgia) 
7. Josh Davis Guard (Indiana) 
8. Trey Thomas Guard (Maryland) 
9. Khalil Farmer Guard (Pennsylvania) 
10. Jalen Hall Forward (Washington, DC) 
11. Keon Henderson Guard (Michigan) 
12. Kennedy Chandler Guard (Tennessee) 
13. Ahmad Harrison Forward (Maryland) 
14. DJ Jackson Guard (California) 
15. Bryce McGowan Guard (South Carolina) 
16. Brayson Freeman Guard (Maryland) 
17. Justice Williams Guard (Pennsylvania) 
18. Caleb Furst Forward (Indiana) 
19. Darius Johnson Guard (Virginia) 
20. Adrian Griffin Forward (Illinois) 
21. Meechie Johnson Guard (Ohio) 
22. Carlos Alexander Guard (Maryland) 
23. Ty Wilson Guard (Virginia) 
24. Jayden Pierre Guard (New Jersey) 
25. Travonne Jackson Forward (Ohio) 
26. Christopher Ford Forward (North Carolina) 
27. Jalen Smith Guard (Florida) 
28. Trevor Keels Forward (Maryland) 
29. Michael Anderson Guard (Pennsylvania) 
30. Malik Jones Forward (Tennesse) 
31. Patrick Baldwin Guard (Illinois) 
32. Al Fatir Connor Guard (New Jersey) 
33. Noah Rittinger Guard (West Virginia)
34. Antonio Sanders Forward (Florida) 
35. George Cutler Guard (Virginia)

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Hotel Rooms Going Fast For Tip Off Classic


The Hotel Unlimited Group has decided to host the Tip Off Classic. The group has several hotels under their umbrella with great deals. Below is a list of the hotels and the rate that have. Please register quickly because they will sell out soon especially with the rate. ASK For BBS Code!

Doubletree by Hilton Tinton Falls 
700 Hope Road Tinton Falls, NJ 07724  (732)-544-9300
Basketball Spotlight Team rate: $89 + tax including Hilton’s Hot Deluxe breakfast (up to four guests) Beautiful Full Service Hilton hotel featuring Aqua Restaurant and Lounge 

Holiday Inn Express & Suites West Long Branch 
294 Route 36 West Long Branch, NJ 07764  (732) 542-1234
Basketball Spotlight Team Rate: $79 + tax including Hot Express Start Breakfast Nice clean hotel with indoor pool and complimentary WiFi 

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Neptune 
3510 Route 66 Neptune, NJ 07753  (732)-922-9600
Basketball Spotlight Team Rate: $79 + tax including Hot Express Start Breakfast Newer, super clean hotel with indoor pool and complimentary WiFi

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Diary Of A Baller: Marquise Walker (Chicago, IL) Entry #9



On Monday I woke from a good practice on Sunday. It was a great feeling. So I woke up and ate some breakfast and headed to school. School was fun. My first period is CSI and we talked about the railroad killer. He murdered 15 people in the U.S and Mexico. He was a really bad person. He was sentenced to death. After school I went over to practice and my boy Mike foot is hurt and my bro Brandon Stacker hurt his arm. So are two key players are not playing. Practice was really good we worked on some defenses and some up and down situations. I did really well on the fast breaks. After practice I went home and I finished my homework. After that I talked to my brother. I played 2K15 and took a bath and went to sleep. 

The next day I woke up and thanked God for another day. Then I went to school and now in my first period we talked about The Barefoot Bandit. He stole cars; he robbed houses, and stole airplanes. Some people actually talked good about him and he outran the police force for two years. After school I went to practice and we went to the weight room. I did 100 pushups and 100 sit-ups. I also ran for a little bit. Then I went home finished my homework and went to bed.   

On Wednesday I felt sick. I didn’t say anything about it though. At school my head was hurting a lot. I took aspirin and it didn’t work. After a sick school day I went to practice, and it was actually pretty good to be sick. I’m progressing with the team. I’m learning my personnel way better. After practice I went home and did my homework. Then I played 2k15 and fell asleep. 

The next day I went to school and I had a very good day at school it was very fun. I went to practice and we did some running. Then we did some scrimmaging and I pushed the ball a lot. After that I went into the weight room. Then I went to the middle school basketball game. After that I went home ate some food, took a bath and went to sleep. 

On Friday school was okay. It was just really boring. After school I went home because we had no practice. I played some 2k for like two hours and then I went to a Bonfire party. It was really fun. We had hot dogs and we talked by the fire and we ate some sweets. After the Bonfire I went home and played some more 2k until I fell asleep. 

On Saturday I woke up and played some Call of Duty. And then I got ready to go to Coach Carlos’s son football game. While I was there I was hanging out with Ray, Jawuan, and Darius. The game was good but we loss by 3 it was a very good game. Afterwards we went to Dave & Busters and we hanged around for hours it was really fun. I got home around like 12:30 A.M. and I talked on the phone for a little while and fell asleep. 

The next day I woke up later so I could get extra sleep in for practice. Then I went to practice and it was slow at first but then we picked it up and the starting 5 finished slow. So coach made us run and do defensive slides with the back of our hands touching the ground. If you messed up you had to do it over. Then I went home finished playing 2K15, Madden 25, did my diary and fell asleep. 

See You Guys Next Week, 

Marquise

Monday, November 10, 2014

Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic Registration Will Sell Out This Week!


The Basketball Spotlight Tip Off Classic has become the official start of the AAU season for many teams around the country. This year has not been any exception as many top teams have already showed interest for the December 6th and 7th event. This event is very limited in space therefore you need to register early. This event will sell out this week. ATTN: Teams Not fully registered will definitely lose their spot. This is for everyone!

