North Coast Blue Chips Win Classic Bracket at AAU Nationals

2022 North Coast Blue Chips-2016 D-1 AAU Nationals Classic Bracket Champions

Known as All-Ohio Blue for most of the season, the 2022 North Coast Blue Chips rebounded from an early stumble in pool play to win the Classic Bracket at the AAU Nationals in Cocoa Beach, FL. last week.  After going down to Nightrydas Elite in pool play (finished 3^rd due to point differential), the Blue Chips mounted a ferocious 4-0 run that included wins over Impact Basketball (84-54), Broward Sharks (60-39), West Coast All-Stars (60-39) and Oakland Elite (50-40) in the championship game.  For the record, the Blue Chips defeated the Ohio Shooting Stars (64-45) and Grind Mode (52-51) to finish 2-1 in pool play.

As proof of their dominance, the Blue Chips cruised through the Classic Bracket with an average margin of victory of 18 points per game.  Although there were several standouts for the Blue Chips over the course of the event, including Sincire Harris, Adam Duvall, AJ Leen, Shawn Thigpen and Raymond Green III; Trey Dennis is credited for doing the heavy lifting, as he was the team’s leading scorer and leader throughout the week.  In fact, in the championship game, Dennis’ gaudy stat line consisted of 16 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists.  It should be noted that after battling an illness for the first 3 games, Sincere Harris exploded for 32 points against the Broward Sharks. The old saying goes, no one wants to be in the Classic Bracket, but if you end up there you had better win it.  Well, the North Coast Blue Chips did just that!  Congratulations to the players, coaches and parents for their success.  As a side note, Sincere Harris and Trey Dennis will square off against each other in the Ohio North vs South All-Star Game September 17^th.  You don’t want to miss that matchup!

We have to give a shout out to the Coach Dushawn Hill and his U-12 Cleveland Heights Academy Court Leaders for winning the AAU D-II AAU Nationals in Hampton, VA recently. The Court Leaders finished 7-0 at the event thanks to standout performances from Elmore James IV, Dushawn Hill Jr., Davon Smith-Johnson and Jaylon Clark. Congratulations to the organization for spotlighting Buckeye Basketball!