Friday Recap... Saturday Preview

*Note: The "Live Stream of this morning's Southern Select vs Upward Stars game can be found at iHigh.com/hoopseen. Disregard the direction to go to our iHigh portal.

Friday was a great start to the weekend for ABR Live and the basketball teams we are covering this weekend.  In Friday's "Weekend Plans" post, we shared our plans to be in three places at once this weekend.  And our teams of interest all performed well Friday night, setting up an exciting Saturday for ABR viewers and readers.

Bob Gibbons TOC
Southern Select, featuring Westside High School's standout 6'4" Junior guard Frank Booker, advanced past the first round of bracket play Friday to set up a fascinating Saturday morning match up with the Upward Stars, based in upstate South Carolina.

We followed Booker throughout the high school season and through the first weeks of the ABR Spring League, and this is our first chance to get a close look at his AAU team, which weeks ago shocked many by defeating the Georgia Stars Elite team and the Atlanta Express in the Norman Parker Elite Showcase.

The Upward Stars are obviously not based in the Augusta area, but we feel like our area is Upward's home away from home after the Stars won the Ice Breaker Invitational and won all five King James Southern Exposure games.  Both tournaments were hosted at Riverview Park in North Augusta, South Carolina, and ABR covered both extensively.

We are streaming the 8 A.M. Southern Select vs Upward Stars matchup at iHigh.com/augustabasketball, and we will provide highlights and commentary on this site.  Additionally, we plan to provide highlights of the South Georgia Kings in their 9:20 A.M. matchup with the Flordia Rams.  The Kings feature future UGA point guard JJ Frazier, exciting guard Aaron Scott, and workhorse Kirk Hill.  The Kings are another of our "adopted teams," as we have enjoyed getting to know them during the past 6 weeks during their trips to Augusta.  Watch this special feature on what we call the southeast's "best back court," and go here to find extensive coverage of the South Georgia Kings.

We are especially excited to provide highlights of one of Augusta's finest AAU teams, the Will Avery Stars, in their second round matchup at 12:10.  The Stars defeated the Greensboro Warriors 61-49 Friday.  Today is our first chance to see the Stars (an earlier attempt failed), but we enjoyed following this group of ninth graders last summer.

The Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions is a "bracket play, elimination style tournament."  We are happy that our friends from Southern Select, the Will Avery Stars, the Upward Stars, the Worldwide Renegades, the South Georgia Kings, and the Georgia Stars Select all advanced.  And we will do our best to bring you highlights and information about as many of these teams as possible as they compete during Saturday's rounds.

Click here to see highlights from Sothern Select, the Upward Stars, and the Worldwide Renegades during Friday's opening round.  And follow us on Twitter (@AugBball) for updates about today's coverage schedule.

Southern Stampede at the Nike Boo Williams Invitational
Our Friday "Weekend Plans" post highlighted the Southern Stampede 16u team and their Friday matchup with the nation's #1 ranked Texas Titans in the Nike Boo Williams Invitational.  We anticipated a battle.  The Stampede is ranked in the top 20 nationally, and as we say in the video below from last weekend's King James Southern Exposure tournament, the team is "loaded with weapons!"



And the Augusta based team, which features Aquinas High School guards Ahmed Hill and Michael Scott along with many of the southeast's best 10th grade basketball players, did not disappoint.  The game was decided on the final possession as the Titans earned a 53-51 victory in the opening game of this famous tournament.  Expect highlights from this and other Stampede games from this weekend early next week.

Garden City All Stars Classic
We especially enjoyed our time at Butler High school covering Friday's opening round of the GCA Hardwood Classic, which features AAU teams in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.  One of our "ABR Live" reporters said it (or texted it) best during a 9u game: "These kids are a blast to watch!"  It was fun to be a part of a great family atmosphere.  All five of the Garden City All Star teams are exciting to watch.  And the Southern Kings 12u, coached by former ASU Jaguar standout Adam Miller, is a particularly impressive team.  We look forward to following the remainder of this tournament and suggest that Augusta's basketball fans consider stopping by Butler High School to watch these young boys compete.

Watch the highlights below from Friday's GCA Hardwood Classic action! (We have yet to finish the Garden City 12u game, one of the evening's most impressive performances.  We will finish the highlights and post soon!)

