Mid Atlantic AAU 6th Grade Championship Recap: Team Nelson Victorious!

 

Team Nelson Keeps Rolling

Team Nelson defeated Team IZOD 58-53 to win the Mid Atlantic AAU 6th Grade Regional Championship. Congrats to Team Nelson for winning the title and we look forward to seeing them at the Memorial Day Classic in two weeks.

Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Week: Manny Stokes (Team Final)

 

Manny Stokes (Team Final)

The Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Week goes to Manny Stokes of Team Final 8th Grade. Stokes scored 29 points while leading Team Final to a 76-58 victory over MCB Elite in the Mid Atlantic AAU 8th Grade Championship. Congratulations to Manny and keep working hard because this is just the beginning.

Mid Atlantic 5th Grade AAU Championship Recap: RIP City Runs Through The Competition!

 

RIP City Wins Crown 

RIP City defeated Kingdom Elite 54-11 to win the Middle Atlantic AAU 5th Grade Regional Championship. Congrats to Coach Hicks and the rest of the RIP City for winning the title. Good luck the rest of the season.

NJ AAU Div 2 8th Grade Championship Recap: Team IZOD Takes Title!

 

Supreme Team Adds Hardware 

Tyrek Chambers had 19 points and Luther Muhammad added 13 markers as Team IZOD 7th Grade defeated Nation Basketball Academy 52-48 to win the NJ AAU Div. 2 8th Grade Championship. Congrats to the Supreme Team and good luck the rest of the year.

My Camp Experience: Deondre Bourne (John Lucas IMSC) Entry #3

 

Deondre Bourne And Coach Lucas 

 First off I would like to say "Happy Mother's Day" to all the moms out there. I must say that it was a very interesting morning. We started the camp session around 7am this morning because we had to put in that one hour of practice. It’s crazy how some kids can jump out the gym or they the biggest or the fastest player but don't have any fundamental skills. Thank goodness Coach Munch always stress fundamentals, oh and shout out to all the kids that did the 6 am early bird workout, to sharpen up their skills. 

Mid Atlantic AAU 7th Grade Championship Recap: ECE Grabs Crown!

 

ECE (Mid Atlantic Champs)

Chris Cropper and Jamal Whittlesey scored 20 points apiece as ECE defeated Team Rebels 71-54 to win the Mid Atlantic AAU 7th Grade Regional Championship. Congrats to ECE for winning the championship and we wish them good luck at the AAU Nationals.

Diary of a Baller: Azar “A.Z” Swain, (Boston, MA) Entry #9

 

Azar and Mr. Paluseo

What Up Diary, Today I want to talk about how everyone plays different, and how when you are out on the floor, you have to have confidence in the way you play. People are always compared to other people who play the same position, but that doesn’t matter. No matter what people say, stay confident in yourself. The income is outcome. This means, that whatever you put into achieving your goals is the same thing that you will get in return. If you are a shooter, then shoot. If you are a good rebounder, then rebound. If you are a scorer, then score. If you can pass and can handle the ball, then do it. Be yourself, and play your game. Sometimes we listen to too many people and try to be like everyone else instead of us just wanting to be like ourselves. There are more players than just LeBron James in the NBA and we like a lot of them. I guess I’ll just be one of those other players that people like. Later Diary. 

Video Highlights: John Lucas IMSC Top Plays Day 1

 

The John Lucas International Middle School Combine jumped off yesterday and the highlights are already rolling in check out some of the top talent that is on display in Houston. Check back because we should have more to come from this exclusive event.

My Camp Experience: Deondre Bourne (John Lucas IMSC) Entry #2

 

USA Basketball U16 Coach Don Showalter and Deondre Bourne

Guess who's back!!! It’s me again Bballspotlight, Deondre Bourne and let me start off by saying what a day. I started my day off anxious because I couldn't wait to play ball and get myself evaluated. I really want to see where I stand nationally. 

