AAU 7th Grade Nationals Update: Georgia United Wins The Big Prize!

 

Georgia United Wins National Title

Georgia United used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Team IZOD and win the AAU 7th Grade National Championship. The team from Georgia jumped out to a huge lead before Team IZOD rallied back. In the fourth quarter the game went back and forth for a while before Georgia eventually secured the win in the final minute. Congrats to Georgia United for getting the National Championship. Stay tuned as we bring you the top performers from today.

Exclusive Interview Reggie Carter (Team IZOD Coach)

 

DunkDog.com's Spencer Pulliam spoke with Reggie Carter, current head coach of Team IZOD/Sports U, directly following his team's semifinal victory versus the We All Can Go All-Stars of Tennessee at the 2013 Seventh Grade Division I AAU National Championships. The New Jersey-based club is currently composed of prospects from the class of 2018 and will play in the title game on Sunday, June 30, 2013.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Supreme Team Reach National Championship Game!

Team IZOD In National Championship

Team IZOD defeated We All Can Go All Stars 62-53 in the AAU 7th Grade National semifinal game. The Supreme Team had a balanced scoring attack with Tyrek Chambers leading with 15 points, Nazi Reid and Atiba Taylor posted 14 points and Jahvon Quinerly finished with 11 markers. Team IZOD will face Georgia United tomorrow for the championship. Basketball Spotlight will keep you posted.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: NC Runnin Rebels Reach Final Four

NC Runnin Rebels 

The NC Runnin Rebels advanced to the AAU National 7th Grade Final Four in Memphis, Tennessee. The Runnin Rebels defeated San Antonio Hardwork 54-51 to advance to the round of four. Congrats to NC Runnin Rebels for this successful run and we wish them luck the rest of the way.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Top Performers

 

Nazi Reid (Team IZOD)

Basketball Spotlight landed in Memphis yesterday just in time for the action. Today we saw some great action and some top players. Here’s a breakdown of the top performers we saw today. 

 7th Grade AAU Nationals Top Performers 

Nazi Reid Forward (Team IZOD)- Reid really made a national name for himself in Memphis. He dominated today including the Elite 8 game with 15 points, 24 rebounds and 5 blocks. He made his mark blocking shots, rebounding and dunking the basketball. His wingspan is something they marvel at and today he understood that he could dominate. The sky is the limit. 

Atiba Taylor Guard (Team IZOD)- Taylor played big against George Hill in the Sweet 16. He managed the patrol against one of the best defensive teams in America. His poise and ability to create in this grind out game stood out. He looked like a big time prospect in the heat of the battle. 

Luther Muhammad Guard (Team IZOD)- Muhammad once again proved he might be the best defender in the country. He loves stepping up against the best offensive talent on the opposing squad. He’s too big for small guards and too quick for slow forwards. He’s the glue to this process. 

Jalen Brooks Guard (Team IZOD)- Brooks came up big from the perimeter knocking down three treys in the Elite 8 game. He was hot from the corner while stretching the defense with deep bombs. His outside shot opened things up. 

Darius Garland Guard (WACG)- DC Assault can blame Garland for them not making it to the final four because he went berserk during the their Elite 8 matchup. He knocked down treys in abundance especially during the fourth quarter when he scored 90% of their points. He’s a true gamer and loves the love the limelight. 

Shariff Kenny Forward (DC Assault)- Kenny stepped up big for DCA with his outside shot. The trimmed down forward as fluid from behind the arc and showed off his double crossover when driving. He was a spark plug for DCA until they came up short. 

Prentiss Hubb Guard (DC Assault)- The lefty looked good in front of us today. He was able to knockdown a few treys and calm his team down with tough finishes in transition. He has big game experience and showed it even though they lost. 

Courtney Ramey Guard (Team Ramey)- The nice guard exploded for 30 points in their loss to We All Can Go. His team was down by 20 plus at the half and he stroked them backed with a chance to win. The defense knew he was the main option and he still was able to produce big time.

