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| 8th Grade Turkey Day Takeover Champions (4-0) |
With the end
of 2014 quickly approaching there have many professionally ran, elite level
tournaments, camps, leagues, and events.
All of which share the common theme of showcasing top players in their respective
classes throughout the country. At the
end of the day the talent on the floor is what defines the level of the event –
when a competitive heavy weight battle breaks out in addition to the game and
event achieves a legendary status.
Amongst the
thousands of games played in 2014 anywhere we have a contender for national
game of the year consideration. In the
history of the middle school basketball in the Washington DC/Maryland/Virginia
area we have a runaway winner for most talented collection of players on one
court for one game in 2014 and possibly ever.
Two of
Baltimore's leading programs Baltimore Finest & Team Melo both of whom were
competing in the same tournament as well as the nationally acclaimed showcase program
USA National Select this past weekend; tournament directors decided to throw caution to the wind,
forgo tournament rules, and create something more than a championship game –
they created a basketball showcase.
The event was run and lead by one of the areas leading youth
Coaches, Donnell “Mookie” Dobbins a name known by all in the area – “Mookie”
has built a tremendous reputation as a coach and mentor by working with some of
the top players in the Baltimore and surrounding areas. Even
with two major powers operating in their region, both looking to secure
relationships with top players, basketball utopia is always putting the
best of the best together to compete against the best. After a hard fought back and forth battle in
the tournament Semi-Final between Baltimore Finest (UA) and Team Melo (NIKE),
Finest was victorious and advanced to the championship.
With four top
100 players in the country on one team, you likely wonder who could compete
with that. There is only one answer in
the country and that is USA National Select, the same program who competed in “The
Game of the Millennium” and has produced an all-time record of 131 – 10.
USA National
Select who also competed in the tournament had a loaded roster of their own
pulling this time from a tri-state/Mid-Atlantic area. A blowout victory on Friday night was
followed by a 60-52 victory over Baltimore Finest in pool play. In bracket play National Select opened with a
dominating performance over the DC Playmakers winning 61-29 which included a
series of dunks and alley-oop plays reminiscent of an All-Star game moving them
into the championship game against the aforementioned nationally ranked players
and super squad.
In front of
a capacity standing room only crowd National Select opened on an early run led
by Gill who had his best performance of the tournament in the championship and
Hairston who handled the PG duties keeping all the hungry mouths fed – opened with
an 8-0 run before James Bishop, the bigtime lead guard and all world Marvin
Price began cooking. With a margin as
much as 14 points in the first half behind strong performances of Sharif
Kenney, Mahkel Mitchell, Jordan Toles, Isaiah Todd, and Zion Harmon National Select looked to blow the game wide
open. Mungo and Evan fought hard after
cutting the lead to 8 at half. Ryan
Conway & Caleb Bowers made major contributions coming off the bench
stepping up for the injured Mahki Mitchel, Cameron Byers, & Christian
Depollar and the absent Jamel Melvin.
Still up 10 with
6 minutes to go on attacks by Sharif Kenney, Jordan Toles, finishes by
Mitchell, and some bigtime jump shooting by Harmon - the Baltimore group cut
the lead to 4 before briefly taking the lead by 1 with under a minute left on
foul shots by Bishop. Makhel hit one of two free throws to take a one point
lead for National Select and Kenney hit two more down the stretch to put
National Select up 49-48 with under 10 seconds remaining. The Bmore group got two more looks at the basket
but were under duress on both before National Select secured the rebound and the one
point victory.
With multiple
future D1 players on the floor and star-studded national ranked rosters this
has to go down as one of the most talent laden and most competitive games is
the history of middle school basketball in the DMV area.
Let’s meet
the champions!
Sharif
Kenney, SF, 6’6 (#5) 2019 – One of the most unstoppable forces in the country,
five position, five category contributor – not much this kid can't do on the
floor on either end. Can operate as a point forward/lead guard type, jump shot has improved and must be honored - continues to make the right basketball play when challenged. Far from selfish and great court vision. Without argument the
area’s best player and one of the best doing it in the country; he remains a
flat out problem for any and all stepping on the court with him as there is truly no answer or counter. He is so talented yet so unselfish so if you stop him he is equally as effective in setting up a teammate. Honestly Kenney could play and contribute at the college level now the kid is that special. Mean streak and killer instinct round out this complete package.
Makhel Mitchell, PF, 6’7 (#23) 2019 – Footwork, ball-handling, soft shooting touch and
major defensive presence define the existence of the versatile front court prospect. Tough as nails and an excellent unselfish
passer he produces on both ends doing whatever is needed. Able to run as a point forward displaying one
of the best front court handles in the country.
Has been clearly coached and drilled on an elite level. His hunger and desire to win and be the best is an intangible that drives him and will lead to him achieving an extremely high level of success. Softest hands you'll find.
Jordan
Toles, SG, 6’1, (#4) 2020 – An embarrassment of riches of talent and size
allowed Toles to operate exclusively on the perimeter. Of course he couldn’t be kept out the paint
but impressed as a lead guard and by spacing the court with knock down jump
shots. With this added aspect to his
game he becomes virtually unstoppable and clearly looked high school ready
even as a 2020 player. Lock down defender is becoming a phase that is synonymous
with Toles and good is getting better, and his better best as it relates to guards in his
class.
