FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—MAY 24, 2009

By Steve Amedio, GymRat CHALLENGE Evaluation Staff Coordinator & Director of Communications

ALBANY, NY– The GymRat CHALLENGE AAU basketball tournament has developed a well-earned reputation as a showcase for emerging talent, and the 12th annual event more than lived up to that billing.

More than 2,500 youngsters competing for 212 teams at three different venues played a total of 379 games over the Memorial Day Weekend, and every minute, literally from sunrise to way beyond sunset, was a basketball lover’s dream come true.

Not only was considerable talent on display throughout both days, but so too was an ultra-competitive spirit on every court.

It all resulted in crowning champions Sunday evening at Siena College with the Houston LYNX making the long trek back home with the 17-under division hardware, the Metro Hawks of the Bronx capturing the 16-under division championship, and Hoop Heaven Elite from Whippany, N.J., earning the 15-under division title.

Throughout the event, played at Siena College, the University at Albany and Union College, large groups of fans surrounded courts and the regular sounds of oohs and aahs echoed through gyms to acknowledge frequent crowd-pleasing performances that typified almost every game.

Since its early days, the GymRat CHALLENGE has been home for young, emerging talent that has seen NBA Lottery draft picks Emeka Okafor, Joakim Noah and Micahel Beasley play here, and future Lottery picks Stephen Curry and Cole Aldrich earn the admiration of hoop aficionados.

Who knows who the eventual stars of the future from this year’s event will be?

The likelihood, though, is that the names of this year’s Most Valuable GymRats, 6-foot-9 Nick Shepherd from the Houston Lynx from the 17-under division, 6-foot-3 guard Mike Taylor of the Metro Hawks from the 16-under division, and 5-foot-9 point guard Alex Mitola of Hoop Heaven Elite from the 15-under division, have bright basketball futures.

The Most Valuable GymRats, though, were just the proverbial tip of the iceberg of this year’s exceptional talent pool.

It means that the 2009 event that drew top-level talent from 20 states and two Canadian provinces provided the latest opportunity for fans who attended to say, one day in the future, that “I saw them when …”
17:U AGE DIVISION
A Decade in Waiting: Consistency and Class Pave Way for Houston Program to
Bring Title Home to Lone Star State

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Exactly 10 years ago a tall, lanky youngster from the Houston Lynx AAU program played in the GymRat CHALLENGE, and those who witnessed the young player’s “coming out party” in terms of recognition still fondly remember the performance of Emeka Okafor, now a perennial NBA All Star.

Who knows if the latest standout big man from the Houston program, 6-foot-9, 215-pound Nick Shepherd, will ever advance as far in the sport as Okafor. But, Shepherd achieved some things here in the 12th annual GymRat CHALLENGE Tournament that even Okafor can’t claim.

Shepherd helped lead a talented Lynx squad to this year’s 17-under bracket championship, turning in eye-opening and game-determining performances at both ends of the court in his team’s 53-44 title-game victory over the Sports University All Stars of North Caldwell, N.J.

And, for his efforts, Shepherd, whose combination of size and skills are starting to draw major Division I-level interest, now has a Most Valuable GymRat award plaque. The title is the program’s first at this age bracket. And, as good as Okafor was when he played here he did not earn the MVG award.

“We’re so happy for him (Shepherd) … you won’t find a nicer young man anywhere,” said Judy Schudy, wife of Houston coach George Schudy.

Okafor can probably take a small measure of responsibility for that.

The well-organized program holds an annual reunion for former players who return to play a game and mingle with current team members.

The 6-10 Okafor, now in his fifth NBA season with the Charlotte Bobcats, almost always attends to deliver a message to current program members.

“He delivers a positive message,” said George Schudy. “He tells the kids not to smoke or do bad things. He tells them he has friends that drank a lot, or smoked dope, but that he wouldn’t do those things. He told them that he stayed away from those things because he was going somewhere in life. He tells our kids that they have to live the same way if they want to get somewhere in life.”

It’s a lesson Shepherd takes to heart.

“Emeka tells us to do good in school and work hard on the court,” said Shepherd. “I listen to him. I’m going to go to college. I want to get somewhere in my life. I listen to and do everything he preaches to us.”

Living a good life, though, doesn’t necessarily result in athletic success. Talent has more than a little to do with that, and the Houston program brought plenty of that here, which isn’t out of the ordinary.

The program’s history includes five players who have made appearances here and, then, have gone on to win college basketball national championships. That list includes Okafor (a Division I title with Connecticut in 2004); Adrian Moss (a Division I title with Florida in 2006); Jordan Brooks, now playing at Idaho (national Junior College titles at Midland JC in 2006 and at Arkansas Fort-Smith JC in 2007); Nick Okorie, now at Texas Tech (a national Junior College title at South Plains JC in 2008); and, Troy Ruths (a national Division III championship at Washington, Mo., University in 2008);

“We’ve had all of that success, but we never won a title here (at the GymRat CHALLENGE) in this age bracket,” said Schudy.

The Lynx, though, nearly didn’t come here this year. They skipped last season’s event for the first time after appearing in the first 10 GymRat tournaments.

“The flight connections between Houston and Albany always presented a problem, and in 2007 we got here so late that we wound up forfeiting our first game,” explained Schudy. “We didn’t want that to happen again last year, so we skipped the (2008) tournament. This year, though, we were able to get a better connection.”

“We definitely wanted to win the tournament,” added Shepherd. “We didn’t want to come this far to lose.”
17:U All-Gym Rat CHALLENGE MVG – Most Valuable GymRat

Nick Shepherd (6-9 C/PF) Houston Lynx Blue: Big, long, athletic inside player who was a beast on the glass–inhaling rebounds and rejecting shots. Nice touch from 10-feet in. His game also includes a nice-looking jump hook. Ran the floor extremely well. Used great hands to catch passes on the move and make some monster crowd-pleasing jams. He turned the tide in the championship game with a three-minute second-half stretch that included two key buckets and a pair of blocked shots. He’s hearing from dozens of schools including Georgia Tech, Miami, Texas A&M. Has a game and body type that should translate well to the next level.
17:U All-GymRat CHALLENGE TEAM

Jack O’Neill (6-6 Wing) Jersey Shore Warriors: Very intelligent, smooth wing player who demonstrated above-average perimeter skills. Can hit the “3,” but has a standout mid-range game. Knows how to get to the basket. Used his high hoops IQ to score against more-athletic players. Receiving D-I mid-major level.

Tylon Smith Jr (6-1 PG) CT Knights: Dominated games here with an accurate jump shot and drives to the rim. One of the better scorers in this tournament. Has deep range with jumper, and a good, strong body. Tough to stop when he plays hard. Can contribute at the D-I mid-major level.

