CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLERS PROFILE: ALEX MAZELLA (THE IVY)

NAME: ALEX MAZZELLA 

AGE: 11 

HOMETOWN: MAHWAH, NJ 

POSITION: COMBO GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: VICTOR OLADIPO 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: SCORING AND SHOOTING 

BREAKDOWN: WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT ALEX THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SAID? THIS KID IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE TOP 3 PG’S IN HIS AGE GROUP. JUST SO SMART AND HEADY IN HIS PLAY HE SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE 2 IF NOT 3 STEPS AHEAD OF THE KIDS IN HIS AGE GROUP. PLAYING AGAINST A TOUGH RIVERSIDE SQUAD HE WAS FORCED TO COME OF THE POINT TO ASSIST HIS TEAM MORE WITH HIS SHOT MAKING ABILITY AGAINST THEIR ZONE. I WATCHED THIS KID PERFECTLY EXECUTE A PLAY CALLED FOR HIM FROM THE CLIP BOARD TO THE COURT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING OF A HIGH SCHOOL VARSITY PLAYER. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY HES JUST A PLEASURE TO WATCH AND SOME COACHES FUTURE DREAM.

Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Highlights: MVP Nasim Cosby Gets It Going!

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Paul Pintella Memorial Classic MVP Nasim Cosby was hitting on all cylinders in Trenton.

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Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Top Performers Part 2

Mesean Williams (MLK-Asbury Park)

The Paul Pintella Memorial Classic brought together eight middle school teams and was a huge success. Here’s our next look at the top performers. 

Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Top Performers Part 2 

Diary Of A Baller: Elliot Cadeau (West Orange, NJ) Final Entry

Elliot At A Recent Tournament

Hello Basketball world! 

Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Top Performers Part 1

(MVP) Nasim Cosby

The Paul Pintella Memorial Classic brought together eight middle school teams and was a huge success. Here’s our first look at the top performers. 

Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Top Performers Part 1 

Basketball Spotlight Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Championship Recap: Maxson Middle School Takes The Banner!

Maxson Middle School

Maxson Middle School used a second half burst to run past Joyce Kilmer Middle School 57-40 to win the Basketball Spotlight Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Championship. Congratulations to both teams for making it to the finals. Stay tune as Basketball Spotlight bring you more coverage from the Paul Pintella Memorial Classic.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: AMDANE IDRISSOU (NYC FORCE)

NAME: AMDANE IDRISSOU 

HOMETOWN: BRONX, NY BY WAY OF TOGO 

AGE: 11 YRS OLD 

POSITION: FORWARD  

FAVORITE PLAYER: LEBRON JAMES 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: SCORING 

BREAKDOWN: LONG, LEAN, AND MEAN. A FORCE IN THE PAINT JUST BY HIS MEAR PRESENCE ALONE. WHEN I ASKED THIS KID WHAT POSITION DOES HE FAVOR FOR HIS FUTURE HE SAID “CENTER” WHEN I TOLD HIM TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON HIS OVERALL GAME CAUSE HE NEVER WILL KNOW HOW TALL HE MAY END UP. HE LOOKED AT ME CONFIDENTLY AND SAID I WILL GROW TO BE BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THE FUTURE.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: JAHLIL OWUSU (RIVERSIDE HAWKS)

NAME: JAHLIL OWUSU 

HOMETOWN: ENGLEWOOD NJ 

AGE: 10 YRS OLD 

POSITION: SHOOTING GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: KYRIE IRVIN 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR GAME: SHOOTING AND SCORING 

BREAKDOWN: YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THIS KID FROM HIS BALL HANDLING SCENE IN THE NIKE COMMERCIALS WITH KYRIE .... BUT DON’T JUST LIMIT HIM TO WHAT YOU MAY THINK OF THE A TYPICAL NYC POINT GUARD ... THIS KID HAS A VERY COMPLETE GAME. HIS KNACK FOR BIG PLAYS AND UNDERSTANDING OF TIME AND POSSESSIONS PUT HIM HEAD AND SHOULDER ABOVE HIS PEERS AT THIS AGE.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: JUDAH BONTEMPS (RIVERSIDE HAWKS)

