AAU 7th Grade Nationals Update: Georgia United Wins The Big Prize!

 

Georgia United Wins National Title

Georgia United used a balanced scoring attack to defeat Team IZOD and win the AAU 7th Grade National Championship. The team from Georgia jumped out to a huge lead before Team IZOD rallied back. In the fourth quarter the game went back and forth for a while before Georgia eventually secured the win in the final minute. Congrats to Georgia United for getting the National Championship. Stay tuned as we bring you the top performers from today.

Exclusive Interview Reggie Carter (Team IZOD Coach)

 

DunkDog.com's Spencer Pulliam spoke with Reggie Carter, current head coach of Team IZOD/Sports U, directly following his team's semifinal victory versus the We All Can Go All-Stars of Tennessee at the 2013 Seventh Grade Division I AAU National Championships. The New Jersey-based club is currently composed of prospects from the class of 2018 and will play in the title game on Sunday, June 30, 2013.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Supreme Team Reach National Championship Game!

Team IZOD In National Championship

Team IZOD defeated We All Can Go All Stars 62-53 in the AAU 7th Grade National semifinal game. The Supreme Team had a balanced scoring attack with Tyrek Chambers leading with 15 points, Nazi Reid and Atiba Taylor posted 14 points and Jahvon Quinerly finished with 11 markers. Team IZOD will face Georgia United tomorrow for the championship. Basketball Spotlight will keep you posted.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: NC Runnin Rebels Reach Final Four

NC Runnin Rebels 

The NC Runnin Rebels advanced to the AAU National 7th Grade Final Four in Memphis, Tennessee. The Runnin Rebels defeated San Antonio Hardwork 54-51 to advance to the round of four. Congrats to NC Runnin Rebels for this successful run and we wish them luck the rest of the way.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Top Performers

 

Nazi Reid (Team IZOD)

Basketball Spotlight landed in Memphis yesterday just in time for the action. Today we saw some great action and some top players. Here’s a breakdown of the top performers we saw today. 

 7th Grade AAU Nationals Top Performers 

Nazi Reid Forward (Team IZOD)- Reid really made a national name for himself in Memphis. He dominated today including the Elite 8 game with 15 points, 24 rebounds and 5 blocks. He made his mark blocking shots, rebounding and dunking the basketball. His wingspan is something they marvel at and today he understood that he could dominate. The sky is the limit. 

Atiba Taylor Guard (Team IZOD)- Taylor played big against George Hill in the Sweet 16. He managed the patrol against one of the best defensive teams in America. His poise and ability to create in this grind out game stood out. He looked like a big time prospect in the heat of the battle. 

Luther Muhammad Guard (Team IZOD)- Muhammad once again proved he might be the best defender in the country. He loves stepping up against the best offensive talent on the opposing squad. He’s too big for small guards and too quick for slow forwards. He’s the glue to this process. 

Jalen Brooks Guard (Team IZOD)- Brooks came up big from the perimeter knocking down three treys in the Elite 8 game. He was hot from the corner while stretching the defense with deep bombs. His outside shot opened things up. 

Darius Garland Guard (WACG)- DC Assault can blame Garland for them not making it to the final four because he went berserk during the their Elite 8 matchup. He knocked down treys in abundance especially during the fourth quarter when he scored 90% of their points. He’s a true gamer and loves the love the limelight. 

Shariff Kenny Forward (DC Assault)- Kenny stepped up big for DCA with his outside shot. The trimmed down forward as fluid from behind the arc and showed off his double crossover when driving. He was a spark plug for DCA until they came up short. 

Prentiss Hubb Guard (DC Assault)- The lefty looked good in front of us today. He was able to knockdown a few treys and calm his team down with tough finishes in transition. He has big game experience and showed it even though they lost. 

Courtney Ramey Guard (Team Ramey)- The nice guard exploded for 30 points in their loss to We All Can Go. His team was down by 20 plus at the half and he stroked them backed with a chance to win. The defense knew he was the main option and he still was able to produce big time.

AAU 7th Grade Nationals Update: "Supreme Team" Advance To Final Four

 

Team IZOD aka the Supreme Team advanced to the 7th Grade AAU National Final Four. Team IZOD defeated George Hill in a dog fight 32-30 to get to the Elite 8. During the Elite 8 they raced past Kentucky Spiece Gators 55-32 to gain their entry to the final four. Congrats to the “Supreme Team” for making history. They join Team NJ as 6th Graders, Team Battle as 5th Graders and CJ Hawks Class of 2000 as 6th and 8th Graders. Tomorrow they will tangle with the well known We All Can Go All Stars in the semifinals. Stay tune as we bring you the top performers and more coverage from Memphis.

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Day 2 Action Continues

The 7th Grade AAU Nationals is taken place in Memphis, Tennessee. Day 2 had some of the Basketball Spotlight teams still undefeated. Here’s a breakdown of the scores from Memphis. 

7th Grade Nationals Day 2 Update 

Team IZOD 81 West Virginia Wildcats 40 
(TI 2-0 Next Game vs. Motivator @11:40 AM) 

DC Assault 56 King James Shooting Stars 52 
(DCA 2-0 Next Game West Virginia ICE @ 11:40 AM) 

ECE 66 Broward County 56 
(ECE 2-0 Next Game Anadlusia Rush @2:20 PM) 

Rens 80 Memphis Tigers 67
(Rens 2-0 Next Game San Antonio Hardwork @ 3:40 PM) 

Team Takeover 60 Team Felton 54 
(TT 2-0 Next Game Team Texas Celtics@2:20 PM) 

SMAC U 60 Mass Shooting Stars 51 
(MSS 1-1 Next Game Team United 11:40 AM) 

Metro Sixers 78 Team DEMI 50 
(MS 2-0 Next Game ABC Swarm 5:00 PM) (Team DEMI 0-2 Next Game Team Final @ 6:20 PM) 

Team Final 58 ABC Swarm 43 
(Team Final 1-1 Next Game Team DEMI @ 6:20 PM) 

NC Runnin Rebels 64 Georgia Stars Elite 47 
(NCRR 2-0 Next Game Indian Faith 10:20 AM)

Diary Of A Baller: Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin (Hartford, CT) Entry #3

Breeze and Mayweather

Hello world! This week it felt great to have a break from school. We have a few weeks off from AAU as well, so I've just been relaxing. Yesterday I went to Six Flags with a few of boys and a few family members as well. We got on a few rides and enjoyed the famous fried dough (don't worry, I'll work it off at the track this week). It felt good to just relax and enjoy hanging out with my brother and my big homie Breeze aka KeAndre Fair. 