8th Grade Teams 
1. DC Premier 
2. Philly Triple Threat- White
3. Slam City Elite 
4. Brooklyn Rens 
5. NYC Rens 
6. Northeast Finest
7. I 10 Celtics 
8. Playtime Panthers 
9. MJ Mavericks 
10. Bos Basketball
11. Turbo/CTA 
12. NYC Gauchos 
13. Philly Triple Threat- Blue
14. Team Twelve Watchmen
15. NJ Warriors 
16. New Heights
17. Hilltoppers Heat
18. St. Michaels 
19. Harlem United 
20. Team Phenom
21. Give and Go
22. Harlem Jets 
23. Newark Pharaohs 
24. MABC

7th Grade Teams 
1. Slam City Elite 
2. Team Final 
3. Havoc City (Red)
4. I 10 Celtics 
5. Playtime 
6. PSA Cardinals 
7. Brooklyn Rens
8. Bos Basketball 
9. Philly Triple Threat
10. New Heights
11. Hilltoppers Heat
12. NY Rens 
13. St. Michaels 
14. Wiz Kids 
15. NJ Shore Shots
16. Boston Bobcats 
17. Havoc City (Blue)
18. Gym Rats Basketball 
19. Metro Mavericks 
20. Team IZOD
21. Ocean Elite
22. Gauchos
23. Milbank
24. Chester Elite
Closed

6th Grade 
1. Rens - Harris
2. Havoc City 
3. Rens - Kat
4. Playtime 
5. S Elite 
6. Team IZOD
7. YBE
8. Philly Triple Threat
9. Hilltoppers Heat
10. Gauchos
Closed

5th Grade 
1. Rens 
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks
5. Philly Triple Threat
6. NJ Shore Shots
7. Hilltoppers Heat
8. Bannaker Kings 
9. CMEK
10. Playaz 
11. Metro Mavericks
12. Team IZOD
Closed

4th Grade 
1. Rens - White
2. Havoc City 
3. Playtime Panthers 
4. Riverside Hawks (National Champs)
5. Philly Triple Threat
6.  Rens-Blue
7. New Heights 
8. MADE Signature
Closed



Monday, November 3, 2014

"The Battle Plan": Presented By Adam Zagoria Of Zagsblog and SNY Network

Tyus Battle is one of the most sought after high school players in America. He has virtually every school in the country knocking on his door. Recently, the well-known Adam Zagoria of the SNY Network and Zagsblog.com paid him a visit and created this lovely documentary. The video details his recruiting process and how he’s handling everything. I think it is a well put together project and that he has a chance to become something special one day.

Basketball Spotlight Brings Clash For The Cup To The DMV Area Jan 10th and 11th!


The Basketball Spotlight Clash for The Cup has always been one of our hottest winter events. For years it has attracted some of the best teams and players in the country. This year the event will take place at the New 24 in Districts Heights, Maryland January 10th and 11th. All the games will be under one roof and we will have two different divisions. The Orange Division will carry primary club teams (grade exception types) while the Blue Division will be for the traditional AAU squads. Basketball Spotlight will also have mass media in the building in our effort to bring you’re the best coverage. Click Here To Register.

Diary Of A Baller: Marquise Walker (Chicago, IL) Entry #8

Marquise Walker and Father 

Wassup it's Marquise Walker with my weekly. 

On Monday I woke up and got ready for school. It was really fun. It was Red Ribbon Week. So on Monday we got to wear our pajamas. I was really quiet in my classes. My day was really slow and we barely really did anything in class. After school we had practice and I did really well. We went over a lot of defenses. We ran a little bit also it wasn’t hard but it was good enough for a whole practice because we did a lot of live situations. Then we worked on some offensive sets. We are progressing in what we are doing in our offensive sets. Afterwards I went home and took a shower then played some 2k15 then went to sleep. 

The next day I woke up really sleepy because of that workout from yesterday. I got ready and headed to school. Today it was ATHLETES VERSUS NERDS so you had to dress as a nerd or an athlete. Of course I chose the nerd. I am a student athlete not just an athlete so why not be a nerd. Surprisingly it was more nerds than athletes whom I thought was really good for me. We got called into the middle of our school for pictures. After school I went to practice it was really hard-working today. We did some defensive things then some individual skill drills. Then we did some full court workouts and I was scoring very well. Afterwards we did some running again. I went home then ate some food and fell asleep. 

The next day I woke up and got ready and went to school. Today we had all red day, so you would wear how much red as you can. After school I went to practice was really good, we did more offense today than defense. We played a lot of up and down and we did some rebound drills. Then I went home and got on my phone took my shower and fell asleep. 

On Thursday I woke up and went to school it was camouflage day. I didn’t have any camouflage clothes so I just put on some regular clothes. It was fun though. We finished some of our school work and everything. After school I went to practice and we worked on some more offence. We barely worked on defense. We had a lot fun and I threw a lot of good passes. I really enjoyed practice. Then I went home took my shower, ate and played some 2k. Later, I went to the football game which was fun before going home and getting some sleep. 

On Friday I woke up and got ready for school and everyone had on their costume. Some was funny and some were scary while others were just plain crazy or silly. I came to school dressed regular. After school it was no practice so I got a ride back home and I played the game and went with my family to trick or treat. Then afterwards I went home and played some more 2k and fell asleep. 

The next day I woke up and ate some breakfast, did some laundry and fell back asleep after watching my favorite movie ATL. Then I played 2k until 11:00 and then I watched the new Drumline. Then I fell asleep. 

On Sunday I woke up and got some more sleep after eating breakfast. I played a little 2k and then I went to practice. We did a lot of work and a lot of defense and I got my team shoes. When I got home I did my push-ups and sit ups before finishing my diary and falling asleep............zzzz