MAYB ACTION
Although we still have a little more high school basketball to go, it’s that time of the year again as MAYB action got underway this weekend with the championship being held on Sunday at Singleton Community Center in Bartlett.
In 5th grade division, the Memphis WarEagles took on the championship plaque winning in big fashion, 48-15 behind the play of Jessie Neloms who will surprise some when I do my rankings for this age group. Maceo Wooden and Blake Williams. In the girl’s action in the 7th and 8th grade division, the Mississippi Lady Braves out of Jackson Ms, took home the hardware beating the Memphis Select girls. I was really impressed with some of the Lady Braves players in particular, a big post player who I didn’t get the name of and a guard, Erica Harris, an 8th grader who displayed the game of a player a little older with her vision and ability to score under pressure. She is a true leader who you will hear big things from in the upcoming years. Congrats Lady Braves.
In the 7th and 8th grade boys division, the Memphis Cobras beat the Memphis Jaguars 42-32. Playing with the Cobras was top 10 guard, Josh Jones of John P.Freeman. The Ballers and Magic 3rd place game may have been the most entertaining game of the day as they took on the 14’s Memphis Magic. A 25 foot 3pointer swished the nets putting the game into overtime but the on the first possession of overtime, things got a little controversial. The referees lined the teams up wrong during the jump ball with the Magic facing the Ballers way. The Magic would score off the tip on a Earving Morris lay up as the Ballers fans cheered as the Magic scored 2 on the wrong goal. Time was stopped as the refs discussed but in the end, the Ballers got the basket. The Ballers ended up winning the game, 41-40 earning a 3rd place finish. Earving Morris, a 6’2 guard played well, showing off a depth shooting touch. He could be a player to watch next year at East High School.Alex Anderson of the Ballers played well too showing a new found passion for defending opposing guards. Anderson is still one of my top 5 players in the 2012 class. The Oak Grove Hawks defeated the Memphis WarEagles in the championship game for the 9th and 10th graders as well. Stay tuned to 901PrepScoop.com as I will cover many of MAYB’s events this summer.
Although we still have a little more high school basketball to go, it’s that time of the year again as MAYB action got underway this weekend with the championship being held on Sunday at Singleton Community Center in Bartlett.
In 5th grade division, the Memphis WarEagles took on the championship plaque winning in big fashion, 48-15 behind the play of Jessie Neloms who will surprise some when I do my rankings for this age group. Maceo Wooden and Blake Williams. In the girl’s action in the 7th and 8th grade division, the Mississippi Lady Braves out of Jackson Ms, took home the hardware beating the Memphis Select girls. I was really impressed with some of the Lady Braves players in particular, a big post player who I didn’t get the name of and a guard, Erica Harris, an 8th grader who displayed the game of a player a little older with her vision and ability to score under pressure. She is a true leader who you will hear big things from in the upcoming years. Congrats Lady Braves.
In the 7th and 8th grade boys division, the Memphis Cobras beat the Memphis Jaguars 42-32. Playing with the Cobras was top 10 guard, Josh Jones of John P.Freeman. The Ballers and Magic 3rd place game may have been the most entertaining game of the day as they took on the 14’s Memphis Magic. A 25 foot 3pointer swished the nets putting the game into overtime but the on the first possession of overtime, things got a little controversial. The referees lined the teams up wrong during the jump ball with the Magic facing the Ballers way. The Magic would score off the tip on a Earving Morris lay up as the Ballers fans cheered as the Magic scored 2 on the wrong goal. Time was stopped as the refs discussed but in the end, the Ballers got the basket. The Ballers ended up winning the game, 41-40 earning a 3rd place finish. Earving Morris, a 6’2 guard played well, showing off a depth shooting touch. He could be a player to watch next year at East High School.Alex Anderson of the Ballers played well too showing a new found passion for defending opposing guards. Anderson is still one of my top 5 players in the 2012 class. The Oak Grove Hawks defeated the Memphis WarEagles in the championship game for the 9th and 10th graders as well. Stay tuned to 901PrepScoop.com as I will cover many of MAYB’s events this summer.
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AAU Preview: The Memphis Select
For the next couple of weeks, I will do some previews of some of the best AAU teams in the city. It is common for many people not to know who plays for what organization but 901PrepScoop hopes to put those questions to rest with travel team previews. Up first, the Memphis Select Boys led by Coach William Rhodes.
For the next couple of weeks, I will do some previews of some of the best AAU teams in the city. It is common for many people not to know who plays for what organization but 901PrepScoop hopes to put those questions to rest with travel team previews. Up first, the Memphis Select Boys led by Coach William Rhodes.
Judging by the practice that I attended last week, people may just want to put the Select organization up there with the Y’s and the Memphis Magic(Pacers) of Memphis. The reason I say this, letting me give you a look at some of their players. 6’8 sophmore Octavious Ellis of Whitehaven, 6’6 Nate Rucker of Melrose, high flyer Cedric Mcafee of Craigmont and that’s not all. Did I mention 6’7 freshman Jarnell Stokes who played with the YOMCA last year who is commonly known as the best freshman in Memphis, maybe the state. I can’t forget about “T-Man” or Terrance Durham who I think is one of the best point guards in the state. Coach Rhodes is picked up 3 of the best underclassmen in the city with Robert Houston, D’arrious Sorrell and Andre Applewhite who also played with the Y and 6’3 rising sophomore, Tevin Wilkerson who has played for the Stallions organization the last 2 years. The Select organization was started by William Rhodes who has been involved with AAU basketball for years since his days with his niece who played basketball with now Southern Miss and former Southwest guard All-American Candace Rucker.
He had a stint with the now defunct Memphis Pump and Run who featured Thaddeus Young,Willie Kemp, Wayne Chism and JP Prince but later he decided to start the Select. Although there are things associated with AAU that are not friendly, he says the exposure the players get is great. He told me that a few years ago, he had a vision for how he thought the program would be and now it’s coming to fruition.”If people had just listened, I said that we would do big things”. From what I saw at their practice, the respect is not coming, it’s here. The Memphis Select is also having a tournament, April 10-12 where you will get a chance to get a look at the Select’s squad at Lemoyne Owen College.
Here is a look at some of their top players in the Select Organization.
1.Cedric Mcafee (Craigmont) 6’2
2.Terrance Durham (Craigmont) 6’1
3.Akeem Anderson (Craigmont) 6’5
4.Octavious Ellis (Whitehaven) 6’8
5.Jarnell Stokes (Central) 6’7
6.Nate Rucker (Melrose) 6’6 pictured above
7.Robert Houston (Craigmont) 6’1
8.Reshaun Brown (Oakhaven) 6’5
9.D’arrious Sorrell (Central) 6’4
10.Tevin Wilkerson (Melrose) 6’3
Here is a look at some of their top players in the Select Organization.
1.Cedric Mcafee (Craigmont) 6’2
2.Terrance Durham (Craigmont) 6’1
3.Akeem Anderson (Craigmont) 6’5
4.Octavious Ellis (Whitehaven) 6’8
5.Jarnell Stokes (Central) 6’7
6.Nate Rucker (Melrose) 6’6 pictured above
7.Robert Houston (Craigmont) 6’1
8.Reshaun Brown (Oakhaven) 6’5
9.D’arrious Sorrell (Central) 6’4
10.Tevin Wilkerson (Melrose) 6’3