The D 1 Spects Converse Elite Tournament kicked off this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. We took a special interest in the 12U Division and decided to breakdown our top performers by position. Here’s a look at the top scoring guards at this event.
Top Scoring Guards
JJ Watson Guard (CB Spiders)- Watson was probably to top pure scorer I saw today. The big guard scores the rock from all three levels with a Carmelo Anthony type smoothness. In transition he glides to the rim and finishes. This was a great pick up for the Spiders and should help them make a run at the AAU Nationals.
Ty’shon Alexander Guard (CB Spiders)- We all know Alexander can score but he really impressed me with his court vision today. The big guard feed the post from different angles and made it his business to dish to teammates. But when his team needed a bucket he definitely filled the void.
Nojel Eastern Guard (AI9)- Nojel played lockdown defense today while moving his feet very well. On offense he’s a physical guard that absorbs contact when penetrating and finishing. He has decent range on his jump shot and should use it more.
Darius Perry Guard (Worldwide)- Perry can score buckets in a hurry. He loves the open floor and pushing the ball down the throat of the defense. I also like his mid-range stop and pop. On defense he’s athletic enough to be a total pest on the ball and in the passing lanes.
DJ Heath Guard (Southeast Elite)- This Alabama product hurt the Spiders early on by getting to the tin. Once he got near the shot blockers he used great body control to protect the ball and score. He finished the game as the high man for Southeast Elite.
The D 1 Spects Converse Elite Tournament kicked off this weekend in Atlanta, Georgia and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. We took a special interest in the 12U Division and decided to breakdown our top performers by position. We will get things started with the point guards.
Top Point Guards
Zach Cooks Guard (Atlanta Knicks)- In a time when point guards love to score Cooks is totally opposite and enjoys feeding his teammates. His drive, draw and dish game stood out today and he seems to always make the intelligent play. In the closing moments of a tight game he called an excellent timeout after diving for a loose ball. Any coach in the country would love this kid.
Collin Sexton Guard (Worldwide)- Speaking of scoring point guards look no further than Sexton. The youngster has the ability to penetrate at will and finish off tough shots. He does need to drop a few passes off to his big guys because it will prevent him from getting caught in the air and turning the pill over.
Jordan Goldwire Guard (Atlanta Knicks)- Like some of what Goldwire showed me early in the contest. He has a low crisp dribble and can breakdown a defender with ease. I also like the way he finishes in traffic. He will be a nice floor general down the road for sure.
Rechon Black Guard (CB Spiders)- Black’s job is to make sure his scorers receive the pill at the right time and in the correct place. Today he did a good job balancing the floor and making things happen. He doesn’t show flash and never seems to get rattled.
Herb Jones Guard (Southeast Elite)- The southpaw also plays with a low profile demeanor. He protects the rock well and knows how to stay away from traps. He showed some promise in the loss to the CB Spiders.
Breakdown: Robinson is a mad bomber with incredible range. He recently led his team to the 14U Div. 1 Super Regional Championship in Hampton, Virginia and a final four finish at the Nike Easter Invitational. This kid shoots the trey ball at a very high percentage and should be an asset for Bishop O'connell High School in Arlington, Virginia next fall.
The fans have spoken and crowned Marcus Floyd as the best point guard in America. The Philly Aztecs guard led all vote getters with 468 votes. Allonzo Trier was next with 199 votes, followed by Justin Jenifer with 138 votes and Marcus Lovett with 116. Remember we just used the poll to get the fans involved and we believe that all four participants will have bright futures.
Team Final has put together one of the top programs in the country. Their youngest group (11U) is led by point guard El Khana Hildago. Hildago has always played up in age and is enjoying is first year of playing with his age group. The active floor general has been on the circuit for a while and now you can get to know a little about him.
El Khana Favorites
Favorite Subject: History
Favorite College: Duke
Favorite Sneaker: Nike Hyperfuse
Favorite Rapper: Drake
Favorite Current NBA Player: Carmelo Anthony
Favorite All-time NBA Player:Michael Jordan
Favorite Website: Basketball Spotlight (I can’t stay off this site)
Breakdown: Batts has the ability to drain the deep ball, midrange and finish at the tin. He really enjoys breaking down defenders with an array of moves and quick dribble drives. We got a chance to check Lavar out last season during the CB Spiders Classic and we were very impressed. We look forward in watching him this summer at the CB Spiders Classic once again and the 12U Nationals.
Breakdown: This dynamic duo combined for 50 points to lead New Heights to a 68-57 win over the CJ Hornets to capture the MDC 2008 14U title. Both players had dominant seasons and helped New Heights finish as one of the top teams in the region. Stay tune for more Mr. Memorial Day faces from the past.
Since 2007 the Mr. Memorial Award has always been given to the MVP of the MDC. This year’s version of the Memorial Day Classic is stacked with players who would no doubt love to add this trophy to their collection. Will your name be added to this prestigious list? We will see at the end of May.
