Clash For The Cup: 14U Top Performers (Fresh Faces)

Marcus Derekson Showed His Versatility

The 14U Orange Division was loaded with talent and here’s our recap of some of the top performers. Next, we will look at some of the players that made their Spotlight debuts and cashed in.

Clash For The Cup Top Performers (Fresh Faces)

#22 Marcus Derekson Forward (Team Takeover)- Well built forward with improving footwork showed the ability to hit the glass hard on both ends of the floor. While he hasn’t established himself offensively at this point, he did finish through contact on more than one occasion and truly seems to enjoy playing the game from the paint. This kid can also shoot the three ball from anywhere.

Franklin Howard Forward (Team Takeover)- In a class that appears very deep with wing players in the early going, add Howard’s name to the list. Oozing with potential, the wiry and bouncy forward defended and rebounded well from his perimeter position the entire weekend. As he develops his mid-range game and adds strength, we may be hearing a lot more about this young man in the future.

Devearl Ramsey Guard (Cali Style) - Explosive guard with the fastest speed on the team. This is the top 7th grader is one of the best in his class and he has a Dwayne Wade style when attacking. His blow past ability and pull up jumpers from 12-18 feet and impossible to stop and his defense is top tier. You will definitely hear more about this top talent.

Sheldon Croney (#6) - Top tier defender who plays big and is extremely strong on the glass. His numerous well timed offensive rebounds and strong defense is the glue that every team needs. Mr. Blue Collar; hard worker with a decent shooting touch.


Vaughn Jenkins Forward (Team Rebels)- Jenkins slashing style puts tremendous pressure on the defense. His length allows him to pull up before entering shot blocking territory. He has the true making of a legit wing player on the high school level. We will be keeping a close eye on this kid.

Justin Roberts Guard (Team Scan)- Roberts found the hot hand this weekend. He tickled the twine from three point range early and often. He nailed 7 treys combined in their first two outings. His stroke will be crucial to stretch the defense give their point guards room to operate.




Taron Oliver Center (Team Takeover)– One of the biggest bodies on the East Coast in the class of 2015, Oliver should anchor the post for Team Takeover for many years to come. He doesn’t back down to anyone and put plenty of opponents on their backs throughout the weekend who challenged him in the post. He demonstrated above average hands and looks to be developing the ability to pass out of the post.


Walter “Randall” Brody Guard (Team Takeover) – Yet another long and rangy athlete in the Team Takeover stable, Brody played with confidence and showed the aggressiveness on both ends of the floor that his club has been known for. He did knock down some shots, but looked as if he prefers to finish closer to the rim at this point in his development. He’s an improved perimeter jumper away from being a go-to scorer for his squad.

Clash For The Cup: 14U Top Performers (Usual Suspects)

"Marvelous" Marcus Floyd Had Some Good Moments At The Clash

The 14U Orange Division was loaded with talent and here’s our recap of some of the top performers. First we will begin with our Usual Suspects or players that have been performing on this level in the past.

14U Top Performers (Usual Suspects)

Marcus Floyd Guard (Philly Aztecs)- “Marvelous” Marcus was truly that this weekend. In his premiere showdown against Marcus Lovett and Cali Style, Floyd held his ground by dancing his way to the tin and even knocking down 3 long treys. But his most memorable moment of the weekend had to be his 3 pointer at the buzzer to knock off Team Takeover in pool play. The gym went bananas.

Traci Carter Guard (Philly Aztecs)- Carter also had some good moments especially in their quarterfinal matchup with F.A.C.E.S.. Carter destroyed the defensive minded squad for 22 markers. He definitely had his swagger going that game. Carter and Floyd form one of the top backcourts in the region.

Sam Foreman Guard (Team Final)- Foreman was very explosive the entire weekend. He matched the intensity of the Cali Style players in their matchup while pouring in a game high 27 points. In the first half he just got into a scoring zone and wouldn’t let up.

Tavon White (Team Rebels)- White made his presence shown in TR’s victory against The City (16 points) and their loss versus Team Scan (19 points). The physical used his strength and hard drives to make things happen. When he is on his game he’s difficult to contain.

Isaiah Briscoe Guard (Playaz)- His team didn’t advance but the numbers this kid posted this weekend were tremendous. He finished with 26 markers versus Philly Aztecs and 25 points against a tough Team Takeover squad. Isaiah ability to keep the rim keeps him at the charity stripe. 21 of his 51 points came from the foul line.

Nassir Barrino Guard (Playaz)- The pull up jumper was back popping the net. This was evident in his 21 point performance against the Aztecs. His maturity stands out because he never seems to get rattled and his quickness is tough to defend on this level. He and Briscoe have a right to feel they are the best backcourt in the region.