Jordan Clark (6-4 Wing) Houston Lynx Blue: Made more “wow” plays than most players here. Great handle and can really see the floor on the move. Master of drive-and-dish. Decent jump shot, but improvement there could reap benefits. Great in transition. Being recruited by many mid-majors.

Tre Bennett (5-10 PG) Houston Lynx Blue: Takes over games with his scoring ability. He has super court vision, especially on the move. It seems like he can get to the rim whenever he wants and finishes in traffic, despite size. A “rising” junior, so even more time to develop. Already drawing considerable D-I interest.

Tymell Murphy (6-4 Wing) Rothrunnin Rebels: Very athletic wing who was relentless on the glass. Very active defender who got his hands on a lot of passes. A left-hander, he can shoot from anywhere as well as attack the rim. He scored whenever he wanted here. Probably heading to prep s chool.

Anthony Keane (6-2 Wing) Staten Island Rocks: Smart wing player who showed ability not only to go past defenders and get to the rim, but to make jumpers. Nice build for the next level and will likely get even stronger. Very smooth-looking shooter who showed ability to get hot quick. Has heard from Marist, Lehigh and NJIT.

Mark Bevacqua (6-7 C/F) JB Hoops: Smart left-hander with crafty moves in the post. Has a jumper out to 15 feet, and uses a nice jab step to create space. Really utilized pump fakes to combat bigger defenders. Has a knack for scoring inside with combination of intelligence, size (225 pounds) and skills. Possible prep school, but also has heard from Canisius, Niagara and St. Francis (PA).

Josh Turner (6-4 Wing) CT Select: Wing player with very long arms who uses them effectively. Standout transition player, who also could make plays in the half court. Showed a very nice shooting stroke to 22foot range. Could be even better if he becomes more assertive. Appears to be mid-major/A-10 level player.

Dylan Sherwood (6-8 C) East Coast Fusion: Still slender (205 pounds), but long-armed shot-blocker who has a huge upside pending physical development. Should be a force at the low D-I level when he puts on weight. Already has good hands and skillful feet. Nice shooting touch.

Chris Evans (6-2 PG/SG) Academic Basketball Club: Very smooth, versatile player who showed ability to play either guard position. Very aggressive looking to score in every game here, and made tough shots look easy. A gifted athlete with good size (190) and body control. Has heard from Kent State and several other mid-majors.

Dominic Morris (6-7 C/PF) The RAIDERS: Big man (250 pounds) who comes to play every second of every game. A true power post player who already has a college-ready physique. Great hands and patient in the post. Quick spin move. Can score with either hand. Goes to the floor for loose balls. First man up and down the court either way. Range to 15-to-18-foot range, and a standout passer out of double teams. Siena might be early leader, but Penn State, Providence, West Virginia, Rider and Harvard also in the mix.

Travis Robinson (6-5 SF) The RAIDERS: Explosive athlete with ability to finish around the rim. Excels in transition, but showed ability to score off the ball using screens. Consistent with jumper to mid-range level and, occasionally, to the 3-point line. Has potential to be a big-time defender with his combination of length and quickness on the wing. Siena among several MAAC schools with interest, as well as some NEC programs.

Matthew Barbosa (6-7 Wing) Bay State Magic: Smooth wing player with no real offensive weakness. Very unselfish here, working to get teammates involved. Played hard at both ends. Good hands and passed well on the move. Likely will prep next year, but can end up on mid-major level.

Zach O’Brien (6-3 SF/PF) New Jersey Panthers: Great finisher around the basket. Has strength and size (210 pounds) to battle on the glass. Did much of his damage on 2nd-chance points. Very tough cover. Too big for 3’s here, too quick for 4’s to guard. Tireless worker who competed every minute. Delaware State and Howard among involved D-I programs.

Maurice Watson (5-8 PG) The RAIDERS: Talent belies his youth (rising sophomore). Has a great feel for the game. A true playmaker. Despite diminutive (145-pound) frame, was fearless going inside against bigger opponents. Ability to recognize when to pull up and shoot, or penetrate. Seemed to elevate team’s play when on the court. Definite D-I prospect down the road.

Elijah Carter (6-1 PG/SG) Sports University All Stars: Very smooth and skilled player. Did a great job of involving teammates early in games and, then, scoring late when necessary. Excellent lead guard who plays game the “right” way. A playmaker who finds open teammates or creates a shot for himself. MAAC and NEC schools, and Virginia have shown interest.

Shabazz Napier (5-11 PG) Metro Boston: One of the best scorers here. If he’s open, it’s good. Even his misses look on the mark. Tends to try to show exuberant flash vs. lesser competition, but also was also unselfish distributor. His game is effortless. Memphis has made contact. This sophomore is a STAR in the making. A HIGH major lock.

Ike Azotam (6-7 PF) Metro Boston: Strong-bodied (220 pounds) athlete who dominated games here when he played hard. Looked great for two- or three-minute stretches, but then backed off for periods. Plays way above the rim and excels in transition. Starting to draw mid-to-low major interest.

Kyle Cancilleri (6-5 SF/PF) Jersey Shore Wildcats: Played greet throughout this tournament. Out performed opponents with larger reputations. Quick first step and gets to the rim. Very clever scorer. Still-developing jump shot. Had some big-performance games here. Vermont, Penn, Holy Cross, Lehigh among schools with interest.

Paris Massey (6-7 PF) YABC: He is a straight-out finisher. Lives off of others’ dribble penetration and his own offensive rebounds. Great build (220 pounds). Very long and athletic. One of best shot-blockers here. Runs well for a big man and athleticism makes him a highlight reel waiting to happen. Definite D-I talent.

Charles Aiken (6-10 C) Keystone Blazers-Hammer: Absolutely dominates games when he played hard, but didn’t do that consistently. Made the best reverse dunk on post move seen here all weekend. Has a “professional” body (215 pounds). Good range on jump shots, extremely long arms. St. Joe’s, Temple, Siena, George Mason have shown interest.

Mike Terry (6-2 SG) Keystone Blazers-Hammer: Single-handedly took over one game to spur a rally from behind. Hits three-pointers and slashes to the hoop. A clever left-hander who could play either guard position. Always on attack mode on offense. UMBC, Boston University have shown interest.

Lamont Samuells (6-3 SG) Brooklyn Ballers: Most Valuable GymRat at this age level last year, and showed same level of ability this year. Just a skilled scorer who can get points every way possible. Took one game over with 13 straight points. Very athletic and great finisher. Quick feet and hands on defense, and plays hard. Probable prep and, then, looking at St. John’s, UNLV, Missouri.

Amos Olatayo (6-4 Wing) Houston Lynx Blue: Good-sized scorer from the wing. Possesses a scorer’s mentality. Takes and makes tough shots. Has a high jump shot that is difficult to bother. Athletic finisher on the break. Gets up the court quickly and finishes with flash. Appears to be low-to-mid D-I player.