After breakfast my dad and I hopped in the shuttle van towards St. John School and I couldn't wait. As soon as we got to the gym I got my jersey, changed up and found out who's on my team and went right to work. We did one hour of warm up stations just so they can see where our skill set stood. When the hour was up we all sat in the bleachers then Coach John Lucas came out to introduce his self and some of his staff which consist of former NBA & WNBA players, former NBA coaches, college coaches and over sea players plus. Then Coach Lucas brought out the USA Basketball 16U team head coach Don Showalter. Coach Showalter explained to us that not only were we there to get evaluated and learn new things but we are also there to get a chance to get invited to the USA Basketball 16u tryouts in Colorado. After a little lecture we went straight into drill for about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. We did ball handing drills which I did extremely well on thanks to my trainer Jerry Powell. We did post up drills, defensive drills, we worked on passing, we did yoga we ran track and my favorite drill "shooting" which I hardly missed in. We also did the 1 on 1 drill which everyone in the gym was kind of waiting to see. I did pretty well against Quade Green until the coaches switched us because we played great defense on each other. Midway through the station Coach Lucas had to scream on a bunch kids because they were BADLY out of shape. I'm thankful I wasn't in that out of shape category, my dad makes me jump rope a run everyday. Thanks DAD. 

We had a hour break to relax and eat lunch before our games so I took that time to go walk around and introduce myself to a few scouts. It was funny when I went to go shake hands with Clark Francis from Hoop Scoop he stopped me in my tracks and said "what is your real name because my friends and I call you the kid with braids from Brooklyn" he said the reason was a few websites on the internet spells my name wrong so he didn't know which spelling is the correct way. 

 Now it’s game time and I was ready, sad to say that everyone including some of my teammates swore they were superstars and felt there was no need to pass the ball it was so bad that Mr. Van Coleman from hot 100 hoops had to stop the whole camp to tell everyone to stop playing selfish. The selfishness kind of bothered me a little because I didn't get to the ball besides taking it out of bounds (LOL). When I finally got the ball I came down court and shot a stupid frustrated three pointer which I missed and my coach looked at me like I was crazy. I had to sit down for a second just to get my mind right then I thought about what Mr. Paul Biancardi from ESPN said to us earlier "Don't prove to us Improve to us". That was all it took before I was doing everything... I was double teaming, setting traps, cutting hard to the basket etc etc, basically doing all the little things. I was scoring off the put backs and steals. Since I started grabbing rebounds I was controlling the ball more and I got my teammates involve. The second game was different I was on fire, I was knocking down mid range shots like I was making lay ups, EASY. My team was happier now because we were all scoring. After the game a few parents and coaches told me I was a smooth guard and great shooter they also said they like the way I was passing and how I lead my team. 

Well it’s getting late now and I have to be back at camp at 6:30. God willing I will be back tomorrow with my final day at the John Lucas Camp.

Mid Atlantic AAU 8th Grade Final Four Recap: Final and MCB Survive Thrillers

 

D'Andre Vilmer (Team Final)

The Mid Atlantic AAU 8th Grade Final Four semifinals gave us the best games of the day. Both games were exciting and came down to the wire. Here are the scores and top performers from yesterday. 

Scores: 

Team Final 59 RIP City 56 
MCB Elite 55 SJ Jazz 52 

Top Performers 

D’Andre Vilmer Forward (Team Final)- Team Final was in deep trouble in the second half until Vilmer took over. The slashing forward went on a personal scoring spree that brought his team back from a 16 point deficit. He reached into his bag of tricks and saved the team yesterday. 

Manny Stokes Forward (Team Final)- Stokes has good size for the his position while producing both inside and outside. He’s still a little raw and timid at times but this is his first year playing AAU on this level. His best days are definitely ahead of him. 

Devin Hill Guard (RIP City)- As a former Team Final player Hill came to the game with a chip on his shoulders. He came out in attack mode while hitting runners and pull-ups in the lane. His played helped RIP City storm out to an early big lead. 

Damon Tobler Forward (RIP City)- While Hill did work on the perimeter, Tobler was a monster inside. The lefty exploded for many rebounds and strong put backs. He’s a combo guard size but his leaping ability helped him destroy the inside defenders. He had a great day. 

