East Coast Elite put together a balanced attack to defeat Albany Dream Team and win the Basketbull Jr. Nationals 12U Championship.
Top Performers
CJ Seaforth Guard (ECE)- Seaforth was definitely one of the most confident players in the building. He has excellent bounce to his game especially when launching deep jumpers. He led the team in scoring during their championship run.
Tyler Douglas Guard (ECE)- Southpaw guards were a theme in Springfield and you can add Douglas to this list. His ball handling and court awareness are his strengths, while carrying the swagger that will make others envious of his style. This kid loves the stage.
TJ Rountree Guard (ECE)- TJ didn’t have one of his best scoring games but you can see that he has some nice skills. The strong scoring guard has an accurate ratchet and enough handle to get anywhere he wants on the floor. He’s capable of having a breakout game at any time.
Jaylen Stafford Forward (ECE)- Stafford used his soft touch and broad shoulders to score deep in the paint. He has good post moves for a player in the age bracket and seems to have a few more inches to grow. Watch out for him.
William Antrium Forward (ECE)- This wide body boxes out well while maneuvering for rebounds. Every team needs a player to do the dirty work and Williams accepts this role well.
Dylan Jorge Guard (ADT)- Jorge runs the point for ADT and can also score the ball. He’s not the typical floor general but it’s good that he’s handling the ball and learning the position early. It will be good for his development.
Tobias Holmes Forward (ADT)- Holmes has a chance to be the face of this program in a few years. He showed some skills but his real potential is in the fact he looks like he has a lot of room to grow. This kid might stretch out to be close to 6’5.
Nazreon Reid scored a lay-up with 2 seconds remaining as NJ Shore Shots defeated Dunbar Rec. 46-45 to win the Basketbull Jr. Nationals 11U Championship.
Top Performers
Nazreon Reid Forward (NJ Shore Shots)- Reid has shown great improvement since I saw him at the Baby Baller Bonanza. He totally dominated the glass and managed to convert several put backs. When Reid got fouled he made the opposition pay at the charity stripe.
John Crowley Guard (NJ Shore Shots)- Crowley shooting helped the Shore Shots comeback from a huge deficit. He was on fire from the 3 point range and his play ignited his teammates and kept the rally going.
Mike Cassidy Guard (NJ Shore Shots)- Cassidy didn’t launch treys but he stepped in and nailed a few long twos that cut into the lead. He showed good toughness when taking these shots in this close game.
Trevor Forbes Guard (Dunbar)- Forbes was the main man for this bunch. His outside shot was money and he went coast to coast several times. I like that fact that he’s ready to shoot once he touches the rock and steps into his shot before releasing it.
Isaiah Haines Guard (Dunbar)- This point guard was a total pest on defense by collecting over 10 steals. On offense he raced end to end for buckets or kicked the pill to shooters in the correct spot.
Aaron Williams Guard (Dunbar)- Williams also gave Dunbar some outside help. He has nice range and a smooth stroke from behind the arc. He plays a lot stronger than he looks.
Breakdown: Mickens’s team came up on the short end of the stick against CBC but I still was impressed with his play early on. The sparkplug guard plays a lot bigger than his size in terms of finishing off drives and rebounding. He’s a lethal shot maker and demonstrates good body control. Stay tune as we bring you more coverage of Basketbull Jr. Nationals including championship recaps.
Isaiah Briscoe Picked Up More Offers After Hoop Group Elite Camp
Isaiah Briscoe continues to have one of the hottest seasons ever. The 6’1 combo guard is coming off an excellent showing at Hoop Group Elite Camp while playing on the NBA level. He now has picked up official scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Baylor, Cincinnati, Depaul and a slew of mid major schools. I’ve never witnessed a player receiving this type of attention from major colleges before actually playing a high school game. We will keep you posted on this Isaiah’s progress throughout the summer.