7th Grade AAU Nationals Update: Spotlight Teams Impressive On Opening Day

The 7th Grade AAU Nationals is taken place in Memphis, Tennessee and a few Basketball Spotlight squads are off to a great start. Here’s a breakdown of what the Spotlight teams did on Day 1. 

7th Grade AAU Nationals Recap Day 1 

Team IZOD 64 MBA Hoops 48 
( TI Next Game Today @ 3:40 PM vs. West Virginia Wildcats) 

DC Assault 66 Atlanta Celtics 32 
(DCA Next Game Today @1:00 PM vs. K J Shooting Stars) 

East Coast Elite (DE) 68 Martin Brothers 40 
(ECE Next Game Today @5:00 PM vs. Broward County Cougars) 

Rens 98 Pearland Bulldogs 75 
(Rens Next Game Today @6:20 PM vs. Memphis Tigers) 

Mass Shooting Stars 60 Atlantic Celtics 37 
(MSS Next Game Today @6:20 PM vs. SMAC U) 

Team Takeover 58 Team Teague 38 
(TT Next Game Today @3:40 PM vs. Team Felton) 

NC Runnin Rebels 53 Arkansas Hawks Select 43 
(NCRR Next Game Today @1:00 PM vs. Georgia Stars Elite) 

Metro Sixers 50 Team Final 40 
(MS Next Game Today @10:20 AM vs. Team DEMI), 
(TF Next Game Today @11:40 AM vs. ABC Swarm)
  

Basketball Spotlight Exclusive: Dwayne Wade Son Getting Busy

 

Zaire Wade is one of the top 5th graders in the country (Class of 2020). He has drawn the eyes of many spectators because he is NBA superstar Dwyane Wade's son. Zaire is a good three point shooter, passes the ball well, and gets to the rim on defenders using his ball handling skills.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Mixtape: Nothing But Fire!

 

The Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four took place last weekend and it was a dandy. Here’s the extended mixtape with nothing but fire. This video contains players from each team in this event. No other tournament in the country provides this type of exposure and coverage. Thanks for the support and we look forward to seeing you guys on the circuit next season. 
 

Inside The Grand Finale 8th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

The 8th Grade Division of the Grand Finale came down to a great finish. Here’s an inside look into the this age group including the All Tournament Team. 

New Heights Peaks At Right Time! 
New Heights 8th Grade team has had the core of their group for years and always seemed to come up short at the Spotlight events. But this season they got everything together and took home the MDC and Grand Finale crown. I have to give this organization and players credit for sticking to their plan and finally reaching their goal. 

What A Year! 
The 8th Grade Division of the Spotlight circuit was very competitive this year. Each tournament produced a different champion (CBC-Tip Off Classic, Playaz- Clash For The Cup, Team IZOD-AC Showcase and New Heights- MDC). We are happy for creating a setting to help these teams get better and prepare for the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fl. 

Grand Finale 8th Grade All Tournament Team 
Keith Williams (New Heights)
Lydell Geffrad (New Heights) 
Chris Coalman (New Heights) 
Jalin Suber (New Heights) 
Jaecee Martin (CBC) 
Chaylynn Martin (CBC) 
Jared Simmons (CBC) 
Mohammad Bamba (Milbank) 
Isaiah Washington (Milbank) 
Marcus McClary (Playaz)

Inside The Grand Finale 7th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 The 7th Grade Division of the Grand Finale went as predicted. It also gave us some exciting moments. Here’s an inside look into this division and All Tournament Team. 

Supreme Team Grabs First Goal! 
Team IZOD aka Supreme Team won the Grand Finale in impressive fashion. The most talked about 7th Grade team in the country now heads to Memphis to chase the AAU National title. Many skeptics thought this squad would breakup by this time of the season now they are trying to make history. One thing is certain is that they are definitely battle tested. 

Grand Finale 7th Grade All Tournament Team 
Nazi Reid (Team IZOD) 
Jahvon Quinerly (Team IZOD) 
Tyrek Chambers (Team IZOD) 
Atiba Taylor (Team IZOD) 
Luther Muhammad (Team IZOD) 
Kevin Kern (Wall 2 Wall) 
Mikey Esquillin (Wall 2 Wall) 
Alex Serrano (Wall 2 Wall) 
Aidan Ellwood (Wall 2 Wall) 
Kevin Ferraro (Team Final) 
Chris Cropper (ECE)

Inside The Grand Finale 6th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

The 6th Grade Division of the Grand Finale lived up to the expectations. Here’s an inside look at this grade level and the All Tournament Team. 

Is Team Nelson The Next Dynasty? 
Basketball Spotlight has had its share of team dynasties in the past and it appears that Team Nelson might be the next in line. The Mid Atlantic squad won the AC Showcase, MDC and repeated as Grand Finale champions. Now they have their sights set on the 6th Grade Nationals in Hampton, VA. A strong finish will be the finishing touch on another successful campaign. 

Metro Flyers On The Rise? 
After watching the Grand Finale 6th Grade Final Four I came to realize that teams need to beware of the Metro Flyers for the next few years. In one short season they have built a serious team but most importantly they seem to have built for the future. They have good size even in the backcourt. They will be a problem for the next few years. 