As a basketball scout it’s always a treat to watch an exciting guard. At that point you almost turn into a fan. That’s how I felt when I saw Tremont Waters for the first time in Springfield, Mass. This youngster’s ball handling and flair make’s him definitely worth the price of admission. We got a chance to chat with the youngster and here’s our One on One.
One On One
BS: What are your goals for this season? TW: My goals for this season are to keep winning championships and to keep improving at the game of basketball.
BS: How do you expect to represent CT? TW: I would represent CT by playing hard, have good sportsmanship, and try to show that good players could come from CT.
BS: Who's your favorite player & why? TW: LeBron James is my favorite player, because he has a killer instinct and is establishing himself as a clutch finisher.
BS: What is the strongest part of your game? TW: My open court awareness and to make players around me better.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? TW: My off the dribble pull up midrange and I have to work on being more aggressive.
BS: What's your dream college? TW: Duke
BS: What is your biggest moment at a basketball spotlight event? TW: I had 30 points in a game.
BS: Who's the toughest player you ever faced? TW: Nyrhique Smith (Gauchos)
BS: This will be your first year playing in the basketball Spotlight Super Showcase, what do you expect from this event? TW: To establish myself as the # 1 13 year old in 2011 and also to go against good competition and do well.
BS: Who would you love to have dinner with? TW: LeBron James
Monday was a good day for me. I went to school and was informed I received good grades on my test I took the previous week. After school I played basketball at my friend’s house, worked out, knocked off my homework, watched the game and fell asleep. Tuesday, was pretty much the same routine but that evening I went shopping with my mom for some new sneakers.
Wednesday, I had a great day in school. Later I went to the workout with the Playaz. I was totally exhausted when I got home so I just completed my homework, did my laundry, watched the game and took it down for the night. Thursday and Friday were both laid back days. I was just looking forward to playing in the tournament that weekend.
Saturday, we took the trip down to Maryland at 7 in the morning. Our first which was scheduled for 2 o clock was cancelled because Team Melo didn’t show up. We went to watch our 16u team play against the Ruff Riders. The game was hot but we pulled away at the end. We made our way back to the gym where we played Dream Team and we beat them by 26. It was a good game until the end of the second quarter. I had 27 points.
Sunday, morning our first game was against Maryland Finest. We came out aggressive and wasting no time blowing them out. We ended up beating them by 14 and I finished with 17 points. Our next game we were scheduled to play Team Takeover in the semifinals but we forfeited because we had to leave early. Congrats to Team Takeover as they beat Philly Aztecs in the championship.
They say it’s always good to make a first impression. Cameron Norman made sure I was impressed when I saw the youngster handling the pill at the Atlantic City Showcase. His skill set and mature demeanor on the floor placed him on the All Tournament Team. We got a chance to hear from the 6th Man Warriors guard and here’s our One on One.
One On One
BS: What are your goals for the season? CN: My goals for the season are to win a National Title and to become the number 1 player in the class of 2017.
BS: You played in your first Spotlight tournament in Atlantic City, how was the experience? CN: The experience was great. I got to play against the top players and worked on my game while playing against them.
BS: Who’s your favorite player and why? CN: Austin Rivers is my favorite player because we play the same style of basketball.
BS: What is the strongest part of your game? CN: The strongest part of my game includes pulling up off the dribble, finishing at the rim, and passing/getting the ball to my teammates.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? CN: I need to work harder on transition defense.
BS: What’s your dream college? CN: My dream college is University of North Carolina in my dad’s home state.
BS: What’s your biggest moment at a Basketball Spotlight event? CN:I was very excited about arriving in the World’s Famous Atlantic City to play basketball and tour the boardwalk.
BS: Who’s the toughest player you ever faced? CN: Ty Lawson with the Denver Nuggets. I actually had a chance to play him one on one at his Point Guard Basketball Camp last summer.
BS: This will be your first year playing in the Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase, what do you expect from this event? CN: I am coming ready and expect to play the top ballers in the country and get better from the experience.
BS: Who would you love to have dinner with? CN: I would love to have dinner with the President of the United States. The one and only Barack Obama.
Matthew Johnson of Life Center Academy was recently diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that kills dozens of young athletes each year. . Johnson was a star for the Playaz Basketball Club during his Basketball Spotlight years including winning POY honors as a 7th Grader. Matthew is no longer allowed to play competitive basketball games but has decided to give back to the game he loves in a different way. Stay strong Matt and Basketball Spotlight loves you. Read The Story
Jalen Brooks has been putting together a fantastic season. The young two sport star (football) recently helped his team win the NJ 11U State Crown. Basketball Spotlight took some time to get to know this youngster. Check out his Baby Baller profile.
Jalen Favorites
Favorite School Subject: Math
Favorite College: Duke
Favorite Sneaker: Nike Air Max Fly aka Blake Griffins
Favorite Rapper: Jay-Z
Favorite Current NBA Player: Kobe Bryant
Favorite All-time NBA Player: Michael Jordan
Favorite Website: Eastbay.com
Favorite TV Show: (tie) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Everybody Hates Chris
Breakdown: Sanders is a smooth shooting guard with nice size and scoring ability. He demonstrated some serious skills during the AGame Super Shootout and the AC Showcase. His play earned him an invite to the Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase.