The boys from Canada weren’t the only players getting busy. We also got a chance to watch some of the top ballers from the New England area grace the hardwood.
Basketbull Jr. Nationals Top Performers
Chris Baldwin Forward (Expressions)- Baldwin’s name has been hot lately and it’s easy to see why. He passes the look test (standing 6’6) but also displays the skills that will have major colleges ringing his phone soon. Even when he wasn’t showing a mean face up game or an improve handle he was blocking shots and running back on defense. I was happy to see Chris play with this sense of urgency because that one of my concerns when I saw him two years ago.
Juwan Gooding Guard (Expressions)- Gooding is trying to make the transition to point guard. At times the road seems a little bumpy especially when he takes an ill-advised shot or drives to deep into the defense. Then other times he showed flawless court vision and great decisions. Stay patient youngster everything will come together soon.
Donovan Love Guard (Expressions)- Love sparked is team with some southpaw scoring and play making. He can hurt from the wing or attacking the defense head on. This kid has a lot of poise and smoothness in his game. Word has him reclassifying into the Class of 2016 if so that will only take his stock higher.
Mustapha Heron Guard (Stamford Peace)- Playing on the 14U level didn’t slow down this stud. Heron was guarded by Justin Jackson for most of the game and didn’t hesitate to attack the highly touted forward. He gave his opponents a taste of his outside touch and when they overplayed he charged the rim and finished while absorbing contact.
Ryan Kriftcher Guard (Stamford Peace)- Ryan can stick the open jumper but he’s more than just a spot up shooter. He isn’t afraid to travel into the land of the giants to finish off plays. His toughness stood out.
Raiquis Harris Guard (Albany Dream Team)- Harris was a pleasant surprise for ADT. His range is unbelievable but he also has a crafty handle and goes either way very comfortably.
Isaiah Dobere Guard (Albany Dream Team)- His team eventually wore down against Expressions but Dobere stayed involved in the game. He spent most of the afternoon in the lane drawing fouls on the defense.
The Baketbull Jr. Nationals kicked off last night and Basketball Spotlight was in the building. Today we got a chance to see some of the top players from Canada and there was definitely some talent on the floor.
Basketbull Jr. Nationals Day 1
Justin Jackson Forward (YAACE)- Jackson was by far the best prospect in the building.. Justin’s court vision is very unique for his age while throwing pinpoint passes. He looks his best when he’s aggressive and scoring near the rim. His handle is developing and he’s beginning to put moves together off the dribble. This 6’6 forward has potential coming out of his veins and has a chance to be very special one day.
Kamar McKnight Guard (Canada Grassroots)- McKnight has grown a few inches since we featured him on our site. The lefty has a lot of wiggle in his game and excels in the open floor. He scores the rock with ease but does need to fine tune his jump shot. Once he enters high school he will also need to pay close attention to his diet and conditioning.
Brunson Firdal Forward (Canada Grassroots)- Firdal plays with his back to the basket and is a bit undersized. But his athleticism makes up for his lack of size. He has soft hands and good footwork while possessing a nose for the ball.
Adrian Brown Forward (YAAACE)- Brown used his width to clog up the middle in their victory. He benefitted from the high/low passes from Jackson and used a feathery touch to convert.
Godwin Boahen Guard (YAAACE)- Many youngster don’t go all out on the defensive end but Boahen does. He harassed several ball handlers and forced them into turnovers. He also showed some ability to create and score on the offensive end.
Daiquan Martin Guard (YAAACE)- Martin has a slick handle which allows him to get into the lane despite his small stature. He understands how to use the floater or dish the rock when the defense collapses.
Fabian Baxter Guard (Sun Youth)- His team took a heavy hit in the first game but Baxter showed some willingness to get to the rim. His used his quickness and low dribble to dash through traffic. But he will need to get a little stronger so he can finish off plays.
