Cameron Winston scored 14 points as the Long Island Lightning defeated KBR 49-28 to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC 12U Blue Division title. Aaron Trimble finished with 9 points in the loss.
Mr. Memorial Day Cameron Winston Forward (Long Island Lightning)- Winston used his size and versatility to give KBR problems. Most post players can’t play him off the dribble and he took full advantage. Once he got going he just took over the entire game. This kid is very aggressive.
Aaron Trimble Guard (KBR Raptors)- Trimble found his range a little from behind the arc. He has good size and a stroke. I think if he could be a little more aggressive at times on the offensive end. Stay Tuned For Inside The MDC including All Tournament Team. Also look for other special features from this age group.
Team Battle Wins Their Third Consecutive MDC Crown!
Keith Washington scored 16 points and Jamir Harris added 14 markers as Team Battle defeated DC Assault 56-33 to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC 12 and Under Orange Division championship. Jamar Watson finished with 12 points for DC Assault.
Mr. Memorial Day Jamir Harris Forward (Team Battle)- Harris played with great passion all weekend. He attacked the rim in transition and in the half court set. In the paint he has a relentless style that is hard to contain on this level. He’s very explosive in the open floor.
Keith Washington Guard (Team Battle)- Washington had a good showing in the finals. The pull up in the lane is his trademark shot. He even leans back a little to avoid shot blockers. But his biggest assets might be his on the ball defense and ability to keep the ball moving offensively.
Darius Gillon Forward (Team Battle)- Gillon gave a better effort this weekend. He was aggressive on the glass and fought hard for put backs. He continues to show the ability to run the floor and make plays. This effort will need to continue if TB wants to make a title run.
Jamar Watson Guard (DC Assault)- Watson got things going early with some powerful drives. He has a nice floater and the eye to score. He has a lot of heart and excels in the transition game.
Stay Tuned For Inside The MDC including All Tournament Team. Also look for other special features from this age group.
Andre Boykin scored 24 points and Raine McKeython added 16 markers as Maryland Panthers defeated Connecticut Elite 46-41 in overtime to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC 11 and Under title. Keonte Lucas scored 18 points for CT Elite in the loss.
Mr. Memorial Day
Andre Boykin Forward (Maryland Panthers)- Boykin was the most dominant player in this age group. His size and strength helped him control the lane on both ends. He had close to double digits in points, rebounds and blocks in just about every game. He was a true force at the MDC!
Raine McKeython Guard (Maryland Panthers)- Raine poured it on with some slick drives and strong finishes. He’s a strong guard with shifty moves and a quick crossover dribble. He was very impressive during the finals. Keep an eye out on him.
Keonte Lucas Guard (CT Elite)- Lucas helped his team stay alive by shacking a few defenders out of their shoes. He has a strong frame and a knack for scoring that comes natural. I also like the determination and passion he showed on the floor. He really brought his game.
Chris Jones Guard (CT Elite)- Jones has to be one of the top PG’s on this level. His composure and court awareness is beyond his years and he always wants the rock in the clutch. Down the stretch he made some good plays to give CT Elite a fighting chance.
Endel Sanchez Guard (CT Elite)- Endel can really stroke and he showed that during the championship by nailing 3 treys. He’s a spot up shorter that has a lot of range and confidence.
Stay Tune For Inside The MDC 11U Including The All Tournament Team. Also check back for a few special features from this age group.
James Slater scored 15 points and Justin Moore added 8 markers as the Metro Sixers defeated Maryland Spartans 35-18 to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC 10 and Under title.
Mr. Memorial Day- James Slater
Championship Roster Head Coach: Kelvin Johnson Asst Coach: Aaron Dread Asst Coach: Kim Slater Myles Dread Aman Greenwood Brandon Slater Xavier Johnson Justin Moore
Malik Anderson and Tyler Brelsford scored 7 points apiece as DC Assault defeated Natural Ballers 28-17 to win the Basketball Spotlight MDC 9 and Under Championship. Jaheim Tanksley scored 9 points for the Natural Ballers in the loss.