6th Grade All Tournament Team 
Mikeal Jones (Team Nelson) 
Mark Bradshaw (Team Nelson) 
Namir Tyler (Team Nelson) 
Chris Allen (Team Nelson) 
Donta Scott (Team Nelson) 
Branden Wilson (Metro Flyers) 
Josh Pierre Louis (Metro Flyers) 
Barry Evans Jr. (Metro Flyers) 
Dajuan Piper (Metro Flyers) 
Daniel Rodriquez (Metro Flyers) 
Raejon Figures (Metro Flyers) 
Ahsan Hulland EL (Metro Flyers) 
AJ Hoggard (Team IZOD) 
Marc Bruce (Team IZOD) 
Terrell Martinez (RJS) 
Nate Coovyer (RJS)

Inside The Grand Finale 5th Grade Feat. The All Tournament Team

The 5th Grade Division of the Grand Finale gave us a look into the future. Here’s an inside look into the division and the All Tournament Team. 

Are The Kings Back? 
A few years ago King Street Kings had one of the best grammar school programs in the region. Their 5th Grade squad got the last minute Grand Finale invite after the Gauchos pulled out. KSK took full advantage of the situation by winning the crown. They defeated a tough CJ Hawks squad and an emerging Nations Basketball Academy. Now it will be interesting to see if this group can help return KSK back to the top. 

5th Grade POY? 
The 5th Grade Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Year is a tight race right now. The leading candidates are 4th Grade Zion Harmon of Team Glory, Trey Patterson of NBA, Tomas Bublis of CJ Hawks and DJ Bailey of Gauchos. The winner will be announced at the J.E.M. All Star Classic August 17th. 

Grand Finale All Tournament Team 
Niels Lane (KSK) 
Richard Greaves (KSK) 
William White (KSK) 
Zion Bethea (KSK) 
Elijah Hutchinson Everett (KSK) 
Trey Patterson (NBA) 
Nashawn Holmes (NBA) 
Haj Parland (NBA) 
Jakari Spence (NBA) 
Zion Harmon (Team Glory) 
Noah Harris (CJ Hawks) 
Charlie Gordiner (CJ Hawks) 
Joseph Manfredi (CJ Hawks)

Atiba Taylor Getting Busy At The Grand Finale Final Four!

 

Team IZOD won the Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale crown and Atiba Taylor was a big part of the process. The lanky point guard spent last Sunday showing off his full arsenal of skills. I was overly impressed with his court vision and ability to set up teammates. Check out his work from the Grand Finale and stay tuned because we have more action coming soon.

Spotlight Alum Foreman Says Yes To Rutgers!

 Dwayne Foreman (Class of 2014)

Basketball Spotlight 2014 Alum Dwayne “DJ” Forman has decided to attend Rutgers University. Foreman starred on the Spotlight circuit with the Trenton Hurricanes. Foreman now plays for Boo Williams AAU squad and has made a name on the circuit. Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate DJ Foreman on is college selection and wishes him the best on the next level.

 

Spotlight Alum Garner Picks Happy Valley!

Shep Garner (Class Of 2014)

Basketball Spotlight Class of 2014 Alum Shep Garner has decided to attend Penn State University. Garner starred on the Spotlight circuit with Team Nelson and Youth Interlock. Garner went on to get busy at Roman Catholic and Team Final. Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate Shep Garner and his family on his selection for college. 

 

Wendall Carter Represented ATL To The Fullest!

 

Wendell Carter is a 6'8 eighth grader who is widely considered a Top 5 Player in the class of 2017. Carter has a great touch around the rim and made it look too easy at the 2013 CP3 Rising Stars event in Georgia.

Diary Of A Baller Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin (Hartford, CT) Entry #2

Jaecee At 8th Grade Graduation

Hey there BballSpotlight World! 

This was a very good week for me. The week started with me graduating from Sarah J. Rawson Middle School. This was a big deal to my friends and family because so many people in my circle all attend the same school. Most of us have been going to school together for so long, this was the final step before high school. Me, my brother, Ismail and Vincent have been through it all and I'm glad we all got it together in the classroom and walked across that stage together! It felt great to make my Mom proud! She's been through a lot with me and my brothers and sister so I love to make her smile every chance I get. Our house burned down earlier this year so we have gone through a lot as a family, but we got through that just like we get through everything else. My coach always says we are built different than other kids, I believe him! 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 8th Grade Top Performers

 Keith Williams (New Heights)

The 8th Grade Division of the Grand Finale came down to the wire. Most of these youngsters went down fighting in their final Spotlight event. Here’s the group of players that impressed us the most. 

Grand Finale 8th Grade Top Performers 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 7th Grade Top Performers

Nazi Reid (Team IZOD)

The 7th Grade Division of the Grand Finale featured some serious talent. Here’s our list of players that impressed us during this event. 

Grade Finale 7th Grade Top Performers 

Deondre Vilmer: My FIBA Experience Final Entry

June 15th 

What's up? Today our last game versus Mexico was so early that the gym was very empty. We defeated Mexico in a close battle because they came to play which made the game exciting and intense. I got what I wanted and that's to leave Uruguay with a win. We finished with a 2-3 record and I'm not satisfied with that but our team had less than a week to practice. It was most of our first time playing with each other. 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 6th Grade Top Performers Part 2

Branden Wilson (Metro Flyers)

The 6th Grade Division gave us a chance to see some serious talent. Here’s Part 2 of our top performers from the rising 7th Grade Class. 

Grand Finale 6th Grade Top Performers Part 2 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 6th Grade Top Performers Part 1

Mikeal Jones (Team Nelson)

The 6th Grade Division gave us a chance to see some serious talent. Here’s Part 1 of our top performers from the rising 7th Grade Class. 

Grand Finale 6th Grade Top Performers Part 1 

Deondre Vilmer: My FIBA Experience Entry #2

Vilmer Finishing At The Cup 

Today (June 14th) the team started with an early morning devotion before we headed to the gym to play the home team which is Uruguay. They had the crowd on their side of course but we kept our composure and didn't let the loud environment get to us. It was a hard fought game we battled until the very end but we lost 72-66. We made a couple of mistakes at the end that gave up the game. I wasn't happy about the lost but this all is a great experience and this shows me where I stand against other players around the world. 