Tevon Bartley Guard (Sun Youth)- I was impressed how this 2017 prospect showed he belonged with this group. He made a couple of moves that caused the defense to breakdown and he will only get better. Hopefully we will get a chance to see more of this kid.
Breakdown: Tanksley is an exciting player to watch. He performed on a high level at several Basketball Spotlight events this season. Now he will be looking to shine at the Inaugural Baby Baller Super Showcase. The competition should be thick but Tanksley is accustomed to playing against the best. We look forward to seeing him on the stage on August 6th.
Breakdown: Washington missed the Super Showcase last summer but said he will make it his business to make it to Burlington, NJ on August 13th. This season he took over the controls of Team Scan’s offense and guided to an AC Showcase Blue Division title and a spot in Summer Slam. Now Leondre will be out to show he is among the elite in the country at the Super Showcase.
Breakdown: “Hail” Ceasar totally dominated at the Super Showcase last summer. During the season he displayed some improved perimeter skills which allowed him to drive passed opposing forwards. Adim will have a chance to put his new skills to test at Super Showcase on August 13th. If you want to join Ceasar at the Super Showcase register below.
Breakdown: McCall had his breakout last summer at the Super Showcase where he finished as one of the top performers. His took this confidence into the season while putting in work for the Philly Aztecs and Team Rebels. His play got him an invite to the Super Showcase this summer. Check out his work at the AC Showcase. Can you contain Jabri? If so bring your game to the Super Showcase.
The Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase registration is ready to go. We have an online registration for those that want to use credit or debit cards and mail-in registration for cashier checks or money orders. Players interested in registering that name doesn’t appear on the invite list need to contact Mike Melton at basketballspotlight@hotmail.com or 609-532-5122 before completing registration. Registration deadline for this event is July 25, 2011.
Date: August 13, 2011 Place: Life Center Academy (Burlington, NJ) 2045 Columbus Road Burlington, NJ 08016-9731 Class: 2016 and 2017 (Rising 7th and 8th Graders)
The Basketball Spotlight Baby Baller Super Showcase registration is ready to go. We have an online registration for those that want to use credit or debit cards and mail-in registration for cashier checks or money orders. Players interested in registering who name doesn’t appear on the invite list need to contact Mike Melton at basketballspotlight@hotmail.com or 609-532-5122 before completing registration. Registration deadline for this event is July 25, 2011.
Date: August 6, 2011
Place: Life Center Academy (Burlington, NJ) 2045 Columbus Road Burlington, NJ 08016-9731
HYPEBasketball continues our coverage of the 2011 13U Division I AAU National Championships with part two of our recap from Memphis, Tennessee. Our focus now turns to the remaining teams who qualified as a nationally-ranked squads after placing in medal-round contests on the final day of competition.
2011 13U Division I AAU 9TH / 12TH Place Game: Elite Cavaliers (OH) 47, B.W.S.L. New Generation (VA) 46 One of the most successful teams in the 2016 class since the beginning of the group’s introduction to the travel basketball scene, the Elite Cavaliers posted yet another top 10 finish at this year’s AAU National Championships. Cavs’ Forward Jerron Cumberland continues to expand his game and the improvement of guard Carlik Jones since last year also had many people talking during the week. Pencil down the name Kobe Brown and keep it somewhere safe for a few years. The talented guard is just figuring out what he is capable of doing on the court and is one of the Elite Cavaliers better long-term prospects. New Generation is the future of the well-known Boo Williams organization and the stable looks safe with guard Kameron Hedgepath and forward Chris Orlina. A talented athlete, Hedgepath had four 20+ point games on the week and wiry forward Orlina was the team’s leading rebounder while also posting multiple double-digit scoring games.