Mark Ellis (6-5 PF/SF) The Flame: Very explosive hops. Great finisher around the rim and had a few powerful dunks in playoff rounds. Very active on the board at both ends and runs the floor well in transition. Clutch player. Hit a game-winning shot here Could be an “undersized 4” at a lot of low D-I schools. Potential to be a mid-major small forward as well.

Malik Thomas (6-6 PF/SF) New Heights-White: A jack of all trades type player. Showed ability to rebound and lead the fast break. He helped spark numerous fast breaks by doing so. A great finisher, especially in transition. Also a great defender, using his size/length combination to guard multiple positions. Showed college-range jumper. Interest from multiple MAAC and A-10 schools.

Javae King-Gilchrist (6-2 G) New Heights-White: Best trait is his high energy/enthusiasm level. Plays hard on both ends. Defensively, his length forced many turnovers that created layups for himself and teammates. Displayed ability to hit perimeter jumper. Effective running the offense during time at the point. Interest from low-D-I’s, some D-II’s.

Will Bartlett (6-6 PF/SF) New Heights-White: Tough kid who does a lot of dirty work. Showed ability to score without need to possess the ball by running the floor, and by rebounding on offensive end. Flashed ability to play with back to the hoop, and has great touch from close range. Also showed ability to hit jumper from 15-to-18-foot range. Good enough handle to get past bigger post players. Interest from Ivy League programs.

Ramon Mejia (6-1 PG/SG) Greater Boston Lions: Very explosive scorer. Scored in bunches here. A rising junior who has strong build. Streak shooter with big-time range on his jumper. Handled pressure during games. Scored in a variety of ways. Early interest from Niagara Quinnipiac.

Trenity Burdine (6-6 SF/SG) York Ballers: Very skilled player with good handle and passing ability in half court and transition. Great range on jumper and showed ability to shoot off the bounce. His length disrupts defenses and be a factor on the glass. Interst from Siena among several other mid-major D-I programs.

Nick Smith (6-4 SF/PF) BC Eagles: Plays with much energy. Good hands with ability to finish around the basket. Long-armed defender. Good back-to-basket moves and good-enough mid-range jumper. Clever player who has no fear about making plays at key moments. Early interest from Brandeis, Weslyan and could probably play either forward spot at D-II level.

Brandon Mitchum-Simmons (6-0 G) House of Hoops Black: Small, compact guard with deep range on his jumper. Hit five 3’s in one game here. Showed ability to consistently beat defenders off dribble with multiple moves. Used his strength to absorb contact and finish around rim vs. bigger opponents. Competed hard despite height disadvantage. Refuses to quit, particularly on defense.

Cleanthony Early (6-7 SF/PF) BC Eagles: Athletic forward with potential to be a D-I player if he keeps working. Very terms in terms of overall skills, but has all the tools. Flashed a smooth long-range jumper. Has great length which makes him a good weak-side shot-blocker. Active on boards on both ends.

Olivier Hanlan (6-1 PG) Ottawa Guardsmen: Kicked things off with a 26-point performance in the event’s opener and led his team in scoring in two other games before getting ousted in the quarterfinal round by the eventual bracket champ. Very good point guard who had few weaknesses. Hit outside shot, got to the bucket and finished and ran his team well. A rising junior from Canada. Definite D-I skills.

Paris Cleveland (6-2 SG) Firm AC Ford: Athletic prototypical shooting guard with all the skills. Played hard while exhibiting a good long-range shot beyond 3-point range. Goes hard to basket. Active on defensive end. Outstanding leaper who blocked at least four shots in one contest here. Strong interest from D-II schools, but looks like potential low-major D-I player, too.
17:U Honorable Mention All-GymRat CHALLENGE