Our last game is on Saturday at 11am we play Mexico, but Mexico wants revenge since we have beaten them already in this tournament so we expect them to come out hard and battle. I'm positive my teammates and I will get the win tomorrow. Hopefully all our players are well rested tomorrow because I'm trying to leave Uruguay with a win. I'm anxious to get back to Abaco, Bahamas to see my family and friends I haven't seen in almost 2 years. I'll miss playing with the guys on the national team because I won't see them for while. My summer has been going great and I can't wait to get back to the U.S for nationals in Orlando with my AAU team, Team Final. 

In conclusion we leave Sunday for the Bahamas I pray I have a safe flight. I'm ready to get back so I can work on my weakness and to run the beach. I thank God for all these opportunities hopefully there's a lot more to come my way.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 5th Grade Top Performers Part 2

Trey Patterson (Nations Basketball Academy)

The 5th Graders gave us a great show at the Grand Finale Final Four. We definitely look forward to watching them play over the next three years. Here’s Part 2 of our look at the top performers from this grade level. 

5th Grade Grand Finale Top Performers Part 2 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 5th Grade Top Performers Part 1

 Niels Lane (KSK)

The 5th Graders gave us a great show at the Grand Finale Final Four. We definitely look forward to watching them play over the next three years. Here’s a list of the top performers we saw this weekend. 

 5th Grade Grand Finale Top Performers Part 1

Basketball Spotlight 8th Grade Grand Championship Recap: New Heights Makes Statement!

New Heights Takes Banner To NYC

Lydell Geffrad scored 13 points while Keith Williams and Chris Coalman added 11 markers apiece while New Heights defeated CBC 51-44 to win the Basketball Spotlight 8th Grade Grand Championship. Jaecee Martin finished with 21 points for CBC in the loss. Congratulations to New Heights for taking the title back to NYC.

Basketball Spotlight 7th Grade Grand Championship Recap: Supreme Team Answers The Bell!

 Team IZOD Reigns Supreme

Tyrek Chambers scored 18 points including 3 treys and Jahvon Quinerly added 11 markers as Team IZOD defeated Wall 2 Wall 42-26 to win the Basketball Spotlight 7th Grade Grand Championship. Kevin Kern scored 12 points for Wall 2 Wall in the loss. Congrats to Team IZOD for taking home their first Grand Championship. Stay tuned as we bring you exclusive coverage of the Grand Finale including top performers and video highlights.

Basketball Spotlight 6th Grade Grand Finale Championship Recap: Team Nelson Proves Twice Is Nice!

Team Nelson Doubles Up 

Mikeal Jones scored 20 point and Mark Bradshaw added 12 marker as Team Nelson defeated Metro Flyers 42-38 to win the Basketball Spotlight 6th Grade Grand Championship. Branden Wilson finished with 11 points for Metro Flyers in the loss. Congrats to Team Nelson for winning their second Grand Finale banner in a row. Stay tuned as we bring you the top performers and loads of coverage from the Grand Finale.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale 5th Grade Championship Recap: King Street Kings Crash The Party!

King Street Kings Snatch Banner 

Niels Lane scored 20 points and Richard Greaves added 10 markers as King Street Kings defeated Nations Basketball Academy 47-38 to win the Basketball Spotlight 5th Grade Grand Championship. Trey Patterson scored 19 points for Nations Basketball Academy in the loss. Congratulations to King Street Kings for coming to the Grand Finale and winning it all. Stay tuned as we bring you the top performers and more coverage from the Grand Finale.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Preview: Does The Money Team Possess One More Hurrah?

 

The “Money Team” has become a major story on the Spotlight circuit since their arrival a few years ago. Nothing would be a better ending to their story than if they win the Grand Finale Final Four on Sunday. Can the “Money Team” come through? We will see!

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four Preview: Here Comes "The Terminator"!

 

After leading the Playaz Basketball Club to the Clash For The Cup Championship. Jamir Harris AKA “The Terminator” missed the AC Showcase and MDC with an ankle injury. But now Harris has returned for the Grand Finale Final Four and will be trying to help the Playaz capture the ultimate banner. Does he have enough bullets to get the job done? We will see on Sunday!

Deondre Vilmer: My FIBA Experience Entry #1

8th Grade Deondre Vilmer is currently representing the Bahamas at the FIBA U16 America's Championships in  Maldonado, Uruguay and Basketball Spotlight has asked him to share this experience with us.

My journey to Uruguay started on June 7th which was the day after my 8th Grade Graduation. My mom, dad, uncle and I began driving at 4 am in the morning from Delaware to make a 9 am flight from JFK in New York. I had to go to Nassau Bahamas to try-out for the Bahamas U16 Team. The traffic was so backed up that we didn’t make it to the airport until 8 o’clock. Therefore we had to hustle hard through the airport to make the flight. While on the flight I'm having mixed emotions, excited but at the same time nervous and overwhelmed at the opportunity that awaits me. 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four Preview: Can New Heights Reach New Heights?

 

New Heights came to the MDC and flexed their muscle while taking home the Gold Ball. Now they are two victories away from raising the banner in their NY site. Can they get it done? We will see at the Grand Finale Final Four on Sunday. Stay tuned as we focus on more teams and players at the final four.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Player Preview: Can Prince Reddish Deliver The Banner?

 

Cameron “The Prince” Reddish is a name that has came on late during the Spotlight circuit but now he enters the Grand Finale Final Four is a chance to help his boys shock the world. They have a few road blocks in their way including the “Supreme Team”. Can he handle the load? We shall see Sunday! Pressure is what Basketball Spotlight is all about.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Player Preview: Josh "The Jet" Pierre Louis (Metro Flyers)

 

Joshua “The Jet” Pierre Louis will be using his speed to try and bring Metro Flyers their first Spotlight championship. He has the game and surrounding cast to get it done. Basketball Spotlight will be bringing you exclusive coverage from the Grand Finale Final Four. Stay tuned as we bring you more players that will be in the building.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Roster Rules (Please Print Roster Form)

The Grand Finale Final Four is set for Saturday. Please read the special roster rules below concerning this event. We created these rules because we understand that teams tend to add players to their rosters this time of year. 

