The Pound for Pound Champion of youth basketball returned to
Hoop Group Headquarters in Tinton, NJ, this time for the Basketball Spotlight
Tip Off Classic. Zion Harmon (USA
National Select, Unlimited Glory, Slam City Elite) is the best and most
productive basketball player without consideration of class or grade in the country.
There was no other player at 5’4 and 100 lbs soaking wet as talented and
fearless as Harmon.
In the recent Tip Off Classic Harmon averaged 27ppg, 4apg,
and 6rbg. But the stats alone don’t tell the story of how much bigger his
spirit was compared to his rather small frame on intense and insane weekend
schedule logging minutes for two championship squads at the 2021 and 2020 level.
He’s a jump shooter and a slasher, constantly and consistently weaving his way
into the paint, a land of giants, as he fearlessly takes the ball to the rack –
finishing creatively and with an array and multitude of many different moves.
As per usual, it seemed his butt spent more time on the floor than his feet on
the court. But he always popped back up and you know what he did on the
very next offensive possession, he went back into the forest of guys sometimes
a foot taller and 50+ lbs heavier than him looking for a score and did it with
much success.
When he grew “tired” of making a living in the painted area
you could find him dialing it up from a another area code with his in the gym
range knocking down three’s that made the fans in the gym gasp, laugh, and his opponents
moan.
The Legend of Harmon has taken on such
form that many pundits, players, and gym rates have ceased to call him by his
given name of Zion – rather referring to him by his Assassins nickname “The
Lion”. It’s a nickname where if you
called him that he would give you a little more attention; knowing that
you have seen or heard of him before.
However, it wasn’t just what Harmon
does on the basketball court that makes him such a well-known, interesting,
intriguing, hated, misunderstood, despised, and loved figure. “The Lion” is one
of the most polarizing kids many will have the pleasure of coming to know. The phenomenon of showing negativity to a
child has never so shameful or apparent and with this player. Coach Francis, Scout and coach for USA
National and Slam City who has worked with many of the nation’s best, first
documented over two years ago Harmon’s status as the #1 player in the class
said when reached for comment “ …the kid has been ridiculed for nothing more
than trying the be the best he can be and making his team the best they can be”
he closed by saying “….if there is something wrong that should be criticized on
any level with that mindset especially in a child, then the person speaking it
should be evaluated”.
They have said he is too old, they have
said he was too small, they have said can’t run a team, he can’t play with
other great players; he can’t play against older kids his game doesn’t translate. His age has been verified, Harmon turns 13 in
2015, and he has competed against high school freshmen and sophomores as early
as fifth grade and was still named by Big Shots Tournaments as an event top
performer. He has played the point guard
position on with his Slam City club, various all-star leagues proving that theory
wrong. So of course the next statement
is that he can’t do it on the elite level ~ he has partnered as part of a
National Select Team group with multiple top players in the country proving
that he can play with the very best in the game and his own peers have walked
away expressing their respect for his game and their personal enjoyment for
playing aside him – this biggest compliment a player at any level can receive.
In what may have been one of the classiest
moves in recent memory, Tournament Director and Owner of Basketball Spotlight
Mike – who was so impressed with the weekend performance of Harmon presented
him with actual event banner! Advising
Harmon to take due to his amazing antics that Melton not only witness but
honored with the gift - Melton who has seen multiple pro’s players and high
level collegians come through his events said a lot by this gesture. Seeing the look on Harmon’s face the least of
which is that Melton is about the kids in his event and additionally that
Melton two who named Harmon #1 on his Spotlight ranking also see and appreciates
the level of talent “The Lion” possesses.
Is Harmon the best to ever lace them
up? Will he be the best next year or at
the high school level? Who knows and if
we did know that a big target and way too much pressure to put on a child –
these are all kids and the primary purpose of reinforcing positives and acting
as a support mechanism to all Harmon and all kids make it to the highest level
they can dream and achieve at the end of the day is the ultimate goal. So for today let’s celebrate a phenomenal
child and person who happens to also be the best of many other great players
playing in youth basketball right now – Zion “The Lion” Harmon 2021 and 2020
Basketball Spotlight Tip Off champion and the reigning P2Bball Pound for Pound
Champ.