Basketball Spotlight MDC 10U Championship Highlights: Bay State Magic vs. PYAA

Basketball Spotlight 10 and Under MDC Championship came down to the wire. PYAA put up a great fight but Bay State Magic led by Mr. Memorial Day Azar Swain took home the crown. Check out the highlights below.

Bay State Magic vs. PYAA

Basketball Spotlight 14U Top 10 Rankings: LI Lightning Takes Over Top Spot

Long Island Lightning Holds #1 Spot

The 14U Regional Top 10 has a tight race for the number 1 spot and a few new faces. Here’s a breakdown of the Top 10 teams in the region. These rankings are only our opinion and should be taken as such. The rankings are based on tournament play and who we feel are the 10 best teams.

Basketball Spotlight 14U Top 10

1. Long Island Lightning: The Lightning had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. They won the MDC and Metropolitan title in a three day span. The have some serious ballers including the 1-2 punch of John Severe and Jason Boswell. Their then 14 year old squad won the Nationals in Orlando last summer. Will this squad also make it happen?

2. Peacemakers: “The Bullies” came up short at the MDC but can also stake claim for the top spot because of their body of work throughout the season. They recently won the Mid Atlantic Regional crown and will be looking to add to their success at the Game Over Classic.

3. Team Nelson: Team Nelson does have a win over LI Lightning but not winning their regionals takes them out of #1 talk. This still is a dangerous team that will have a lot to prove before going to Orlando.

4. Playaz Basketball: The Playaz won the NJ State title and The Blow Up among others. I need to see them bang out with Team Nelson and the Peacemakers before I can argue for them being #1.



5. Boston Saintz: The Boys from Beantown return to the rankings after finishing runner-up at the Massachusetts State tourney and winning the Hall Of Fame Classic. Ramone Gibbons is one the top guards in the region.

6. Westchester Hawks: The Hawks came up short in the Metropolitan AAU Regionals by losing to LI Lightning in the finals. They run a disciplined offense but do have some talented players that can create their own shots.

7. KBR Fliers: The boys from Neptune made it to the final four in the NJ State tourney and the MDC. The recently lost in the finals of the Playaz Blow Up tourney. On paper they have the talent but just can’t make it over the hump.

8. NY Panthers: The NY Panthers usually reside at the top of the polls but this season Coach Kat is rebuilding a little but they still are competitive. They will be making the trip down to Summer Slam before heading to Orlando.

9. PPY Elite: This squad has some serious size and athleticism. Their first year out they made it to the NJ State finals. Hopefully we can get them down to Summer Slam before they head to Orlando.

10. Higher Ground Warriors: I like some of the pieces on this squad. They made a decent run in the Mid Atlantic Regionals and I think they can knock off anybody at any giving time.

Playaz Blow Up 14U Recap: Playaz Storm Past KBR Fliers

Playaz Win Blow Up

Joshua Marquez scored 19 and Reggie Cameron added 16 markers as the Playaz Basketball Club defeated KBR Fliers 53-39 to win the Playaz Blow Up 14 and Under Title. Evan Hubbard finished with 16 points for KBR in the loss.

Spotlight Players

Joshua Marquez Guard (Playaz)- Marquez does a lot of things on the floor. Today he gave me a taste of his hustle and scoring ability when attacking the hole. Joshua is the type of player that can gather a loose ball and score in one motion. I love the way he competes.

Reggie Cameron Forward (Playaz)- The defense was focused on Cameron’s outside shooting but he eventually got loose for a couple of treys. Reggie also made some moves towards the basket and was willing to post up for points. He was effective in traffic though he wasn’t as explosive as I saw him earlier in the year.

Kavon Stewart Guard (Playaz)- Stewart got off to a slow start but he got it together in the second half. When he’s on his game he’s very exciting to watch and his teammates enjoy running the floor with him. Kavon made a couple of plays in transition to remind people of his point guard skills.

Evan Hubbard Forward (KBR)- This kid continues to put together good showings. Hubbard outside shot looked good even when it rattled out. He also displayed some improved quickness and agility around the basket.