NAME: JUDAH BONTEMPS 

HOMETOWN: HEMPSTEAD, NY 

AGE: 10 YRS OLD 

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: KEMBA WALKER 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: SHOOTING AND BALLHANDLING 

BREAKDOWN: RIVERSIDES BOATS SOME OF THE BEST GUARDS IN THE COUNTRY IN THIS AGE DIVISION AND YOUNG JUDAH FALLS RIGHT INTO THIS CATEGORY. WHEN THINGS GOT HECTIC IN A TOUGH GAMES AGAINST YOUNG BUCKS, THEIR COACH IMMEDIATELY GOES TO HIS BALL HANDLING “SECURITY BLANKET” IN JUDAH.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLERS PROFILE: PEYTON HOWELL (RIVERSIDE HAWKS)

NAME: PEYTON HOWELL 

HOMETOWN: BALDWIN, NY 

AGE: 10 YRS OLD 

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: LEBRON JAMES 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR GAME: ATTACKING THE BASKET 

BREAKDOWN: YOUNG MR PEYTON HANDLES THE OFFENSE AND TEMPO LIKE A SEASONED VETERAN. TODAY HIS TEAM STARTED OFF VERY SLUGGISH WITH THE EARLY START, BUT MR PEYTON WAS ALREADY IN HIS “MID-DAY” BAG. PACING THE HAWKS WITH 24 POINTS AND EXCELLENT FLOOR GENERALSHIP.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLERS: DOZIE NWIGWE (MONROE CRUSADERS)

NAME: DOZIE NWIGWE 

HOMETOWN: MONROE, NY 

AGE: 10 YRS OLD 

POSITION: SHOOTING GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: RUSSELL WESTBROOK 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF YOUR GAME: SHOOTING AND SCORING 

BREAKDOWN: ONE IF NOT THE MOST VERSATILE PLAYERS IN HIS DIVISION. DOZIE DOES IT ALL ON BOTH ENDS OF THE COURT. JUST MAY BE THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN THE AGE BRACKET. HE TAKES THE BALL OFF THE DEFENSIVE BACKBOARDS AND IGNITES THE BREAK LIKE A BABY GANNIS. SO IT DOESNT MATTER WHATS NEEDED FROM BIG BLOCKS TO BIG 3’S ... JUST GIVE THE BALL TO DOZIE AND MOVE OUT THE WAY.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLERS PROFILE: NASIR RALLS (FIDONCE)

NAME: NASIR RALLS 

HOMETOWN: PHILLY PA 

AGE: 10 YRS OLD 

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: LEBRON JAMES 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: BALL HANDLING 

BREAKDOWN: ONE HALF OF THAT FIDONCE BACKCOURT THAT APPLIES EXTREME PRESSURE ON DEFENSES WITH THEIR SPEED AND BALL HANDLING ABILITY. BOTH INTERCHANGEABLE AT THE GUARD POSITIONS NASIR HAS THE ABILITY TO SLIDE TO THE TWO WITH HIS RANGE ON HIS SHOT AND HIS OVERALL SHOT MAKING ABILITY.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: DAQUAN BRYANT (YOUNG BUCS)

NAME: DAQUAN BRYANT 

HOMETOWN: QUEENS NYC 

AGE: 11 YRS OLD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: KYRIE IRVING  

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME:  PASSING/ GETTING TEAM INVOLVED 

BREAKDOWN: ONE OF THE PEST PG’S IN THE AGE GROUP ... LIGHTING QUICK WITH THE BALL IN HIS HANDS ... DISPLAYS A LEVEL OF FLOOR GENERALSHIP THAT AHEAD OF HIS AGE. VOCAL AND EXTREMELY ENERGETIC HES THE DRIVER OF THIS FACED PACED CAR KNOWN AS THE YOOUNG BUCKS ..... COMBINED WITH HASSAN CISSIE THE YOUNG BUCK HAVE ONE OF THE BEST BACKCOURTS IN THIS AGE GROUP.

Paul Pintella Memorial Classic Schedule Released!

The Inaugural Paul Pintella Memorial Classic will take place February 23rd and 24th. The event schedule is below. Please make sure you arrive early. 