Southern Kings 12u


Garden City 9u


Garden City 10u


Garden City 11u


Garden City 12u

ABR Live: Weekend Plans

Our ABR Live operations are busy this weekend.  We are operating from sights in Augusta and Atlanta, and we are gathering footage and information from the Nike Boo Williams Invitational in Hampton, Virginia.

Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions - Suwanee, Georgia
For the second consecutive weekend, college coaches are permitted to evaluate AAU basketball players.  After broadcasting live from last week's King James Southern Exposure tournament at Riverview Park in North Augusta, South Carolina, we have decided to follow some of our favorite AAU programs to the Atlanta area to live stream (iHigh.com/augustabasketball), and to provide live highlights and analysis of said teams in the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions.  We hope to bring our viewers and readers great information and video footage from the following teams as they compete in bracket play: Southern Select (GA), Upward Stars (SC), Worldwide Renegades 16u and 17u (GA), South Georgia Kings (GA), and the Will Avery Stars (GA).  These teams have distinguished themselves in past events that ABR Live has covered. Check the right side of this page to view stories and highlights of these teams during the Ice Breaker Invitational and the King James Southern Exposure tournament.

King James Action: Southern Stampede 16u vs Florida Assault

Augusta Basketball Report is broadcasting live at our iHigh Portal from the King James Southern Exposure Tournament in North Augusta, SC.  The tournament is noteworthy because it features some of the best AAU teams in the southeast United States.  And this is the first of two "evaluation weekends," when college coaches can evaluate high school players during an AAU tournament.  In addition to the live streaming broadcast, we are "live tweeting" from our Twitter feed (@AugBball), and we are updating this site with highlights, news, and commentary.

This is the fourth of the Southern Stampede 16u team's five consecutive victories in the 17u division of the King James Southern Exposure tournament.  The Stampede won 60-59.  We are aware that the Assault's Rashawn Powell scored 40 points in the game, and we aim to soon put special highlights together from that impressive performance.

Southern Stampede 16u First Half Highlights

Southern Stampede 16u Second Half Highlights

King James Action: Southern Stampede vs Southern Kings

Augusta Basketball Report is broadcasting live at our iHigh Portal from the King James Southern Exposure Tournament in North Augusta, SC.  The tournament is noteworthy because it features some of the best AAU teams in the southeast United States.  And this is the first of two "evaluation weekends," when college coaches can evaluate high school players during an AAU tournament.  In addition to the live streaming broadcast, we are "live tweeting" from our Twitter feed (@AugBball), and we are updating this site with highlights, news, and commentary.


We have many highlights of the Southern Stampede in action at the King James Southern Exposure tournament that we will be sharing soon.  This 16u team won all five games in the 17u division against most of the tournament's best teams.  And they may be the most talented team we have seen this season.  Loaded with length, athleticism, and skill, this team is very dangerous because, in addition to being extremely talented, the players play hard, they play together, and they play smart.  We are eager to find out how they perform at the upcoming Boo Williams Nike Invitational in Hampton, Virginia, where for the first time this Spring, the Stampede will compete in the 16u division.

Enjoy the highlights from the Southern Stampede's two weekend victories over the Southern Kings.  Our reaction to the play in these clips is that if 6'4" Ahmed Hill (#8), the 6'7" Jakeenan Gant (#7), and the 6'8" Elijah Staley (#9) continue to knock down mid range and long range shots to complement their high flying attack, this team will be extremely difficult to beat.  Add the intelligent play and stingy defense from guards Michael Scott (#1) and Marcus Stroman, the sweet shooting touch of Jerad Coleman (#4), and the power game of 6'9" CJ Turmen (#11), and we can only imagine the success this team may have.

Enjoy the highlights from the Southern Stampede's two weekend victories over the Southern Kings.

Game 1 - First Half Highlights


Game 1 - Second Half Highlights


Game 2 - Full Game Highlights

King James Action: Southern Stampede (U17) vs Baltimore Stars (U17)

Augusta Basketball Report is broadcasting live at our iHigh Portal from the King James Southern Exposure Tournament in North Augusta, SC.  The tournament is noteworthy because it features some of the best AAU teams in the southeast United States.  And this is the first of two "evaluation weekends," when college coaches can evaluate high school players during an AAU tournament.  In addition to the live streaming broadcast, we are "live tweeting" from our Twitter feed (@AugBball), and we are updating this site with highlights, news, and commentary.

