Sunday, October 26, 2014

2021 Ohio Player Watch List Released

Seth Wilson, Meechie Johnson, Kobe Buford & Noah Peeples
It's still very early, but the elite in Ohio's class of 2021 (6th grade) are stating to emerge.  As we do for every class, below is a link to our 2021 Player Watch List.  As is the case with every list like this, as kids are emerge onto the scene, we will update our list. At the top right now is Seth Wilson (5'8/ WF/West Lake), who established himself as one of the top players nationally dating back to the 3rd and 4th grade.  A big guard with athleticism and skill, Wilson is a difficult to guard.  Too big and strong for most defenders, Wilson has the ability to get to the cup almost at will. Also at the guard spot is Meechie Johnson (4'7/PG/Cleveland), who is as skilled and dynamic as any kid we have seen in the class in the state.  Although he has a scorers mentality, Johnson can pass that rock with the best of them. Johnson's ball skills are elite, and his style of play is fun to watch.  Noah Peeples (5'8/ PF /Akron) is another good one, and should be considered one of the top post players in the state.  Peeples is a rebounding machine, but he is also offensively gifted. Dublin's Kobe Buford (5'7 PF/Dublin) has been making quite a name for himself recently at several high profile events.  Good lengthy and very soft touch around the basket best describes Buford at this point in his development. We know there are still a lot of talented players unaccounted for on our list, but as we see and evaluate them, they will be added to our list.

2021 Player Watch List

Thursday, October 23, 2014

AAU Makes Sweeping Changes


For as many years as I can remember, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has allowed teams to have at least 3 grade exceptions per team. Well, that long-standing practice has apparently changed, and will have a significant impact on travel basketball.  According to a very reliable source, at their annual board meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL last week, the AAU changed their rules to prohibit any grade exceptions in ages 7-14 effective immediately. 

As we all know, the key to placing high at the AAU Nationals is often about the number and quality of a team’s grade exceptions.  With this new model, teams will be forced to refigure, as kids are forced to play on teams based on their age.  Any many cases, teams will lose their best 3 players who will now be forced to find teams in their own age. The specific details of the rule changes are not yet known, but any way you cut it, the face of middle school basketball will change forever.

Undoubtedly, the impetus for such a dramatic change could be directly related to the number of cheating scandals AAU experienced this past summer. Those of us who follow travel basketball closely know the players, organizations and situations that could be responsible for AAU’s dramatic shift in policy.  If you think about it, hundreds of teams participate in AAU Nationals every year, and of those hundreds of teams, about a quarter of those teams are the truly elite, have quality grade exceptions, and have a realistic chance of winning it all. Consequently, AAU was faced with allowing a few teams at the very top to negatively affect the majority of the “middle of the road” type teams who are really generating most of the revenue.


We will all wait to see the ramification of the rule changes and time will only tell how teams and organizations will respond. Programs like the National Youth basketball League (NYBL) could be part of the answer for many teams, as their bylaws place no restrictions on grade exceptions.  For many parents, who have tired of all the hype and exposure given to the so called grade exceptions, this news will be a God send, and will help even the playing field for their child. Hold on folks, things are about to get really interesting!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Tier 1 Middle School Showcase-Recap

Sydney Curry, DJ Dials, Josiah Hutchens, Devontae. Blanton & Zeb Jackson
With the start of the middle school basketball season only a few short weeks away, players are still taking advantage of fall leagues and showcases to work on their game and to prepare for the season.  On Saturday, Quincy Simpson held his annual Tier 1 Middle School Showcase at Lima Senior High School in Lima, Ohio. Although the numbers were down a bit from last year (about 100), there were still some quality players in the gym. The event kicked off with about 3 hours of skills and drills, followed by 3 rounds of games and culminated with all-star games later in the day.

The best player we saw all day was Sydney Curry (6’5/ PF/C/ Indiana/ 2019).  Yes we are talking about the Sydney Curry who had several big time performances with George Hill in the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) this past season.  In Lima on Saturday, Curry was a man among boys and had no challengers in the low post.  Big, strong and physical in the post, Curry put up big numbers around the basket. As strong as Curry is, he has a super soft touch around the cup.  He’s not just a superb lost post scorer, Curry passed the ball well for a big, and reminds us of Kevin Love with his ability to deliver outlet passes on a dime.  If that wasn't enough, Curry can also step out side and hit the jumper if left open.  It's no wonder that the King James coaching staff was all over Curry and his mother at the event, the kid's a real talent!