Roster Rules: 

1. Please print out a roster form below and turn in a copy at registration. Teams must have paperwork on demand in case of challenge. 
2. Teams can add a player only if that player hasn’t participated in any Basketball Spotlight events with another team during the 2012-2013 circuit. 
3. If a player switched teams during the circuit and played in at least one Spotlight event with his new team, he then can join his new team at the Grand Finale.

Roster Form

Vilmer Competing At FIBA U16 America's Championships

 Deondre Vilmer Gaining International Experience

8th Grade Deondre Vilmer of Team Final is competing with the Bahamas at the FIBA America’s U16 Championships. Vilmer scored 13 points in his team’s first game loss to Argentina. Next up is a date with the loaded Team USA who defeated Mexico by 99 points.

Team Final's 8th Grade skipper Orlando Hildago feels this experience is great for Vilma, "I believe Dre getting a chance to play against the best young players in the world will help him gain confidence. Hopefully he can carry this momentum into high school and his future basketball endeavors" he finished. 

 Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate Vilmer and wish him the best of luck as they try to win the Gold in Uruguay.

Coming In 2014: RETURN TO THE BATTLEGROUNDS

Many former teams of the Spotlight circuit have contacted us and expressed that they miss the intensity and excitement of our events. This void has definitely been expressed from those on the 15U and 16U level. Therefore we have decided to bring everyone back for one annual event entitled “Return To The Battlegrounds”. No, we are not moving into the high school arena but this event will give us a first-hand view of our former teams. We are extremely excited about this event and stay tuned for the 2014 date and location.

Grand Finale Final Four Preview: Supreme Team Moment Of Truth!

 

The “Supreme Team” will be looking for their first Grand Finale banner on Sunday. Since the season began they have been the most talked about 7th Grade team in America. Their next two goals will be to win the Grand Finale and then chase the National Championship in Memphis at the end of the month. Its money time and we will see what they have in the arsenal.

Grand Finale Final Four Flashback: 2012 Mixtape

 

Last year the Grand Finale Final Four featured the top teams in the region. The action was fast paced and furious. This weekend the 2013 version will hit Trenton Catholic and the ultimate prize will be on the line. Here’s a look at the action from 2012.

DC Assault Welcomes New Coach With MIT Championship

 

DC Assault Victorious

DC Assault 7th Grade has a new Coach Howard Blue but still was able to win the MIT Gold Division title. Congrats to the DC Assault and Basketball Spotlight welcomes their new coach. We also wish them luck throughout the rest of the season including the AAU Nationals.

Grand Finale Player Preview: "The Lion" Is Coming!

 

Zion “The Lion” Harmon will be leading Team Glory into battle on Saturday at the Grand Finale Final Four. Harmon and Team Glory will be seeking their first Spotlight banner and it would be great if it was the ultimate prize. Stay tuned as we bring you more top players that will be making their presence felt at the Grand Finale.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four Schedule

 

The Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four schedule is below. Please make sure you travel early for your games because traffic can be tight especially on the NJ Turnpike. 

Saturday June 15th 

5TH Grade Semifinal 
11:00 AM CJ Hawks vs. Nations Basketball Academy 
12:15 PM NYC Gauchos vs. Team Glory 

6th Grade Semifinal 
1:30 PM Team Nelson vs. RJS 
2:45 PM Team IZOD vs. Metro Flyers 

4:00 PM 5th Grade Championship 
5:15 PM 6th Grade Championship 

Sunday June 16th 

7th Grade Semifinals 
11:00 AM Team IZOD vs. Team Final 
12:15 PM Wall 2 Wall vs. ECE 

8th Grade Semifinals 
1:30 PM CBC vs. Milbank 
2:45 PM Playaz vs. New Heights 

4:00 PM 7th Grade Championship 
5:15 PM 8th Grade Championship 

Games Played At 
Trenton Catholic Academy 
175 Leonard Ave Trenton, NJ 08610

Team IZOD Wins MIT Title

 

Team IZOD Wins MIT

Team IZOD won the Maryland Invitational Tournament 8th Grade Championship 86-79 over Milbank in double overtime. Congrats to Team IZOD for winning the championship and we wish them luck at the AAU Nationals.

Diary Of A Baller: Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin (Hartford, CT) Entry #1

 

Jaecee "Mayweather" Martin 

Hello world , I'm Jaecee Martin, point guard for Connecticut Basketball Club's 2017 team and here is a little something about myself . 

I'm a 5"8 guard from Hartford, Connecticut. Despite what you've heard, I'm 14 years old in the 8th grade. I get a kick out of hearing all the lies people say about me and my teammates. I used to get angry, but now it's funny. I hang out and have fun a lot, but basketball is my main job. Everyday I do something related to me getting better. Whether its shooting or working on ball handling, or just working out to get my body ready for the next level. I work out against my best competition. The hardest player for me to check (KeAndre Fair) and the best defender I've ever played against (my brother Chaylyn). We push each other to be great. Sometimes the competition gets crazy, but we know we're just making each other better. 

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four 8th Grade Preview

 

The 8th Grade Division at the Grand Finale promises to be incredible. All four teams in this event have the potential of getting the banner. Here’s a breakdown of the four squads invited. 

Grand Finale 8th Grade Preview 

#1 Seed CBC 
Resume: Champion (Tip Off Classic), Final Four (Clash For The Cup, AC Showcase) 
The “Money Team” entered the season with a full head of steam by winning the Tip Off Classic. Now they will be trying to the ultimate banner back to Hartford. They have a tough battle on their hands in the semifinals against “The Bank”. 

#2 Seed Playaz Basketball Club 
Resume: Champion (Clash For The Cup) Final Four (Tip Off Classic) 
PBC took home the Cup on Super Bowl Sunday and now they are trying to end the season with the big prize. When everything is clicking they can take down anyone. I wonder if the “Terminator” will be making an appearance in this one. 