AAU 7th Grade Nationals Update: "Supreme Team" Advance To Final Four

 

Team IZOD aka the Supreme Team advanced to the 7th Grade AAU National Final Four. Team IZOD defeated George Hill in a dog fight 32-30 to get to the Elite 8. During the Elite 8 they raced past Kentucky Spiece Gators 55-32 to gain their entry to the final four. Congrats to the “Supreme Team” for making history. They join Team NJ as 6th Graders, Team Battle as 5th Graders and CJ Hawks Class of 2000 as 6th and 8th Graders. Tomorrow they will tangle with the well known We All Can Go All Stars in the semifinals. Stay tune as we bring you the top performers and more coverage from Memphis.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Day 2 Action Continues

The 7th Grade AAU Nationals is taken place in Memphis, Tennessee. Day 2 had some of the Basketball Spotlight teams still undefeated. Here’s a breakdown of the scores from Memphis. 

7th Grade Nationals Day 2 Update 

Team IZOD 81 West Virginia Wildcats 40 
(TI 2-0 Next Game vs. Motivator @11:40 AM) 

DC Assault 56 King James Shooting Stars 52 
(DCA 2-0 Next Game West Virginia ICE @ 11:40 AM) 

ECE 66 Broward County 56 
(ECE 2-0 Next Game Anadlusia Rush @2:20 PM) 

Rens 80 Memphis Tigers 67
(Rens 2-0 Next Game San Antonio Hardwork @ 3:40 PM) 

Team Takeover 60 Team Felton 54 
(TT 2-0 Next Game Team Texas Celtics@2:20 PM) 

SMAC U 60 Mass Shooting Stars 51 
(MSS 1-1 Next Game Team United 11:40 AM) 

Metro Sixers 78 Team DEMI 50 
(MS 2-0 Next Game ABC Swarm 5:00 PM) (Team DEMI 0-2 Next Game Team Final @ 6:20 PM) 

Team Final 58 ABC Swarm 43 
(Team Final 1-1 Next Game Team DEMI @ 6:20 PM) 

NC Runnin Rebels 64 Georgia Stars Elite 47 
(NCRR 2-0 Next Game Indian Faith 10:20 AM)

Diary Of A Baller: Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin (Hartford, CT) Entry #3

Breeze and Mayweather

Hello world! This week it felt great to have a break from school. We have a few weeks off from AAU as well, so I've just been relaxing. Yesterday I went to Six Flags with a few of boys and a few family members as well. We got on a few rides and enjoyed the famous fried dough (don't worry, I'll work it off at the track this week). It felt good to just relax and enjoy hanging out with my brother and my big homie Breeze aka KeAndre Fair. 

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Spotlight Teams Impressive On Opening Day

The 7th Grade AAU Nationals is taken place in Memphis, Tennessee and a few Basketball Spotlight squads are off to a great start. Here’s a breakdown of what the Spotlight teams did on Day 1. 

7th Grade AAU Nationals Recap Day 1 

Team IZOD 64 MBA Hoops 48 
( TI Next Game Today @ 3:40 PM vs. West Virginia Wildcats) 

DC Assault 66 Atlanta Celtics 32 
(DCA Next Game Today @1:00 PM vs. K J Shooting Stars) 

East Coast Elite (DE) 68 Martin Brothers 40 
(ECE Next Game Today @5:00 PM vs. Broward County Cougars) 

Rens 98 Pearland Bulldogs 75 
(Rens Next Game Today @6:20 PM vs. Memphis Tigers) 

Mass Shooting Stars 60 Atlantic Celtics 37 
(MSS Next Game Today @6:20 PM vs. SMAC U) 

Team Takeover 58 Team Teague 38 
(TT Next Game Today @3:40 PM vs. Team Felton) 

NC Runnin Rebels 53 Arkansas Hawks Select 43 
(NCRR Next Game Today @1:00 PM vs. Georgia Stars Elite) 

Metro Sixers 50 Team Final 40 
(MS Next Game Today @10:20 AM vs. Team DEMI), 
(TF Next Game Today @11:40 AM vs. ABC Swarm)
  

Basketball Spotlight Exclusive: Dwayne Wade Son Getting Busy

 

Zaire Wade is one of the top 5th graders in the country (Class of 2020). He has drawn the eyes of many spectators because he is NBA superstar Dwyane Wade's son. Zaire is a good three point shooter, passes the ball well, and gets to the rim on defenders using his ball handling skills.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Mixtape: Nothing But Fire!