Curry wasn’t the only star at the event, as David “DJ” Dials (5’6 /PG /South Euclid /2019) showed up and reminded folks why some consider him to be one of the top 2-3 lead guards in the state in his class.  Not only can Dials get you buckets, his ability to create for teammates is significant. In Lima, Dials put his team on his back several times and kept them in games. Dials has the rock on a string and uses his elite handle and dribble moves to break down defenders to get into the paint to get his drive and dish game off, or to create space for his own shot.  At the end of the day, it’s unfortunate that the rest of the county has seen so little of dials’ talent! There were a few "under the radar" guys who made some noise on Saturday as well, including:  Josiah Hutchens (5'11/ WF Sidney /2019); Braylon Mitchell (5'7/ P/SG /Reynoldsburg /2019); Anthony Mazzeo (5'7 /PG /Massillon); Jaleel King (6'0/ W/PF /Gahanna/ 2019); Ryan Martin (5'7 /SG/ Ayersville 2091); Tahleik Walker (5'4 /SG/ Pickerington /2020) and Sol Hines (5'8/ SG/ Reynoldsburg /2019), all of whom had some good moments on Saturday.

One of the biggest surprises of the day was the growth and progression of Devontae Blanton (6’1/ WF /Cleveland /2020).  Blanton is not only long, agile and athletic, he showed a lot of skill and ability to finish at a high rate around the cup.  Blanton also can handle the rock in the open court and is productive in transition. The brother of former Michigan State star Delvon Roe, Blanton has the genetics and upside to follow in his older brother’s footsteps.  It’s early, but college coaches might want to make a note of Blanton’s potential.  Toledo's Zeb Jackson (5'4 /PG /2020) was on his game on Saturday. Jackson has total command of the rock and knows how to separate from defenders in order to get his shot.  A killer crossover is his primary weapon, but he has a number of dribble moves at his disposal to create offense.  Fianl analysis, Jackson's national rep was well deserved from what we saw in Lima.

The Tier 1 event always seems to attract a lot good young talent, and this year was no exception. West Lake’s Seth Wilson (5’8 /PG /2021) rolled thorough and played up in the 7th/8th division.  Wilson is widely considered to be one of the top 5 players in the class of 2021 and his play on Saturday proved that his success translates at the higher grade level.  In his class, Wilson is a big guard who uses his size and strength to get to the rack. Against the older kids, Wilson’s poise, IQ and playmaking ability were on display.  Oh, Wilson still got to the cup and scored, but his understanding of the game and savvy were more evident.  Finally, we were very impressed with the way Wilson handled himself against the older kids; he was not at all intimidated.
 
K. Buford, S. Wilson, K. Luster, S. Jones, B. Williams & J Mobley,  
Another day, another gym and another standout performance by John Mobley Jr. (4’7/ PG/ Columbus /2024).  From here on out, when we refer to Mobley we will use the nickname “The Show.”  Why you ask, because the kid puts on a show every time we see him play, and we see him a lot. Mobley’s handle is ridiculous, as is his IQ and play making ability.  Unlike some, Mobley uses his elite handle effectively, and is very productive either getting his shot or getting a teammate a good look.  "The Show" is also exciting to watch, as most fans are simply amazed at the kid’s skill set and swag at such a young age.  If he does not get caught up in the madness that can be youth basketball, Mobley has a chance to be really good. Remember the name,  John "The Show" Mobley Jr. is the real deal!

Despite what some might think, we love to write about new kids when their performance warrants recognition.  Kobe Buford (5’7/ PF/C /Dublin /2021) has caught our eye a couple of times in the last couple of weeks.  In Lima, Buford displayed great low post footwork and a soft touch around the basket. Because you never know if kids will continue to grow, the fact he has good shot mechanics and can handle the ball on the perimeter will only enhance his game. He didn’t really have much competition in the post on Saturday, but it was still clear the kid has game.  It should be noted that Buford took home MVP honors after a great all-star game performance.