Agosto Stars In Sunkist Commercial!

Basketball prodigy Jashaun Agosto recently starred in a Sunkist Commercial. The commercial hasn’t aired on television as of yet but Basketball Spotlight was sent the link to the action. Here’s a look at his commercial. First click view episode then click Baby Jordan Link. Enjoy !
Agosto Commercial

Basketball Spotlight MDC 12U Championship Highlights: U-Turn Warriors vs. Gauchos

The U-Turn Warriors vs. the Gauchos 12U championship was a great game. It was a close game throughout with U-Turn pulling away in the end. Check out the highlights below.

U-Turn Warriors vs. NYC Gauchos

Diary Of A Baller: Jordan Forehand Entry #15

Hello Basketball World!

It's your boy Jordan. I graduated from Rutgers Prep on Friday. This was definitely my most challenging academic year. Rutgers Prep has a very rigorous and demanding curriculum. I met a lot of new friends and
enjoyed my experiences with them. Though the school year is over, I still do work over the summer. This includes reading books and working on my math skills for next year. As my dad says "Basketball will get
you to the door, but without an education, you will not be able to open that door".

Over the weekend, my Sports University team played in the Team Philly tournament down in Philadelphia. We won both of our games on Saturday. We won our first three on Sunday, but lost to Team Philly in the semi-finals. I was glad that our games on Saturday were early. This allowed me to be able to get together with a few friends and family to celebrate my graduation.

My New Jersey Shoreshots team participated in the Hoop Group Jr Elite camp over the weekend. I am going to the one being held on August 21 & 22. I hope that they all did well.

I'll be heading out to San Diego, California on June 25th through the 28th to participate in the Adidas Phenom Camp. There will be a lot of good competition out there. I'll be looking forward to playing with and against all of them.

I am glad that school is over. Now I will have more time to work out during the day. Those workouts will include strength and conditioning, agility and working on my game. This year, I have enjoyed watching the NBA playoffs. I usually only watch the college games and the NCAA tournament, but this year I am glued on Kobe Bryant. I love his game and his dedication to the game.

Later this week, I want to check out that new movie "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3". That looks like it is going to be good.

The Laker-Magic game is now in overtime and I will now bring this to a close.

See ya'll on the court!

J4-Out

Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase

PhillyHoops.net has partnered with Five Star Basketball to create the Elite 80 Showcase. The purpose of the Elite 80 Showcase is to create exposure for basketball players in the Tri-State area. Due to the success of last year's Super 60Showcase, we are expanding this year's Elite 80 Showcase into a 2-day event to be hosted by Temple University.

On Saturday, July 18th, from 12-5pm, the area's top 80 rising 7th-9th graders will play. On Sunday, July 19th, from 12-5pm, the area's top 80 rising 10th-12th graders will play. Spots will be filled on a first come-first served basis.

Event: Philly Hoops Elite 80 Showcase

Grades: Current 6th, 7th and 8th

Date: July 18th

Place: Temple University (Philadelphia, PA)

Cost: $50

Contact: Stephanie at info@phillyhoops.net

Playaz Blow Up 13U Recap: DC Assault Holds On

DC Assault Wears The Crown

Nadi Beriri scored 15 points but it wasn’t enough as DC Assault held on to defeat the Playaz 37-35 in the finals of the Playaz Blow Up Tourney. Corey Henson scored 6 points and made the clutch free throws to seal the win for Dc Assault.

Spotlight Players

Corey Henson Guard (DC Assault)- Henson runs the show for DC Assault and he does a good job. He shows good patience directing the offense and is very aggressive attacking the hole. I like his demeanor as a floor general.

Nadi Beriri Forward (Playaz)- Beriri did damage inside and around the basket. I like his face up game and his touch from the foul line in. He has good hands and is developing his footwork. His toughness also stands out.

Isiah Briscoe Guard (Playaz)- Briscoe made some good plays at the end of the game which almost won it for squad. He got two steals which he converted one into a bucket and the other into free throws. He’s a very smart player on the floor in terms of reading the defense and setting up teammates.