Mr. Memorial Day: Tyler Brelsford and Kenneth Womack
Champions Roster Andrew Allmond Malik Anderson Charles Creek David Dalton Hunter Dickinson Jay Heath Tyler Brelsford Kenneth Womack Mekhi Long
In the history of basketball there have been several great shooters with untraditional form. Some of the greats that fit this style were Jamal Wilkes and Reggie Miller. In Connecticut there’s a 6th Grade guard that fits this mode and his name is Thomas Jackson. Jackson rocks with Connecticut Elite and has torched many nets throughout the country. We had a chance to holler at Thomas “Automatic” Jackson and here’s our One On One.
One On One
BS: What school do you attend? TJ: Classical Magnet.
BS: Who’s your favorite player? TJ: Kobe Bryant because I like the way he plays and his work ethic.
BS: What’s the strongest part of your game? TJ: My jump shot.
BS: What Part of your game needs the most work? TJ: My footwork and speed.
BS: How do you like playing in the Basketball Spotlight events? TJ: I love it because it's better competition.
BS: Who’s the toughest player you ever faced? TJ: I would say Tyus Battle from Team Battle.
BS: What are your favorite sneakers to play in? TJ: Definitely Jordans.
BS: What’s your fondest basketball moment? TJ: This past weekend at the Hall of Fame Classic I hit 39 treys. In one game I scored 33 points.
BS: What else do you do besides play basketball? TJ: I play video games, hang with my friends and got to church.
Alani Moore seems to be the next great point guard coming from the Potomac Valley. He last season he quarterbacked DC Assault (Gorham) to a #9 finish at the AAU Nationals. This season has also been successful and he led his club to the Potomac Valley crown. We caught up with Alani “Showtime” Moore at the DC Assault Classic and here’s our One On One
One On One
BS: What school do you attend? AM: Kingsview Middle School.
BS: Who’s your favorite player? AM: Kobe Bryant because he’s very talented and smart.
BS: What’s the strongest part of your game? AM: Being able to attack both ways.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? AM: My outside shot.
BS: Who’s the toughest player you ever faced? AM: Reggie Gardner from DC Assault (Clark).
BS: What’s your dream college? AM: Duke, I love the coaching staff and their style of play.
BS: Who’s your favorite rapper? AM: LiL Wayne because he can flat out flow.
BS: What’s your fondest basketball moment thus far? AM: When we won the DC Assault Classic last year.
BS: If you could have dinner with one person who would you select? AM: My mom, because I’m a momma’s boy.
Jashaun has been in the Lab. He was invited to go to Spain in July to play with and vs the best players in Europe. He hopes to attend the Adidas phenom camp as well for the first time though he has been invited for the past 2 years. He hasn't attended any national exposure camps yet due to conflicts with his busy schedule. AAU Track & Basketball consume much of his time. Even though KO Basketball has him ranked 6th pound for pound in the National for all age groups. He has never cared about National Rankings. He just stays in the Lab and continues to improve his skills with a relentless passion for the game and an incredible support system of NBA players, college players, and personal trainers.
Refunds:There will be no refunds for any team pulling out of this event.
Forfeits: Forfeits will be enforced to keep the games on time. Any teams that purposely forfeits because of non pool advancement will not be allowed to enter any other Basketball Spotlight Events.
Score Table: For complete fairness each team will be responsible for placing a book keeper at the scorer’s table. The home team (first team listed on the schedule) will keep the official book. Basketball Spotlight will monitor and operate the clock.
Game Time and Grace Period: Each Team is responsible of being at the gym at least 15 minutes before their scheduled game. There will be no grace period allowed for any games. There will only be a 5 minute warm up time before the game and 2 minutes at halftime.
Time Outs: There will two full timeouts a half (4 per game) for each team. No carry over and no 30 seconds time outs.
Uniforms: Each Team must have two sets of uniforms (light and dark). Home team will wear light color.
Mercy Rule: If a team is ahead by 20 points or more with 2 minutes remaining in the contest the game will be called at that point. The team ahead by 20 will be awarded the victory.
Player Ejections: Any player ejected from a game will be suspended the next game. Any player involved in or ejected for fighting will be suspended the remainder of the tournament.