We are really starting to love Kahlil Luster’s (4’5/ PG /Lima /2022) game.  He’s diminutive,  but like they say, “good things come in small packages.”  Luster is another guard with an elite handle;   however, he rarely over dribbles and clearly understands how to use his gift to find open teammates or to create scoring opportunities for himself.  Luster rarely turns the rock over by playing with it, and he consentingly makes the right decision with the ball.  Luster knows what he’s doing out there, and represents the type of PG other players want to play with.  He got busy at the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase last month and he logged in another top performance on Saturday. 

Sean Jones (4’9 /PG /Columbus /2022) had another good day and did nothing to hurt his state and national rep.  We haven’t highlighted him before, but Bryce Williams (4’8 /PG /Fishers, IN /2022),  had a lot of fans at the event, as several people approached us about the kid’s talent. From what I saw, they were right. Williams shoots the ball well, has good fundementals and knows how to run a team.  Williams has good vision and the ability to deliver the ball on time and on target.  Definitely a player to watch going forward.  I have to give a shout out to Quincy Clark (5’0/ PG /Gahanna /2021).  Clark showed a nice skill set, poise and a high basketball IQ.  From what I saw, Tony Stiab’s Gahanna Lincoln Golden Lions could have another quality PG heading to the program in a couple of year. It’s no secret we love Gahanna kids!  All-in-all, the Tier 1 Middle School Showcase represented a great day of basketball.


Saturday, October 18, 2014

Kennedy's Stock on the Rise

Isaiah Kennedy
The old adage, "keep working hard, someone will notice you," can be attributed to the recent rise of Isaiah Kennedy (5'8 P/SG Beavercreek 2020).  Only 1 year ago Kennedy was balling in virtual obscurity in the Dayton, Ohio area, but 1 year later some media have him ranked  among the top 50 players in the country in the class of 2020 (Prolific Performance #46).  In Ohio, Kennedy is easily top 10 good. It's no accident, Kennedy has taken his talent on the road  and has logged in impressive performances in several elite events.  Not only did he lock down Top 5 Award honors at the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase last month, he put in work at the Future Phenom Camp in D.C. a few months ago, and has performed well in several local Nike events locally, and was a standout out at Quincy Simpson's Tier 1 Middle School Showcase last October.

Kennedy has a nice frame and good size for a PG, but because he is more of a scoring threat than a playmaker right now, Kennedy can slide to the 2 and still be productive. We've seen him have some success with his shot, but his claim to fame is his ability to use his size and strength to bully his way to the basket.  Most big guards struggle with their handle, but that's not a problem for Kennedy.  He does not necessarily have the rock on the string, but he is too strong to get ripped on a consistent basis. If he continues to grow and to hone his skill set, Kennedy could be a good looking guard prospect going forward.

You can catch Kennedy in action in the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) next year, as he will be running with the King James Shooting Stars, where he will be teamed with Grant Huffman (5'8 SG Aurora) and Devonte Blanton (5'9 WF Cleveland). With the added competition in the NYBL, Kennedy will have the opportunity to compete against the nations's best, which will only accelerate his development. 

Friday, October 17, 2014

Jackson Shines on the Big Stage

Hunter Jackson
Once you have an opportunity to perform on the big stage, you had better take advantage it. Hunter Jackson (5'9 WG Indiana 2020) did just that recently while participating in the NYBL All-Star Weekend and Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase.  Jackson's opportunity came during the waining minutes of the 2020 NYBL vs The Nation all-star game when he scored 6 points with under a minute left in the game to lift his team to a 37-34 victory (see highlight video).  Jackson's combination of skill, strength and aggressiveness was the difference in the win.  For the game, Jackson was the second leading scorer behind Donovan Billings (14 points) with 10 points.

Jackson has been on big stages before and has excelled.  In fact, most evaluators have him ranked in the top 20 nationally (Prolific Performance #15).  Jackson shoots well off the bounce, can employ a nice looking floater, has an elite handle, and uses his strength to finish at the cup with contact.  He's not just a scorer, as evidenced in the above video. Jackson is a problem defensively, as his on-baIl pressure is intense. Bottom line, Jackson is tough as nails! In the showcase portion of the event Jackson played up in the 8th grade division and was still one of the better players on his squad. As a member of George Hill, Jackson has earned his rep ballin against the best teams in the country.  If his performance in Columbus last month proved anything,  it's that Jackson has a bright future if he continues to work hard and develop.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Jeremiah Keene Still Under the Radar

Jeremiah Keene
By now, many of Ohio's elite 8th graders have been featured on this and other websites on numerous occasions.  However, because it is still very early for players in the class of 2019, there are still a number of very talented guys who are still flying under the radar and who have not yet been discovered. Columbus, Ohio has always produced great basketball talent, and Jeremiah Keene (5'11 PG Columbus) should be considered among the best in Central Ohio right now. A crafty lead guard with a tight handle and a nice mid-range and 3-point shot, Keene had not emerged on the national stage until his standout performance at the recent Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase last month.

