The seventh annual Playaz blowup tournament was as good as the hype. It especially worked out for the Playaz 13 and 14 year old teams. Each pulled out a championship as the 14’s beat a very strong Team Philly squad that was impressive all weekend and the 13’s got a measure of revenge against the powerful D.C.Assault team that just recently beat them in Washington D.C. a couple weeks ago. The 12 year old chip was won by the N.Y.C. Gauchos, who’s team looks like they will be competing for a national title. They beat the N.J. Pirates of Carteret with outstanding full court pressure and impressive offensive performances from Sean Jones (24pts)and m.v.p. Malichi Richardson(18pts), who drained five triples. The Playaz 13’s was a display of teamwork and balance led by m.v.p. Matt Johnson(10pts,6asts.) ,who showed floor leadership all weekend. He got alot of help from all tournament performers Reggie Cameron(16pts), Josh Marquez and Kavon Stewart plus moments of shine from Chris Regus and Najee Ricks.D.C. Assault got strong play from guard Melo Trumbull, E.J. Levenberg and Tre Bourne.The 14 year old game was filled with moments from both teams as the momentum constantly changed from team to team.Team Philly showcased their two tremendous players in Amil Jefferson and Andre Horne, as well as point guard Leron Davis. The Playaz team was led by Kyle Anderson, Miles Davis and Montana Mayfield(mvp). They got plenty of help from Nafee Lighty, Dallas Anglin and Davon Williams. All of these kids showed signs of being elite players eventually, if they continue to work hard on their games. Once again, the Playaz Blowup lived up to expectations and more!

The seventh annual Playaz Blowup A.A.U. basketball tournament takes the stage this weekend in Paterson,N.J. The tournament consists of some of the best 12 year olds, 13 year olds, and 14 year olds around ,as well as some of the most prestigious a.a.u. programs in the tri-state area , such as the New York Gauchos, Metro Hawks, New Heights, Linden Ballers, D.C. Assault of Washington D.C. and of course the Jimmy Salmon run Playaz club. The games will be played in gyms throughout the city all weekend. The venues are Kennedy Highschool, Roberto Clemente Public School and M.L.K Public School. Games begin Friday night at these three locations beginning at 7:00pm. Pool play continues saturday from 9:00am until 4:00pm. The playoffs will be played for all age groups at Kennedy H.S. starting at 6:00pm. Sunday will finish up with the championship in all age groups starting at 11:00 am. Hoops Journal will give updates on the tournament throughout the weekend. Without a doubt, their will be future household names and a lot of bright up and coming ballers in what is considered one of the best tournaments around.

The AAU season is never truly in effect until the Playaz Club of Paterson run by Jimmy Salmon has their annual spring fling tournament. The 10th annual event went on this weekend at various facilities in northern New Jersey. The age groups consisted of 12u,14u and 16u teams. The Playaz had their 13 year old squad play up in the 14u group and their 15 year old team play in the 16u group. Each of those teams held their own this weekend,particularly the 15 year old team who made the final four of the 16u bracket and lost to the eventual champs, D.C. Assault. The 13’s finished 2 and 1 in their games, also losing to the eventual champs( the D.C. Assault 14’s). This weekend actually was phase one of the spring fling as the 13’s,15’s,and 17’s begin their quest for some chips. The Playaz will probably have their younger teams play up in these games also as they prepare for the upcoming A.A.U. season.                

                                                             Results of Finals for 12’s, 14’s,and 16’s

                      12u’s championship:   Delaware Hawks 52     N.Y. Gauchos 41

                                                      all-tournament team:  Dakari Johnson(Gauchos)  Tyquan Givens(Gauchos) Austin Tilghman(Del.Hawks) Jorge Rodriquez(Del. Hawks)  Wa’mere Murphy(Del. Hawks) M.V.P.

                        14u’s championship:   D.C.Assault 46     Rich Soil (N.Y.) 26 

                                             all-tournament team: Javon Thomas(Rich Soil)  Omar Calhoun(Rich Soil) Kris Jenkins(DC Assault) Jamal Lewis (DC Assault) Damonte McNeil (DC Assault) M.V.P.

                            16u’s championship:   D.C. Assault 68      N.Y. Gauchos 57

                                              all-tournament:  Halil Kanacevic(Gauchos)  Daron Lamb(Gauchos)  Eric Atkins(DC Assault)           Tyler Thornton(DC Assault)  Joshua Hairston(DC Assault) M.V.P.