Tyus Battle scored 21 points, Darius Gillon and Darius Roundtree had 15 points apiece and Sa’eed Nelson added 14 markers as #4 Team Final defeated Hoop Dreamz 66-51 to win the NJ 14U Division 2 AAU Championship. Congrats to Team Final Coaches and players.
Team Final Roster Jeremy Gaskins Daniel Mitchell Christian Pellerin Sa'eed Nelson Dylan Yerkes Darius Roundtree Brandt Roundtree Tyus A Battle Khalif Battle Darius Gillon Cobi Silverstein
The Big Apple has been known for having top point guards for ages. Every youngster that handles the rock wants to be the next Kenny Anderson or Stephon Marbury. The next floor general with these aspirations is Tyler Bourne of Juice All Stars. We hollered at the young Brooklyn baller and here’s our One on One.
One On One
BS: What are your goals for the season? TB:My goals for this season are to win a national title and become player of the year.
BS: How does it feel being one of the next good point guards from NYC? TB: It’s a small achievement for me that I’m grateful for but I want to be known as the best PG in NYC so I must work even harder everyday until then.
BS: Who’s your favorite player and why? TB:Dwayne wade because I like his explosiveness every time he touches the floor and his willingness to take over a game at any given moment.
BS: What is the strongest part of your game? TB:I would have to say my basketball IQ for my age and the ability to take over a game at crunch time.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? TB: I need improvement in everything because nobody was born perfect and I realized that in this game one needs the best of both worlds; Education, determination and skills. Booksb4ball is how I see it.
BS: What’s your dream college? TB: UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY because I like the way the coach runs his system.
BS: What’s your biggest moment at a Basketball Spotlight event? TB: In the Grand Finale tournament when the Juice all stars was down by 20 pts coming into the 3rd quarter against the Maryland Panthers and me as a PG started taking over the game bringing us to a victory by 1 pt.
BS: Who’s the toughest player you ever faced? TB: Well for the times that I played up a grade it will have to be Rakym Felder and Tyus Battle and for my grade I will have to say Andre Boykin.
BS: This will be your first year playing in the Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase, what do you expect from this event? TB: I expect to have fun, enjoy the competition, and play the best to become the best.
BS: Who would you love to have dinner with? TB: Michael Jordan because he is the best player to ever have stepped foot on a court.
#2 Team Scan defeated #3 The City 44-33 to win the King Of New York Championship. Newcomer Devonte Green took home MVP of the championship game while Chris Atkinson snatched MVP of the entire tournament. Eric Paschall of The City left with the Sportsmanship Award. Congrats to Coach Oz and the Scan Boys. See you at the MDC.
#2 We Run went 5-0 in the NJ 11U state tournament, winning each game by at least 15. We Run defeated King Street Kings 51-36 in the championship game. Jalen Brooks scored 20pts, Shelton Applewhite scored 16pts and Justin Rodriquez chipped in 8 markers for the winners. Congrats To We Run Coaches and Players. See you at the MDC.
We Run Roster Jalen Brooks Shelton Applewhite Justin Rodriguez Kenny Jones Dorian Hardy Yasin Pretlow Ibn Williams Anas Amos George Visconti Luther Muhammad
The 14U NJ AAU State Tournament held their final four today and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. Here’s a look at some of the top performers that got busy.
Top Performers Part 2
Justin Salem Guard (KSK)- Salem started the game off scorching the defense with deep bombs when the ball rotated towards him. After he went through a little cold spell he heated back up in the final quarter. Justin made two tough pull ups while getting foul on one. I also like the way he’s beginning to handle the rock and make point guard decisions.
Samir Taylor Guard (F.A.C.E.S.)- Taylor spent the afternoon driving the lane and finishing off acrobatic shots. He’s good at finding a way of getting his shot off over long shot blockers. He also did a decent job of helping out on the offensive glass and getting put backs. His scoop shot layup is one of his best weapons.
Mike Jolaoso Guard (F.A.C.E.S.)- Jolaoso came out on fire in their heated battle against KSK. He put pressure on the defense with his penetrating style and hit open teammates on the perimeter. He’s a heady point guard that understands his boundaries.
Ahmad Harrison Forward (F.A.C.E.S.)- Harrison played well against his former squad. He attacked the glass for rebounds and showed an improved mid range jump shot. Ahmad is an impact player when he’s playing under control.
Kelly Hogan Forward (KSK)- The lanky forward has polished moves down low. He punished the smaller F.A.C.E.S. front line when Walker Wilson got into foul trouble. He has soft hands and a feathery touch around the cup.
Joshua Wallace Forward (KSK)- Wallace has trimmed his frame and transformed his game a legit wing player. He flourished in transition and slashed through the lane for some tough finishes. Now once he works on creating his own play off the bounce he game will go to the next level.
Mike Rucie Guard (KSK)- Rucie game also has improved. He shook off a shaky start and used his size and ball handling to get past the F.A.C.E.S. guards. The crafty guard used his spin move and hesitation dribble to keep the defense at bay. He also hit a few big jump shots and floaters in the lane that helped them get the win.