Although he ran with the Ohio Hoopsters and competed among the country's elite in the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) this past season, it was not until his all-star selection and Top 5 Award winning performance in September that the basketball community finally started to recognise his true talent.  Keene serves as the engine and the primary distributor for the Hoopsters, and not only can he shoot the rock, he gets ample paint touches on his drives, and is an able and willing passer. He may not be a household name just yet, but with continued growth and development, Keene has a chance to be playing college basketball in a few years.  Jeremiah Keene, welcome to the big stage!

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Detroit's Keon Henderson has Game

Keon Henderson
Anybody who follows basketball in the midwest knows that the state of Michigan traditionally turns out elite point guards.  Based on his standout performance at the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September (made the all-star team), Keon Henderson (5'2 PG Detroit 2021) should be added to the list.  In September, Henderson's extreme handle and ability to defeat his defender off the bounce caught our eye.  Henderson's cross over and in and out dribbles are advance, as is his ability to get into the paint.  A crafty young guard who is fun to watch best describes Henderson's game.  Henderson's talent is apparently no secret, as Prolific Performance has him ranked #36th in the country. Hopefully we get a chance to monitor Henderson's progress, as he has a chance to be a good one!  Before we close, we have to give a shout out to Legend Greeter (5'8 PF Detroit 2021), who traveled to Columbus last month to participate in the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase and played his way into the all-star game and Top 5 Award honors.  Clearly, there is a lot of talent in Detroit.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Chance Mott has a Chance

Chance Mott
For many young aspiring hoopers, the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) provides a platform whereby they could both compete against elite players from across the country, while gaining national exposure. Chance Mott (6'3 PF Mansfield 2020) did just that this past season as he led his Mansfield Cavs teams to some surprising big time wins in the NYBL.   Mott not only proved he could power a team, rebound and provide low post scoring, his standout performance (Top 5 Award winner) at the recent Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase confirmed his ability to excel at individual events. For his handwork, Mott has received national recognition and now appears on top player lists around the country.  In fact, Prolific Performance recently ranked Mott as the #51st best player in the country. Already 6'3 and only in then 7th grade, Mott projects well and is worth tracking going forward.  Pictured holding some hardware above, with continued growth and development, Mott should add a lot more peaces to his collection down the road.

Friday, October 10, 2014

Slam City Elite Prepares for NYBL

Slam City Elite
Dubbed the “Terror Squad,” by some national media,  Bill Francis'  newly constructed Slam City Elite (class of 2020) has caused quite a stir around the country in only a few short weeks.  Boasting a roster full of nationally ranked players, the DMV based squad’s recent run through the Tri State Summer League in New York City has officially put teams on notice that there is another player on the scene and has announced their arrival to the nation.  Slam City’s most impressive prize to date was the 79-72 win over the #5 ranked New Your Gauchos.  This win was the first step in building a national “resume,” while providing some legitimacy to their preseason #1 ranking.   In addition to the victory over the Gauchos, Slam City Elite took down New Heights, the PSA Cardinals and Milbank during their stay in the Big Apple.

As one might expect, some of the “blue bloods” of the class have taken issue with all of the hype this newly formed team has already garnered, and some have let their feelings be known through various media outlets. One has to imagine that the reigning AAU National Champions, Oakland Solders and the reigning NYBL National Champions West Coast All-Stars are taking issue with all of the hype this young team is getting.  Clearly, WACG’s flamboyant coach, Carlos Williams has some serious concerns as evidenced by his frank comments in 2 recent interviews, where he questions Slam City’s resume and status as the top team.  

