|
Elite Nation doing it their way. It works. |
|
Bank Hoops -
High School
|
|
LANSING - New AAU travel clubs seem to pop up every spring. Many with grandiose promises and sketchball personnel machinations, but in the end they're typically all hat and no cattle. Then there are programs who do it under the radar, don't broadcast braggadocio on Twitter, and simply go out, play hard, and win games. That's what Elite Nation is doing. In just its second year, their 16-under team is off to a strong start with an undefeated run at the Motown Showdown, then losing in the semifinals by a point to eventual gold bracket champion Rising Stars at the Storm Classic. Elite Nation won't overwhelm you in warmups. There's not much size, they don't play above the rim. But they're gamers, literally, and beat teams with unselfish team ball. The ethos is just different than a lot of AAU teams, as the kids seem to like each other and check egos at the gym door. Which isn't to say there's not talent. You can't win on the circuit without it. 5-10 Holt sophomore Donquall Jackson is the heart and motor of the club. He's both fast and quick with the ball, a one-man press break. At the Motown Showdown he gave the business to the Family's Edmond Sumner, one of my favorite 2014 guards out of Country Day. Jackson is a rare young guard who understands his perimeter, and plays and is productive within it. Besides, when it's time to stretch defenses, Elite Nation's other point guard, 5-10 Haslett soph Mark Wickard Jr., can bomb with the best of them.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Washington celebrates presidents' day early |
|
Bank Hoops -
High School
|
|
KAZOO - Senior guard Von Washington III put in the second of two misses for Kalamazoo Central, which escaped from its home court with a 60-59 win over Class A No. 2 Saginaw. The Trojans led by a point and were in-bounding under K-Central's basket with nine seconds left. The passer kind of hesitated, feinted, and one of the officials called what seemed like a premature five-second call. That gave the Maroon Giants three more chances to win, with Washington putting one in from the left side of the hoop just as the horn sounded. Saginaw fans would tell you as short as their five seconds were, Kalamazoo Central's nine seconds seemed more like 10. It was par for the course, though, as the officiating was erratic at best throughout.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Lakers Redux: Still the best team in West Michigan |
|
Bank Hoops -
High School
|
|
GR - The West Michigan Lakers won the senior-to-be division of the Grand Rapids Storm Classic. This year's version lacks the talent and depth of their 2011 juggernaut, which won the Up North Challenge, Spiece Run-n-Slam Silver, Tulip Tipoff, 10th annual Camp Darryl/Bankhoops.com Classic, IPS and the Brawl for the Ball. But the sum is always greater than the parts for the Lakers, who you know will defend and know will play hard. That formula worked again, as the Lakers beat the Mid-Michigan Lakers 72-65 in the 17U final, after topping tournament favorite ACB/Bank Hoops in the semis. Josh Groenhof was the division MVP in reality if not name. The 6-7 junior from Zeeland East seriously outplayed ACB's big, deep frontcourt in the semifinals. He's strong on the blocks with footwork and feel; challenges on defense; steps out and shoots to 20 feet; and jumps quickly if not high which helps him on the glass. His dad is 6-10, so if he gets bigger still, Groenhof could be a steal recruit at this point. And you can't overlook the efforts of another Zeeland East kid, 6-4 Tyler Smith who covered for his lack of height with aggression. With 6-4 Flint Beecher junior Markell Lucas out with an ankle injury, MML had a hard time matching up with WML inside. The Lakes are tiny but talented in the backcourt, with 5-8 Forest Hills Northern junior Michael McLaughlin and 5-11 Sparta junior Jared Bradford. McLaughlin is slight but so smart with the ball, while Bradford is quick and gets his shot off and buried timely three-pointers. Like Grand Haven's Alex Eidson last year, Spring Lake's 6-2 junior Austin Johnson is a Lakeshore kid whose athletic, blue-collar game better fits the Lakers' ethos than past stops.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Middle school tournaments coming up |
|
Bank Hoops -
High School
|
|
Petoskey Boys Youth Basketball Tournament: March 3, Petoskey High School. Contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Shoreline Jr. High Tourney: February 25, New Buffalo High School. Conact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ACB Hoops Classic: March 18, Gull Lake HS. Contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