Birth Certificates: All teams must have birth certificates for each player on their roster in case of a challenge. Each team will be allowed 3 grade exceptions. Grade Exceptions must have paperwork.
Challenges: Must be made before the game and will cost the challenging team $60.
Daily Admissions: $8 Adults $5 Kids (No Weekend Passes)
Tie Breaker Criteria (In Order): 1. Won-Loss Record 2. Head to Head Competition 3. Point System (Margin Of Victory)- Any team winning by more than 15 points will only be rewarded 15 points for the victory. So if you win by 20 points you still will be rewarded only 15 points. 4. Least Amount of Points allowed in Pool Play 5. Coin Flip
Attention: Any team that doesn't complete the tournament including 3rd Place games will be subject to be omitted from future Basketball Spotlight Events.
Anything that's not covered in the above rules will be handled fairly by the tournament director.
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 9U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 9U Games will be played at Monroe Sports Center and Hoop Group Headquarters.
Pool A 1. NJ Shore Shots 2. Delaware Finest Stars 3. Team Nelson 4. Gauchos
Pool B 1. CJ Hawks 2. DC Assault 3. Natural Ballers 4. Playtime Panthers
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 10U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 10U Games will be played at Hoop Group Headquarters and Monroe Sports Center.
Pool C
1. Elizabeth Giants 2. Natural Ballers 3. Metro Sixers 4. MABC
Pool D
1. NJ Shore Shots 2. Maryland Spartans 3. Gauchos
Pool E
1. Annadale Bulldogs 2. Team NJ ABC 3. Fastbreak Basketball
Saturday May 29th
9:00 AM C1-C2 (MSC CT 1) 9:00 AM C3-C4 (MSC CT 2) 9:00 AM D1-D2 (HGH CT 1) 9:00 AM E1-E2 (HGH CT 2) 11:20 AM C1-C3 (MSC CT 1) 11:20 AM C2-C4 (MSC CT 2) 11:20 AM D1-D3 (HGH CT 1) 11:20 AM E1-E3 (HGH CT 2) 1:40 PM D2-D3 (HGH CT 1) 1:40 PM E2-E3 (HGH CT 2) 5:10 PM 3RD D-3RD E (HGH CT 3)
Sunday May 30th
9:00 AM 1ST D-2ND E (HGH CT 1) 9:00 AM 1ST E-2ND D (HGH CT 2) 11:20 AM C1-C4 (MSC CT 1) 11:20 AM C2-C3 (MSC CT 2) 2:50 PM 1ST C-1ST D (MSC CT 1) SEMIFINAL 2:50 PM 2ND C-1ST E (MSC CT 2) SEMIFINAL 5:10 10U CHAMPIONSHIP (MSC CT 2)
Monroe Sports Center 4 Farrington Blvd Monroe, NJ 08831
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 11U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 11U Games will be played at Hoop Group Headquarters and Monroe Sports Center.
Pool F
1. Team Battle 2. Long Island Lightning 3. Team Final 4. MABC
Pool G
1. Team Nelson 2. CT Elite 3. NJ Shore Shots 4. Maryland Panthers
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 12U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 12U Games will be played at Hoop Group Headquarters.
Orange Division
Pool J 1. Team Battle 2. Gauchos 3. MABC 4. DC Assault (Gorham)
Pool K 1. DC Assault (Clark) 2. South County Elite 3. CT Elite 4. Annadale Bulldogs
Blue Division
Pool L 1. Kingdom Elite 2. Garden State Knight 3. JC Boys Club 4. KBR Raptors
Pool M 1. Flash Basketball 2. Long Island Lightning 3. Team NJ ABC 4. NJ Shore Shots
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 13U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 13U Games will be played at Hoop Group Headquarters and Monroe Sports Center.
Blue Division
Pool P
1. Jersey Shore Devils 2. Penn Valley Heat 3. Kingdom Elite 4. NJ Pirates
The Basketball Spotlight MDC 14U Schedule is posted below. The teams listed on this schedule should begin travel an hour earlier because of Memorial Day traffic. All 14U Games will be played at Lakewood High School leading up to the championship which will be at Hoop Group Headquarters.