2011 13U Division I AAU 10TH / 13TH Place Game: Playground Elite (WI) 58, The Family (MI) 55 Playground Elite surprised a lot of people with their top ten finish at this year’s AAU Nationals, but with a roster full of talent, don’t be surprised to see even more out of this group in coming seasons. Elite’s strong backcourt is anchored by steady floor general Bobby Hambright and shooting guard John ‘Jack’ Popp. Inside, twin towers Darpeirreontae Burt and Kaj Days both stand 6-foot-6 and have help from 6-foot-4 Ammar Becar. Also keep an eye on wing Courtland Cuevas who should be a significant contributor on the perimeter soon than later. The Family is a well-known grassroots program on the high school level, and the Detroit-based organization often has many of Michigan’s elite hoops talent. The 2016 class appears to be no different, as The Family’s 13U group this year was a top 15 medalist with plenty of players on their roster.
2011 13U Division I AAU 11TH / 14TH Place Game: Team Texas Black 49, Detroit Elite (MI) 36 Team Texas Black finished just outside of the top ten nationally and had several impressive players from the Dallas-metro area. Forward Evan Peters, young brother of Kansas-commit Zach Peters, was a versatile presence for Team Texas while brothers Mark and Matt Paterson provided backcourt stability. Noah Harmon brought toughness and competitiveness to the aggressive group from Texas. Meanwhile, Detroit Elite had a successful week in Memphis behind the play of 6-foot-7 big man Kelvin Fuller. Guards Richard Talley and Julian Warr posted solid numbers for the Michigan team but Derek Murphy could end up being the best of the bunch. Also keep an eye on 2018 guard Julian Dozier, who participated several age/grade levels above his division at this event, but was a catalyst from Detroit Elite’s national semifinalist squad last year at the 10U AAU Championships.
2011 13U Division I AAU Classic Championship Game: Arkansas Wings 52, Team Richmond (VA) 43 Rarely is much attention given to the Classic bracket at the AAU National Championships, but the Arkansas Wings and Team Richmond of Virginia both had quality teams that failed to make it out of pool play at this year’s competition. While stronger teams participated in the week-long tournament, both the Wings and Team Richmond had two of the better players in the event. The Arkansas Wings, Classic bracket champions, featured an excellent player in 6-foot-2 guard Malik Monk. The brother of former Arkansas Razorback standout wide receiver Marcus Monk, the younger Monk is an impressive athlete in his own right, and is an exceptional perimeter scorer. He’s right at the top of 2016 standouts from Arkansas behind wing Adrian Moore (who played this week with Louisiana Select). For Team Richmond it was 6-foot-4 wing Justin Henry, a do-it-all forward, who handled much of the scoring and rebounding load for his squad in Memphis. Henry is a versatile athlete who can defend the post but is quickly expanding his game to the perimeter.
Since 1993, Memphis, Tennessee has played host to the 13U AAU National Championships. This year, nearly 180 teams gathered in the city to celebrate the Division I and II events and compete for the right to be considered among the country’s top youth teams. HYPEBasketball is proud to present to Basketball Spotlight’s loyal visitors our views from inside the tournament after spending the week along the Mississippi River. Also, before we start we would like to send a big thank you to Mike Melton and staff for allowing our report to be posted and seen on the Basketball Spotlight website.
2011 13U Division I AAU National Championship Game: Louisiana Select 50, Georgia Stars 41 The Louisiana Select squad had a big chip on their shoulder after falling to the Carolina Ravens in last year’s national championship game. The group came out focused from the tip and got a huge performance from 6-foot-9 Khalea Turner. Arguably the nation’s top prospect in the 2016 class, Turner finished with a stat line that read 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Select guard Malik Crowfield also had one of his better performances of the week in the championship game, contributing 12 points along with 4 assists and 4 steals. For the Stars, it was guard Aaron Augustin who almost brought his team back late in the game with a 19 point performance. Despite his size, Augustin proved all week that he is without question one of the lead guards in the 2016 class right now. The Stars also got major contributions from James Walker (12 points in the championship game) and forward Davion Thomas throughout the week.