 

The Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four took place last weekend and it was a dandy. Here’s the extended mixtape with nothing but fire. This video contains players from each team in this event. No other tournament in the country provides this type of exposure and coverage. Thanks for the support and we look forward to seeing you guys on the circuit next season. 
 

Inside The Grand Finale 8th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

The 8th Grade Division of the Grand Finale came down to a great finish. Here’s an inside look into the this age group including the All Tournament Team. 

New Heights Peaks At Right Time! 
New Heights 8th Grade team has had the core of their group for years and always seemed to come up short at the Spotlight events. But this season they got everything together and took home the MDC and Grand Finale crown. I have to give this organization and players credit for sticking to their plan and finally reaching their goal. 

What A Year! 
The 8th Grade Division of the Spotlight circuit was very competitive this year. Each tournament produced a different champion (CBC-Tip Off Classic, Playaz- Clash For The Cup, Team IZOD-AC Showcase and New Heights- MDC). We are happy for creating a setting to help these teams get better and prepare for the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fl. 

Grand Finale 8th Grade All Tournament Team 
Keith Williams (New Heights)
Lydell Geffrad (New Heights) 
Chris Coalman (New Heights) 
Jalin Suber (New Heights) 
Jaecee Martin (CBC) 
Chaylynn Martin (CBC) 
Jared Simmons (CBC) 
Mohammad Bamba (Milbank) 
Isaiah Washington (Milbank) 
Marcus McClary (Playaz)

Inside The Grand Finale 7th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 The 7th Grade Division of the Grand Finale went as predicted. It also gave us some exciting moments. Here’s an inside look into this division and All Tournament Team. 

Supreme Team Grabs First Goal! 
Team IZOD aka Supreme Team won the Grand Finale in impressive fashion. The most talked about 7th Grade team in the country now heads to Memphis to chase the AAU National title. Many skeptics thought this squad would breakup by this time of the season now they are trying to make history. One thing is certain is that they are definitely battle tested. 

Grand Finale 7th Grade All Tournament Team 
Nazi Reid (Team IZOD) 
Jahvon Quinerly (Team IZOD) 
Tyrek Chambers (Team IZOD) 
Atiba Taylor (Team IZOD) 
Luther Muhammad (Team IZOD) 
Kevin Kern (Wall 2 Wall) 
Mikey Esquillin (Wall 2 Wall) 
Alex Serrano (Wall 2 Wall) 
Aidan Ellwood (Wall 2 Wall) 
Kevin Ferraro (Team Final) 
Chris Cropper (ECE)

Inside The Grand Finale 6th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

The 6th Grade Division of the Grand Finale lived up to the expectations. Here’s an inside look at this grade level and the All Tournament Team. 

Is Team Nelson The Next Dynasty? 
Basketball Spotlight has had its share of team dynasties in the past and it appears that Team Nelson might be the next in line. The Mid Atlantic squad won the AC Showcase, MDC and repeated as Grand Finale champions. Now they have their sights set on the 6th Grade Nationals in Hampton, VA. A strong finish will be the finishing touch on another successful campaign. 

Metro Flyers On The Rise? 
After watching the Grand Finale 6th Grade Final Four I came to realize that teams need to beware of the Metro Flyers for the next few years. In one short season they have built a serious team but most importantly they seem to have built for the future. They have good size even in the backcourt. They will be a problem for the next few years. 