Mark Webb Guard (MCB Elite)- Webb was likely the top performer of the day as he punished SJ Jazz with 29 points. The Jazz had no answer for Webb’s breakdown ability and craftiness to finish at the rim. This kid never stops attacking the defense and has a scorer’s mentality. He heated up quickly.

Darrien Mackay Guard (SJ Jazz)- Mackay steady play fits great into his coaches system. He plays the game under control and hit the outside shot when left open. I like his poise and production in this heated contest.

Mid Atlantic AAU 7th Grade Final Four Recap: Statements Are Made!

 

Chris Cropper (ECE)

The Mid Atlantic AAU 7th Grade Final Four semifinals had a few surprises and new faces. Here are the scores and top performers from yesterday. 

Scores: 

ECE 52 Team Final 44 
Team Rebels 53 Team Philly Legends 52 

Top Performers 

Chris Cropper Forward (ECE)- Cropper athleticism proved to be too much as they powered past Team Final. He crashed the boards hard, blocked shots and played good interior defense. On offense he raced out in transition while filling the lane. If his skills catch up with his athleticism if could be a good prospect down the road. 

Darius Kinnell Guard (ECE)- Kinnell was a pleasant surprised. He attacked the basket relentlessly and scored after absorbing contact. He made a few crucial plays which helped ECE pull away from Team Final for good. We will be keeping an eye on his progress. 

Cameron Reddish Guard (Team Final)- This kid was probably the best prospect on the building on the grammar school level. His basketball instincts make him throw the extra pass and get teammates involved no matter the score. As he matures he will realize that at times he must enforce his will to win the game. Mark my words Reddish has the goods. 

Cole McCabe Guard (Team Final)- McCabe is a hard nose guard that made some good plays in the semifinal. He hit the midrange pull up and scored deep inside. He has the skills to be a good backcourt mate for Reddish from this point forward.

Za’eem Garrett Guard (Team Rebels)- The Rebels have been known to produced aggressive guards and Garrett is next in line. He charged defenders like a running back and scored after climbing the chest of shotblockers. His strength and tenacity are his biggest assets.

Kiyon Johnson Guard (Team Rebels)-I haven’t seen the lefty in a couple of years but he still has game. He’s a big guard so he was able to see over defenders in terms of passing and shooting. He can play either guard spot effectively. 

Jacob Hunt Guard (Team Rebels)- Hunt used his speed to penetrate and dish. He could also stretch the defense while launching deep shots. His smartness makes up for his lack of size on the floor. 

Adam Henderson Guard (Philly Legends)- The pint size point guard put tremendous pressure on the defense. He squirted down the lane and dropped off some good baggage. One of the quickest guards in the building. 

Tim Powidsk Guard (Philly Legends)- Tim gave Team Rebels the fits with his outside shooting. He knocked down four treys while keeping the game tight. I do think he needs to put the rock on the floor a little more.

Ronin Higgins Forward (Philly Legends)- The versatile forward was a problem from the outside and inside. He has touch from the mid-range and deep. He can also post up inside.

Mid Atlantic AAU 6th Grade Final Four Recap: Nelson and IZOD Cruise!

 

Kasim Tolliver (Team Nelson)

The Mid Atlantic AAU 6th Grade Final Four semifinals went as predicted as Team IZOD and Team Nelson cruised to victories. Here are the scores and top performers that we saw in Chi-Chester, PA. 

Scores: 

Team Nelson 67 Philly Triple Threat 35 
Team IZOD 54 Team Philly 23 

Top Performers 

Kasim Toliver Guard (Team Nelson)- This kid seems to look better every time I see him play. He has an old soul on the basketball court which means he plays like a throwback. He doesn’t care about flash but instead kills the opposition with crisp passes and accurate floaters in the lane. 

Dontae Scott Forward (Team Nelson)- Scott has dropped the baby chubbiness and it has helped his game tremendously. He now runs the floor better and gets up higher off the ground. If he continues in this direction he could help Team Nelson win another Grand Finale crown. 