Jordan Greene (6-3 F) Ballston Ballers
Tajric Boggs (5-10 G) Long Island Avengers
Nick Sergio (6-8 F) Long Island Avengers
Mat McMullen (6-5 F) Jersey Shore Warriors
Cameron Gunter (6-8 C) Jersey Shore Warriors
Christian Walk (6-3 SG) Jersey Shore Warriors
Rashaun Rasheed (6-3 SG) South Jersey Select
David Maturah (6-5 SF) CT Knights
Micahel Deffley (6-1 G) CT Knights
Sheldon Raphael (5-7 PG) Rockland Rockets
Ashton Russell (6-9 C) Long Island Knights
Josh Cleveland (6-6 F) Houston Lynx Blue
Tevin Shihovec (6-2 SG) Houston Lynx Blue
Derek Retos (5-11 PG) Boston Warriors North
Jasper Grassa (6-1 G) Boston Warriors North
Connor Merrill (6-5 SF) Lone Wolf
Raymond Warren (5-9 PG) Rothrunnin Rebels
James Herring (6-4 SF) Rothrunnin Rebels
Chris Jetter (5-11 PG) Central Jersey Hawks
Matt Lopez (6-10 C) South Jersey Select
Patrick Copnnaghan (6-5 G/F ) Bucks County Hawks
Joe Nardi (5-11 PG) Bucks County Hawks
Eric Dean (6-3 SF) Granite State Hawks
Alex Stoyle (6-7 PF) Granite State Hawks
Josh Bailey (6-9 C) Southern Tier Rage
Louis Cipriano (5-8 PG) JB Hoops
Gerry Reilly (6-3 SG/SF) JB Hoops
Dennis Clifford (7-0 C) Bay State Magic
Corey Quimby (6-6 PF) BC Eagles
DeShawn Murphy (6-4 F) CT Select
Mike Glenn (6-5 F) East Coast Fusion
Casey Sheehan (5-9 PG) East Coast Fusion
Robert Duquette (6-5 PF) Lake Champlain Lakers
Andre King (5-9 PG) SECC All Stars
Jordan Smith (6-0 G) SECC All Stars
Pat Harrington (5-8 PG) SECC All Stars
DaVonne Dunlap (6-2 G) BC Eagles
Dom Harrison (5-8 PG) BC Eagles
Darien McDuffie (5-9 PG) House of Hoops Pride
Revel Moore (6-0 G) House of Hoops Pride
Tyshawn Desir (5-9 PG) Brooklyn Patriots
Forrest Lovett (6-5 SF) York Ballers
Spencer McCreary (6-3 G) York Ballers
Andrew Douby (6-3 G) Greater Boston Lions
Phil Gaetano (5-10 PG) Academic Basketball Club
Chris Rama (6-5 PF) Academic Basketball Club
Scott Arias (5-10 PG) New Heights-White
Kerry Weldon (6-5 SF) New Heights-White
Scott Deal (6-7 PF) NJ Panthers
Brandon Mercado (6-2 G) Capital District Raptors
Kevin Cressy (6-7 PF) New Hampshire Falcons
H.J. Gaskins (5-10 PG) The RAIDERS
Brian Gerney (6-2 G) WODT
Andrew McCarthy (7-0 C) Bay State Magic
Max Taylor (6-3 G) Newburgh Zion Lions-East
Billy Walsh (6-7 PF) Hudson River Hornets
Allan Harris (6-5 SF) Metro Boston
Mario Monroe (6-9 C) Metro Boston
Shaan Rahl (6-5 SF) Long Island Lightning
Jim Mullen (6-7 PF) Pocono Heat
Eric Alleyne (5-11 PG) New England Select
Alex Levine (6-7 PF) New England Select
Gavin McCarney (6-2 G) New Jersey Bulls
Filipp Bochkov (6-5 SF) Brooklyn Rage
Bobby Beldo (6-2 SG) Lehigh Valley Thunder
Emitt Hightower (6-4 SF) House of Hoops Pride
Randy Samuels (6-1 G) The Flame
Najee Forte (5-11 PG) The Flame
William Green (6-4 SF) Jersey Coast Hurricanes
Nick Manning (6-0 PG) Rhode Island Breakers
Frankie Robinson (6-2 G) Rhode Island Breakers
Mabior Mayen (6-6 PF) Salt City Shakers
Rich Suhr (5-11 PG) Jersey Shore Warriors
Perun Kovacevic (6-6 PF) NYC Jaguars
Gavin Resch (6-0 G) Ottawa Guardsmen
Devonne Cutler (6-0 PG) Brooklyn Ballers
Christian Laputka (5-9 PG) Firm AC Ford
Darian Croft (6-0 PG) Kendall Madison Playaz
Jahenns Manigat (6-3 G) Phoenix
Jean Yves Kazadi (6-3 G) Phoenix
Achuil Lual (6-6 PF) Phoenix
Chris Compas (6-8 C) Sports University
Andre Blackwood (6-0 PG) Sports University
Zahir Smith (5-11 PG) Keystone Blazers
Jimmy Hammer (6-1 G) Keystone Blazers
Matt Minor (5-11 PG) Albany City Rocks-Orange
Ethan Mackey (6-7 C) Albany City Rocks-Orange
Ousmane Drame (6-7 PF) Boston Warriors
John Caprio (6-4 SF) Sports University All Stars
Kevin Ohen (6-4 SF) Sports University All Stars
Josh McNally-Bibbins (6-5 PF) Staten Island Rocks
Ryan Mickiewicz (6-0 PG) SECC BasketBull
Dan Martin (6-3 SF) SECC BasketBull
Christopher McLaughlin (6-9 C) East Side Warriors
Nathan Samuels (6-6 SF) East Side Warriors
Matt Burbosa (6-7 PF) Bay State Magic
Matt Greene (5-9 PG) Lehigh Valley Thunder
16:U AGE DIVISION
Pre-Tournament Wake-up Call Paves Way to Title for Metro Hawks

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Thoughts about winning the 16-under age division of the GymRat CHALLENGE Tournament were far from the minds of players on the Metro Hawks-Blue squad just two days before the start of this year’s event.

Instead there was the worry over whether they’d even get the chance to make the trip here to compete.

Metro Hawks coach Paul Ruddock was so displeased after watching 15 minutes of his team’s practice two days before the tournament that he delivered this message: Get focused, or stay home.

“We weren’t doing what he wanted,” said guard Mike Taylor. “We were just coming down and putting up jumpers that day in practice. Coached kicked us out of the gym and we had a two-hour meeting. He threatened not to bring us up here. We definitely took him seriously.

How seriously was evident once the Metro Hawks got here. Led by Taylor, a 6-foot-2 multi-talented guard, the Metro Hawks fulfilled Ruddock’s expectations for attacking the basket rather than settling for long-range shots. Taylor, who finished with 20 points in the 53-38 championship-game victory over the Sports University All Stars, was named the division’s Most Valuable GymRat. With his team holding a three-point edge midway through the second half of the final contest, Taylor swished a 3-pointer and, shortly thereafter converted a drive that pushed his team’s advantage to nine with five minutes left . Taylor, a major Division I prospect who has early interest from a half-dozen Big East schools, was far from being the only talented player on the Metro Hawks’ roster. Not blessed with exceptional height, the championship team got key contributions from a number of players. Although Taylor did much of his team’s scoring, considerable contributions also came on both ends from 6-5 Moussa Kone, 5-7 point guard Jhamir White, 6-1 guard Dante Samuel, 6-3 forward Malik Nichols, and 5-11 guard Deonte Houston.

The Metro Hawks, just a few days after their disappointing practice session, did everything their coached could have asked for here from attacking the basket, to making free throws to playing hard and aggressive defense.

“We had been close to winning two previous tournaments we were in earlier this year but came up short because we failed to do the little things,” said Ruddock. “Here, though, we turned things around. We play `small ball,’ so we have to attack the basket and hit free throws in the clutch, and we did that here. Our guys really responded.”

The wake-up call, in the form of the two-hour meeting two days before the start of this event, helped precipitate the correct on-court response.

“That made us realize that we couldn’t come out sluggish up here,” said Taylor. “It made us realize that we had to get tough, to get re-focused.

“Coach told us that we were the best team in the division, but not if we played like we did in that practice. We came out of that meeting thinking that we could come up here and win it, but only if we played like coach wanted us to play.”
16:U GymRat CHALLENGE MVG – Most Valuable GymRat

Mike Taylor (6-3 SG) Metro Hawks-Blue: A big-time talent who helped lead a balanced club to his age-bracket’s championship. Finished with 20 points in the final game. Gets to the rim effortlessly. Very strong with the ball and finishes with authority. Also possesses above-average accuracy from beyond the 3-point stripe. A total package at the guard spot. A rising junior he is already drawing interest from Louisville, Memphis, Indiana and many Big East schools.
16:U All-GymRat CHALLENGE Team

Mike Mitchell (5-7 PG) Granite State Jayhawks: One of the most-diminutive players on the court has a huge impact on games. Possesses standout point guard skills. Gets anywhere he wants on the court off the dribble, including into the lane to finish. Fired a 60-foot pass on the money for a layup in one game. Above-average shooter to beyond 3-point range. Off-the-charts hoops IQ. Only drawback is stature.

Horace Copeland (6-0 G) Team MVBGC: Great ability to score, particularly on aggressive moves to the basket. Strong, solid build. Has an excellent handle. Uses his strength, speed combination to his benefit on the defensive end, too. Intense competitor. His switch is always in the “on” setting.

Jayde Dawson (6-0 G) Hoopster Academy: Very athletic player who uses that gift on defense where he is active and gets deflections. Strong build who uses it to play physical brand of ball. Very quick first step that gets him past defenders. Excellent in transition game, finishes well.