The Southern Stampede defeated the Baltimore Stars in King James Southern Exposure action Saturday evening.  Enjoy the highlights from this exciting game.

Game Highlights Southern Stampede vs Baltimore Stars

King James Action: Southern Stampede Highlights (2nd Half)

The Augusta Basketball Report is broadcasting live at our iHigh Portal from the King James Southern Exposure Tournament in North Augusta, SC.  The tournament is noteworthy because it features some of the best AAU teams in the southeast United States.  And this is the first of two "evaluation weekends," when college coaches can evaluate high school players during an AAU tournament.  In addition to the live streaming broadcast, we are "live tweeting" from our Twitter feed (@AugBball), and we are updating this site with highlights, news, and commentary.

Earlier we shared first half highlights from the Southern Stampede's victory Friday over the Birmingham Ice.  Here we share the highlights from the second half.

King James Southern Exposure Tips Off

The Augusta Basketball Report is broadcasting live at our iHigh Portal from the King James Southern Exposure Tournament in North Augusta, SC.  The tournament is noteworthy because it features some of the best AAU teams in the southeast United States.  And this is the first of two "evaluation weekends," when college coaches can evaluate high school players during an AAU tournament.  In addition to the live streaming broadcast, we are "live tweeting" from our Twitter feed (@AugBball), and we are updating this site with highlights, news, and commentary.

The Southern Stampede 16u team and the Upward Stars won their opening games against the Birmingham Ice and the Worldwide Renegades, respectively, in the King James Southern Exposure tournament at Riverview Park in North Augusta, SC.

The Southern Stampede is loaded with talent.  6'8" forward Elijah Staley (sophomore, Wheeler High, GA) scored 16 points and added 12 rebounds to lead the Stampede.  Ahmed Hill (sophomore, Aquinas High, GA) contributed 15 points and 4 rebounds.  Michael Scott (sophomore, Aquinas High, GA) added 8 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals; and Jerad Coleman (sophomore, Greenwood High, SC) contributed 8 points, including two 3 pointers.

See Staley (#7), Hill (#8), Scott (#1), and Coleman (#4) in the highlights (below) from 1st half action.  (And check back soon for highlights from the second half)



The Upward Stars, tournament champions from last month's Ice Breaker Invitational (also hosted at Riverview Park) defeated the formidable Worldwide Renegades 66-62 in the Augusta Basketball Report's other featured game.  Sidy Mohamed led the Stars with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Justin Dotson added 11 points, and Rontavious Mclure contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds.  Watch Mohamed (#4), Dotson (#32), Mclure (#22), Justin Mckie (#20), Alec Wintering (#2), and others from both teams in the first and second half highlights (below).



First Half Action: Upward Stars vs Worldwide Renegades



Second Half Action: Upward Stars vs Worldwide Renegades

Ice Breaker Sunday Bracket Play: Southern Stampede "16u" vs South Georgia Kings

The South Georgia Kings advance.  Congratulations to The Southern Stampede "16u" for a great performance in the 2012 Ice Breaker.
                       

Live Ice Breaker Highlights: Flat Elite Defeats Stampede 16u

It is no secret that we ABR contributors are huge fans of the players and coaches of Flat Elite and the Southern Stampede 16u teams.  So we hated to know that, after each team started pool play with a 2-0 record, one of these teams had to lose its third and final pool game.  But the good news was always that each team will advance to bracket play.  So this game was always mostly about seeding, but probably at least partially about pride and bragging rights.

After establishing a 17-6 first quarter lead, Flat Elite yielded some of that advantage before halftime, and went to the break leading 27-23.  And after the Stampede tied the game at 57 late in the 4th quarter, TJ Shepperd's basket gave his Flat Elite team the win and the pool's first seed.

In addition to being an entertaining game, this matchup between a local team trying to prove itself (Flat Elite) and a regional powerhouse (Stampede 16u) will likely pay huge dividends to each group during the coming season.  The Southern Stampede proved they can come back from a significant deficit against an older team, and Flat Elite proved it can make the needed plays to beat a very talented team.