The 14U NJ AAU State Tournament held their final four today and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. Here’s a look at some of the top performers that got busy.
Top Performers Part 1
Juwan Dolbrice Guard (Linden Ballers)- Dolbrice showed an attacking style similar to Brandon Knight. He cut through the defense and pulled up for short jumpers and dished the rock to cutting teammates. His strong build allows him to finish off big plays in traffic.
James Corbett Guard (Linden Ballers)- Corbett played well alongside Dolbrice. He sliced through the lane and scored over shot blockers. On defense he played the passing lanes very well while snatching a few interceptions. He’s also willing to help out on the glass.
Kyle Phipps Guard (Linden Ballers)- Phipps was a beast on the defensive end. He pressured the Pirate guards into submission. On offense his drive, draw and dish game was on full display. He gets a kick out of making teammates better.
Joshua Carter Forward (Linden Ballers)- Carter finished well in transition and displayed a good face up game. He has touch from the free throw area extended. He hits the glass hard and can guard all positions on the floor.
Keyshawn Alexander Guard (NJ Pirates)- Alexander was a bright spot for the Pirates. The compact guard gets to the tin at will and has the natural knack to score the pill. He led all scorers with 24 points.
Jaquan Robertson Forward (NJ Pirates)- Robertson is an athletic forward that plays with a lot of energy. He battled hard inside by blocking shots and eating rebounds. He will have to develop his ball handling skills to have a good impact on the high school level.
We are coming close to the end of the road for our 14U group. As we get closer to Summer Slam I expect things to heat up quickly. Here’s a look at who we feel are the Top 10 teams in the region. These rankings are just our opinion and should be taken as such.
Basketball Spotlight 14U Top 10 Presented By AGame Apparel
1. Team Final: TF returned to the 14U Division by making it to the finals of the Nike Easter Classic. We won’t see them again until Summer Slam and with 7 points they have a chance to be at least the 4th seed.
2. Team Scan: TS has an important showdown with The City for the Metropolitan crown. They are one of the favorites to win the MDC and are a shoe in for Summer Slam. They have an impressive resume.
3. The City: The City have found their groove by recently winning the Providence Jam Fest and will be looking to take home the Metropolitan AAU crown when they face off with Team Scan.
4. Expressions: The X faced off with The City in the Jam Fest finals. They have a chance off squeezing into Summer Slam with a good showing at the MDC.
5. Playaz: The Playaz have tucked away some hardware lately. They recently won the Pittsburgh Jam Fest and Nike Easter Classic. They have the hottest player in the region in Isaiah Briscoe.
6. Philly Aztecs: The Tecs made it to the semifinals of the Nike Easter Classic. Now they are concentrating on making another deep run at the AAU Nationals.
7. Team Rebels: TR had an outside shot of making it to Summer Slam but decided to rest on Memorial Day Weekend. Next weekend they have a chance to win the Mid Atlantic Regional Championship.
8. F.A.C.E.S.: The Boys in Black are in the Final Four of the NJ State Championships. Their early success and being active have them in line for a Summer Slam appearance.
9. NJ Got Game: NJGG had a big win against rival F.A.C.E.S. but then got tripped up against the NJ Pirates and hired gun Isaiah Briscoe. We expect them to bounce back with a strong showing at the MDC.
10. Albany Dream Team: ADT has a tough team and should scare a few opponents at the MDC. Big Marcus Jackson will be in the middle clogging up the lane.
For the first time ever the 13U rankings had no movement. Here’s a look at who we feel are the Top 10 teams in the region. These rankings are just our opinion and should be taken as such.
Basketball Spotlight 13U Top 10 Presented By AGame Apparel
1. DC Assault: Assault won the PV Regional Crown and probably will finish as the top rated team in our poll. But this year the Grand Champion will be crowned on the floor at Summer Slam. Unfortunately, they won’t have enough points to qualify.
2. NYC Gauchos: The Choz have a Metropolitan Championship date with New Heights on Memorial Day. But before that they will make an appearance at the MDC and rack up more points for Summer Slam.
3. F.A.C.E.S.: The Killer Bees won the 13U NJ State crown and currently lead the Division in Summer Slam points. This might be the year Coach Cole and his group has the last laugh. They are a lock for Summer Slam.
4. Team Final: TF had a personnel issue but have regrouped and are now playing in the NJ State tourney. They will be definitely focused on defending their MDC crown at the end of May.
5. Force One: FO finished second to #1 DC Assault in their regional championship. They have a strong bunch and we look forward to checking some of their players out at the Super Showcase in August.
6. Team Scan: TS has a chance at Summer Slam and could play the spoiler for other teams. They will be on a mission once they touch down in Neptune for the MDC. It’s on baby!
7. New Heights: NH has opted to head to Albany for Memorial Day Weekend for a tune up before their showdown against Gauchos. We haven’t seen this group in a while but hopefully we will catch a few of their studs at the showcase.