Donovan Mitchell Guard (The City)- On the center court Mitchell used the stage to take apart Team Scan on his way to 28 points and the victory. The lanky guard used his length to score and even tickled the twine from deep with 3 treys. He didn’t leave the building with getting noticed.

Chris Atkinson Guard (Team Scan)- The scouts already know about is speed but against The City Atkinson gave them a look at his ratchet. He nailed 3 big treys in their loss against The City. This kid turns the corner in a blur. He really made a good impression on some important people.

Trey Lowe Guard (F.A.C.E.S.)- Lowe tried his best to keep his team in the mix. He averaged close to 20 points a contest against top notch competition. When his shot is falling and his confidence is high he’s one of the top scorers around. He excels in transition from behind the arc or at the rim.

Temple Gibbs Guard (Team Scan)- Gibbs had a solid weekend while helping TS reach the finals. While he didn’t score much he was able to get inside the defense and dropped off passes to post players. He played with a lot of poise and confidence in this outing.

Samir Taylor Guard (F.A.C.E.S.)- Taylor also got the scoring going for the Newark, NJ crew. The combo guard finished with 22 markers vs. NJ Got Game while averaging in the high teens for the tourney. He understands how to find is offense in Coach Cole’s play calling.

Isaiah Still Guard (NJ Got Game)- NJ Got Game earned some respect by knocking off some good teams and Still was one of the main reasons. He hit F.A.C.E.S. up for 21 markers and made his presence felt on the defensive end. It’s good to see him play with supreme confidence.

Bryant Crawford Guard (Team Takeover)- Crawford has made the transition from the post to the perimeter, and is now being groomed as the next star lead guard from Team Takeover. A capable distributor with plenty of length, Crawford is also a disruptive defender and his talents clearly have earned him the respect of his teammates. With continued progress he’ll have a chance to be one of the top floor generals out of the Mid-Atlantic region in the 2015 class. This kid is just figuring out how much ability he is truly blessed with.

Tonny Blackwell Guard (Team Takeover)- Blackwell has spurted up a couple of inches since we last saw him, but will need another growth spurt to remain at the off-guard position. While he didn’t play with the confidence he had last Memorial Day, he can still score when asked, and is a capable ball-handler that can move to the point when needed. With several impressive perimeter prospects on his current team, Blackwell is still trying to find his role within the rotation, but it is hard to believe we have seen the last of this combo guard.



Stay Tune As We Bring You More Coverage From The 14U Division And The Rest Of The Clash For The Cup.

Next Up: 14U Fresh Faces

Diary Of A Baller: Malachi "Shoota" Richardson (Trenton, NJ) Entry #19

What's Up!

It's Malachi coming at you this week. School - one snow day, no school Friday.

This past weekend Team Final was in the Clash for the Cup Tournament. We never played Team Final ball, so we really just participated in this one. Our first game was against St. Michael's we played okay in that game, it was a blow out win for us, but I just felt we didn't run our sets like we usually do, and our rotations on defense wasn't good; but it was our first game in the tourney so I just felt things would get a lot better the next game.

Our 2nd game was against Cali, it was the game everybody in the gym was waiting to see. The game was scheduled for 5:30, we were hyped up and ready to get it on, one layup and a foul call later the game was stopped and pushed back to 7:30. The roof was leaking, and at both ends of the floor it was really slippery, so we had to wait to use another court. That two hours of down time was not a good thing for us, some of my teammates said they were a little tired; and hungry. I'm not using that as an excuse, because Cali had to wait just like us; when we started warming up again, it just seem like the excitement just wasn't there for our team. It showed in the game too, it just seem like we were a step behind, and we never got into a team rhythm offensively and defensively. To me, it had nothing to do with them; it was more about what we weren't doing as a team. We wind up losing by 7. This was my third time playing against T. Dorsey; I'm 0-3 against him and his teams. Cali was good, but I know we can beat them, no doubt about that.

Our 3rd game was against Team Scan, I'm still to this day mad about that loss. We never got it together after the game against Cali. How we loss the game, I don't know, what happened during the game, I don't remember, who did what, it doesn't matter....three games and out has never happened to me before, and I'm gonna make sure me and my team never, ever, ever let that happen again.

I stayed at the gym after our game, which is a first for me, usually after a loss I'm outta there quick, and I don't like to talk to anyone afterwards. But this time I stayed to watch the rest of the games. A few coaches came up to me and asked how we lost, and then walked away with a little smirk on their face, some players from other teams did the same thing, I'm not gonna forget that smirk when I workout and especially when we play against them (believe that!!). I know I have to stay within the team concept, but for me it's not business as usual anymore, I'm taking it personal. Thanks for the EXTRA motivation!