Chris Allen Guard (Team Nelson)- The smooth shooter plays well alongside Toliver. He also understands the game and will quickly drift to the perimeter even in transition. His stroke stretches the defense. 

Jordan McKoy Guard (Team IZOD)- “The Real” McKoy came out on fire to help put Team Philly away early. He had bruising drives to the basket with soft finishes. When he’s aggressive and successful like this he’s a joy to watch.

AJ Hoggard Guard (Team IZOD)- Hoggard continues to show how you can dominate a game without scoring the ball. In this contest he really enjoyed pushing the pill and dishing the rock to teammates for easy buckets. 

Jalen Gaffney Guard (Team IZOD)- Gaffney got things going on both ends. On defense he pressured the rock which helped cause several turnovers and on offense he scored the rock with easy drives and fast break buckets.

Mid Atlantic Final Four 5th Grade Recap: Youth Is Served!

 

Rahdir Hicks (RIP City)

The Mid Atlantic 5th Grade Final Four semifinals gave us a chance to see some of the upcoming talent on the horizon. Here’s a breakdown of the score and top performers from yesterday. 

Scores 

RIP City 57 ESYC Elite 37 
Kingdom Elite 54 Team Philly Legends 43 

Top Performers 

Rahdir Hicks Guard (RIP City)- Hicks was one of the top producers yesterday. Not only can he play the point guard role be he also can get things going in the scoring column. His confidence and poise lets you know he loves being that floor general on the court.

Malik Edwards Guard (RIP City)- Edwards can play a little point but loves attacking from the wing when scoring opportunities arise. He will knock down the outside or beat the first defender while using the floater. 

Justice Williams Guard (RIP City)- Justice came off the bench and the team didn’t skip a beat. He’s a transition demon and a hawk on pressure defense. He also looks like he will develop into a good point guard down the road. 

Shane Dezonie Guard (ESYC Elite)- The big guard picked up his play which helped his boys get back into the game. His big frame and smooth ball handling makes him tough to handle on the grade level. Keep an eye on him.

Nick Filchner Guard (ESYC Elite)- Nick has a lot of pop in his game and will be even better when he gets stronger. He has a nice jump shot and some slick dribbling moves to get around defenders. 

Julian Thomas Forward (ESYC Elite)- The lefty loves cradling the rock and scoring in traffic. He rebounds hard and is a tough defender in the paint. He will eventually become a perimeter guard. 

Ahmad Fair Guard (Philly Legends)- Fair was the most talented guard I saw on this grade level yesterday. He has a natural feel for the point guard position and has a ratchet that he can pull from very deep. Mark his name down as the next in line as the Philly guard tradition continues.

Travon Camper Forward (Kingdom Elite)- Camper was effective yesterday while helping his team make the comeback and eventually get the victory. The lanky forward finished off plays from rebounds and in transition. He could be something special when he reaches his potential. 

Khylei Neal Guard (Kingdom Elite)- The smallest guard on this level plays with the heart of a lion. He scored with a southpaw floater and made some good passes. He also barked out instructions to his bigger teammates. 

Brandon Perkins Forward (Kingdom Elite)- The strong, compact forward also scored the ball to help Kingdom Elite get the victory. He has good touch around the basket and takes up a lot of space in the paint.

My Camp Experience: Deondre Bourne (John Lucas IMSC) Entry #1

 

Deondre Bourne In The Hotel 

The John Lucas International Middle School Combine is taking place this weekend in Houston, TX. Deondre Bourne of the Black Mambas will be keeping us updated with his experience on the road. Here’s Entry #1. 

What's up spotlight world, what's goin on... For those that don't know me (and for those who do) I would like to reintroduce myself... I am Deondre Bourne from Brooklyn, NY I'm a 6'1 combo guard in the Class of 2017 and I'm coming to you straight from Houston, Texas. I'm out here to represent at the John Lucas International Middle School Combine. I feel truly honored and bless that I received the opportunity to compete with and against all the other top players in this invite only camp. I will try my best to absorb as much as possible in the next two days from Coach Lucas and staff. 