When choosing the team of the year in Passaic County there’s a couple of teams that could make a case for themselves.  Wayne Valley Highschool won the Group 3 sectional final and fought hard before losing to Scotch Plains H.S. and they were a team with very little depth. Eastside Highschool can also give legitimate reasons why they could have been the Passaic county team of the year by winning the Group 4 sectional final and being three points away from beating Piscataway highschool.  They also were the runner-up in the Passaic County tournament.  While we give these two teams much props, Hoops Journals first annual Passaic County team of the year is Paterson Catholic Highschool. Without a doubt they were the most talented team led by seniors Jordan Theodore and Wayne Mack. But, the reason that we feel they were the team of the year is because it is  very hard  to live up to such high expectations and meet them.  Before the season started people said ” They had to win the counties”. Well , they did that, in a game against Eastside where their heart was questioned. They battled hard against the scrappy,tough minded Ghosts and pulled the game out. Then it was said ” They had to get a signature win against a power team”. They did that against Montrose Christian of Maryland who were ranked #13 in the country by the Sporting News.  Paterson Catholic not only won ,but did it convincingly winning by more than 20 points. Then it became ” Let’s see how they do in the states against a team like St. Anthony H.S.”. They gave them a tough go before losing by 13. Let’s keep this in perspective, they lost to the #1 team in the country by 13. The point is that it’s not easy to have the bullseye on your back and know that you are the biggest game on everyone’s schedule and still bring it physically,but more importantly mentally. For that, Hoops Journal gives the utmost props to Paterson Catholic Highschool. The Bergen County top team of the year was more cut and dry. Hoops Journal’s first annual team of the year for Bergen County is Don Bosco Prep. Although it seemed like Queen Of Peace was gonna have something to say about it, Prep established itself as the team of the year by winning it’s third straight Bergen County Jamboree championship.  This had not been accomplished in over forty years. This was a veteran team with great leadership in their two stars, Georgio Milligan and Kyle Smythe. Prep was by far,the best defensive team in the county and maybe all of northern New Jersey.Don Bosco was a very versatile team who could run when needed,but mainly established it’s halfcourt sets. They lost in the finals of the Parochial B championship to Immaculata. This team has alot to be proud of and Hoops Journal would like to give this team much props.

St.Anthonys finally got over the hump against rival St.Patricks by earning the North Non-Public B final at Rutgers. Mike Rosario, who’s headed to Rutgers next year, led St. Anthony with 19 points while junior Dominic Cheek added 13 and Tyshawn Taylor chipped in with 10. North Carolina bound junior Dexter Strickland led St. Patrick with 18 points. Paris Bennett added 12.

                                             Don Bosco Loses 64-48

    Don Bosco Prep fell to Immaculata in the North Non-Public A  64-48 final as every shot was contested by a very good defensive Immaculata team. Gamel Mohamed led the winners with 21 points, Jeff Cullinan 15, John Mack 12 points and Theo Riddick added 11. Don Bosco Prep was led by Iona bound Kyle Smythe’s 14 and Brandon Beckford 12. Don Bosco’s Georgio Milligan was held to 6 points.

They were gallant and they were tough and for three quarters it looked like Eastside was gonna move to the finals of the Group 4 championship at Rutgers. The Ghosts however, couldn’t complete the job as Piscataway Highschool finally pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and held on to a 64-61win. Bryant Lewis three point attempt to tie the game bounced off the rim at the buzzer to end any hope. 6′6″ senior J.D. Griggs,who’s headed to Iowa University on a football scholarship, led P-Way with 20 points,14 rebounds,3 blocks and altered many shots throughout the game. Omar Smith added 16 points and 8 rebounds. Read the rest of this entry »

Wayne Valley took a 45-35 lead into the fourth quarter, but the one thing they didn’t take with them was their legs. After going three quarters with just their starting five playing the entire game Valley was a tired team trying to survive.  West Milford took advantage by scoring 10 points in the fourth and holding Valley to no points to tie the game at 45 with 15 seconds left and the ball. That’s when sophomore point Read the rest of this entry »

Relentless, Relentless, Relentless. That’s the only way to describe this Eastside Highschool basketball team as the #4 seeded Ghost  pulled out an 83-71 win over #2 seeded East Orange Campus at Ramapo Highschool to become the Group 4 North Sectional Champions! The Ghosts did it in style in the fourth quarter. Karon Abraham(23pts,3dimes,3stls),Bryant Lewis(19pts,7dimes,4stls),Antoine Alexander(15pts,7rebs,3stls)and Kumar Davis(6pts,9rebs,4stls) all came up big, but the Read the rest of this entry »