When I got home Sunday night, I did my stretching exercises, my boy Fresh turned me on to them, what a difference it makes when I get up in the morning. After that I turned my music on and went to bed; I needed my rest, because I was getting up at 5:30am to hit the gym before school. It's been a minute since I did the early morning workouts, but only winning one game in the Clash for the Cup tourney is enough motivation for me.

Check me out next week....
"Malachi"

PS: Shout out to Isaiah Briscoe's Dad and Nassir Barrino's Uncle....lol

Atlantic City Showcase Registration Is Ready

The registration for the Atlantic City Showcase has begun. Join Basketball Spotlight as we invade America’s Playground for a weekend of fun and basketball. Some of the top teams on the East Coast have me inquiries about this event so make sure you register quickly. Click the link below for an application.

Click Here To Register

Event: Atlantic City Showcase
Date: March 19th and 20th
Ages: 10U Thru 14U
Cost: $375 (Per Team)
Deadline: March 3rd (Strictly Enforced)

More Clash For The Cup Coverage Coming Tonight

The coverage for the Basketball Spotlight Clash For The Cup is just beginning. Coming up next we will have other top performers from this event, Inside The Clash For The Cup including All Tournament Teams and Video Highlights provided by Balling365.com. We will again like to thank everyone for supporting our events.

Clash For The Cup 14U Blue Recap: Philly Triple Threat Wins Title

Philly Triple Threat 14U Blue Champs

Akeem King scored 14 points and Sean Lloyd added 11 markers as Philly Triple Threat defeated PA Chargers 48-37 to win the Clash For The Cup 14U Blue title.

Top Performers

Akeem King Guard (PTT)- King found his stroke from behind the arc in the first half. He has real good size for his position and I think he could be one of the next top high school guards coming out of Philly.

Shawn Lloyd Forward (PTT)- Lloyd was just too athletic for the opposition. He runs the floor like a deer and finishes well around the basket. I’m anxious to see Lloyd against some of the other top forwards in the region.

Clash For The Cup 14U Orange Recap: Cali Styles Takes The Crown

Cali Style 14U Champs

Tyler Dorsey scored 20 points (3 treys) and Steve Zimmerman added 16 markers as Cali Style defeated Team Scan/KYDA 56-47 to win the Clash For The Cup 14U Orange Division Championship. Austrian Robinson and Bryce Aiken scored 12 apiece for TS.

Top Performers

Tyler Dorsey Guard (Cali Style)- Dorsey made his Spotlight debut and didn’t disappoint. He gave us all facets of his game including and smooth jumper, decent handle and ability to compete at a high level. This kid has a tremendous motor and willingness to hit the boards. His aggressiveness showed in his point total and amount of trips to the charity stripe. If he grows 2 to 3 more inches he can stay at his natural wing position if not he will have to handle the rock more like a point guard.

Marcus Lovett Guard (Cali Style)- Lovett let the East Coast know that another Brandon Jennings might be on the horizon. This kid was a total blur with the rock. He battled some of the toughest guards in the country and got to the hole whenever he wanted. His extremely long arms allow him to finish over shot blockers and play lock down defense. Mark my words; he will be a big time player.

Steve Zimmerman Forward (Cali Style)- He stands 6’9 and I love his face up game and touch around the basket. He doesn’t play a physical but still will put up numbers similar to Rik Smits. His length caused opponents serious problems all weekend. He’s another sure bet D1 prospect.

Robbie Feinberg Guard (Cali Style)- Feinberg has decent size for his position and ridiculous range. He will let it go deep in the half court set or in transition. He understands his role on the squad and plays it well.

Bryce Aiken Guard (Cali Style)- Aiken turned in an excellent tournament. His play during the semifinals against Team Takeover (16 points and good decisions) propelled them into the finals. He’s one of the smartest players around and continues to have a great season.

Austrian Robinson Forward (Team Scan)- Robinson posted another good showing this weekend. He’s very solid on the blocks including a baby hook in the lane. He’s addicted to rebounding and dominating along the baseline. Austrian has the luxury of playing with some great guards.

Stay Tune For Inside The Clash For The Cup 14U Including All Tournament Team

Clash For The Cup 13U Blue Recap: Albany Dream Team Stands Alone

Albany Dream Team 13U Blue Champs

Dyaire Holt and Jeremy Nixon had huge games as Albany Dream defeated Cenn Penn Ballers 57-36 to win the Clash For The Cup 13U Blue Championship. Montrell Morgan was the leading scorer for Cenn Penn Ballers.

Top Performers

Dyaire Holt Guard (Albany Dream Team)- Holt had to be one of the toughest guards in this event. He scored on CPB every way possible. He had the pull up falling while also absorbing contact when finishing at the tin. I think his kid has the chance to be something special in a few years.

Jeremy Nixon Forward (Albany Dream Team)- Nixon was a slashing forward but will probably end of playing on the guard level in high school. He’s very quick off his feet and plays the game with a high motor. He cleaned the glass like Windex.