Kevin Ferguson (6-6 C) House of Hoops Pride: Very mobile big man who will get better as he adds bulk/strength to his slender frame. Explosive near the goal. Makes quick moves and finishes in traffic. Excellent shooting touch to 15’. Very high basketball IQ.

Kevin Amaya (6-4 G/SF) N.J. Hurricanes: Good range on his jumper. Possesses excellent quickness and court sense and uses those traits to create open shots and make them. Excellent with the ball in hands. Also gets inside to do damage on the offensive glass.

Danny Andre (5-9 PG) Baldwin Blue Devils: Outstanding point guard who takes advantage of his athleticism and quickness. He is an exceptional ball handler. Uses glass very well. Good on both ends. Excellent off-the-ball defender. Good team defender who communicates with teammates on that end.

Terrell Scott (6-4 G/SF) Albany City Rocks: Very quick player with a great first step. Those attributes make him very tough to guard in a one-on-one situation. But, back off and he delivers from the perimeter with good range on his jumper. Made a high percentage of attempts from beyond the stripe here. Also good on the other end. Defends with passion.

Eric Kentenda (6-8 C) Albany City Rocks: Very long, already good size. Uses his physical dimensions to effectively block shots. On offense he has a nice touch in the paint, yet can step back and also hit midrange jumpers. Runs floor will and plays with determination. Very strong on the glass.

Patrick Coles (6-0 G) New Jersey Bulls: Very versatile backcourt performer. He has a real knack for scoring, yet has excellent court vision and looks to enjoy passing and finding open teammates. Good understanding on the defensive end. Not afraid to take over game at either end. Good rebounder for his size.

Michael Loften (6-3 G/F) Mass Premier-Vaughn: Very strong rebounder, effective for his size. Very active on the defensive end. Uses long arms to get deflections and create problems for opponents on the defensive end. Very smart player who moves well without the ball on the offensive end.

Bryan Yarce (5-11 PG) Team Providence: Prototypical point guard who exhibited excellent leadership qualities while here. Has a good feel for the game with excellent court vision and superb passing skills. Can also score when necessary. Effective defender who works just as hard on that end of the court.

Kyle Greer (6-4 SF) Academic Basketball Club: Good size with long arms who uses his length to be an effective defender. Very athletic player and he rebounds with a passion. Runs the floor hard and finishes at the rim effectively in transition. Nice shooting touch from foul line.

Gregory Torchon (6-2 G) N.Y. Knights: Very strong guard and not afraid to go inside and bang for rebounds. Showed strong competitive skills here and uses his combination of athleticism and desire to be a very tough defender. Very “heady” player. On offense he gets to the rim easily.

Rahmel Nash (6-0 PG) N.Y. Knights: Standout court general. Runs the offense as an exceptional ball-handler, sets up teammates and has the requisite court vision to deliver passes to open players. Plays with high energy and combines that with exceptional quickness to be a good on-the-ball defender.

Alex Cruz (6-2 G) CT Knights: Very good off-guard who has good range on his jumper. Very quick player, yet he maintains control of his game. Great jab move. Decent rebounder from the backcourt. Knows what to do with the ball when he has it. Super passion on defense makes him a coaches’ delight.

Daniel Forte (5-9 G) CT Knights: Very versatile guard who is both quick and athletic. Exceptional leaping ability makes him surprisingly effective when he sneaks inside. Plays hard on both ends. Gets out in transition to create for himself or others. Can pull up and make a shot from beyond the stripe.

Jimmy Zenenevitch (6-7 C/F) New England Storm: Big man who has a near-ready body (210 pounds) for the next level. A true pivot player who shows all the skills of post play. Uses his physique to create space inside. Very physical/strong player. He has good hands and finishes well when he gets the ball inside.

Charles McCann (6-4 F) Long Island Lightning-Kelly: Lefty post player who plays with great energy and intensity. He goes after every rebound, and gets many of them. Handles the ball well enough, and possesses enough quickness, to go past defenders off the dribble. Excellent touch when he gets in the paint.

Mike Samuels (6-7 C) Mountain BBall: Big, long post player who will get better as he fills out. Attacks the rim hard and finishes with authority. Knows how to find openings inside. Uses his size to be a standout rebounder on both ends. He should draw Division I interest as his body fills out.

Deonte Houston (6-2 G) Metro Hawks Blue: Strong-bodied guard/wing player. Uses combination of size, strength and athleticism to slash to the rim and finish when he gets there. Also is a very good rebounder from the guard position. Not afraid to go inside to do his work. Will be more effective as jumper improves.

Philip Starks (5-8 PG) CT Knights: Point guard who can run the offense and provide scoring himself. Range to 3-point stripe, but can stop and go off the dribble to get into the lane and finish in traffic. Excellent handle and good court vision which he uses to find shots for teammates. Plays with great passion.

Tarik Philips (6-0 G) Long Island Lightning-Dingle: Very good guard skills. Flashed ability to find gaps in a defense and get shots. Displayed superb jump stop move in lane to get and make shots. Very long and a tough, active and bothersome defensive player. Also a good passer. Plays extremely hard.

Tyler Hunt (6-8 C) RAP-Hodownes: Great size (225 pounds), body ready for the next level. Very skilled post player, has good inside moves. Helped carry his team to this age bracket’s semifinal round. Plays his position the right way. Runs the floor well for a big guy, and can catch a pass in transition and finish strongly.

John Papale (6-3 G/F) CT Hoopsters-White: Good-sized wing player who works hard to get open shots. Good from long range, but can also take it hard to the rim and finish. Showed excellent court sense here. True shooting guard in size and ability.

Four McGlynn (6-1 G) York Ballers: A combo guard. Good enough handle to take a turn at the point, and is a good team leader at that position. Can move over and score, too. Great long-range shooter, but also can score in a variety of ways. Gets to the basket and finishes, or pulls up for mid-range shots.

Moussa Kone (6-7 F) Metro Hawks-Blue: Gifted athletic performer. Good height, length. Projects as a D-I player as he fills out his 180-pound frame. Left-handed forward who is tough to guard in the paint. Excellent hands. Catches everything thrown to him and, then, uses athleticism to finish off plays.

Tyler Hughes (5-9 PG) JB Hoops-Hoy: Tough, physical and well-built guard who plays hard at both ends. Can knock down 3’s with regularity. Possesses above-average quickness. He is a true leader on the court. Good point-guard skills, yet versatile enough to keep defenses honest with his own offense.

Bolston “Bo” McKinney (5-10 PG) Moriah Vikings: Standout point guard. Has all the requisites for the position. High basketball IQ who is a real coach on the floor. Very quick player who can create off the dribble and dish to open teammates. Also has excellent range on shot, so defenders can’t back off. Tough player who works hard.