Mike Morris, head coach of the West Coast All-Stars is not real concerned about the hype Slam City is receiving. “At the end of the day, we have to lace them up and play,” said Morris. “I don’t see their [Slam City Elite] ranking as disrespectful [to us], we plan to earn what we get any ways. You have to settle it on the court,” continued Morris.  Juno Thomas, the head man for the Oakland Solders has respect for what Francis has put together, but feels the Solders are the number 1 team until they are beaten. "They [Slam City] has a great collection of talent; they have a couple of reclasses. A lot of teams are pattering themselves after the Solders, Thomas said.  "They can't be considered #1 until they play some of the top teams. They beat the Gauchos by 7 points which is really not that much; we beat them by 18 points at the [AAU] Nationals this year," said Thomas.  

T. Williams, J. Toles, C.Byers, AJ Hoggard & T. Brelsford
Stacking a team with multiple elite players is not a new phenomenon (i.e., Oakland Solders, WACG, etc.), but the Slam City Elite situation is a bit different, in that most of the players hale from the same area, and several of their top guys (Terrence Williams, Cameron Byers, AJ Hoggard and Tyler Brelsford) were recently elite players in the class of 2019, which has proven to be a very talented class. Also on their roster are Jordan Toles, a top 5 talent in the class.  Not only did Toles excel in the ultra competitive NYBL last season, his play in New York recently demonstrated his elite athleticism and significant upside potential, and confirmed his place among the best in the class. Also on that squad are Isaiah Todd, Montez McNeil, Ryan Conway, Demon Clowney and Austin Allison, all of whom are elite level players.  In fact, according to some, Todd could eventually be the best long-term prospect on the team, and that’s saying a whole lot!


Over the last 2 seasons, the NYBL has attracted the most elite teams in the country, as evidenced by the AAU National Championships our teams (Team CP3 & Oakland Solders) have garnered.  In 2015, with the addition of Slam City Elite in 2020 and DC Premiere in 2019, the league could crown another AAU National Champion, and is poised for another strong year.  With the return of our 2019 and 2020 NYBL National Champions (All-Ohio Red and West Coast All-Stars), the NYBL will remain the most competitive event in the country.  Can't wait for the ball to tip in March of 2015!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Makani Whiteside Reps the West Coast

Makani Whiteside-2019
He's been on the circuit for several years, but 2014 appears to be his coming out party. Makani Whiteside (6'0 combo guard California) has quickly made a name for himself on the national basketball camp circuit as one of the best guards in the country.  We first saw him running with the I-10 Celtics at the Gym Rats President's Day Tournament in Portland, Oregon earlier this year and were impressed with his game.  This spring, we caught him in action at the Lucas Camp in Houston, Texas where he was a standout.  When we saw him ball out at the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase in September it was clear Whiteside had arrived on the national scene.  His selection to Bill Francis' USA Select squad and his participation in the NYBL vs The Nation All-Star Game further announced Whiteside's arrival on the national stage.

Possessing good size for his position, Whiteside has an elite handle and knows how to use it to create separation from his defender.  He's not just and elite ball handler, Whiteside can score the rock from deep, the midrange or at the cup.  When his motor and confidence are high, Whiteside is highly productive both in terms of scoring and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. Recently featured on Prolific Performance, Whiteside's recent mix tape tells the story. You rarely here a lot of hype from west coast players this early in the game, but because Whiteside has taken his game in the road, he's receiving props from the midwest and east coast.  From what we have seen so far, D-I college coaches should soon be tracking Whiteside's progress.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

All-Ohio Plans to Retool for 2015

All-Ohio Red NYBL Championship Picture
Two years ago, Jerry Francis’ All-Ohio Red squad joined forces with Demarko Bradley’s All-Ohio Purple team with the intent to “put a competitive team together, to survive and to win a national championship,’ said Bradley. The coaches of 2 of the top 5th grade teams in the country noticed that other teams had picked up kids and upgraded and realized a need to do the same. Heading into the 2013 travel basketball season the newly constructed All-Ohio Red received a significant amount of hype (admittedly from this website) and was quickly ordained the number 1 ranked team in the country.  As luck would have it, the newly formed National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) gave the elite squad a new platform in which to display their talent, and they did not disappoint. Although they dropped a close game to Carolina Preps (now Team CP3) in session #2 of the NYBL, All-Ohio Red would later avenge their lone loss to Carolina Preps in the NYBL Finals in route to their first of 2 NYBL championships

Fast-forward to the 2014 season, and despite losing to the then Carolina Preps in the AAU National Championships the previous year, All-Ohio Red was still considered one of the top 2 teams in the country. After a 5-0 start in session #1 of the 2014 NYBL season, and a Team CP3 loss at the hands of Josh Woodson’s Texas Express Elite, All-Ohio Red was again considered the favorite to repeat as NYBL National Champions, and possibly collect an AAU National Championship as well. As most people know by now, All-Ohio collected their second NYBL National Championship, but was again defeated by Team CP3 at the AAU Nationals, thus, finishing 3rd for the second straight year.