2011 13U Division I AAU 3RD / 4TH Place Game: Indy Hoosiers 66, E1T1 Dynasty (FL) 59 Florida’s Each One Teach One organization is a well-known grassroots power on the high school circuit within Nike’s powerful Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL). However, head coach Ed ‘Boobie’ Francis’ 13U squad was definitely the surprise team of the week after advancing to the national semifinals. If there are ten better youth basketball coaches in the country than Francis, I’d like to meet them. The demanding coach got the best out of his underdog group behind several standout performances from guard Malik Foy. One of the fastest rising youth programs in the country, the Indy Hoosiers were led by 6-foot-2 guard Eron Gordon, who averaged just over 16 points per contest and was near the top of AAU National Championships leading scorers list. The Hoosiers’ three-headed backcourt monster was completed by two future standout point guards in ViJay Blackmon and C.J. Hedgepath.
2011 13U Division I AAU 5TH / 6TH Place Game: Memphis War Eagles 70, Defenders Select (TX) 65 The hometown Memphis War Eagles represented their city well during the week-long tournament, finishing as one of the top five teams in the country. The War Eagles were led by 6-foot-6 Dedric Lawson, who is certainly a name to remember as a potential headliner in the class of 2016. St. Louis-native Jayson Tatum, a 6-foot-3 perimeter prospect, also returned to the War Eagles this season and continues to earn his spot as one of the nation’s top young scoring guards. The biggest surprise for the Memphis squad was the emergence of 6-foot-2 guard Rodney Herenton, who is a potential regional name to keep a serious eye on as this class gets older. The final game was one of Herenton’s best of the week, as his inspiring 15 point, 12 rebound performance was especially memorable. For the Houston Defenders, DeAaron Fox continued his dominance in this age/grade level. Fox could easily be considered the top point guards in the 2016 class and received great backcourt support from Courtney Lark and Joshua Hall.
2011 13U Division I AAU 7TH / 8TH Place Game: F.A.C.E.S (NJ) 80, Sports Academy (LA) 71 The northeast United States was represented well by the F.A.C.E.S. organization from New Jersey. The group made their presence known to a national audience in pool play, claiming the #1 seed in Pool E, beating a favorite Athlete’s First squad from Oklahoma. Head coach Rob Cole and his program continued their run into the national bracket, advancing to the quarterfinals, and ultimately finishing as a top ten team in the country. An extremely balanced squad, forward Idris Joyner was a major presence for F.A.C.E.S. and received consistent contributions from Christian Ford, Raymond Montilus, and Jagan Mosely. One of the week’s biggest revelations was point guard R.J. Cole, who was playing a year ahead of his age/grade level. The 2017 floor general led a double-digit comeback in the medal game against Sports Academy, hitting a buzzer-beater as time expired to send the game into overtime, which F.A.C.E.S. eventually won. For Sports Academy, 6-foot-6 forward Wayde Sims and 6-foot-4 wing Donovan White were the team’s top performers. The Academy also received a number of impressive performers from forward Jayln Jones, who looks like he’ll develop into a nice perimeter prospect in the near future.
Stay tuned for Part II of our 2011 13U AAU National Championships recap as we’ll review the ninth through fourteenth place finishers in the Division I tournament, highlight top performers, and more!
Harry Giles regarded by many as the top 7th Grader in the country brought his A game to the Atlantic City Showcase back in March. The lanky forward who is oozing with potential played both ends of the floor while leading Team Felton to the championship. He blocked shots, ran the floor, handled the pill, finished off plays and even dropped a few dimes. This kid has a chance to become something very special if he continues to work hard.
F.A.C.E.S. Made A Elite 8 Run At The AAU Nationals
F.A.C.E.S. the #2 in the Basketball Spotlight Top 10 took home 7th Place at the 13U Division 1 AAU Nationals. The Killer Bees made an Elite 8 run and Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate Coaches Rob Cole, Shelton Gibbs and the rest of their staff for a job well done.