Evan Tullar (6-4 SG) Vermont Basketball Group: Slender (170 pounds) skilled shooting guard. Jumps extremely well and finishes in traffic, often using the glass to score. Changes speed effectively to create scoring situations and has excellent body control. Above-average range on his jumper.

Dante Agnew (5-8 PG) Metro Hawks-White: Prototypical NYC point guard. Just lightning quick. Defenders can’t stay in front of him. Uses that speed to go past opponents and find open teammates. Excellent passer, particularly on the move. Also can direct an offense. Showed good floor-general skills while here.

Saquan Richards (6-2 G) Metro Hawks-White: Outstanding athlete who combines athleticism with good size (180 pounds) and strength. Catches and finishes anything he gets close to. Very good at getting inside, creating contact and successfully finishing a play or getting to the foul line. Played with high energy throughout.

Ashton Boyle (6-5 F/C) East Coast Fusion: Very strong physical player not afraid to bang around inside. Solid build. Can score inside in variety of ways, but also can go outside to produce points, too. Knows how to use his body in the post. Nice left-handed shooting touch. Owned the glass here. Rebounds and outlets quickly.

Marquis Bareara (6-0 G) Long Island Lightning-Panzenbeck: Standout combo guard who can produce points in bunches. Excellent outside shooter with great range. Very aggressive on offense, looking for shot or looking to take it to the basket. One of best foul shooters here. Great first step. Also sets up teammates well. Interest from Monmouth.

J.P. Koury (6-2 G) Central Jersey Hawks- Blue: Fundamentally sound combo guard. Good range out to the 3-point stripe, yet a very good passer. Exhibited a high basketball IQ. Won’t force things, but will let the game come to him. Changes speeds very well. Also showed an above-average passing ability.

Keandre Stanton (6-4 G) Mass Thundercats: Tall, lanky (160 pounds) guard who runs the floor well and finishes in traffic. Very long defender who deflects passes and has the ability to block shots. Plays well with back to the basket on offense and is a great rebounder from the guard position.

Darren Hilliard (6-4 G) Jersey Shore Warriors: A true shooting guard who has a scorer’s mentality. Combines quickness and athleticism to explode to the goal and finish. Smart player who also showed willingness to be unselfish and find teammates. Outstanding jumper and rebounder, and energetic defender.

Bryan Galvin (5-8 PG) CT Elite: Prototypical point guard who has a very calm demeanor on the court yet is tremendously focused at running an offense. Can shoot from long range to keep defenses honest, yet obviously enjoys getting everyone involved. High basketball IQ, smart defender. Just a great teammate in any setting.

Jakarri McCallop (6-3 G/F) Conn Select: Very active rebounder who got a lot of points off misses here. Nice scoring touch inside and from mid-range. Runs the floor very well, and can catch on the run and finish. Very good defender. Active hands that disrupt opponents, deflects passes.

Anthony Jernigan (6-2 G) Conn Select: Standout off guard with exceptional quickness who can also handle the ball. Unselfish with good court vision. Shooting ability will ensure success at the next level. Outstanding range on jumper, and very good in the open court. Early interest from Providence, UMass and Fordham.

Pete Aguiar (6-3 G) Metro Hawks-White: One of the top talents in this bracket. Great guard skills, either at the point or on the wing. Strong, physical body that appears capable of holding more than his current 170 pounds. Attacks the rim with impunity and finishes. Great shooter with 3-point range, but also an excellent passer. Early interest from several Big East schools.

Peter Alexis (6-11 C) Firm AC Elite: Physically imposing, college-ready body (260 pounds). Loves to bang around in the post. Runs the floor well and is athletic for his size. Catches the ball eitheron the move, or after creating space for himself inside. Very good at finishing off plays around the rim. Will play at the D-I level.

Antonio Reyes (6-0 PG) Mass Thundercats: Physical, yet heady point guard. Good-looking left-handed jump shot who can heat up from three-point range. Sees the floor and makes creative, effective passes. When defenders got up on him, he went past and attacked the rim hard to finish or dish off.

Shane McGlaughlin (6-0 PG) Hoop Dreamz Blazers: Outstanding point guard with requisite basketball IQ. Excellent dribble moves. Uses dribble to get defenders back on their heels and, then, goes past and gets to the rim and finishes. Also an excellent passer.

Nick Lund (6-8 C) Boston Warriors: Very strong body (230 pounds) who knows how to use it in the post. Has good inside skills. Knows how to set up, catch a pass and do something with it. Excellent finisher around the rim. But, also capable of stepping up and hitting a jumper out to 17-foot range.

Lucious Jones (6-5 Wing) Sports University All Stars: Great athlete, one of the best at this level. More than capable shooter, making several from well beyond 3-point arc. Excellent at attacking the rim and finishing. Uses athleticism to create in transition. Early interest from Fordham, Quinnipiac and UNC Wilmington.

Mario Moody (6-7 wing) Sports University All Stars: Outstanding, athletic wing player who will continue to get better as he adds to his 160-pound frame. Plays hard at both ends and goes hard after every rebound. Very good at driving and finishing around the rim. Early interest from George Mason and several Patriot League schools.

Paris Abrams (6-2 wing) Long Island Pythons: Standout shooter with the quickest release in this bracket. Almost impossible shot to block, and accurate from long range. Just an explosive scorer, yet a crafty player as well. Knows when to drive and can get to the basket and finish.
16:U Honorable Mention All-GymRat CHALLENGE