14U Pools and Schedules
Pool R 1. Team Final 2. Team NJ ABC (White) 3. B Rock Basketball 4. NJ Got Game
Pool S 1. Team Nelson 2. CJ Jammers 3. City Sports 4. NJ Panthers
Pool T 1. New Heights 2. NY Knights 3. Long Island Lightning 4. Kings Of The Court (OH)
Pool U 1. Team Takeover 2. NJ Pirates 3. MABC 4. ABA Cobras
Hey world it’s your boy Champ. This week was a good and busy week in the life of an 8th grade basketball player. Monday I went to a workout in Newark DE and saw an old friend Mikey Dixon there which was cool. Tuesday I worked out in New Castle DE and for the first time in my life played ball against grown men. Thursday we had a great practice with my DC Assault team. Saturday and Sunday we played in “The National Hoopfest” in the 15U division. It was cool to play in front of the chair of the McDonald’s All American committee Morgan Wootten.
Monday’s workout was good. We worked on dribbling drills, shooting and got to play a little 3 on 3. The best part about Monday though was seeing my old friend Mikey he and I played in my father’s AAU program from ages 9 – 12. It was great to know that we both are still playing and having fun. Tuesday’s workout was off the charts as there were mostly high school kids there and on the other end there were previous high school stars getting it in. We did work on all the usual stuff core, agilities, dribbling, and shooting. But the highlight for me was when I got an opportunity to play against grown men. I was nervous at first but realized after a while that my speed and strength are decent even against grown men and started making some things happen as my confidence grew. Thursday my Dad and I traveled to the DC area to practice. Practice was tough as usual Coach Roach works us hard in practice and teaches us the game as if we were college players already. We have four solid guards on our team and we don’t back off each other for any reason we compete on offense and defense. We all have different strengths and weaknesses that we challenge each other on which makes us better.
Saturday we played our first game of the tournament against the Potomac Pride they were a pretty good team. We beat them handily. Our second game Saturday was against a team from NC BC United. It was a close game from the beginning to the end. But when the clock sounded we had dodged the bullet and pulled out a 1-point victory. The victory against them gave us first place in our pool and advanced us to the quarterfinals. Sunday morning we played Baltimore Elite 15U who had just upset NJ Playaz 15U last week to win the Take Your Best Shot 15U title. The game was close from the beginning to the end. That team was really physical and didn’t allow us many second shots so every shot was crucial. They outlasted us though and we lost 63-60 in a hard fought battle.
Well that’s all for this week in the life of an 8th grade baller. Stay tuned as our team goes on a three week run in the 15U division starting this weekend at Big Shots Richmond VA, then 15u at the Tri-State Invitational in Dover DE, and finally 15U at the MIT in Prince Georges, MD.
This week I want to do things a little different, not just talking about what I do as an individual on the court, but what we do as a team. This week is the picture of my team and the success we had team. They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, last week losing by 1 made us stronger and because of that game we won, this week we were going to have off, but we all wanted to play. So our coach, Ozzie found a tournament that we could play in last minute. Being that this was not as elite tournament we had to play up in the 16U division of the 5 on 5-bball shootout. Our first game we played the Sparta Bruins, which we lost by 14. This was a JV team of all sophomores and a few juniors. Our 2nd game we played a dirty team from Toms River. Because they were upset at being blowout by a 15U team, they hurt my teammate Robert Zeller. He was elbowed in the head and then pushed down to bang his head. It was scary seeing him down and being taken out on a stretcher. I know from experience what that feels like, something similar happen to me last year. It’s a very big head ach the next day. Thank God he is good he only had a concussion, could have been worse. We also had to move to another gym because he couldn’t move and ambulance had to come. But in the end we beat them by more then 20 points.
