It's Showtime

Suwannee Sports Academy - Suwannee, GA

Welcome to the second Annual Adidas Showtime National Championships, a “Michael T White” production. The tournament consists of some of the nation’s top 17U, 16U and 15U AAU teams. With a 6 game minimum in 3 brackets, only 3 of the 96 participating teams could be crowned champion in their division.

The three divisions will be broken down as follows:

      1)     17 And Under - Elite Division

2)     17 And Under - Open Division

3)     16 And Under - Open Division

17 And Under - Elite Division

(Left-Back-Right) Gabriel Blair, Brandis Raley & Devon Seaford

This division would feature the EBO/EA Sports team out of California. The EBO team was loaded with star studded Adidas All-Stars Derrick Jaspers (6’5, Paso Robles), Brook Lopez (7’0, San Joaquin Memorial HS, committed to Stanford), Robin Lopez (6’10, San Joaquin Memorial HS, committed to Stanford) and Quincy Pondexter (6’7, San Joaquin Memorial HS).

The Charlotte Royals 17U team from Charlotte, North Carolina made a statement in the tournament and finished in the championship game against EBO. Charlotte’s triple threat in Gabriel Blair (6’8, Bridgeton HS), Kenan Farley (6’2, Charlotte Christ) and Devon Seaford (6’5, Gastond Day) would be too much for their opponents.

The assault of “That boy Jodie” Meeks would keep the Georgia Hurricanes in a respectable 7^th place. Jodie Meeks (6’4, Norcross HS), along with big man emerging star Matt Heramb (6’9, Chapel Hill) and Horace Dixon (6’8, Fork Union), would give opponents a tough hall pass for permission to get by.

(Back to Front) Garrison Johnson - Delano Howard

When it’s time to bring the stars out, there is none more talented than the Georgia Stars 17U team. This team is so deep that you could split it in half and have just as equal of a team. Delano Howard (5’11, South Gwinnett) headlines the point, while Cameron Tatum’s (6’5, Tucker HS) stock has climbed tremendously over the summer as he holds down the shooting guard position. Landon Milbourne (6’6, St. Francis, committed to Maryland) would mandate the small forward position, while Avery Jukes (6’8, South Gwinnett, committed to  Alabama) and Jerome Burney (6’9, Westlake HS, committed to University of Miami) would hold down the middle. A team of high flyers, along with great coaching, created an exciting team to watch.

(Back to Front) Michael Beasley - Nolan Smith

 

DC Assault II would be the team that had the bulls eye on their back as it was believed that most teams would play the hardest against the DC Assault II out of Landover, Maryland. The DC Assault II would feature the Oak Hill and Adidas All-Star combination of Michael Beasley (6’9, Oak Hill Academy) and Nolan Smith (6’3, Oak Hill Academy). Beasley is a beast and Nolan is a straight shooter enough said.

17 And Under -  Open Division

One of the most underrated teams in the tournament is now on the map- the Georgia Blazers out of Columbus Georgia. The team is lead by captain and point guard Deandra Johnson (5’9, Calhouh County HS). Johnson’s ability to push the ball up the court and see open teammates creates defensive trouble for his opponents. Johnson backcourt mate Andre Young (5’9, Deerfield Windsor) gives the duo a deadly combination that is small in size but big in heart. Finally, the paint belongs to Xavier Gibson (6’9, Northview HS, Dothan,Ala), Jarvis Jones (6’4, Carver HS) and Michael Abbott (6’6, Nothview HS, Dothan,Ala).

If the hurricane hits Georgia the force behind it will be Jordan Demercy (Norcross HS) and Lafayette Wilson (MLK HS) from the Georgia Hurricanes 16U team. The Hurricanes added depth to their backcourt with the addition of former Georgia Star and Dunwoody high school standout Wesley Mincey. Mincey’s ability to drive, score at the point and get teammates involved creates another dimension for the team.

To make sure the Atlanta Celtics are ok in the future, the 16U Atlanta Celtics are stacked with young talent. Stone Mountain’s own T. Bell, or rather Terrell Bell (6’5, Stone Mountain HS), headlines the group, along with Dexter Ellington (5’11, Randolph-Clay HS) at the point. Big man Lee Dempsey (MCI) and Walter Hill Jr. (East Hall HS) controls the paint.