Dan Culhane (5-8 PG) Rapp Warriors
Malik Sanders (6-2 F) CT Elite
Nick Rao (5-6 PG) Team MVBGC
Allen Kuipeir (6-5 C) Central Jersey Hawks-Blue
Malcolm Brown (6-0 G) Mass Thundercats
Joseph Gatson (6-5 F) East Coast Fusion
Patrick Dougher (6-0 G) Jersey Hot Shots
Josh Varney (6-7 C) Vermont Basketball Group
Danny Boylan (6-2 F) BC Eagles
Briar Patterson (5-8 PG) BC Eagles
John Whicky (6-7 C) Granite State Jayhawks
Mike O’Loughlin (6-1 SG) Granite State Jayhawks
Dimitry Coronel (6-0 G) Metro Boston
Mark Pryzbylkowski (5-8 PG) Monmouth Power
Brandon Williams (6-4 C) Long Island Lightning-Dingle
Tyler Brooks (5-11 G) Franchise Ballers
Travonne Berry-Rogers (5-11 PG) Boston Warriors
Justin Harris (6-7 C) Sports University All Stars
Jayson Johnson (6-2 F) Sports University All Stars
Stephen Zack (6-9 C) York Ballers
Trey Weathers (6-0 G) Mass Thundercats
Eric Flanagan (6-2 F) Hoop Dreamz Blazers
Zachary Adams (6-5 C) Potsdam
Jhamir White (5-9 PG) Metro Hawks
Trevor Tabron (6-0 G) RAP
Gary Nova (6-2 F) Sports University All Stars
Tyler Brooks (5-10 PG) Franchie Ballers
Jorden Tyrell (6-0 G) Hoopster Academy
Andre Dixon (6-2 SF) House of Hoops Pride
Lamont Tillery (6-3 PF) JB Hoops-Hoy
Tyler Sabino (6-4 F) Mountain B-Ball
Mike John (6-2 G) Mountain B-Ball
Tavion Rhodes (6-4 F) Schenectady BC
David Soto (6-0 G) Dunbar Mavericks
Gereld McClease (6-3 F) CT Hoopsters White
Josh Robinson (6-11 G) Long Island Lightning-Golding
Jeff Mishkinh (6-2 F) Boston Warriors Suns
John Chery (6-0 G) Baldwin Blue Devils
David Shaw (5-8 PG) Drive4Stardum
Reese Jackson (6-5 C) Albany City Rocks
Julien Aiken (5-8 PG) New Jersey Bulls
Geneve Monfleury (6-7 C) New Jersey Bulls
Kyle Gibson (6-4 C) Mass Premier-Vaughn
Mike Foster (6-1 G) CT Knights
Chris Rodriquez (5-11 PG) Warwick AAU
Matt Ford (6-4 F) Mass AAU
Onyema Utti (6-4 C) Long Island Lightning-Dingle
Michael Jenkinson (6-3 F) N.Y. Knights
Tylon Holmes (6-1 G) CT Knights
Joe Bramanti (6-2 G) NE Storm
Kevin Altetl (5-7 PG) Jersey Shore Warriors
Jose Berroa (6-1 G) VBC
Laron Norman (6-0 G) Port Chester Kings
Kyle Carter (5-9 PG) Lake Champlain Lakers
Dean Brierly (6-4 C) N.J. Panthers
15:U AGE DIVISION
Balanced Attack, Intelligent Play Keys For Hoop Heaven Elite’s Title

The race doesn’t always go to the swift, nor are basketball games always won by teams with the most talent.

There are just times when intelligent play and teamwork prove to be more important than physical skill. When a team can come together to embrace that style of play some call it “chemistry.”
Those who coach it, or just watch it, might refer to it as “Hoop Heaven.” Which makes the name of the championship team in the 15-under division of the 12th annual GymRat CHALLENGE, “Hoop Heaven Elite,” a perfect fit, more a description than a moniker.

Hoop Heaven Elite’s play throughout the tournament could have come straight from an instructional video. Team play, precision passing and help defense were on display in every game.

Hoop Heaven Elite, based in Whippany, N.J., wasn’t a team of talented stars, although its talent level was noticeable, but an old-school conglomeration of using that talent to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts.

Clearly the squad didn’t need to rely on any single individual. Guard Jaren Sina had a 35-point outburst in a quarterfinal-round game; Mike Hyland, another guard, had a buzzer-beating three-pointer to provide the game-winning margin in the semifinal round; and, 6-foot-6 center Dom Hoffman led all scorers with 22 points in the 69-48 championship game victory over the Metro Hawks. Directing all of that, and providing some long-range offense of his own, was diminutive 5-9, 145-pound point guard Alex Mitola, the conductor of all that beautiful harmony who was named the age bracket’s Most Valuable GymRat.

“The key for us was to keep focused and work together for the entire weekend,” said coach Mergin Sina. “We shot the ball extremely well, and that keeps you in games.”

Then, too, it’s easier to make shots when the ball moves in a precision manner and gets everyone open looks.

“We just moved the ball around and found open looks,” said Mitola, who directed much of the ball movement. “We’ve got talent, but we certainly weren’t the most-talented team here,” added the point guard. “But this game isn’t just about physical talent. It’s important to play as a team, to have effective
help defense and things like that.”

Hard to believe all of that since the team came together for AAU season a little over two months ago. “We just work hard at playing together as a team,” added Mitola.

All that work produced a style of play worthy of the squad’s “Hoop Heaven” name and a GymRat CHALLENGE championship.
15:U GymRat CHALLENGE MVG – Most Valuable GymRat

Alex Mitola (5-9, 145-pound PG) Hoop Heaven Elite: One of the smallest players on his team came up big throughout the tournament, directing his team to the GymRat event’s 15-under division championship. The slender assassin is not only a deadly 3-point shooter, but a standout point guard in a system that requires team play and good chemistry. Mitola is an outstanding competitor who was the conductor of a team-oriented style of play. Although he got plenty of help from his teammates during the tournament, he showed the ability to make others better through his work on the court.
15:U All-GymRat CHALLENGE Team

Rob Hazzard (6-0 PG) Rhode Island Breakers: Lightning quick performer who goes by everyone with his dribble. Extremely difficult to contend and defend. He keeps defenders honest by making perimeter shots, including from 3-point territory. He is at his best in the open court, and uses quickness to his advantage on defense, too.

Zach Karalis (6-0 Wing) New England Storm: A very effective slasher who uses athleticism to get to the hoop and finish off plays. Yet, he plays under control against pressure. Uses long arms, positioning and athletic ability to be a solid rebounder. Smart player who sees the court and passes well. He makes teammates better.

Wayne Selden (6-3 F) MABC Bengals: Well-defined physique and is very strong with the ball. He has the ability to score inside or go out to the perimeter to take and make 3-pointers. Not afraid to take the big shot. Very versatile player who possesses an effective cross-over dribble, yet also capable of playing above the rim.

Tray Sllers (6-2 PF) Rockland Rockets-Rinaldi: A very athletic player who has 3-point range on jumper, yet he does most of his damage around the hoop. Runs and jumps well, and uses his skills to make a major impact on games. Extremely diligent on the boards and will rebound out of his area. Also passes well out of the post.

Brian McLaughlin (6-0 PG) Rockland Falcons: A very good ball-handler who has all the moves. Can shake-and-bake defenders to create shooting room, but also runs a team extremely well and makes both the simple and the creative passes. He can get to the basket off the dribble to finish or dish. He should develop into a D-I player.

Jonty Rutty (6-5 C) Newburgh Zion Lions): A sturdy (230-pound) left-hander who uses his physique to his advantage. Very smooth around the basket and isn’t afraid to finish inside. Runs the court well and is a determined rebounder who gets position and holds it. Also showed ability to make jumpers consistently to 15’ range.

Jude Weekes-Young (6-1 G) Team CJEOTO: An explosive scorer who is at his best going past defenders and getting to the rim to finish. Yet, also displayed a decent mid-range jumper. He has the confidence and ability to make plays with the game on the line. Also uses athleticism to create havoc on defense. Just a clutch player.