Sunday we played a team that lost to Sparta by 1pt in over time, they were a very big, tough team. I think they might have been football players. The game was up and down trading the lead. We went on to win by 7 points. As a team we were beat up, but we had the championship game right afterwards. We had only a 15-minute break before the championship game, which was not very well spread out. The top two teams advanced to the championship so we had to play Sparta for it all. We run for hours in particle, which pays off in situations like that. So on 15mins rest and banged up we started the championship game. We started out down 10pts before we scored our 1st basket due to fatigue from the previous game. But after realizing what we were playing for we “turned it up” as we like to say and started to ball. I also think we wanted it more than they did, I don’t know about them, but this was our first championship game during this long slump we were in. We work way too hard in practice to let it slip away. They had one guard who completely ran their offense, our coach told us from the door that he makes them go and we had to take him out. All of our guards also did a good job of penetrating and making there “star player” work on both ends of the floor. This kid was beyond far from Kobe but what LA does with Kobe is puts him on the easiest offensive threat to guard so he can kind of rest on defense, that way of offense he can be the “black mamba”. They were trying to something similar with this kid and we as a team did a good job of making him work. We were down 3 at the half, and after the break is when shots started dropping. We were knocking down 3's and playing up-tempo as we wanted. Even though the majority of the gym at Hoop Heaven was pulling for them, it was our 17u team and parents the got us hyped and kept cheering all game long, so shootouts to them for that. Another funny thing was the team we had just beaten stood to cheer for them to beat us. So we were out numbered in the gym. But we just stood strong and kept coming back at them every time and in the end balh we won the chip by 10.
Another thing that people say is that you never miss something until it’s gone. Not that it was a good thing but in a way it felt better to win one after going so long with out it. Before, we had so much success that winning championships was like just another one to add to the collection. But this one meant more than that after not getting one in so long to finally get one, a remarkable feeling.
“Winning isn't everything, but the will to win is everything.” –Vince Lombardi…Young One Out
The Basketball Spotlight MDC schedule will be posted tonight. Please be on the lookout for it and read it carefully. Thanks for your patience. Any questions contact Mike Melton at basketballspotlight@hotmail.com.
Rakym Felder has taken the Tri-State 12U age group by storm this season. The powerful guard’s play has opposition coaches and fans screaming foul. During the Clash For The Cup his dominance helped New Heights win the crown and a trip to the Metropolitan AAU finals. This past weekend Felder took his game to the DC Assault Classic and had a good showing. I sat down with the Bed-Stuy Bully and here’s our One On One.
One On One
BS: What school do you attend? RF: IS 33
BS: Who’s your favorite player? RF: Derrick Rose because he spreads the floor like me and just goes at the defense.
BS: What was your best game? RF: Last year at the DC Assault Classic we played the CB Spiders and I hit the game winner at the buzzer.
BS: What’s your dream college? RF: Kentucky, I would love to play for Coach Calipari.
BS: What’s the strongest part of your game? RF: Going to the cup.
BS: What part of your game needs the most work? RF: My jump shot.
BS: What’s your fondest basketball moment so far? RF: Winning the MVP of the True Ballers Tournament.
BS: If you could have dinner with any famous person who would you pick? RF: Kobe Bryant because I think he’s a great player and good person.
Byron Nelson scored 9 points and Travis Vann added 8 markers as Tidewater Wildcats defeated Team Battle 49-36 to win the DC Assault Classic 12U Championship. Jamir Harris finished with 14 points for Team Battle in the loss.
Top Performers
Byron Nelson Guard (Tidewater Wildcats)- Nelson can shoot the pill with the best of them. He scorched DC Assault in the semifinals and also found his range a little in the championship. He loves draining the trey ball from the corner.
Mah Coleman Guard (Tidewater Wildcats)- Coleman loves breaking your heart with a tear drop in the lane. The southpaw knows how to get into the paint and get his shot off over shot blockers. He has a savvy style that helps him get past most defenders.
Travis Vann Guard (Tidewater Wildcats)- Vann nailed a couple of treys that hurt Team Battle when they tried to make a comeback. He’s small in stature but showed big heart nailing those shots on this stage.
Juwan Jones Guard (Tidewater Wildcats)- Jones hurt Team Battle in transition by using his strength to score. In the open floor he raced to the tin and exploded for a couple of buckets. This ia a strong guard.
Chris Orlina Forward (Tidewater Wildcats)- Chris didn’t score much but his active play gave TW second chance opportunities. He’s very athletic and probably will become a guard very soon. He tried to throw one down today on a fast break.