Event: Paul Pintella Memorial Classic 
Date: February 23rd and 24th. 
Place: Foundation Collegiate Academy 
719 Cass St. Trenton, NJ 08611 
Cost: $3 (Students), $5 (Adults) 

Schedule (Saturday February 23rd) 
12:00 PM Rivera Middle School vs MLK Middle School (Asbury Park)
1:00 PM Joyce Kilmer Middle School vs Lakewood Middle School 
2:00 PM Hedgepeth Williams Middle School vs Maxon Middle School (Plainfield) 
3:00 PM Foundation Academy vs. Trenton Catholic Academy 

(Sunday February 24th) 
1:00 PM WINNER OF GAME 1 VS WINNER OF GAME 2 (SEMIFINALS) 
2:00 PM WINNER OF GAME 3 VS WINNER OF GAME 4 (SEMIFINALS) 
3:00 PM MPO ELITE VERSUS T TOWN BALLERS (5TH GRADE GAME) 
4:00 PM CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLERS PROFILE: HASSAN CISSE (YOUNG BUCS)

NAME: HASSAN CISSE 

HOMETOWN: HARLEM, NYC 

AGE: 11 YRS OLD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: KYRIE IRVING 

POSITION: SHOOTING GUARD 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: SHOOTING, MAKING BIG 

BREAKDOWN: SHOTS EARLY IN THE GAME HASSANS COACH TOLD HIM “SHOOTERS SHOOT” AND TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE MISSES ... THE ALL OF A SUDDEN “HE” SHOWED UP. THAT OTHER PLAYER THAT LIVES INSIDE THIS KID THAT IVE AFFECTIONATELY HAVE DUBBED “THE RIPPER” ... A SERIAL KILLER THAT FEASTS ON LAZY ZONES AND BURIES MAN TO MAN DEFENSES .. UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR BOARDS OF GYMS. WHEN THAT SHOT IS FALLING HE STARTS HUNTING FOR THE BALL. ONCE THIS KID LEARNS TO CHANNEL THAT ENERGY EARLIER IN GAMES ... WATCH OUT

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: HECTOR ALMODOVAR (RIVERSIDE HAWKS)

NAME: HECTOR ALMODOVAR 

AGE: 9 YRS OLD 

HOMETOWN: HARLEM NYC 

FAVORITE PLAYER: KYRIE IRVING  

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: DEFENSE 

BREAKDOWN: I'M NOT GOING TO LIE THIS KID IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES IN THIS AGE DIVISION. ALWAYS PLAYING UP YOU CAN TELL IT HAS SEASONED HIM FOR WHEN HES AMONGST HIS OWN AGE FOR HOW HE JUST UNDERSTANDS HOW TO SET PLAYERS UP WEATHER IT BE ON OFFENSE WITH HIS DRIBBLING AND PLAYMAKING ABILITY OR ON DEFENSE WHERE HES A BULLDOG MUCH IN THE MODE OF KYLE LOWERY WITH TURNING GUYS AND PUTTING HIS BODY ON THEM.

CLASH FOR THE CUP BABY BALLER PROFILE: ISAIAH GORE (T TOWN BALLERS)

NAME: ISAIAH GORE 

HOMETOWN: TRENTON NJ 

AGE: 11 YRS OLD 

FAVORITE PLAYER: RUSSELL WESTBROOK 

POSITION: POINT GUARD 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF MY GAME: PLAYING HARD 

BREAKDOOWN: TRENTON'S TTOWN BALLERS ENGINE LIVES INSIDE THE HEART OF ISAIAH GORE. ON THE BALL OR OFF THE BALL HE PLAYS WITH A PASSION AND ATTITUDE THAT FOSTERS WINNING. HE MAY HAVE THE CORN ROLLS LIKE IVERSON BUT HE ACTUALLY REMINDS ME OF A YOUNG CJ MCCOLLUM.

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 4

Brandon Stores

The Basketball Spotlight Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Division went down to the wire. Here’s a look at Part 4 of our top performers. 

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 4 

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 3

Judah Hildago

The Basketball Spotlight Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Division went down to the wire. Here’s a look at Part 3 of our top performers. 

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 3 

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 2

Tajae Jones

The Basketball Spotlight Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Division went down to the wire. Here’s a look at Part 2 of our top performers. 

Clash For The Cup 6th Grade Top Performers Part 2