Enjoy the set of highlights below!

Flat Elite 1st Half Highlights

Flat Elite 2nd Half Highlights

Southern Stampede 16u Full Game Highlights

Live IceBreaker Highlight: Southern Stampede vs Carolina Raptors

The Southern Stampede 16u squad continues to roll.  We ran into coaches Michael Stokes and Matt Scott in the parking lot before the team's runaway victory versus the Carolina Raptors.  Neither were pleased with the Stampede's defensive performance in the team's opening round, 80-67 victory over Team TMP (highlights here and here) Friday night.  Judging from the highlights below, the Stampede players have received their coaches' message!  Fivestarbasketball.com 's preseason #23 ranked 10th grade AAU team next plays Flat Elite at 4:15 P.M. for the 1st place position in the pool.

Southern Stampede 16u vs Carolina Raptors Highlights

Live Ice Breaker Highlights: Southern Stapede 16u Wins First Game

The Southern Stampede 16u team has won its first pool game 80-67 over Team TMP.  The Stampede's next game is Saturday at 12:15 versus the Carolina Raptors on Riverview Park's Court #3.  Enjoy the highlights below.

Southern Stampede's Exciting 2nd Half Highlights

Live Ice Breaker Highlights: Southern Stampede 16u

The Southern Stampede 16u team, who fivestarbasketball.com recently ranked #23 in the nation in its preseason poll, are leading Team TMP 50-36 at halftime in its opening game of 17u pool play in the Icebreaker Invitational.  Jarryd Coleman leads all scorers with 18 points after sinking 6 three pointers.  And Aquinas high school standout Ahmed Hill, an explosive 6'5" shooting guard 13 points at the break.  Check out the first half highlights from the Stampede's opening game in the video directly below.

Southern Stampede vs Team TMP Highlights

Spring/Summer AAU Preview: Southern Stampede 16u

Southern Stampede 16u - Video Preview

For years, Mike Stokes and Matt Scott, the coaches of the Southern Stampede 16 & Under AAU basketball team, have shared the goal of competing in the Spring and Summer's premiere basketball tournament:  The EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, hosted by Nike at North Augusta's Riverview Park.  And Stokes' team, whose core is playing together for the sixth consecutive AAU season, is poised to achieve that goal this July.

"Playing in the Peach Jam has been our goal since the Augusta Metros (the team's original name) days.  And we have been telling the players for years that reaching that goal would take lots of hard work," assistant coach Matt Scott recently shared.

And the Stampede's players have certainly followed their coaches' instructions.  Most of the players travel from well outside of the Augusta area to practice on Friday, Saturday (usually twice), and Sunday during the team's March preseason practice period.  And all players work on their individual skills and strength and conditioning during the week to be prepared for the AAU season's marathon weekends of ultra-competitive game play.

But while the ultimate goal is well within reach, the Stampede will have to earn its way to the AAU circuit's most noteworthy tournament.  The 16 & Under division's "Sweet Sixteen" field is chosen by Nike's "grassroots" organization based on the performance of the various Nike sponsored teams during the season's key EYBL events.  The two in which the Stampede plan to compete include the March 27-29 EYBL event in Hampton, Virginia, and the May 11-13 event in Dallas, Texas.  The team also plans to compete in tournaments in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The team's talented roster has caused some to project that the Stampede will be one of the nation's top five 16 & Under AAU teams.  But the coaches and players look forward to proving themselves on the court.  And they hope that the last leg of this six year journey, which began with the recent practices in Augusta, and which will continue during tournaments across the country, will end in a familiar place:  the EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, in North Augusta, South Carolina.

Southern Stampede
16u Roster

Player	Position	Ht
Ahmed Hill Marcus Stroman Michael Scott Davon Gibbs Elijah Staley Jarryd Coleman Jakeena Gant Jay Baxley Phil Cofer Cedric Turmen Vincent Hicklan	PG/SG PG PG PG G/F PG/SG G/F F F C F	6'4'' 6'2'' 5'8'' 5'10'' 6'6'' 6'2'' 6'7'' 6'4'' 6'8'' 6'9'' 6'6''

Georgia Defenders Finish in Final 8 at Showcase in Orlando, FL

The Georgia Defenders Select 15 and Under AAU basketball team finished as one of the eight best teams in the 2011 15u AAU Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida.  The highly competitive field featured 96 teams from all over the United States.  After winning the first five games, including impressive victories versus Team Final, the Philadelphia based powerhouse that draws players from Central Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, and the CIA Bounce, a Canadian program that is widely recognized as one of the strongest in North America, the Defenders fell to the CP3 All Stars, named after NBA All Star Chris Paul.