Keion Brooks, Simon Banks, Sydney Curry & Kyle Rode
Despite an impressive 107-3 record over a 2-year span, Bradley’s team will look significantly different when the ball tips in March. The 2015 season will feature a revamped team with more size and more interior scoring.  Gone are Jordan Mitchell (will run the point for King James), Gerard Reynolds, Greg Tribble Jr. and possibly Chris Payne.  Returning players include Jeremiah Francis, Demarko Bradley Jr., Andre Gordon, Amari Davis, Malachi Matthews and Chris’Sean Stringer.  According to Bradley, his 2015 team will “have 5 of the best players in Ohio.” In an effort to keep pace with other elite teams who will upgrade in the off season (Team CP3 has picked up Chris Hinton and Myles Pierre), Indiana’s Keion Brooks (6'3 WF), Sydney Curry (6'5 C), Simon Banks (5'8 PG), AJ White and Kentucky’s Kyle Rode (6'5 PF) will join Bradley's team and will provide the size All-Ohio lacked this past season. Some sceptics of the merger might question if there are enough basketballs to go around on such a loaded team. "yes there are enough balls to go around. Our style of plays allows us to play a lot of kids," countered Bradley. "We will put kids in [their right] position. "We could not have survived with out bigs," continued Bradley.  In addition to the players, Keion Brooks Sr. will join Bradley and Francis on the bench next season.  

Now that we know the make up of the new team, the question of sponsorship and a team name remains. Currently, Bradley is in discussion with Under Armour (UA) and All-Ohio’s Jerry Watson regarding sponsorship for next year.  According to Bradley, George Hill was in the running early, but has since dropped out of the race. “Jerry [Watson] and Benji [Burke) are still trying to keep the team. They are coming the right way with us now,” continued Bradley. In elite travel basketball, it’s often about “show me the money,” and that’s apparently what UA has offered to do. According to Bradley, “Under Armour will pay for everything.  They want the kids in their tournaments and in their camps. They only want us to play at the AAU Nationals, the NYBL and play up in the 9th grade division at several tournament,” continued Bradley. If Bradley signs with UA the new team will run as I-70 Elite next season.  In terms of a time frame for the decision-making, Bradley expects to have an answer from Watson (weather to match UA’s offer) by this weekend.  Speaking of this weekend, the new team is set to debut in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
 
2015 Coaching Staff
Despite All-Ohio’s tremendous success since the Red/Purple merger 2 short years ago, as is almost always the case, playing time, roles, positions and publicity were partially to blame for the departure of a couple of players. “There are so many hidden agendas; parents have hidden agendas,” said Bradley.  “It’s never enough.  We go 107-3 in 2 years and only loose to one team and it’s just never enough. “You guys [NYBL] gave too much pub to some guys and not enough to some others I guess,” complained Bradley.  Travel basketball at the elite level often results in resentment, anger and jealousy.  When faced with losing elite status, most teams are forced to upgrade their talent in order to remain relevant.  To make room for that new talent, coaches, players and parents often have to part ways.  This is a difficult process that is often resisted until the very end.  Unfortunately, there is very little loyalty in the game.

Now that Bradley’s squad can score, rebound and can handle zone defenses with the nation's elite, he feels his team is once again the team to beat, and should be ranked #1 nationally when pre-season polls are released.  "We will have 7 nationally ranked players on this team," Bradley said. With their return to year 3 of the NYBL in 2015, All-Ohio or I-70 Elite depending on the decision, will have to prove their medal against new comers like D.C. Premier who has also upgraded an already elite team.  In addition to D.C. Premier, the NYBL will add several more elite teams, some of which have flown way under the radar and will prove to be tough competitors. 2015 is already looking to be another very exciting year for the class of 2019!