#3 Seed New Heights 
Resume: Champions (MDC) Final Four (Tip Off Classic) 
New Heights secured their spot by bullying their way through the MDC. Now they must beat the Playaz in the semifinals of they want a shot at the banner. Can anyone slow down their freight train? We will see Sunday. 

#4 Seed Milbank 
Resume: Runner Up (AC Showcase), Final Four (MDC) 
“The Bank” enters the Grand Finale hungry for the banner. They are the only team on the list that didn’t win a crown this year. A final four championship would put their program on the map in a big way.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four 7th Grade Preview

 

The 7th Grade Grand Finale Final Four should be full of highlights. Here’s a look at the four teams that are in hunt of the banner. 

Grand Finale Final Four 7th Grade Preview 

#1 Seed Wall 2 Wall 
Resume: Runner Up (Tip Off Classic) Final Four (MLK Classic) 
Wall 2 Wall enters the Grand Finale with the #1 seed and will have a semifinal date with Mid Atlantic champion ECE. They started the season with so much promise and now they have a chance to cap it off with a banner. 

#2 Seed Team IZOD 
Resume: Champion (Tip Off Classic) Final Four (AC Showcase) 
The “Supreme Team” is the most talked about 7th Grade squad in America. Now they must prove they can handle things in their own back yard. In the semifinals they face an upset minded Team Final crew featuring Cameron “The Prince” Reddish. Right now they are looked at as the overwhelming favorite. 

#3 Seed Team Final 
Resume: Runner Up (MDC) 
Team Final is the Cinderella of the Final Four. They added some new pieces and will be looking to knock off the “Supreme Team”. Hopefully they will bring that hungry attitude they had during the MDC. 

#4 Seed ECE 
Resume: Mid Atlantic AAU Champions 
ECE enters as the #4 seed but they do bring some Grand Finale experience from last season. They also have been on a hot streak lately by winning 4 tournaments in a row. Their semifinals match up with Wall 2 Wall should be a crowd pleaser.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four 6th Grade Preview

 

The 6th Grade Grand Finale Final Four should be outstanding. Here’s a breakdown of the four teams that will do battle. 

Grand Finale Final Four 6th Grade Preview 

#1 Seed Team Nelson 
Resume: Champions (AC Showcase and MDC) 
The hottest team on the circuit enters as the top seed. They have been striving at the right time and will be looking to collect their second Grand Finale banner. Standing in their way during the semifinals is a young but dangerous RJS squad. If Team Nelson wants to repeat as champions they need to use their size and the scoring ability of their guards. Team Nelson AKA “The BOYS In Blue” 

 #2 Seed Metro Flyers 
Resume: Runner Up (Tip Off Classic and Clash For The Cup) Final Four (AC Showcase) 
The Flyers are still waiting to win their first Spotlight title. The Grand Finale will be a perfect way to get over the hump. Their semifinal matchup with Team IZOD should be a great one to watch. If the Flyers want to win it all they must play that great defense they are known for and pound the rock inside. 

#3 Seed Team IZOD 
Resume: Champion (Tip Off Classic) Final Four (AC Showcase) 
They started the season with a full head of steam and now they will want to end it with the ultimate prize. They will tangle with a familiar foe during the semifinals before playing for the crown. If they want to win it their backcourt trio needs to carry the load. 

#4 Seed RJS 
Resume: Champion (AC Showcase-Blue) Runner Up (MLK Classic) 
After winning the Blue Division crown at the AC Showcase, RJS had a decent showing at the MDC. Now they will try to carry this momentum into the Grand Finale. This is a team that you cannot look past.

Basketball Spotlight Grand Finale Final Four 5th Grade Preview

 

The Grand Finale has arrived and first up to bat will be our 5th Graders. This final four should be very exciting. Here’s our preview of what to expect once we hit Trenton Catholic:

 Grand Finale Final Four 5th Grade Preview

#1 Seed CJ Hawks 
Resume: Champions (Clash For The Cup and MDC) 
The Hawks enter the Final Four as the #1 seed. The fundamentally sound club will tangle with Nations Basketball Academy in the semifinals. In order for them to get the banner they must control the tempo, handle ball pressure and stick to their game plan. They 

#2 Seed NYC Gauchos 
Resume: Champions (Tip Off Classic and AC Showcase) 
The Choz are perhaps the most explosive and feared squad in this event. If they get rolling they are capable of blowing any team out of the gym. Their semifinal matchup pits them against Team Glory which might be the most exciting game of the day. If they want to take the banner to the Bronx they need to apply that pressure and run like Choz teams of yester years.

 #3 Seed Team Glory 
Resume: Runner Up (Tip Off Classic and Clash For The Cup) 
Glory was close to winning both tournaments listed above but now they can end the year the right way by taking the ultimate banner. They must first take care of the Choz in the semifinals which should be a dandy. For them to win it all they need to get their dynamic guards going early and often. It would be a great story for them to take the banner back to Maryland.

#4 Seed Nations Basketball Academy 
Resume: Champions (AC Showcase-Blue) Runner Up (MDC) 
After winning the AC Showcase NBA proved they were legit by making it to the finals of the MDC. In the semifinals they will be looking to revenge a close loss to the CJ Hawks. But for them to shock the world and win it all their big guards will have to bring their A games.

Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Week: Patrick Stryzala (Team IZOD)

 

Patrick Stryzala (Team IZOD)

The Basketball Spotlight Player Of The Week goes to 8th Grader Patrick Stryzala of Team IZOD. Patrick led his team to the MIT Gold Division Championship while also taking home MVP honors. Basketball Spotlight would like to congratulate Patrick for this honor but remember to continue to work hard because this is just the beginning.

 

Basketball Spotlight MDC Mixtape: Certified Fire!

 

The Basketball Spotlight MDC was fire this year. Check out the highlights and top moments from this event. Those in attendance caught the action but if you weren’t there you missed a dandy. Basketball Spotlight would like to thank you for all the support and we will continue to bring you the best coverage in the country.