17 And Under - Elite Division Championship Game.

EBO/EA versus Charlotte Royals

EBO arrived at the championship game with a fresh 28 point victory over the South Carolina Celtics. The Royals’ path to the finals would come in half the points with a 15 point victory over the Full Package Select 17U team from Franklin Park, Illinois.

Quincy Pondexter (6’7, San Joaquin Memorial HS).

We pick up the game with 9:12 left to play in the first half with Charlotte up 13-11. EBO’s Quincy Pondexter would go to the line for 2 free throws to tie the game at 13 a piece and teammate Derreick Jaspers would follow with a 3-point bomb to move the score to 16-13. The Royals Branis Raley would not be out done. He answered back with a 3 pointer of his own over Jasper to tie the game. He followed that with a wicked tomahawk dunk off the steal to put his team in the lead 18-16 with 6:15 left to play. EBO went on a 7 point run set up by Pondexter, who would lose his defender with the crossover dribble to score the basket, moving the score to 25-18 with 4:43 left in the first half. The stubborn Royals would not go away, as they would counter the run with a 9 point run of their own to re-take the lead on a put back dunk by Gabriel Blair that got the crowd out of their seats, regaining the lead 28-27. With 33 seconds left before halftime, EBO’s Derrick Jaspers would hold the ball for the last shot and attempt a 3 pointer. The shot would barely miss off the rim and Charlotte would take the one point lead into the break. 

The second half would be a struggle for the Charlotte Royals. The Royals displayed a lot of heart but was over-all fatigued. Pondexter would get an easy dunk on an assist from Jasper and EBO would go on the win the Elite Eivision championship with the final score 67-57.

17 And Under - Open Division Championship Game.

Columbus Georgia Blazers versus Georgia Hurricanes

Andre Young (5’9, Deerfield Windsor)

The Blazers would enter the game as the least expected team to be in the championship picture. The Blazers beat the Elite 16U team from Indiana 62-50 to reach the finals. The Hurricanes path to the finals would come by beating the Houston Hoopstars by a close 2 points 57-55. An all Georgia final was only set for bragging rights to determine the best in their age groups.

To begin the second half, the Blazers would be up by 2 points to the score 26-24. The Blazers Andre Young would nail a three pointer from down town to move the score to 29-24. On the next possession Young will steal the ball and drive the length of the court to dish off to teammate Jarmon Fortson in corner for three points to move the score 32-26. Young would not be finished, for on the next play he would stare his opponent in the eye and drill a three pointer as if he had ice in his veins, pushing the score to 35-26, leading to a Hurricane timeout. Wesley Mincey would start the come back drive with 2 straight baskets, plus 2 from the line and moved the score to 35-32 with 7:51 left in the game. The Blazers Xavier Gibson would go to the line and hit 2 free throws to ice the game with 25 seconds left on the clock and the Blazers would complete the close victory with the score 42-39.

16 And Under - Open Division Championship Game

Memphis Celtics versus Elite MG

Elliot Williams

The Memphis Celtics would enter the championship game energized off a victory over the Atlanta Celtics Gold 15U team 67-53. The Elite MG team appeared fatigued, but was able to play one more after the hard fought victory to get to the finals by beating Derek Smith’s All-Stars 15U team 61-49. It was time to lace the shoes strings and let the young men go at it for the title.

The Memphis Celtics would be up 14 points with 8:45 left in the game to the score 55-41. Memphis Elliot Williams would drive to the basket for 2 points to increase the lead to 16 points, 57-41. With about 6:30 left the Celtics Randy Culpepper (No kin to Daunte) would score a easy 2 points on the inbound play by sneaking into the lane moving the score to a steady 61-44. The Elite’s only highlight of the half would come on a long three pointer by Joshua Maggard to cut the score to a 14 point lead. The Celtics Elliot would close the game out on a two-handed dunk, and Memphis go on to take the Championship to the score 74-65.