Playaz Blow Up 12U Recap: Playaz Take Title

Playaz Win Crown

Sherman Alston scored 25 points and Jevon Rawl added 22 markers as the Playaz Basketball Club defeated SECC All Stars 62-55 to win the Playaz Blow Up Championship. Chris Baldwin finished with 18 points for SECC in the loss.

Spotlight Players

Sherman Alston Guard (Playaz)- What a fitting name because like the one time Syracuse great Sherman Douglass, because this Sherman also gets busy from the guard spot. The strong quarterback used his strength and quickness the split defenders while driving for buckets. His has a low handle when pushing the rock and uses good body control to avoid shot blockers.

Jevon Rawl Guard (Playaz)- Rawl is very athletic from the wing spot. He scores most of his points slicing through the lane. His floater in the paint his decent and he doesn’t mind using a reverse lay up to get the job done.

Chris Baldwin Forward (SECC All Stars)- Baldwin had an up and down game. He showed flashes on dominance by gathering himself and scoring easy inside but on some other occasions he seemed a little uninterested. This could have been due to the fact that his guards had a hard time getting him the rock. This kid is still a big talent.

Jake Ross Guard (SECC All Stars)- Ross was deadly from the perimeter especially when he got an open look. Ross had to handle the rock a little more than usual because the Playaz ball pressure gave SECC major problems. I also like the fact that he competed until the final buzzer.

Never Nervous Invitational 13U Recap: Team Final Captures Crown

Team Final Captures Crown

Cole Moody poured in a game high 24 points as Team Final defeated Team NJ ABC 55-43 to win the Never Nervous Invitational. Isiah Powell finished with 16 points for TNJABC in the loss.

Spotlight Players

Cole Moody Forward (Team Final)- Moody feasted on Team NJ ABC’s lack of size inside. He sealed defenders outside the paint or under the basket before going up for easy lay ups. I like that fact that he doesn’t try to do things he’s not capable of. He’s goes directly to the low post and operates. He was just too much in the paint today.

Marques Little Guard (Team Final)- Don’t let the last name fool you because Little is one of the strongest point guards in this age group. He got to the hole when he pleased and either scored or dropped off dimes to Moody. In transition he pushed the rock down the throat of the defense. He also impressed me on defense by slowing down TNJABC impressive guard attack.

Tavaris Headen Guard (Team Final)- The southpaw started a little slow in the finals but woke in the second half. He’s a flat out scorer that can drive past smaller guards and finish in the lane. His outside shot was effective but it does need to a little work. In transition he was difficult to stop because of his power and change of direction skills.

Isiah Powell Guard (Team NJ ABC)- Powell was once regarded as one of the top guards in this class until an automobile accident slowed down his play. Now this youngster seems to have got his swagger back because he was once again very impressive. He seems to have added something else to his game which is a step back jumper. He uses a hesitation dribble to create space then steps back and pulls a trey.

Shaquan Worthy Guard (Team NJ ABC)- Worthy’s play in the quarterfinal and semifinal propelled TNJABC into the championship. The pint size floor general has the heart of a lion and isn’t afraid to pull the trigger when the game is on the line. What’s really impressive is his ability to finish at the rim despite his size and the fact that he will drain a long trey that can take the heart out of an opposing squad. Looks like a young Allen Iverson.

Kaison Randolph Forward (Team NJ ABC)- Randolph showed flashes of being able to score and attack off the dribble. He also can be a force on the glass but as I watch him play I feel he needs to develop an outside shot. As he moves up in levels he will he pushed to the perimeter so he should begin preparing himself now.

Next Stop: Playaz Blow UP Tourney

Never Nervous Invitational 12U Recap: The City Prevails In OT!

The City Wins Close

Boz Bernstein scored 13 points and hit some key free throws down the stretch as The City defeated SJ Blitz 45-43 in overtime to win the Never Nervous Invitational title. Myles Powell dropped a game high 20 points in the loss.

