Tuesday, April 30, 2013

N.Y.B.L.’s Session #2 Tips off Friday in North Augusta, SC


Although many said it could not be done, 24 of the nation’s most elite 6th grade teams will reconvene in North Augusta, South Carolina this Friday for the second session of the National Youth Basketball League (N.Y.B.L.). As was the case in session #1 in Washington D.C., the gym is sure to be buzzing, as the competition will be intensified.   In the Nation’s capital, 3 teams got out of town without a blemish. Ohio Select, Carolina Preps and Carolina Chaos all finished 5-0 in the opening session.  Although they stumbled a bit, several other teams got off to great starts. Arizona Monsoon, Deron Williams Elite, S.C. Hornets, Metrolina Havoc, 6th Man Warriors and Southern Stampede all finished with impressive 4-1 records.

One of the big questions surrounding session #2 centers around whether any of the above teams will escape South Carolina without loss? Even money is on Ohio Select  to run the table, despite the fact the DeMarco Bradley’s squad has to face a murders row of teams chopping at the bit to take down the #1 ranked juggernaut. The team most likely to rip off the emperor’s clothes is Keyford Langley’s Carolina Preps squad. With good size, a roster full of talent and the poise to withstand Ohio Select’s intense pressure, by most accounts, Preps has the team to get the job done.  This match-up is slated for Sunday afternoon, and for those fortunate enough to be in the house, get there early if you want a seat.

Carolina Preps will arrive in North Augusta with a 36-0 record

I spoke with Keyford Langley, coach of Carolina Preps, and he, too, is very excited about the session #2 match-ups. “Everybody is talking about it [session #2], I have gotten a lot of calls from various coaches, both inside and outside of the league talking about the match-ups,” said Langley. There are a lot of guys not in the league planning to drive up to North Augusta to watch the games,” Langley continued. Although Langley and his players are looking forward to their match-up with All-Ohio, they don’t have a master plan. “It’s more about what we do, not what they do,” added Langley. “We’re not going to do anything special; it will be about our style [of play] versus their style of play’” the coach said. Although Langley’s team will face several quality teams over the course of weekend, the  Ohio Select game sticks out the most. “I don’t won’t to over look the other teams, because they all can beat you, but it’s hard not to think about the Ohio Select game,” continued Langley. Carolina Preps has a good reason to feel confident, as they will be rolling into North Augusta rocking a 36-0 record. They have won 8 tournaments so far this season and have played up and beaten a number of 7th grade teams.

Will Each 1 Teach 1 make any noise?

Let me make this clear, Carolina Preps is not the only squad who can take down Goliath, as 5 teams in the league’s South Division have a resume that suggests they have a chance also. The S.C. Hornets, Southern Stampede, Metrolina Havoc and Carolina Chaos will all get a shot at shocking the world. Although most people point to the All-Ohio vs Carolina Preps match-up as possibly the game of the weekend, Langley feels the game to watch is All-Ohio vs the S.C. Hornets. This game would serve as a rematch of sorts, as the Hornets defeated All-Ohio Red in the first round of bracket play at the AAU Nationals last year.  Also, the Hornet’s big man has returned to the squad for session two, and could have a major impact on the game. “That may be the game of the session,” added Langley. The Preps coach is also anticipating his team’s match-up with ETU Select and others. “I want to see ETU and Ohio Select; hell, I want to see all of the games," Langley said.

Although All-Ohio vs the South Division is the big ticket for the weekend, session #2 will feature other key match-ups, and will answer a few additional questions. Question two; can Deron Williams Elite and the Arizona Monsoon duplicate the success they enjoyed in Maryland? Question 3; just how strong is the East Division and can they bring pride and respect back to northeast basketball?  Is the South Division really that strong or can teams like 6th Man Warriors, ETU Select or Each 1 Teach 1 take away a little shine from their southern brethren? Question 4; who are the top kids in the league? Ohio Select’s Gerard Reynolds was the consensus MVP just a few weeks ago. Thomas Brunner (S.C. Hornets), Chris Harris (D-Will Elite), Wendell Moore (Carolina Preps) and Isaiah Watson (Carolina Chaos) were all first teamers in session #1, but were they just lucky, or can they excel a second time around and punch their ticket to the NYBL All-Game Star in September in Columbus?