Due to Holy Day which meant the day off in Catholic School my dad and I had breakfast then caught a early flight so we can have some fun in Texas before the combine. But unfortunately the bad weather and flooding caused us to stay in our hotel, so I had something to eat read a little till I fell asleep. When I woke up, grabbed a snack and headed to the mall to checkout some gear and to get dinner. After dinner I headed back to the hotel so I could watch the Heats playoff game. While watching the game and eating in the lobby I chatted with a few friends, players and coaches before I headed back to my room to my practice form shooting. Well its pouring out so I'm about to take a shower, grab something to eat (yes again) and then off to bed. I will make sure to keep you all posted on how it all goes down tomorrow...

Middle Atlantic AAU Final Four: Analysis and Predictions

On Saturday Basketball Spotlight will be heading over to Chi-Chester, PA for the Mid Atlantic Final Four. It should be some great action and good recaps to bring you guys. Here’s a preview and prediction of the champions. 

8th Grade 
Team Final vs. RIP City 2:00 PM 
MCB Elite vs. SJ Jazz 2:00 PM 

Analysis: Team Final enters as the apparent favorite but that might change as three of their big guns are headed to the John Lucas Camp in Houston. This opens the door for MCB Elite if they can get past a well coached SJ Jazz. 

Prediction: MCB Elite defeats Team Final to capture the crown and demands an entry in the Spotlight top 10. 

7th Grade 
East Coast Elite vs. Team Final 12:40 PM 
Team Rebels vs. Team Philly Legends 12:40 PM 

Analysis: The TF vs. ECE matchup will likely produce the regional champion. This is an intriguing match-up because ECE has the experience but Team Final has been peaking at the right time. This one could go down to the wire. 

Prediction: Cameron Reddish has his AAU Regional’s coming out party and Team Final takes home the gold on Mother’s Day. 

6th Grade 
Philly Triple Threat vs. Team Nelson 11:30 AM 
Team IZOD vs. Team Philly 11:30 AM 

Analysis: It looks like another collision course for Team Nelson and Team IZOD as both squads seem too much for their semifinal opponents. This would be a rematch of their classic duel at the AC Showcase. 

Prediction: It will be a heavyweight fight early on but since Team IZOD is under manned I think TN will pull out the victory and win the title. 

5th Grade 
Team Philly vs. Kingdom Elite 10:20 AM 
ESYC Elite vs. RIP City 10:20 AM 

Analysis: These semifinals will give us a chance to see some new talent on the horizon. I’m anxious to see what players will be taking Basketball Spotlight into the future. 

Prediction: RIP City is just too talented and experienced to not bring home this title.

Quade Green Neumann-Goretti Bound!

 

Quade Green  (Philadelphia, PA)

The Team Final pipeline to Neumann Goretti High School continued as Quade Green will be taking his talents to the Philly Catholic League powerhouse. Green has made a name for himself on the Spotlight circuit the last few years even winning Most Outstanding Player as a 7th Grader. He now will follow Team Final guards Jaquan Newton (Class 2014), Lamarr Kimble (2015) and Vaughn Covington (2016) into Neumann next year. 

Green's AAU coach Orlando Hildago feels his point guard is comfortable with this decision. “Well he had a lot of interest from other schools but in talking with his mom we felt that this was the best school for him and would suit his style of play. He also will get a chance to study, battle and learn under older Team Final guards such as Lamarr Fresh Kimble and Jaquan Newton. I think he has a chance to develop and be ready when his time comes.” said Hildago. 

Basketball Spotlight congratulates Quade and his family on their selection of Neumann Goretti and wishes him the best in the future. Stay tuned as Basketball Spotlight brings you more high school selections by the Class of 2017.

 

J.E.M. All Star Classic Selections Coming Soon!