Zion Harmon,
PG, 5’5, (#1) 2021 – Playing up TWO years against some of the most elite competition
did nothing to the status of Harmon except enhance it. Able to adjust to the speed, size, and length
with no problem – something we have long known is that his scoring and
ball-handling translates up several age groups; he ran the show found his spots
(some of them good from 30 feet from the basket) and set up teammates with some
phenomenal oops and dimes. No one does
it better than Harmon who even impressed his own teammates with his prodigy
like ability.
Isaiah Todd,
F, 6’7 (#26) 2020 – Dare we label Todd as the best prospect in the DMV area regardless
of grade or class? Yes we must, just a
baby, he has the handle of a guard, the size of the big, the natural stoke and
jump shot mechanics of an elite level SG and hasn’t even begun to realize his
potential. The sky is the limit and in
this case it may be beyond, players like this aren’t made they are sent from above. He runs the floor, guards perimeter players,
and shows flashes that have on lookers at times sitting with their mouths-wide
open. One of the most humble and
respectful kids you will meet, if he isn’t on every coaches list in the
country (and we are talking college – let alone high school) they need to be
fired. No need to pressure the player
with the “Next Coming of…..” its good enough to just know he’s coming.
Jordan Hairston,
CG, 5’8 (#76) 2019 – Volunteered to be the transition player for the weekend
wanting to compete at a new position for him PG. Summer of multiple top player rankings
at every camp he attended, player had forethought & desire to expand his game & skill set & that he did; this weekend produced some solid stat-lines
that proved he will be able to make the conversion at the next
level. Those that don’t know the game
may think what happened to his scoring? Elite level professionals will all tell
you Hairston just made a major step in solidifying his basketball future.
Jamel
Melvin, C, 6’9 (NR) 2019 – File this name in the back of your mental rolodex
and remember you heard it here first.
You can’t coach height and with two 6’10 brothers you already know what
to expect and he is bigger than both at same juncture. Has a nice touch out to 12- feet and simply
needs seasoning and game experience. Doesn’t
yet know what to do with or how to use the array of vast tools he has been
blessed with. Simply a split second
behind on movements but he is in the right place.
Makes the right moves just needs confidence in himself to finish –
understanding how when and where with and without the ball. Skill set & tools getting closer and closer to
clicking each time we see him - on a squad of this magnitude seeing it and
playing with it Melvin is able to concentrates on defense and rebounding but trust and believe
the rest will soon be following.
Caleb
Bowers, 5’8”, SG (NR) 2020 – Our local sources have confirmed that Bowers will
be moving to the 2020 class & boy does that change things for the
scoring guard. Showed ability to knock
down the 3 ball and perimeter jumper this weekend, played the game tough and with
emotion. With an extra year to work on ball
handling and to add strength we like the upside and individual star power of
Bowers. He clearly fit in with this
elite group taking advantage of his opportunities. Rex Chapman STYLE of play was big time and has opportunity to expand as a penetrator/lead guard.
Ryan Conway,
5’11, SG (#60) 2020 – One of the best shooters we have seen in some time at
this level. Nimari Burnett is the only
one in this class in his class – so that makes him one of the best. Like the size, strength, and effort – like the
upside and potential, possible changes are in his future that too will push him
to nation’s best status. Not many finish
as well as he does and being elite in this area while honing the rest of skills
still keep him listed as a top national talent.
Anwar Gill,
6’2, WG, (NR) 2019 – A smaller version of Stacy Augmon, must respect the
mid-range, must close out on the 3 – does a lot of things well; waiting for
that elite attribute to establish itself.
Able to guard multiple positions, able to attack and finish, but also
displays exceptional court vision; tools to be a lock down defender when he
wants to; affects the game in many different ways including on both
glasses. Gill can be as good as he wants
to be and he clearly likes the big lights and big stages; falling in love with
the empty gym and dominating lesser comp takes him to the next level as well as
having a "go to" attribute. With so many
great qualities he has many to choose from which is excellent news for Anwar.
INJURED
Cameron
Byers, 6’6, F, (#13) 2020 – Was injured in the first part of the first game while
dominating the glass he came down on an ankle.
Looked great for the moments we saw him, didn’t return to the court for
the tournament as he nursed injury. A
tough skilled forward who we have seen before - a minor setback for Byers who
has looked dominant of late in other big time events.
Christian
Depollar, 6’5, SF, (#37) 2019 – Came down with illness and was unable to suit
up – we anticipated this to be a big stage and opportunity to see DePollar’s
continued improvement. Great
ball-handler for this size and versatile skill set that America will soon see
without question in the coming months.
Makhi
Mitchell, 6’7, CF, (#13) 2019 – Nursing an injury to his toe Mitchell sat out
and served as the player/coach offering great insight and displaying a
wonderful knowledge of the game. Talent wise
he is without a doubt a total package with lots to love. Handle, size, tough, length, skill…need we
saw more? And he never event suited up - what would we tell you if stepped on the floor, scary!
Many special
players made this a very special weekend and they all deserve commendation for
not only making it a wonderful experience for each other – they deserve to be
exactly where they are and that's being considered as possibly the greatest collection of players to
compete in a actual event in the basketball hotbed of the DMV. Their accolades are impressive and well deserved without question.
WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST THIS LEVEL TALENT?
Make sure to register for the P2bball.com Invitational Tournament
Jan. 31st & Feb. 1st 2015
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