Can the S.C. Hornets get it done in S.C.?

Session #2 will also feature some upgrades off the court. This weekend, all of the games will be played under one roof so everybody will get a chance to watch most of the match-ups. I can almost hear the oohs and ahs coming from every court.  I can see the crowds packing the gym to watch the action. Oh by the way, the facility for the event is the Riverfront Park Activities Center, the same facility the Nike uses to host the Peach Jam, their most prestigious event!  Also, on Saturday night, the league will host a coach’s social at the host hotel. The social will be catered, and beverages will be flowing! After they beat each other up on the court, the event will give coaches a chance to socialize, fellowship and simply unwind after a hectic day of competition. 

If you can’t make the trip to North Augusta, make sure you stop back by this site, as there will be a ton of stories, recaps and special features, all designed to fully document what went down in South Carolina In closing, “CAN’T WAIT!!




26 comments:

  1. Rob I can't wait to get this thang poplin again! Lot of good match ups to see. Everyone. Is asking for Ohio be careful of what you ask for. D Will is on the way and you know.we do it bigger in Texas! Coach Chris D Will Elite

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is coach Jackson I cant wait to it the road friday. after our rough time in the first session we are ready to get back in the ring and mix it up again with the some of the best teams in the nation. I will be the first to admit that the NYBL talent level is the best that I have seen at this age! This league is the new face of AAU if you are and elite team or elite player for that matter this is the plattform you need to be competing on. my group is young and we not there yet but you know what I always say you got to play the best to become the best!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Someone smart would video match ups n sale DVD for the ones who can't make it. I'd pay $20 to b able to watch top 5 match ups $4 per game on 1 video. Someone make this happen. Benefits go to charity, aau team , man on the corner , no matter I'm buying for the 15-20 min clips of top 5 games on 1 DVD.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm a huge fan of the class of 2019, and this weekend AOR 6th will definitely be tested. As good as they are, there are some so called goliaths from their respective areas such as Carolina Prep, South Carolina Hornets, Georgia Stampede, just to name a few. There are tremendous ball players in this age group who bring an excitement to game. AOR was thoroughly tested by Derron Williams Elite in the 1st session, very good game to switch AOR didn't seize control of til the end! But being an AOR 6th parent myself, I can speak on behalf of the other AOR parents when I say we absolutely look forward to a great weekend of competition, for this is why this team was assembled, to play the best nationally! Good luck to all this weekend in South Carolina!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ohio ya coming down south(Sec Country),ask Ostate about the south! about to see real talent, good luck! Ohio TEAMS because ya are going to need it. AOR going down!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. AOR so called Goliaths lol, are u kidding me , plz they bout to get spanked all the way back up North, the South bout to put on a show, Ohio ya aint ready for the South ,AOR goin see real talent.Our players are HUNGRY...... ITS TIME TO EAT...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Man...... here we go! AOR spanked all the way back up north, just who exactly is about to do that? I sure would like to witness something like that! Have seen all these teams play that they will face this weekend, and although all of them are good, don't know if any will spank AOR. If you don't have 10 players on your roster that can play basketball, you don't stand a chance against these guys! You can't beat them with 6 or 7, you need at least 10 to start with, then your coaching staff better be on point as well cause you dealing with a group of trained assassins! Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton Ohio boys bout to show down South how we put it down in Buckeye Nation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. OHIO, yours truly!

      Delete
    2. Down south we know about coach francis and the AOR program because what he has done with his kids we know they will be ready to play lets hope the new kids on the block ready for this action because they never been in this tuff AAU battle. We have great coaches as well.