Montrell Morgan Guard (CPB)- Morgan didn’t quit until the final buzzer sounded. He went hard at the ADT players with strong dribble drives through the lane. He’s athletic and showed go hang time when he finished at the rim. He does need to remember to play under control.

Kobe Gantz Guard (CPB)- Gantz had a tough game from the perimeter but I was impressed with his ability to get open looks. His smooth handle kept defenders on their heels. I always enjoy watching him rock.

Stay Tune For Inside The Clash For The Cup 13U Including All Tournament Team.

Are You Ready For The Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase? Click Here

Clash For The Cup 13U Orange Recap: F.A.C.E.S. Continues Hot Streak

F.A.C.E.S. 13U Champs

Raymond Montilous scored 13 points and Jagan Mosley added 12 markers as F.A.C.E.S. defeated the Gauchos 52-48 to win the Clash For The Cup 13U Orange title. NyRhique Smith scored 12 points for the Gauchos in the loss.

Top Performers

Ray Montilous Forward (F.A.C.E.S.)- Montilous scored his usual buckets but I was more impressed with his passing. He positioned himself at the middle of the Gauchos zone and dished the rock to cutting teammates. His unselfish play made helped them get over the top.

Jagan Mosley Guard (F.A.C.E.S.)- Mosley continues to improve on the offensive end. In the finals he chipped in by scoring but he also shows some developing point guard skills. He already has decent size so if he continues to progress we might have a good point guard prospect on our hands.

NyRhique Smith Guard (Gauchos)- Smith pushed the Gauchos into the finals by coming up big against CT Elite in the semis. He nailed 8 straight free throws and made some other big plays down the stretch of the game. In the finals he hit a couple of treys and showed some good court vision.

Mustafa Heron Forward (Gauchos)- This kid was terrific for most of the weekend. He made a living banging the boards and getting put backs mostly scoring with his off hand. Then we he was pushed to the perimeter he still was able to contribute by knocking down the trey ball or mid range pull up. Kid has a lot of game.

Sayon Charles Forward (Gauchos)- Charles made the most of his new role on the squad. He ran the floor well and finished off a few plays. He’s definitely a kid that needs to be on the floor playing to get better. He looks good when he plays with confidence.

Stay Tune For Inside The Clash For The Cup 13U Including The All Tournament Team.

Are You Ready For The Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase? Click Here

Clash For The Cup 12U Recap: Cali Style Just Too Much

Cali Style 12U Champs

Davie Singleton scored 16 points and Kody Riley added 11 markers as Cali Style breezed past CBC 58-28 to win the Clash For The Cup 12U Championship. Ismail Charles finished with 11 points for CBC in the loss.

Top Performers

Cody Riley Forward (Cali Style)- If there is a more dominant 6th Grader in America please point me to him. This kid was a monster this weekend. He’s very agile for his young age and a dominant force on both ends. He has a gentle touch and accurate mid range jumper. He also dabbles with handling the ball a little. You definitely haven’t heard the last of this kid.

Davie Singleton Guard (Cali Style)- Singleton can drill the outside shot as he showed in the semifinals against DC Assault (5 Treys). But he really shows his worth when penetrating to the cup and finishing at the rim. I also like the fact the he isn’t afraid to bang inside for rebounds.

Michael Feinberg Guard (Cali Style)- This 5th Grader is a marksman from the perimeter. He’s very confident from behind the arc and is willing to let it fly from very deep. His basketball IQ and passing skills stood out along with his leadership abilities.

Terrence McBride Guard (Cali Style)- McBride takes pride in playing on the defensive end of the floor. He moves his feet well and knows how to play the passing lanes. On offense he’s a slasher that excels in the open floor.

Jermani Brown Forward (Cali Styles)- Brown is a strong role player that helps out on the glass. He’s extremely athletic and plays the game with a high motor. He’s a glue guy for the squad and does the dirty work. Every team needs one player like Brown.

Ethan Thompson Guard (Cali Styles)- Another 5th Grader, Thompson can play either guard spot but also has the size to play forward. He can stroke the pill and can be regarded as a good passer.


Jaecee Martin Guard (CBC)- Martin ran out of steam after posting 20 against plus games against CT Elite and Team IZOD. He continues to show that he’s a difficult match up for anyone of this level. “Mayweather” Martin doesn’t have anything to hang his head about he had a great weekend.

Ismail Charles Forward (CBC)- Charles had a tough time fighting off Riley but he still posted good numbers up to that point. As previously mentioned he’s still a work in progress and his best days are ahead of him.

Stay Tune For Inside The Clash For The Cup 12U Including The All Tournament Team.

Are You Ready For The Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase? Click Here