Easter Classic Recap
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EASTER CLASSIC RECAP JR BOYS DIVISION Nike Team Florida defeated Team STAT to win the 2006 Easter Classic. Chandler Parsons led all scorers with 30 points. Nick Calathes added 28 points and 8 assists before fouling out of the game with a little less than three minutes in the game. Martavis Kee and Solomon Alibi finished in double digits scoring 10 and 11 points. Joseph Katuka added 5 blocks. NIKE TEAM FLORIDA They defeated all of their opponents by double digits except for the GC Florida United on their way to the championship. NICK CALATHES dominated the tournament in every aspect of the game. He averaged over 25 points a game while shooting close to 60% from the field. As a matter, of fact in their semi-final win over Alabama Challenge he only missed three shots on his way to a game high 30 points. In the first half of the championship game, he scored 16 points only missing one shot. In addition, he served up a lot of excellent assist. He was most dominant in a very intense physical game with the GC Florida United where he scored 40 points to give his team a four point victory. CHANDLER PARSONS continues to improve his stock. He is not only deadly shooting from the perimeter, but he is attacking the basket with more authority, rebounding better and playing with more confidence. His improved game was evident as he averaged 26 points against the toughest and most physical teams in the semi and championship game. He has pretty much removed all doubt about his ability to get a high major college scholarship. MARTAVIS KEE demonstrated his ability to play the point or off the ball. He has a very good shooting touch and he is a creative passer especially in the open court. Kee is also dunking with two hands on the break. SOLOMON ALIBI and JOSEPH KATUKA took turns playing volleyball with opponent's shots this weekend. There are not many players taller than 6'10 that run the floor and create the defensive presence that the twin towers from Montverde pose. TEAM STAT They played the toughest schedule of anyone in the tournament defeating the Georgia Hurricanes, Tropics Gold, Coastal Crews, Barton Ballas, and 24/7 Hoops before losing in the championship to Nike Team Florida. Team Stat did not have one player that was dominant this weekend. They were dominant as a TEAM. Sophomore MIGUEL (pictured bottom) PAUL did a good job of scoring clutch baskets and running the show for an elite team that advanced to the championship. Paul is also playing above the rim so he is comfortable finishing in traffic or dunking in transition. IDELL BELL is the emotional leader on the team. He does what it takes to win. If that means locking down the opposing team's top player, taking charges, grabbing rebounds, scoring clutch free throws, or providing verbal support. Bell was on his job. He was also successful running the point for his team when Paul was out of the game. There may not be a better collection of forwards in the state than Team Stat's crew. They have a group of guys ranging from 6'2 to 6'7 that can rebound, defend, dunk in your face, score on the perimeter or inside. Most teams would be happy to have one of these guys, but Team Stat has numerous guys like Jerell Blocker, Dominique Davis, Chris Hill, Kevin Foster, Arthur Barnes and others that are extremely versatile. TEAM BREAKDOWN 16U The 16u played up in the 17u division under Team Breakdown South. They won their pool defeating the GA Ballers, Champion Wildcats and the Kissimmee Wildcats. They were defeated by the Atlanta All Stars. KENNY BOYNTON continue to show why he is one of the nation's elite guards despite him only being a freshman. He averaged 28 points a game scoring in a variety of ways. He was draining threes from behind the arch, but his scoring arsenal was not limited to jump shots. He scored on a lot of tough drives to the basket and threw down some impressive dunks on the break. Boynton was not the only scorer on Team Breakdown. ZACK BAILEY did his fair share of scoring averaging 17 points in the tournament. Bailey also led the team in steals averaging 3 a game. LUKE LOUCKS had his coming out party with Team Breakdown. It is hard to tell that Loucks is only a sophomore based off his incredible court vision. He dished out 14 assists in his first game as he ran the point nearly flawlessly. The next game he took on more of a scoring role hitting double digits. He finished the tournament averaging 10 assists and made a very