      Delete
    3. I try not to be negative,I can't believe that you would trying to act like you our from down south.The south respect the old AOP players.It is you haters from the BUCKEYE STATE,that don't like that AOP and AOR came together.Like them or not you can see that they our the team to beat in the 6th grade.Coach Demarco represent the BUCKEYE STATE,bring the GOLD HOME.Jamar'e Brown from Dayton Ohio

      Delete
    4. DOWN SOUTH PREP FOR SURE BELIEVE THAT!!!

      Delete
  7. Please dont't add fuel to this fire. You don't want to give coach brad and his boys anymore motivation for this weekend you will get what you're looking for.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I got to see for the first time this past wknd AOR they played a ky derby team that could handle the ball pretty well. Early on derby handles the pressure and actually red wisely came out of the full court heat. AOR kept running 5,5,5,5,5 at Derby's 5 and by halftime Derby looked like they just ran the Preakness , Belmont stakes, breeders cup and the ky derby all in the first half. Coming out the 2nd half AOR turned the dogs loose and the route was on , so. The guy that said you better have 10 players I would disagree. You might need 15 to keep pace. And Derby had 2 of the better ball handlers in #10 and #1 that ive seen. But when your legs go your mind goes and turnovers are coming in on a conveyer belt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AOR group of trained assassins! lmao, we talking bout kids rite, STOP IT!! u act like they NBA players,, wow!! AOR GOING DOWN!!!! , we going to spank them Ohio Boys just LIKE THE south Spank Ohiostate., Dirty SOUTH REAL TALENT

    ReplyDelete
  10. Georgia? South carolina? since when are those basketball states? LOL I bet yall will be paying homage to OHIO hoops by sunday night.

    ReplyDelete
  11. i love the banter back and forth cant wait for the columbus session so i can see first hand.....going to be fun Lets go Team Ohio

    ReplyDelete
  12. North Carolina is THE basketball state!!!! I'm riding with Preps & Havoc! Much love to the South Carolina teams also! It's going down this weekend! Would have loved to see this event in Charlotte, N.C. as the bordering state of N.C. & S.C. Just a thought for next year's event!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lets go Arkansas Soilders Arkansas the state

      Delete
    2. I know AOR 6th grade team will be ready.This is what coach Demarco and Francis put this team together for.I live in Cincinnati AOR will beat the South down this weekend.I wish I could be there to watch AOR do Preps,Stampede,Havoc,Hornets,and Chaos.I talk to coach Demarco today he is looking for the challenge.I do know 1 thing coach Demarco will have them boys ready to go old RED or NEW RED PLAYERS.Trey Cane from Cincinnati

      Delete
    3. Ready or Not,AOR 6th grade will be invading The South this weekend BEWARE of ALL OHIO ALL OHIO RED.This team was built for this weekend.

      Delete
  13. Carolina Preps ARE THE CHAMPIONS & the S.C. Hornets had All Ohio beat also!!!! North Carolina was, is & always will be the Basketball State! No combined teams needed & still won by 10!!!!! Give credit where it should be applied! Preps are the BEST TEAM in the nation! www.Carolinapreps6.com for more information!!!!
    Ball Don't Lie!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ohio. Why did yall combine. Who does that. Play straight up or dont play at all. Combining to backdoor a championship. Pathetic

    ReplyDelete
  15. Mr. Ohio if yall have 10 well why the hell yall didn't play 10? Huh, exactly they played 7 maybe. I know 2 kids didn't move and another one only got in as a shooter. Keeping secrets telling lies! Texas Native

    ReplyDelete
  16. 6th man didn't play that well at session 2 , but be ready for em in session 3 and at nationals. They be busin teams

    ReplyDelete
  17. True dey are good

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anyone knows what happen to the Havoc? They aren't listed as a NYBL team anymore.

    ReplyDelete