Jamir Harris Forward (Team Battle)- Harris played hard and with a sense of urgency in the second half of the finals. He was able to get into the paint and cause some disruption. His play helped TB make things respectable in the end.
The final day of the DC Assault Classic was on fire. The top teams bumped heads and here’s a look at the players that really impressed us.
Day 3 Top Performers
Trey Carver Forward (Tidewater Wildcats)- Carver was a total beast in the semifinals against DC Assault. He’s a wide body and extremely athletic in the paint. He got good post position and punished the host team in the paint.
Anthony Williams Guard (Tidewater Wildcats)- Williams is another kid that caught my eye. He has good size for his positions and can put the rock on the floor. His best days of basketball are definitely ahead of him. You will be hearing his name a lot in the future.
Mike Buckland Guard (Team Felton)- Buckland had another good day helping his team into the Final Four. He demands attention with his size, court vision and ability to score. It’s hard to believe he was a spot up shooter a year ago.
Harry Giles Forward (Team Felton)- Giles also is an impact player that has loads of potential. He runs the floor like a deer and is able to make plays on this level. He reminds of Mike Gilchrist even though Gilchrist was a little taller at this stage. Keep an eye out for him.
Tyus Battle Guard (Team Battle)- Tyus played good in the quarters and semifinals. He had the outside shot falling and was able to create space off the dribble. Once he gets his mid range pull up falling on a regular basis he will be even better.
Keith Washington Guard (Team Battle)- Washington gave TB a boost on both ends of the floor. Offensively he took over the point guard duties and did damage against Team Felton in the semifinals. On the defensive end he did a great job against Rakym Felder and Mike Bucklin.
Rakym Felder Guard (New Heights)- Felder went hard against TB in the quarterfinals while battling injuries. He’s so quick and powerful with the rock that he appears unstoppable at times on this level. Once he gets it going he can put together buckets quickly.
Anthony Cowan Guard (DC Assault)- Cowan left everything on the floor in their Final Four loss to Tidewater. He helped his team overcome a huge deficit with strong dribble drives and tough finishes. When things got real he stepped up his play.
Day 2 from the DC Assault Classic had some serious talent on display. We decided to breakdown the top performers by position. Finally, we are going to look at the point guards. Here are the floor generals that caught our eye on Day 2.
Day 2 Top Point Guards
Alani Moore (DC Assault Gorham)- Moore was extremely impressive today before getting an ankle injury against New Heights. Moore had defenders on skates as he got in the lane at will. It really seemed like the lane opened like the Red Sea when he was penetrating. Once Moore got to the tin he used his scoring prowess to finish off plays. I’ve traveled around the country and to be honest he might be the best 6th grade PG in America. They call him L Train but I like Showtime a little better so we will go with that.
Mike Buckland (Team Felton)- Bucklin played marvelous against Team Battle. His size allows him to see over the defense and make great passes. He picks his spots well and will even burn you with a trey or floater. I like his calm demeanor and ability to run a team. He reminds me of Nick Calathes that played for University of Florida.
Rakym Felder (New Heights)- Yes Felder made this category. I must say I was impressed with his drive, draw and dish game against Norfolk Wildcats. He doesn’t force a lot of shots but when he needs to score he uses his ball handling and strength to get it done.
Chauncey Pittman (Fairfax Stars)- Pittman is a southpaw that takes his time to get the job done. I like how plays off the pick and roll while getting teammates involved. He has a nice trigger and will pull it from deep. He showed good poise today when I saw him rock.
Keith Washington (Team Battle)- Washington made the list not because of his ball handling but his ability to move the rock. He got the TB offense flowing by swinging the pill and stepping in for a mid range shot. He seems to fit in well with this squad.
Chris Lykes (DC Assault Gorham)- Lykes knows how to get the job done despite his size. He will drop the trey ball or the floater. He’s very impressive with his ability to dribble through the defense. He is tough as nails.
Long Island Lightning Wins Title.
Cameron Winston Forward (Long Island Lightning)- Winston used his size and versatility to give KBR problems. Most post players can’t play him off the dribble and he took full advantage. Once he got going he just took over the entire game. This kid is very aggressive.