Spotlight Players

Boz Bernstein Guard (The City)- “Big Shot” Boz stepped up again when his squad needed him most. He made some key plays on the defensive end, hit a few outside shots and showed ice water veins when he stepped to the line for some clutch free throws. He took home the MVP and he earned it.

Mike Williams Guard (The City)- Williams has a polished pull up in the lane and he even uses it in transition. He understands that he can get the shot off over many guards that check him because of his length thus he takes full advantage.

Lenny Kadisha Forward (The City)- Lenny is a glue player for this squad. He does many things including playing defense, rebounding, scoring and handling the rock when the guards get into trouble. He’s another lanky guard/forward on this squad that causes trouble for the opposition.

Myles Powell Guard (SJ Blitz)- I’m convinced that this kid is just a natural scorer. Powell looked smooth draining the trey ball and maneuvered a couple of buckets on tough drives. Once he receives the rock he goes right into attack mode which causes most defenders to retreat or call for help.

Mekhi Bryant Guard (SJ Blitz)- The strong guard made some good plays at the end of the game by using his strength to score and play defense. It’s difficult for most defenders at this age to keep in front because of his strength and speed.

Devon Jones Forward (SJ Blitz)- Jones showed me some things inside. I like his touch and how he goes after rebounds. I think he should get a little more touches on offense because he is capable of scoring inside.

Game Over Classic Draws Near!

Basketball Spotlight will be heading to the Big Apple for the 2009 Game Over Classic June 19th thru 21st. This event will feature some of the top young teams in the country and Basketball Spotlight will bring you exclusive coverage.

Event: Game Over Classic

Place: New York City, NY

Date: June 19th and 21st

Ages Groups: 10U Thru 17U

Contact Info: Dana Dingle (646)-773-4878 ddingle7@yahoo.com, Shandue McNeil (516)-924-9921 shandue@yahoo.com, Eric Jones blackbuttany@aol.com or visit the website below.

Game Over Classic Website

Basketball Spotlight Will Be In The Building!

Basketball Spotlight 12U Top 10 Ranking: Team Final Tops The List

Team Final Remains Numero Uno!

The 12U Top 10 Rankings does have some new faces and we did have some team movement since our last release. These rankings are only our opinion and should be taken as such. The rankings are based on tournament play and who we feel are simply the Top 10 teams.

Basketball Spotlight 12U Top 10

1. Team Final: The #1 squad was idle for MDC because of a personal traveling matter involving their coach. The high octane machine left the field wide open for someone else to carry home the banner. They will be ready for a National Run in Hampton, Virginia.

2. DC Assault: I got a good look at this team at the HOF Classic and they are loaded. They have the guard play, scoring and inside punch to chase a National Championship. Look out Team Final this squad is for real.

3. U- Turn Warriors: The Warriors showed that their winning ways were not a fluke by taking home the MDC crown. They play a physical, hard nose defense that makes opponents submit. I will check them out in Hampton also.

4. Team Takeover: The PV boys come at #4 after winning the HOF Classic and finishing second in their region. They have an explosive offensive bunch and will be gunning to make some serious noise at the Nationals.

5. Gauchos: The Choz deserve a Top 5 spot after winning their regional championship and finishing runner up at the MDC. Coach Science has his boys playing on a different level right now and hopefully they can keep it together for the Nationals.

6. The City: The new squad on the block finished runner up at their regionals and at the HOF Classic. They dropped down a couple of spots which should make them hungry just in time to travel to Hampton.



7. F.A.C.E.S.: Cole’s crew shows flashes of being a dominant team but can’t seem to get all the way over the hump. The pieces are there and they have been through the fire. I think they have a good National run in them.

8. Long Island Lightning: I finally caught LI Lightning in Springfield and they seem to have a decent crew. The made it to the semifinals and should be ready to show they belong when they make the trip to Hampton.

9. SECC All Stars: I like the size and athleticism on this squad. They seem to be the 12U team to beat in the New England area. I will get another look at them during the Blow Up Tourney this weekend.

10. South Jersey Blitz: The Blitz finished second in their region and they have been playing some good ball lately. They have a trio of guards that can score the rock. Welcome to the Top 10 !