8. CT Elite: The Connecticut boys have to make a deep run if they have any Summer Slam aspirations. Thomas Automatic Jackson will be suiting up for the MDC so things could get interesting.
9. Philly Triple Threat: PTT cause a lot of rumblings this season and we look forward to watching a few of their players at the Super Showcase. They have tremendous guard play.
10. MABC: MABC has one more chance to get it right and the MDC will be their stage. Last year they made it to the Final Four and we are looking for a repeat performance.
The 12U Division has been very exciting this season. This group might truly go down to the wire at Summer Slam. Here’s a look at our Regional Top 10. Please remember that these rankings are just our opinion and should be taken as such.
Basketball Spotlight 12U Top 10 Presented By AGame Team Apparel
1. Team IZOD: TI took home the NJ State crown. They are in position to take home everything at the end of July. They might have to run into their vicious rivals by the name of CBC a few more times.
2. CBC: CBC fell short to the Juice All Stars in their state finals. This powerful group will be making the trip to the MDC and is a lock for Summer Slam. Could that be the first time they raise the banner?
3. Juice All Stars: Juice has positioned themselves among the elite by having a solid season. Now as we get closer to the Summer Slam they just need a good showing at the MDC to make it to Hoop Group Headquarters in July.
4. DC Assault: DC Assault is knocking on the door of making it to Summer Slam. They are currently in 4th place for points and would close the deal with a decent showing at the MDC.
5. Maryland Panthers: A PV regional championship has this group right back in the thick of things. We won’t see them during the MDC so they won’t have a chance of raising the ultimate banner at Summer Slam.
6. Playtime Panthers: The Panthers pushed Team IZOD to the limit at the NJ 12U AAU Championship. I had them as my surprise team but I guess the cat is out the bag. Hopefully they will be ready for the heat called the MDC.
7. CT Elite: CT Elite has been right there but unable to leap over the broom to victory. They have an outside shot of being that 4th team invited to Summer Slam. They need a repeat performance of last season’s MDC run.
8. Team Nelson: This Mid Atlantic group has shown some progress and probably will be the favorite to win their regional AAU crown.
9. 6th Man Warriors: The PV group will be making the trip up to the MDC. They have excellent guard play and have a chance to knock off anyone.
10. Team Final: TF took some lumps in AC but they might have a chance to rebound before the season is over.
The 11U Division has a new #1 team and a squads moving up. This has been a very interesting year for this age group and should only get better. These rankings are just our opinion and should be taken as such.
Basketball Spotlight 11U Top 10 Presented By AGame Team Apparel
1. Riverside Hawks: RH took over the top spot after winning the Inaugural Baby Baller Bonanza and knocking off then #1 We Run in the semifinals. A deep run in the MDC might give them a #1 seed entering Summer Slam.
2. We Run: They fell short of capturing their first banner at the Baby Baller Bonanza. They have been in some wars with Riverside all season and might meet them again at the MDC or Summer Slam.
3. Maryland Spartans: MS has surfaced out of nowhere and if they perform very well at the MDC they can sneak into Summer Slam. They always seem to have good showings at the Spotlight.
4. Gauchos: The Choz have said they will be at the MDC and ready for some work. They still have a good chance of winning the Grand Champion trophy at Summer Slam. It will be interesting to see them in the fire again.
5. Long Island Lightning: LIL knocked off #1 Riverside to advance to the Metropolitan AAU Championship. They have put together and strong run this season.
6. T Town Ballers: T Town Ballers made it to the finals of the Baby Baller Bonanza and seem to keep climbing the ranking ladder. Can this hungry squad crash the Summer Slam party? We won’t know unless they make a deep run at the MDC.
7. Delaware Royalty: DR had AAU regionals during the Baby Baller Bonanza but they are still in Summer Slam range. A semifinal run might secure their spot. But this field is extremely deep.
8. Natural Ballers: NB had a tough time at the Baby Baller Bonanza but their early success has them in a position to reach Summer Slam. They must make some noise at the end of May to make it to the free Grand Champion event.
9. DC Assault: Assault has some new faces so it’s hard to place them in the correct spot. If we get a chance to watch them again they might have a great chance of moving up.
10. New Heights: NH is bringing up the rear and it would take a championship run at the MDC for them to reach Summer Slam. I like this bunch and think they can beat anyone at any time.
Darius Gillon and Tyus Battle scored 17 points apiece as Team Battle defeated DC Assault 52-34 to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC crown. Anthony Mr. Cowan finished with 21 points for DC Assault in the loss. This year’s MDC is loading top to bottom and should be another treat. Don’t miss out on catching the top teams in action.
Basketball Spotlight will be hitting the road hard and one of our stops will be the Converse Elite Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia May 13th thru 15th . This is our first stop to the Peach State and we are anxious to bring you exclusive coverage of this event.
This past week has been full of ups and downs, unfortunately more downs than ups. It’s a tough diary to write. There were disappoints for our team and personal loss as well.