The Georgia Defenders have proven to be one of the best 15 and Under teams in the country after an impressive showing in the intensely competitive July "recruiting period."  The mixture of talented players and sound coaching is tough to match at the high school level.  The Defenders feature three interior players (JT Grant, Cedric Turmen, and Vincent Hicklin) who can score, rebound, and defend.  These abilities do not go to waste.  Defenders Coach Michael Stokes' offensive system and the skilled and unselfish play of guards Michael Scott, Ahmed Hill, Jared Coleman, and Marcus Stroman provide great opportunities for the inside players to use their skills.

Strong inside play will make for a good team.  But the Defenders are exceptional because they combine good inside play with impressive play on the perimeter.  Shooting guard Ahmed Hill scores in bunches (see the video in this post for an example).  Hill is skilled and athletic enough to be dangerous from the 3 point line, from mid range, and in the paint.  Like most good scorers, he also has a knack for getting fouled enough to shoot a lot of free throws.

Michael Scott, a solid point guard who attends Aquinas High School in Augusta, Georgia, runs the offense effectively and consistently puts the ball in the hands of the appropriate players in the places on the floor where they are most effective.  Scott's defensive ability may be his biggest asset.  Although he is usually the smallest player on the court, size is certainly no liability on the defensive end as he routinely harasses opposing guards, forcing turnovers and disrupting offenses.  Marcus Stroman is another intelligent guard who, as a freshman, led Keenan High School to the 2A South Carolina State Championship.  Add sharp shooting guard Jared Coleman to the mix, and it is easy to see why the Defenders have been so successful.  Watch the video below to see these Georgia Defenders Select players and other talented teammates in action during the Super 32 Showcase in Aiken, South Carolina, earlier in July.

Defenders Select Peach State Update

Twice this week we have posted (here and here) video highlights of the Defenders Select, a 16 and Under AAU team featuring two Augusta area players, Matt Miller (homeschool Augusta Eagles) and Michael Scott (Aquinas High School).  After finishing as the runner up in last weekend's "Super 32" tournament in Aiken, SC, the Defenders won all 5 pool games and advanced to bracket play as the first seed from Pool D in the "Peach State Summer Showcase" in Augusta, GA.  The Defenders were defeated Thursday evening in the quarterfinals by the Carolina Hurricanes.

In addition to the Augusta based players mentioned, the Defenders feature explosive guard Ahmed Hill (#10), forward JT Grant (#23), and center CJ Turman (#33), among other talented players.  The Defenders' next tournament is the "Fab 48" in Las Vegas starting July 22.

Check out highlights from the Defenders' latest 66-41 win versus the Baltimore Stars.  Also, click here for more information about the Peach State Summer Showcase.

Peach State Highlights - Defenders Select vs Atlanta Express

Earlier this week, we featured the 16 and Under Defenders Select AAU basketball team.  The Defenders have now won its first three games of the 2011 Peach State Summer Showcase in Augusta, GA.  The latest win, versus the Atlanta Express, was the team's most difficult contest and its most impressive showing.  After the Defenders led 27-20 at halftime, the Express made a 14-3 run and took a 34-30 lead.  But a barrage of jump shots by Defender guard Ahmed Hill enabled the Defenders to regain the lead and claim a 49-43 win.  Ahmed Hill scored 32 points to lead the Defenders, and Matt Miller added 9 in the victory.

The Defenders Select feature two Augusta area players, Matt Miller and Michael Scott of the homeschool Augusta Eagles and the Aquinas Fighting Irish, respectively.  Next, the Defenders play the South Piedmont Heat at 5 P.M. tonight at Greenbrier High School.  After that contest, the Defenders face the Baltimore Stars Thursday at 9 A.M. at Augusta Christian Schools.  Enjoy the highlights of the Defenders vs Express game.