Roster: Jagan Mosley RJ Cole Christian Ford Idris Joyner Azzur Taylor Ray Montilus Brandon Anderson Khalif Crawford Shyquann Gibbs Reuben Montilus John Salcedo
Breakdown: Dockery is a tough guard on the Delaware landscape. This point guard sees the floor very well and passes the rock with a little flash. We will definitely see where his game is at because he will be at the Basketball Spotlight Super Showcase August 13th at Life Center Academy. Online registration for this event will be coming Wednesday, July 6th.
Sa’eed Nelson of Pleasantville, NJ recently attended the Stockton College Basketball Camp and got a chance to participate in a game of knockout against Lebron James. Watch how the young sharp shooter nailed a 3 pointer to eliminate the Miami Heat superstar.
Breakdown: Brooks has been the face for the Playaz 13U program. The high rising two-guard slashes through the lane and scores at will at times. Nick showed his worth at the Basketball Spotlight MDC. He has good size for his position and really wants to get better. He’s already with a top program and we will be talking about him for years to come.
Pool play has wrapped up in Memphis and the Spotlight tested teams are on their way to National Bracket competition. Here’s a breakdown of how the teams feared yesterday.
Day 3 Results
Team Rebels 61 Team Power 36 First Round Game: All Iowa Attack @ 2:20 (Winner will face Louisiana Select tonight at 7:40 PM)
MABC 43 Memphis War Eagles 69 First Round Game: EC Hoopstars @ 10:20 AM (Winner Will Face CC 1st today at 3:30 PM )
F.A.C.E.S. 58 Athletes First 54 First Round Game: Bye (Will Face The Winner Of Wilson Blue Devils and Kentucky Elite Kings today at 5:00 PM)
CC 1st 84 Ascension Jaguars 49 First Round Game: Bye (Will Face The Winner Of MABC and EC Hoopstars today 3:40 PM)
Fairfax Stars Black 47 Southern Illinois 56 First Round Game: Team Kansas Crunch @ 1:00 PM (Winner Will Face CB Spiders tonight at 6:20 PM)
Wilson Blue Devils 96 United Celtics 80 First Round Game: Kentucky Elite Kings @ 11:40 AM (Winner Will Play F.A.C.E.S. tonight at 5:00 PM)
Team Felton 53 Puerto Rico Playmakers 30 First Round Game: Bye (Will Face The Family tonight at 7:40 PM)
Basketball Spotlight will keep you updated on the 13U AAU Nationals.
East Coast Elite Cruises
CJ Seaforth Guard (ECE)- Seaforth was definitely one of the most confident players in the building. He has excellent bounce to his game especially when launching deep jumpers. He led the team in scoring during their championship run.
Tyler Douglas Guard (ECE)- Southpaw guards were a theme in Springfield and you can add Douglas to this list. His ball handling and court awareness are his strengths, while carrying the swagger that will make others envious of his style. This kid loves the stage.
TJ Rountree Guard (ECE)- TJ didn’t have one of his best scoring games but you can see that he has some nice skills. The strong scoring guard has an accurate ratchet and enough handle to get anywhere he wants on the floor. He’s capable of having a breakout game at any time.
Jaylen Stafford Forward (ECE)- Stafford used his soft touch and broad shoulders to score deep in the paint. He has good post moves for a player in the age bracket and seems to have a few more inches to grow. Watch out for him. 
William Antrium Forward (ECE)- This wide body boxes out well while maneuvering for rebounds. Every team needs a player to do the dirty work and Williams accepts this role well.
Dylan Jorge Guard (ADT)- Jorge runs the point for ADT and can also score the ball. He’s not the typical floor general but it’s good that he’s handling the ball and learning the position early. It will be good for his development.
Tobias Holmes Forward (ADT)- Holmes has a chance to be the face of this program in a few years. He showed some skills but his real potential is in the fact he looks like he has a lot of room to grow. This kid might stretch out to be close to 6’5.