We started the week with practice in preparation for our first state game against F.A.C.E.S. We practiced real sluggish and made a lot of mistakes on Tuesday. Coach Pete wasn’t having it so he left. On Wednesday we came back with a much better attitude and we focused a lot more. We have a new addition to the Got G.A.M.E family, Jamir Harris, so we ran over all our sets numerous times trying to get him up to speed. It’s great to have him on the team because he’s aggressive and he brings a lot of energy. On Thursday we just took it slow and ran over all our sets to make sure we had them down pat before the game. My great grandmother didn’t understand this and kept yelling at us to go faster and work harder lol.
Friday was finally here. My Grandfather got into town and he and my dad picked me up after school. We got some shots up then went to the barber shop to get my hair cut. The whole family was excited for the game. We loaded up in the car and headed out. We didn’t get very far though. My great grandmother had a heart attack and passed away. It was real sad because she loved to watch me play and even got mad at my mom if she didn’t take her to my games. We will all miss and remember her forever. Before the game it was hard for me to concentrate, but I had to do my best for the team. We came out hard, but we weren’t really doing that well on the boards and boxing out. We were up basically the whole game but they made a late run. We held them off to secure the victory. It felt good to beat them because it’s always a battle. I couldn’t really enjoy winning though.
The other team in our pool withdrew so on Saturday I just chilled with my family after a light practice. My brother Marcellus had a baseball game and JR Lynch and Coach Luis from St. Michael’s came to support him. It’s always cool to chill with them.
Sunday we played the Pirates. We started off just okay. We didn’t do a good job on the boards and boxing out. We weren’t hitting many shots. We were up two at half time though. We came out of halftime and they went on a run. We couldn’t score inside, we couldn’t score outside, and they were getting easy looks. We made some stupid decisions with the ball and it cost us. We ended up losing by 21, and we didn’t make it out of pool play due to points. It didn’t seem real. The only thing we can do is keep working, I know I am.
I want to give a shout out to Owen, who is injured and can’t play, and Kyle, who hasn’t been able to play as much as he wants due to illness. Also, good luck to everyone taking the NJASK!
Connecticut Basketball Club is currently in the 12U race for Summer Slam and a lot of their success has to do with their engine; Jaecee “Mayweather” Martin. Martin is regarded as the top point guard in the region for this class and earned the title through his play. We hollered at the floor general and here’s our One on One.
One on One
BS: What are your goals for the season? JC: Well, my AAU team has been doing a great job of putting CT on the map as far as on a National Level (with Andre Drummond and Kris Dunn). So I want to follow in those footsteps by making a run at a National Title in our age division, and by winning the Player of the Year from Basketball Spotlight.
BS: What do you think about your Mayweather nickname? JC: I like it because a lot of people visit your site, so now when I walk in a tournament, even when we are out of state, I hear people saying my name “There goes Mayweather Martin” lol!
BS: Who’s your favorite player and why? Chris Paul and Derrick Rose are my favorite NBA players. People tell me I play like D—Rose. But my coach makes me watch Ty Lawson and Kemba Walker because he says they will teach me how to play in the NBA without being over 6’0”! If I don’t get to be that tall, I need to know how to play at that level without being a big guard.
BS: What is the strongest part of your game? JC: Attacking the defense with my scoring ability and most of all, my court vision. I take pride in being one of the best passers in the 6th grade in the country…I think.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? JC: EVERYTHING!!! Over the past year I have worked a lot of my jump shot a lot, but my coach says I shoot set shots. I need to work on pulling up off the dribble. Because nobody plays me close, it’s hard to not get used to shooting set shots.
BS: What’s your dream college? JC: I would love to go to UCONN because I’m from Connecticut. Coach Calhoun puts his players in the NBA. But my coach also talks to me about Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He says to us all the time that if a player who was ranked nationally, decided to skip over the usual powerhouse school and went to a Black College, it would make a difference. I think I might be the first to try it.
BS: What’s your biggest moment at a Basketball Spotlight event? JC: Coming back from down double digits to win by double digits versus Team IZOD in Atlantic City.
BS: Who’s the toughest player you ever faced? JC: Because I played up for two years, I have played against some really good players like Tyus Battle, Juwan Gooding and Devon Liggeons. But in my class, Sa’eed Nelson, Nate Pierre-Louis and Kody Riley.
BS: This will be your second year playing in the Super Showcase, how was your experience? JC: It was a great experience. I played up so it was great to play with Alani Moore, he’s the best guard I’ve ever played with. But this year I look forward to establishing my own name in the Class of 2017. Hopefully I get a chance to play with some of these great players instead of playing against them all the time.
BS: Who would you love to have dinner with? JC: LeBron James. I would like to talk to him about how hard it is to be hated and criticized for everything, but still be the best player in the world. I want to be like that!
A lot of things are going on around the AAU world right now. So we decided to hit a couple of our sources and bring you another “Word On The Street”. Remember most of this information is not concrete as of yet but mostly from the rumor mill.
My Personal Apology!
First of all I would like to apologize to the South Carolina Ravens for jumping the gun and calling the CB Spiders the National Champs. It was my understanding that the players had switched teams so I just went with the flow. But according to Spiders coach Kevin Graves the team only has two players that played with the Ravens during their title run. In fact the Ravens made an appearance at the Nike Easter Invitational with Keenan Black and Seventh Woods. So until someone cuts down the nets in Memphis I will refer to the SC Ravens as the National Champions.