MYM Tournament To Benefit Crohn Disease Research

 

WHAT IS mYm: Make your Mark (mYm) is a one day charitable basketball event to raise money for Crohn's Disease Research. It will include three contests: A free throw shootout, skills challenge, and three point shootout. There will also be tournament games. All winners of the events/games will receive a prize. By participating in the Make your Mark tournament as a player, you will receive a t-shirt and wristband! Also, if you attend, whether as a player or visiting, you will get the chance to win autographed items and other cool prizes, see good basketball, and get the chance to meet some great guests. It will truly be an awesome day of fun and basketball for all! 

WHY: My 14 year old brother, Mark, has had Crohn's Disease since he was 5 years old. He has struggled, battled,and perservered at times, but continues to be a happy and active teenager. Mark currently attends Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ. He is in the 8th grade and played on the varsity middle school for the last two years. In addition, he plays for Ewing Rec, Ewing Travel Basketball, and MC Elite U14 AAU team. Mark has always had a strong passion for the game of basketball with his first idol being Allen Iverson and now LeBron James. Make your Mark is an event to have a fun day of basketball while also raising money for Crohn's Disease research. The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) has been actively helping in planning and contributing ideas regarding the event. All of the money raised from this event will go to the CCFA towards research to hopefully help change at least one person's battle against Crohn's. 

WHO: Boys in 8th-9th grade between the ages of 14-16. All boys can enter individually or with their team. If a player enters individually they will be placed on a team. If a team needs a coach, they may be given one, however all teams are encouraged to register with their own coach. 

WHEN: Saturday, June 29, 2013 The official start time for the event will be 9:00. It is expected to run as late as 6pm. 

WHERE: Princeton Day School 650 Great Rd, Princeton, NJ 08540

Click Here To Register

Inside The MDC 5th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 

The 5th Grade Division came down to the wire and had the best championship game of the entire MDC. Here’s an inside look at this division and the All Tournament Team. 

Inside the MDC 5th Grade 

Hawks Make Things Interesting 
The CJ Hawks won the MDC over rival Nations Basketball Academy. Now heading into the Grand Finale the two CJ programs will battle in the semifinals. The other semifinals will feature the Gauchos vs. Team Glory which will be another dandy. I can’t wait for next weekend at Trenton Catholic. It’s on and popping.

MDC 5th Grade All Tournament Team 
Mr. Memorial Day- Tommy Bublis (CJ Hawks) 
Noah Harris (CJ Hawks) 
Joe Manfredi (CJ Hawks) 
Charlie Gordiner (CJ Hawks) 
Tre’von Patteron (NBA) 
Na’Shawn Holmes (NBA) 
Tahaj Parland (NBA) 
Jakari Spence (NBA)
Cam Rooney (KSK)
Tahjamen Bullock (KSK)
Jody Santos (KSK)

Inside The MDC 6th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 

The 6th Grade Division at MDC was business as usual as Team Nelson 3-peated. Here’s the inside look into this division including the All Tournament Team. 

Inside The MDC 6th Grade 

MDC=Team Nelson Invitational 
For the third year in a row Team Nelson has won the MDC. The Mid Atlantic giants seem to always play their best ball this time of year. Now they will gear up to repeat as Grand Finale champs. They have turned into the team to beat and we definitely will be watching next weekend. 

MDC 6th Grade All Tournament Team 
Mr. Memorial Day Orange- Mark Bradshaw (Team Nelson) 
Mr. Memorial Day Blue- Hakim Hart (Philly Pride) 
Mikeal Jones (Team Nelson) 
Namier Tyler (Team Nelson) 
Dontae Scott (Team Nelson) 
Tavon Allen (6th Man Warriors) 
Elijah Hicks (6th Man Warriors) 
Tyler Brelsford (ETU Select) 
Tyrese Jenkins (ETU Select) 
Terrence Williams (ETU Select) 
Hunter Dinkinson (ETU Select)
Cole Anthony (Rens) 
Judah McIntyre (Rens)

Inside The MDC 7th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 

The 7th Grade Division at MDC also produced a new championship and gave us a look at the some teams that are on the horizon for next season. Here’s the inside look into this division including the All Tournament Team. 

Inside The MDC 7th Grade 

Coming Out Party! 
Cameron “The Prince” Reddish and Armoni “Live Wire” Sexton both used the MDC as their coming out party. Both players led their teams to the championship game. Also both players have a chance be ranked very high once national rankings are released this summer by the media outlets. Basketball Spotlight will be keeping our eye on these two youngsters going into next season.

MDC 7th Grade All Tournament Team 
Mr. Memorial Day Orange- Armoni Sexton (Playaz) 
Mr. Memorial Day Blue- Dominic Jones (Boston Spartans) 
Tyson Eitenne (Playaz) 
Tawan Grier (Playaz) 
Cameron Reddish (Team Final) 
Devon Ferrero (Team Final) 
Isaiah Jones (Team Final) 
James Leible (Team Final) 
Dallas Watson (Milbank) 
Terrence Trice (Milbank)
Terry Dawkins (New Heights)
Rashaad Staten (New Heights)
Nairan Thakurdyal (New Heights)
Idan Tretout (New Heights) 
 

Inside The MDC 8th Grade Feat. All Tournament Team

 

The 8th Grade Division once again produced a new champion. Here’s an inside look including All Tournament Team. 

Inside The MDC 8th Grade 

Grand Finale To Settle #1 Dispute 
Right now the 8th Grade Division of the Basketball Spotlight circuit seems like the BCS in college football. It’s difficult to really crown the #1 team but I believe the Grand Finale will help clear the smoke. CBC was cruising early but hit a stumbling block late. The Playaz picked up where CBC left of and also slowed down during the last leg. Now both Milbank and New Heights are blazing during the 4th quarter. I’m glad we now settle everything on the floor at the Grand Finale. 