Larry Graves (5-10 PG ) Metro Hawks: A prototypical pass-first point guard who makes great decisions with the ball. Superlative court vision who sees passing opportunities and delivers the ball to the open man on every play. He is also aggressive in pushing the ball up court and uses that skill to create scoring opportunities for teammates.

Shane Richard (6-4 Wing) Metro Hawks: Slender body type who will only get better as his physique develops. Standout shooting ability, but can also pass and rebound. He works hard to get open and consistently makes his shots. Displayed ability to shoot from 3-point land. Runs the court well and is deceptively tough on the boards.

Kuran Iverson (6-8 C) ANU Generation: In a tournament known as a “coming out party” for future stars, he could be the next “Big Thing” to get his first recognition here. Still slender (170 pounds), he’ll improve as he adds bulk. He plays far over the rim and uses that skill to regularly block and alters shots. Already runs the court well with good athleticism. Has an emerging low-post game. Could become a major D-I prospect as he adds strength.

Jimmy Hall (6-6 F) New Heights: Already has decent size (190 pounds) and solid frame, and plays tough and hard. Has a nose for the ball on the offensive boards, and fearlessly scores in the paint. He also exhibited a nice turn-around jumper from mid range. Effectively draws fouls. Looks to have considerable upside to his game.

Austin Taps (6-3 PF) Long Island Lightning-Diasparra: A very solid 215-pounder who, at this level, is a proverbial man among boys in the paint. He just carves out space inside and, then, finishes with either hand. Also has a good shooting touch. Very strong hands. Dogged determination on both ends. His team was not the same when he was off the floor.

Malik Draper (6-1 G) Firm AC: Displayed a very diverse offensive game. He has 3-point shooting range, but also has a quick first step that allows him to blow past defenders. Also displayed nice athleticism and gets off the floor to contest and block shots on the defensive end. An athletic player who has much potential.

Brendan Miller (6-5)20Orange County Elite: A nice post player with good size (185 pounds) who is fearless with the ball inside and who finishes well around the basket. Plays hard and is a physical defender. Gets off his feet quickly and well, using those skills to be an effective rebounder and shot-blocker.

Kyle Reardon (6-4 F) Team Boston Elite: A polished performer who is strong at both ends of the floor. He can dominate a game. Displayed shooting accuracy, yet a nice touch on outlet passes. Squares up nicely before delivering his shot. Hits mid-range jumpers consistently and uses his size and athleticism to be an outstanding rebounder.

Kenneth Reed (6-0 G) All For One Basketball Club: Extremely strong (185-pound) point guard who will penetrate and dish or finish himself. He is much quicker than he looks and goes past defenders. But, also uses his strong body to finish around the basket. Showed a consistent ability to hit perimeter jumpers.

Renee Castro (6-3 F) All For One Basketball Club: Capable of putting up big numbers at any time with a versatile game that makes him effective scoring inside or outside. Showed ability to drain open 3pointers, yet also puts the ball on the floor and gets to the hoop to do damage. Very athletic and runs the floor well.

Jalon White (6-3 C) Metro Hawks: Very strong interior player despite his slight build (165 pounds). He is relentless inside and does damage on the offensive boards. Not afraid to work in the paint on the offensive end with the ball and exhibited a soft shooting touch even under pressure. Seems to always be around the ball on both ends.

Dominic Hoffman (6-6 C) Hoop Heaven Elite: A legit big man (195) who runs the floor very well. Played on the championship team here. Showed good hands and ability to catch tough passes and then finish well. Very solid defender and rebounder who will continue to develop. Came up big in the title game.
15:U Honorable Mention All-Gym Rat CHALLENGE

Jake Layman (6-3 PF) Mass Premier
Steve Mayer (6-2 G) Team CJEOTO
Darryl Robinson (6-1 Wing) TEAM CJEOTO
Michael Callahan (5-11 G) Long Island Lightning-Renton
Arnell Dandridge (5-8 PG) Rockland Rockets-Rinaldi
Pat Peterson (6-2 SF) Rockland Falcons
Aqeel Dallas (5-5 PG) Rockland Rockets-Rinaldi
Neville Fincher (6-6 PF) Sports University All Stars
Jordan Forehand (6-0 G) Sports University All Stars
Nathaniel Anderson (6-5 C) MABC Bengals
Tyrese Hoxter (6-2 SG) MABC Bengals
Devonte Wiggins (5-5 PG) CT Knights
Jose Zayas (6-3 C) CT Knights
Kenneth Williams (6-0 Wing) House of Hoops-Mahon)
Stan Weir (6-3 PF) Albany City Rocks
Travis Bryan (5-8 PG) Long Island Lightning-Jones
Timajh Parker (6-5 C/F) Connecticut Elite
James Jennings (5-6 PG) Connecticut Elite
Tre McPherson (5-7 PG) Connecticut Elite
Paul Simpson (6-3 SF) L.I. Lightning-Nick
Jarrod Scurlock (5-10 G) Glenn Hines Panthers
Stephen Haladyna (6-3 SF) NE Select
Oshaun Bannister (6-6 C) CT Knights
Maliek Miles (6-1 Wing) CT Knights
Jevaughn McMillan (6-5 C) Dunbar
Rahim Miller (6-4 F) Upstate Elite
Alex Tenae (6-3 F) Upstte Elite
Andrew Chrabascz (6-5 C) Expressions Elite
Sam Palermo (6-3 C) East Coast Fusion
Darryl Adams (5-10 SG) Almighty Force
Nikolaos Kotoulas (6-5 C) New Jersey Panthers
Darius Osorio (5-7 PG) New Jersey Panthers
Andre Chambers (6-4 PF) Metro Hawks
Jimmy Tomaswick (6-3 PF) New England Demons
Tim Hedge (5-5 PG) MVBGC
Jerry Buchanon (5-9 SG) ANU Generation
Shadell Millinghaus (6-3 F) Albany City Rocks
Zachary Lewis (6-0 SG) ANU Generation
Ethan Borchelt (6-5 C) Bay State Jaguars
Kalid Joseph (5-10 G) Team Boston Elite
John Sisay (6-2 Wint) Team Boston Elite
Joe Krong (6-3 F) Albany City Rocks
Mark Ellis (5-10 G) New England Storm
Ryan Sutherland (5-10 G) CT Knights
Tyler Iacuone (5-10 PG) LI Lightning-Diasparra
Cesar Mejia (6-2 SF) RI Breakers
Will Williams (6-0 G) Glenn Hines Panthers
Jaren Sina (6-0 SG) Hoop Heaven Elite
Chaz Lott (5-10 PG) Albany City Rocks