Too Much Ringing!
It has come to my attention that too many teams are using illegal players during AAU games including Basketball Spotlight events. We always promote fair play and competition. Therefore, we will do everything in our power to find out the teams that are guilty of these accusations. From this day forward any team caught ringing at a Basketball Spotlight event will be put on a list on the website so everyone can read about their horrible deed. They also will lose Summer Slam points gained from any event that the ineligible player participated in.
Green Surfaces At Scan
A reliable source as confirmed that Devonte Green one of the top 8th Graders in the region has surfaced with Team Scan. Green was a long time Gaucho but the test disbanded after Coach Science retired. Green makes TS an even stronger bunch and should help them make a strong run at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida.
Basketball Spotlight will be traveling to our second home in Springfield, Massachusetts for the Basketbull Best Of The Best tournament. This event brings out some of the top teams every year. Basketball Spotlight will be in the building and bringing you recaps and exclusive championship coverage.
Monday, was our first day of break so I took full advantage on some sleep. When I woke up I went outside in my backyard to shot around for an hour then called my mom to see if she wanted to go do something productive. Later that day I went to watch the NBA game at my friend’s house.
The next morning my mom needed some help at her store so I woke up at 10:00 am to go help out. After that my mom and I went to Foot Locker to pick me up some shoes but they didn’t have my size. Following that we went to Dairy Queen and I treated her to a milkshake. Then we went back to the house. When the game came on that’s when all the questions started because my mom doesn’t really know a lot of basketball (Shaq’s her favorite player).
On Wednesday when I woke up and went over to my friends house and we played Xbox for a while until my mom came to get me. After that we went back to her store and helped her clean up. Later on we went home and started filling out my iHoops application. It’s a program I hope to be attending this summer.
Thursday came and I was just looking forward for this weekend playing with my old team NJ Pirates in the NJ AAU state tourney. In the morning I made myself some breakfast, got dress and my mom came to pick me up because we had some stuff to take care of. When I got home I relaxed and watched the NBA playoff games!
On Friday we were suppose to have a state game but one of the teams dropped out so instead I went to chill with some friends .When I got home I watched some replays of my games when I was about 11 years old. That night I couldn’t go to sleep I stayed up to about 6:00 a.m. watching “The Lebrons” which is a great show!
Saturday game day, I woke up ate some breakfast and headed over to my game against F.A.C.E.S at 2:30. I had 29 points even though it was a sluggish game. We weren’t really hitting shots and had a ton of turnovers. I fouled out with 4 minutes left down 7, and that will never happen again. I will chalk it up as a lesson learned and next time I will have to play smarter down the stretch. We end up losing by seven. After the game I went home to eat and relax because I was sore. All I was thinking about all night was can’t lose tomorrow have to play through everything and come out with the win!
The next morning it was game time at Bloomfield College. We played NJ Got Game at 9:00. They played hard and took a 3 point lead into the locker room. We came out in the second half and broke out to a 20 point lead. We played much better than the first game, not as many turnovers. We beat Got Game by 21, I had 34 points. Following the game I went home showered, took a nap and I woke up about five. I watched the Heat vs. Celtics game and finished up my math homework. Overall I felt I had a very productive week.
Shout outs to my boy Chops , Javon , and My Man Alex Kline!
Isaiah Whitehead Has Received An Offer From North Carolina Basketball Spotlight Alum Isaiah Whitehead has received an official offer from the University of North Carolina. Whitehead finished his grammar school career as the Basketball Spotlight Player of The Year and ranked as our #1 prospect in the Class of 2014. We would like to congratulate Isaiah on his attention from North Carolina and hopes he understands that this is just the beginning and he must continue to work hard.
The Basketball Spotlight Memorial Day Classic will return May 27th thru 29th and we already have a lot of interest. This will be our final tri-state area tournament of this season so you do not want to miss this one. This year’s field seems to be very loaded. The Deadline Is May 14th. Click below to register.