6th Grade All Tournament Team 
Mikeal Jones (Team Nelson) 
Mark Bradshaw (Team Nelson) 
Namir Tyler (Team Nelson) 
Chris Allen (Team Nelson) 
Donta Scott (Team Nelson) 
Branden Wilson (Metro Flyers) 
Josh Pierre Louis (Metro Flyers) 
Barry Evans Jr. (Metro Flyers) 
Dajuan Piper (Metro Flyers) 
Daniel Rodriquez (Metro Flyers) 
Raejon Figures (Metro Flyers) 
Ahsan Hulland EL (Metro Flyers) 
AJ Hoggard (Team IZOD) 
Marc Bruce (Team IZOD) 
Terrell Martinez (RJS) 
Nate Coovyer (RJS)

Inside The Grand Finale 5th Grade Feat. The All Tournament Team

The 5th Grade Division of the Grand Finale gave us a look into the future. Here’s an inside look into the division and the All Tournament Team. 

Are The Kings Back? 
A few years ago King Street Kings had one of the best grammar school programs in the region. Their 5th Grade squad got the last minute Grand Finale invite after the Gauchos pulled out. KSK took full advantage of the situation by winning the crown. They defeated a tough CJ Hawks squad and an emerging Nations Basketball Academy. Now it will be interesting to see if this group can help return KSK back to the top. 

5th Grade POY? 
The 5th Grade Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Year is a tight race right now. The leading candidates are 4th Grade Zion Harmon of Team Glory, Trey Patterson of NBA, Tomas Bublis of CJ Hawks and DJ Bailey of Gauchos. The winner will be announced at the J.E.M. All Star Classic August 17th. 

Grand Finale All Tournament Team 
Niels Lane (KSK) 
Richard Greaves (KSK) 
William White (KSK) 
Zion Bethea (KSK) 
Elijah Hutchinson Everett (KSK) 
Trey Patterson (NBA) 
Nashawn Holmes (NBA) 
Haj Parland (NBA) 
Jakari Spence (NBA) 
Zion Harmon (Team Glory) 
Noah Harris (CJ Hawks) 
Charlie Gordiner (CJ Hawks) 
Joseph Manfredi (CJ Hawks)

Atiba Taylor Getting Busy At The Grand Finale Final Four!

 

Team IZOD won the Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale crown and Atiba Taylor was a big part of the process. The lanky point guard spent last Sunday showing off his full arsenal of skills. I was overly impressed with his court vision and ability to set up teammates. Check out his work from the Grand Finale and stay tuned because we have more action coming soon.

Spotlight Alum Foreman Says Yes To Rutgers!

 Dwayne Foreman (Class of 2014)

Basketball Spotlight 2014 Alum Dwayne “DJ” Forman has decided to attend Rutgers University. Foreman starred on the Spotlight circuit with the Trenton Hurricanes. Foreman now plays for Boo Williams AAU squad and has made a name on the circuit. Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate DJ Foreman on is college selection and wishes him the best on the next level.

 

Spotlight Alum Garner Picks Happy Valley!

Shep Garner (Class Of 2014)

Basketball Spotlight Class of 2014 Alum Shep Garner has decided to attend Penn State University. Garner starred on the Spotlight circuit with Team Nelson and Youth Interlock. Garner went on to get busy at Roman Catholic and Team Final. Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate Shep Garner and his family on his selection for college. 

 

Wendall Carter Represented ATL To The Fullest!

 

Wendell Carter is a 6'8 eighth grader who is widely considered a Top 5 Player in the class of 2017. Carter has a great touch around the rim and made it look too easy at the 2013 CP3 Rising Stars event in Georgia.

Diary Of A Baller Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin (Hartford, CT) Entry #2

Jaecee At 8th Grade Graduation

Hey there BballSpotlight World! 

This was a very good week for me. The week started with me graduating from Sarah J. Rawson Middle School. This was a big deal to my friends and family because so many people in my circle all attend the same school. Most of us have been going to school together for so long, this was the final step before high school. Me, my brother, Ismail and Vincent have been through it all and I'm glad we all got it together in the classroom and walked across that stage together! It felt great to make my Mom proud! She's been through a lot with me and my brothers and sister so I love to make her smile every chance I get. Our house burned down earlier this year so we have gone through a lot as a family, but we got through that just like we get through everything else. My coach always says we are built different than other kids, I believe him!