strong case for being the state's top sophomore point guard. BO RELIFORD benefited greatly from Loucks passing. Reliford averaged double digits points and threw down some furious dunks in transition and in the half court set. His best game came against the Champion Wildcats as he finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. ELOY VARGAS was very effective finishing two games with a double-double. He had 10 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals in a win over the Georgia Ballers and 13 points 13 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 steals in a loss to the Atlanta All Stars. MIAMI TROPICS They won their pool defeating the Falcons, Hamilton Wildcats and the Shoot Net Select. They were defeated by Team Stat The state got their first look at power forward FREDDY ASPRILLA as he took the floor with the Tropics Gold this weekend. He scored his share of points averaging over 20 points a game, but he did not display the game of one of the nation's elite players. He has the ability to score around the basket, but he has to improve his explosiveness, athletic ability and conditioning. The Tropics Gold also had standout point guard JOEY RODRIGUEZ on loan from the Florida Rams. As a result, Rodriguez was thrust into the off guard position. In the game we watched his improved shot was not falling and he was not as effective without the ball in his hand. However, Rodriguez is one of the nation's better point guards and has the ability to dominate a game when he is running with his own team. GC FLORIDA UNITED They played the game of the tournament as they lost a close four point game to Nike Team Florida in pool play. ALVIN MITCHELL was the most physical guard in the tournament. He uses his size to score almost effortless in the paint despite contact. He is also a dead eye shooter from beyond the three point line. Mitchell is a very intense competitor and that was evident in the Nike Team Florida game. Playing in from of a packed gym, Mitchell dropped a tough 30 points on NTF and was not hesitant to let his opponents know that they could not stop him. He nearly led his undersized team to the biggest upset of the tournament. JAMAL OWENS and CECIL COLEMAN are two undersized forward, but they more than make up for their lack of height with toughness and athletic ability. Champion Wildcats' CHRIS WARREN was without a doubt the best scorer in the tournament. He had a tournament high 43 points against Team Breakdown 16u. He uses his quickness to blow by defenders and a sick pull up jumper that leaves opponents thinking what can they do to stop him. Standing under six foot, he also has the hops to posterize any post player that has the courage to try to block his shot. TEAM BREAKDOWN NORTH got off to a slow start losing a two point heartbreaker to the High Hoops Hustlers in their opening game. However they came back and defeated Miramar PAL by 15 points and Gulf Coast Basketball (who beat the High Hoops Hustlers) by 27 points. WATKIN WILLIAMS and DAVID MINAYA led the team in scoring as BEN ODONELL displayed his Steve Nash like up tempo passing game. 6'4 guard CHRIS PEREZ also averaged double figures playing with the 17's and showed many why he is a top three freshman in the state. BARTON BALLAS played well in the tournament despite losing to 2nd place Team Stat in pool play and a tough overtime game to the GC Florida United. BAY BALLERS do not have any all stars, but they continue to wins game with good chemistry, solid guard play and an aggressive zone defense. They won the silver bracket. The Georgia Hurricanes and Alabama Challenge were the top out of state teams in the tournament. The Georgia Hurricanes were led by nationally ranked Zack Graham and Tony Neysmith. Graham scored 21 points and Neysmith added 10 points in their 56-52 loss to Team Stat. Alabama Challenge was led by nationally ranked Cordaryl Desmond. However, Nick Williams (21pts), Ron Nored (12) and Justin Cummings were the top scorers in their 89-76 semi-final loss to Nike Team Florida. 16U DIVISION New York's Westchester Hawks defeated GC Florida United 74-67 to win the 16u Easter Classic. Sean Kilpatrick led the Hawks with 17 points. Mookie Jones added 16, Tyshawn Taylor had 13 points and Kevin Jones added 11 points. David Blackwell and Derrian "Boo" Johnson led GC Florida United with 20 and 19 points respectively. 15U DIVISION Edward Waite, Bryon Bynes, and Martavious Irving led the way as Lauderdale Lake Vikings defeated Team Belly in the championship.