NYBL All-Star Game Rosters Released

When the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL) was developed 2 basic promises were made. First, we promised a high level of competition. We think we delivered on that promise as evidenced by the fact that of the top 8 finishers at the recent 6^th grade AAU Nationals, 7 of the teams played in the NYBL, including 3 of the Final 4 teams as well as the eventual national champion. Secondly, we promised a high level of exposure. Over the course of the NYBL, numerous stories and features have been written highlighting the standout performers from session to session. In an effort to further showcase the significant amount of talent the NYBL was fortunate to amass, the league decided to host a NBA-styled all-star game to close out the inaugural season.

To this end, the best talent that the NYBL has to offer will be on full display in Columbus, Ohio on September 21^st when the ball is tipped on the inaugural NYBL All-Star game. More specifically, there will be 2 all-star games which will feature the league’s top 40 players. The “Top 20” game is the more prestigious of the 2 games and will feature the league’s top 20 players.  Because there was so much talent in the NYBL, 1 all-star game would not do the league justice.  Therefore, the “Top 40” game will feature the league’s next best 20 players.  Make no mistake, those next 20 players can ball, and could have very easily made the top game.

In terms of the selection process, at the conclusion of each of the league’s 3 sessions, top performers lists were developed which contained the top 40 performers for that particular session. From there, the players on the list were broken down by position and where they were selected on the list (i.e., 1^st team, 2^nd team etc). As a further example, players that appeared more frequently on the top performer lists and/or were selected as 1^st and 2^nd teamers were selected for the “Top 20” game.

The 2 NYBL all-star games will be played on Saturday, September 21^st in conjunction with the Buckeye Prep Elite Showcase, and will part of a slate of all-star games that will include Ohio North vs South games in grades 7^th -11^th, and 8^th grade “Ohio vs Indiana” and “Ohio vs Kentucky” games. In addition to their participation in the NYBL all-star games, the players will be afforded the opportunity to participate in the elite showcase where they will compete against other players from across the country that did not necessarily play in the NYBL. As part of the showcase, players will play 4 additional games and could possibly be selected for a final showcase all-star game late Sunday afternoon.

Awards will be given out for MVPs for all of the all-star games and exposure opportunities will be maximized. In fact, within the next couple of days we will be releasing individual player profiles for each player selected for the game. Below are links to the all-star selections as well as the session by session top performer lists.

NYBL All-Game Rosters

NYBL Session I Top Performers

NYBL Session I Top Performers Pictures

NYBL Session II Top Performers

NYBL Session II Top Performers Pictures

NYBL Session III Top Performers

Carolina Preps Claims National Championship

 

Carolina Preps-2013 AAU 6th Grade National Champions

On Sunday, Keyford Langley’s Carolina Preps squad defeated Deron Williams Elite 50-55 in overtime to capture the 6^th grade AAU National Championship in Virginia Beach, VA. On their trek to the title, Carolina Preps defeated Georgia Stars (78-36), NO Rising Stars (64-35), and Team Providence (72-34) in pool play. During bracket play, Preps dispatched SEMO Elite (79-45); Rens 6^th Grade (59-48); Carolina Chaos (62-36); All-Ohio Red (41-47); and finally Deron Williams Elite.

According to Coach Langley, the game was close the entire way, as both teams employed similar styles of play. “We felt that D-Will was a mirror image of our team. They have a similar defensive strategy as we have. They ran our same defense we used in the past,” offered Langley. In terms of his strategy heading into the title game, “we had to contain their shooters. We watched them play Memphis [War eagles] and knew they had shooters who were not afraid to put it up,” stated Langley. “We just had to stay the course. The difference in the game, we had Wendell Moore. He was the X factor,” Langley said. Wendell Moore scored a team-high 14 points, followed by Michael Green who finished with 12 and Kobe and Keyshawn Langley who added 10 and 8 points, respectively.

Wendell Moore

Langley’s team has been participating in the AAU Nationals since the second grade and have enjoyed some success, including a 6^th place finish in the second grade; a third place finish in the 5^th grade and a second place finish to All-Ohio in the fourth grade.

This year, Carolina Preps finished with an impressive overall record of 70-1. Langley credits much of his team’s success to their participation in the National youth Basketball League (NYBL). “We played a lot of tough competition [in the league] this year. We normally don’t see competition like we saw in the league until the [AAU] nationals,” said Langley. “The NYBL was big for our kids. We had to face a lot of adversity throughout the three [NYBL] sessions,” continued Langley. “Three tough games in one day [in the NYBL] made our kids ready. You can’t duplicate that anywhere else,” Langley said.

Langley thought his team benefited from NYBL play off the court as well. “This nationals was unlike any nationals we have ever attended. There was no craziness between teams. Our parents and kids all socialized and hung out with the other parents and kids from the other NYBL teams. It was like one big family. It [NYBL] was a great experience,” Langley said.  