8th Grade MDC All Tournament Team 
Mr. Memorial Day Orange - Keith Williams (New Heights) 
Mr. Memorial Day Blue- Mikey Grande and Matt Ciaccio (NBA) 
Mike Burnett (New Heights) 
Paul Person (New Heights) 
Lydell Geffrad (New Heights) 
Nate Pierre Louis (Metro Flyers) 
Lonnie Walker (Metro Flyers) 
Jaecee Martin (CBC) 
Chaylynn Martin (CBC) 
Isaiah Washington (Milbank) 
Sid Wilson (Milbank)

John Lucas MSC Report Part 2 (By Tate Johnson)

 

DJ Harvey (Owens Cross Roads, AL)

Once again I came away from the John Lucas Middle School Combine's highly impressed with the talent in attendance. You have kids representing over 25 states as far as Hawaii. Just like in past years I saw quite a few kids that will be impacting their high school teams immediately. So below is a handful of kids that I saw play and stood out to me: 

Darren DJ Harvey 6'5 Owens Cross Roads, AL 2017: Another player in the camp who's upsides tremendous. He got up and down the floor with the guards and played above the rim. Has loads of potential and if he comes close to it that spell special. 

John Lucas MSC Report Part 1 ( By Tate Johnson)

 

Jalek Felton (Mullins,SC)

Once again I came away from the John Lucas Middle School Combine's highly impressed with the talent in attendance. You have kids representing over 25 states as far as Hawaii. Just like in past years I saw quite a few kids that will be impacting their high school teams immediately. So below is a handful of kids that I saw play and stood out to me: 

Jalek Felton 6'2 Mullins, SC 2017: He showed he has all the tools to maintain his status as one of the best players in his class for the next four years. If he gets no taller he will still be a stud. He plays with bounce, has real good court vision makes his teammates better. He handles the ball like a lead guard and the most impressive thing for me he was having fun and made sure his teammates were too. 

Grand Finale Flashback: Temple Gibbs Shines On Big Stage!

 

Last season’s 8th Player Of The Year Temple Gibbs saved one his best outings for the Grand Finale. The lead guard put together two tremendous games while helping Team Scan capture the Grand Finale crown. Who will be ready to step up like Gibbs next weekend? We shall see.

Grand Finale Final Four Updated!

 The Grand Finale Final Four list for each age group is below. During the semifinals the #1 seed will play the #4 seed and #2 seed will challenge the #3 seed. If a team decides not to attend this event then the next team on the point system list will take their place. Good luck to all the teams and the schedule will be coming shortly. 

5th and 6th Grade (Saturday, June 15th) 

7th and 8th Grade (Sunday, June 16th) 

@Trenton Catholic Academy 

8th Grade Teams 
1. CBC 
2. Playaz
3. New Heights
4. Milbank

7th Grade Teams 
1. Metro Sixers 
2. Wall 2 Wall 
3. Team IZOD 
4. Team Final 

6th Grade Teams 
1. Team Nelson 
2. Metro Flyers 
3. ETU Select 
4. Team IZOD 

5th Grade Teams 
1. CJ Hawks 
2. Gauchos 
3. Team Glory 
4. Nations Basketball Academy

Basketball Spotlight MDC 6th Grade Top Performers

 

Mikeal Jones (Team Nelson)

The 6th Grade Division gave us some exciting moments all the way to the end. Here’s a breakdown of the top performers of the MDC. 

MDC 6th Grade Top Performers 

Mikeal Jones Forward (Team Nelson)- Jones put together two big games which propelled Team Nelson to the Gold Ball. First against Rens in the semifinals he went straight to work. He tallied 25 points while finishing along the baseline and showing versatility and in the finals he capped his weekend off with a 20 point performance. During both games he was a monster on the boards and on defense. He’s definitely a candidate for POY and we look forward to watching him at the Grand Finale.

Tay Allen Guard (6th Man Warriors)- OMG once again torched the competition while helping his troops reach the championship game. In the semifinals he connected on 15 points while eliminating ETU Select. 

Elijah Hicks Guard (6th Man Warriors)- Hicks also got involved for the Virginia team. He scored 14 points in their semifinal win and also played tough with Allen in their championship loss. 

Cole Anthony Guard (Rens)- Anthony had a terrific weekend while helping Rens reach the final four. His most impressive move is his mid-range pull up. He seems to have a polished the move and will shoot it at any time during the game. I also like his range from three point range and ability to make plays. 

Judah McIntrye Guard (Rens)- This kid seems to have eyes in the back of his head. His job is to break down the defense and find open teammates and he does a great job at it. He puts constant pressure on the defense when penetrating and has developed some scoring prowess. 

Tyler Brelsford Guard (ETU Select)- ETU had two starters absent so the point guard had to step up and carry more of the scoring load. He answered the bell helped his squad make the final four were the lost a buzzer beater to 6th Man Warriors. He finished with 14 points in the semis.

Tyrese Jenkins Forward (ETU Select)- The big forward also found his scoring groove and even showed improved range in his shot. He finished the semifinal game with 13 points and a host of rebounds.

Diary of a Baller: Azar “A.Z.” Swain, Boston, MA (Entry#12) The Final Chapter

 

Azar Swain AKA A.Z

 What Up Diary, Today is Monday and I came back from New Jersey today, but I didn’t go to my house. Instead, I went straight to my friend’s house in Winthrop. A bunch of my friends and I had a plan to spend the day over his house and sleep over there before leaving for DC with our school on Tuesday morning. I had a lot of fun today with the boys. It was good to be able to kick back and just relax and have fun. Over the next three days, it is going to be sad to have to leave my family and home for 3 days, so I am going to have to make my time in DC worth the trip. I have heard a lot of former 8th graders talk about DC and how it is a great time. I really hope that my friends and I can make it a fun time. When we leave DC, it will be the last time I see all of my friends. This 2012-2013 year has been the best year of my life, both in athletics and school. I am going to miss them a lot. Later Diary. 

Basketball Spotlight MDC Highlights: Martin Brothers Putting In Work!

 

The Martin Brothers is perhaps the best sibling duo to ever come through Basketball Spotlight. This backcourt has turned CBC Class of 2017 into one of the best grammar school teams in the country. We look forward to seeing the Martin Brothers at the Grand Finale where they will try to cap their careers off in style.