 

4th Annual J.E.M. All Star Classic will take place August 17th at Trenton Catholic. We will begin releasing selections for the Main Event game very soon. This is a difficult process especially this season with so much parity among the players in the Class of 2017. But we will do our best to make sure this event an enjoyable day to celebrate her life and for the youth involved. Stay tuned as we began to announce the teams.

Coaches Corner: Topic #2 Playing Up!

 

Since player rankings have become one of the driving forces in youth basketball one of the main topics that has surfaced is players playing above their grade level. Some basketball purest feel like this is used to make the player better while critics say the player is avoiding the competition on his grade level. Well we reached out to a few coaches and got their opinion. 

Reggie Hatchett (Coach 8th Grade CBC) 
“I disagree with high ranked players always playing up. Parents and coaches use it as a way to disguise weaknesses. By playing up they have a built-in excuse if they don’t perform well. Also they get to add to the allure that they are above their peers, because if he plays and gets touched he can no longer be seen as untouchable.” 

Ty Boswell (Coach 8th Grade Expressions) 
“I’m all for it. You never maximize your full potential if you don’t compete against the best players out there. In terms of rankings if they are playing up and competing well they should get an extra point or two because of that.”

 Kyhree Burton (Asst. Coach Team Final) 
“A player should compete against the best on his own grade level to be considered a top player in their perspective class unless they are making a substantial impact on the higher level. Basically if a kid doesn’t dominate on their own grade level they shouldn’t play up.”

Franz Pierre Louis (Former Coach)
"I truly believe it's difficult to rank a player if he hasn't played against his peers. It's almost like their afraid of disappointment. It's much easier to hide and lay low when you are playing up than it is when playing on your level. When a high ranked player is playing on their grade level it's more pressure because all eyes are on them each possession and then you can see what they really have in their game. I applaud all the young men that can perform on whenever they play."

 Eddie Torres (Coach NJ Pirates) 
“I think it’s unfair in terms of the rankings. How can he be ranked ahead of players he never competes against? The parents and coaches look at it as a win-win situation for the kid playing up because he has nothing to lose.” 

Chuck Rockmore (Coach Wall 2 Wall) 
“It’s all good but at the end of the day, the age/grade doesn’t change. So eventually you have to play against your peers.” 

 Robert Turner (Coach ECE) 
“If this kid is having success playing up why bother playing down or on your level. He can meet his classmates at camps and showcases. Eventually they’ll meet on the circuit down the road and all we be able to see. It worked for Karl Towns.”

AD Gaffney (Coach Team IZOD 6th Grade) 
"I think highly ranked players should play up. That way they will always be challenged. One of the most difficult adjustment periods is going from 8th Grade to 9th Grade. If you are as good as they say you are then prove it against bigger, stronger and faster competition."

Spotlight Feature: Beatty Breaking Out!

 

David Beatty (PYO)

PYO AAU team from Philly has become one of the toughest teams in the region. Much of their success has come from the play of power guard David Beatty. Beatty has starred in several tournaments and drawn comparison to former grammar school greats such as Dion Waiters and Scoop Jardine. Beatty’s coach Byron Whiting AKA Rub like what he sees in David’s game, “He’s very aggressive, understands the game, strong and eager to learn.” 

Even though the Class of 2017 from the Philly area boasts some good players Coach Rub feels David exceeds his peers. “I think when you compare him to other players from Philly, you have to put him ahead because at a young age he already plays above the rim and has a better feel for the game” said Whiting. 

Basketball Spotlight will keep you posted on the David’s progress. You can see David and his PYO teammates at the MDC at the end of May.

Venturi Headed To Lucas International Combine

 

John Venturi (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ)

John Venturi of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ has been invited to attend the John Lucas International Middle School Combine. This invite only camp will take place in Houston, Texas next weekend and will consist of some of the best middle school players in the country. Top NJ players from the past that attended this camp include NyRhique Smith and Tyus Battle. Venturi seems ready for the challenge, “It’s an incredible honor being selected and I’m looking forward to testing my skills against the best” he finished. 

Basketball Spotlight would like to wish John good luck on his voyage to Houston for the Lucas Camp. Go represent NJ well.