14U Teams 1. Expressions 2. Fairfax Stars (Black) 3. NJ Swish 4. Linden Ballers 5. NYC Big Game 6. NJ Got Game 7. On Point Cyclones 8. NJ Shore Shots 9. F.A.C.E.S. 10. Kingdom Elite 11. Albany Dream Team 12. Long Island Lightning 13. Loudon County Bulls 14. CJ Future Stars 15. JS Devils 16. X Men 17. Team Scan/KYDA 18. New Heights 19. CBC 20. Montgomery County
13U Teams 1. Team Final 2. Boston Spartans (White) 3. Montgomery County 4. Team Scan 5. Gauchos 6. MABC 7. CT Elite (White) 8. CT Elite (Blue) 9. Boston Spartans (Black) 10. NJ Shore Shots 11. F.A.C.E.S. 12. SI Ironmen 13. Kingdom Elite 14. Playaz 15. Albany Dream Team 16. Team Rebels 17. Baltimore Panthers 18. Wilson Blue Devils 19. Philly Freedom Stars 20. CJ Future Stars 21. Fairfax Stars 22. Millbank
12U Teams 1. Juice All Stars 2. Team Nelson 3. 6th Man Warriors 4. Boston Spartans 5. NJ Shore Shots 6. CT Elite 7. Kingdom Elite 8. Playaz 9. Team IZOD 10. SJ Jazz 11. Playtime Panthers 12. CBC 13. Nike Baltimore Elite (White) 14. Nike Baltimore Elite (Black) 15. Linden Ballers 16. Philly Freeedom Stars 17. Albany Dream Team 18. Millbank 11U Teams 1. Riverside Hawks 2. Philly Freedom Stars 3. We Run 4. NJ Shore Shots 5. Neptune Jr. Fliers 6. Maryland Spartans 7. Kingdom Elite 8. CJ Hawks 9. Natural Ballers 10. T Town Ballers 11. Team Final 12. New Heights 13. Nike Baltimore Elite 14. Team NJ ABC 15. Delaware Royalty 16. Maryland Sports Scholars
10U Teams 1. DC Assault 2. CJ Hawks 3. Linden Ballers 4. Team Nelson 5. Natural Ballers 6. T Town Ballers 7. Parker Running Rebels 8. CBC 9. Gauchos 10.Team NJ ABC
Breakdown: I got a chance to check Battle out on Sunday at the NJ State tournament. It was good to see the youngster back on the floor after sitting out with a back injury. His timing is still a little off but he showed some flashes of great potential. He got to the rim whenever he wanted and unleashed a few good passes. His determination to rebound caught my eye as well as his ability block shots. During the 3rd quarter he went on a quick 8 point scoring streak which caught the crowd’s attention. We will be checking him out more at the MDC.
It’s the “Shoota” coming at you. My week at school was cool, we got our progress reports and as I expected everything was good. My teacher even gave me a compliment on how well my 10 page report is going, I’ve been working hard on it so it better be going good…lol. I have a 92 in one class and 96’s in the rest, I need to bring that 92 up to a 93 to have all A’s. My mom’s gonna let me get another tattoo if I get all A’s, I have six weeks to bring that grade up and think about my next tattoo.
We have our spring break coming up, I’m looking forward to having the week off and sleeping a little late, well maybe, because I know my mom will be calling me all morning from work asking, no telling me to do this or do that…lol.
Basketball!
First, I’d like to thank God for road mercy, and Coach P and his driving skills, the last four weekends we’ve been traveling out of the state for basketball tournaments…..TIRED!!
We had practice and then got right on the road to Pittsburgh for the Hoop Group Jam Fest. Talk about black and yellow, it was everywhere, I see where Wiz Khalifa got some of his inspiration for his song…lol. We got there late night, I was glad we didn’t play until noon the next day. As a team it was a good tournament for us, we lost in the semi-final game, we were winning and at the end of the game we had a tech called on us, they made the free throws….game over.
Next road trip was back to Hampton VA, for the Nike Easter Invitational. We had games Saturday morning and afternoon; we won both by 25+. My boy “Fresh” is finally back after being out for a while with the ankle issues; he makes the game a little easier for us. Next up was the Gym Rats, they have two 6’8 players, this was the game everybody was talking about and waiting to see, we won by 25+. We won the pool, than played a terrible quarterfinal game early Sunday morning. As bad as we where we still won by 10.
Our next game was against our rival the Philly Aztecs in the semi-final. This was a physical, a lot of trash talking, super long game. There was 5 techs called and a player ejections; through all the madness we won by 25+. Shout out to the refs it was a lot going on in this game…lol.
Next the championship game, we had an hour to get ourselves together, focus, and be ready to get it on against the Playaz. The championship game was a good close game nothing like the Aztecs game…lol. Well it was a good game until we ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. At the end of the fourth quarter we were up 4 and got questionable intentional foul called on us, they made the free throws, got the ball back and hit a 3. We tried to pull it out by putting them on the line but they did what they had to do, they made their free throws…we lost by 5…..On to the Next One.
JJ Watson (CB Spiders)
Ty’shon Alexander Guard (CB Spiders)- We all know Alexander can score but he really impressed me with his court vision today. The big guard feed the post from different angles and made it his business to dish to teammates. But when his team needed a bucket he definitely filled the void. 
Nojel Eastern Guard (AI9)- Nojel played lockdown defense today while moving his feet very well. On offense he’s a physical guard that absorbs contact when penetrating and finishing. He has decent range on his jump shot and should use it more. 
Darius Perry Guard (Worldwide)- Perry can score buckets in a hurry. He loves the open floor and pushing the ball down the throat of the defense. I also like his mid-range stop and pop. On defense he’s athletic enough to be a total pest on the ball and in the passing lanes. 
DJ Heath Guard (Southeast Elite)- This Alabama product hurt the Spiders early on by getting to the tin. Once he got near the shot blockers he used great body control to protect the ball and score. He finished the game as the high man for Southeast Elite.