Although the 2013 AAU season is now in the books, Coach Langley said he will give his kids 2 weeks off then they will get back in the gym then start getting ready for next season, I guess that’s how you win a national championship! Congratulations to the entire Carolina Preps organization for a job well done!

Before I close, I would like to give a shout out to all of the NYBL teams that participated in the AAU Nationals and represented the league better that we ever expected. In total, 13 teams participated, and 7 teams finished among the top 8. The final order of finish is as follows: 1) Carolina Preps; 2) Deron Williams Elite; 3) All-Ohio Red; 4^th) Memphis War Eagles; 5) Southern Stampede; 6) Metro Flyers; 7) Carolina Chaos; 8) ETU Select; 9) Team Teague; 10) G3 Indy Hoosiers; 11) Chick Web/B-More Finest; and ATR.

Carolina Preps NYBL Profile Page

NYBL is Well Represented in Elite 8

As has been reported over the past couple of days, NYBL teams have dominated at the D-I 6^th grade AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach, VA. so far. Case in point; of the eight teams still alive and fighting for a national championship, 7 of those teams participated in the NYBL this year. What that will mean, 7 NYBL teams will place in the top 10 in the country after the horn blows on Sunday. The significant success of the NYBL teams at the AAU Nationals can be traced back to the extreme level of competition these teams faced over the course of the first-year league. “It prepped us well,” said Dana Watkins, one of the coaches for the Southern Stampede.

The following teams, including their NYBL record, are still in the hunt for a national championship: All-Ohio Red (15-1), Carolina Preps (15-1), Deron Williams Elite (14-2), Southern Stampede (12-4), Carolina Chaos (12-4), ETU Select (8-8) and the Metro Flyers (8-7). In 3 of the Elite 8 games on Saturdayday, NYBL teams will face off against each other. Deron Williams Elite will play the Metro Flyers at 12:40pm; All-Ohio Red will match up against the Southern Stampede at 12:40; and Carolina Preps will face instate rival Carolina Chaos at 2:00pm. The final Elite 8 game pits ETU Select against the Memphis War Eagles at 2:00pm. Also, the 6^th Man Warriors (7-9) are making a run in the Classic Bracket. In fact, they are only 1 win away from advancing to the Final 4.

Because 7 of the 8 teams in the Elite 8 are representing the NYBL, the league is guaranteed to have at least 3 of the Final 4 sports as well as a spot in the national championship game. If ETU Select can get it done, there could be both an all-NYBL Final 4 and championship game! From what I hear, the NYBL teams are pulling for and supporting their league brothers in Virginia Beach this week.

In addition to the 7 teams that have advanced to the Elite 8, three other NYBL teams are still fighting to place in the top 12. The SC Hornets (10-5) will take on Team Teague JTO at 11:20 in the first round of the third round consolation bracket. They would need to win 2 games in order to advance to the 9th/11th place medal game. The Upstate Warriors (4-11) and Team Izod/Sports U (6-10) would have to win 2 games in the first round consolation bracket to advance to the 10^th/12^th place medal game.  Unfortunately, only one of those teams can advance to the game because they would have to play each other in the second game on Saturday.

 

AGame-West Coast AAU National Champions

Make no mistake, the success of the NYBL teams in Virginia Beach this week is no fluke. In fact, AGame, a team made up of players form Team Rio Elite (6-10) and Team Izod/Sports U went out west and won the West Coast AAU National Championship. The players on that roster included: AJ Hoggard (PA), Jalen Gaffney (NJ), Bryan Antoine (NJ), Alex Klatsky (NJ), Tarig Ingram (DE), Darrien Dalcourt (MD), Chris Autino (NJ), Stephen Lubischer (NJ), Jordan Montgomery (CA), Terrence Williams (DC) and MJ Wright (NJ). The only player who did not play in the NYBL on that team was Jordan Montgomery, but he will be running with Team Rio Elite in the NYBL next year.

Good luck to all of the NYBL teams still alive in Virginia Beach. Regardless of what happens from this point forward, the NYBL can take great pride in what ever role we played in preparing these teams for the run they made at the AAU Nationals!  

NYBL Website

Final NYBL League Standings 

12 of 13 NYBL Teams Advance to Championship Bracket Play

So far, NYBL teams have dominated at the D-I 6^th grade AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach, VA. In fact, of the 13 NYBL teams participating in the tournament, 12 of them have advanced to the championship bracket. In addition, 8 of the 12 teams finished first in their pool with 3-0 records.

All-Ohio Red finished pool play 3-0 with wins over VA Select (70-28), Florida Panthers (60-29), and Team Takeover Jamison (91-58). Carolina Preps breezed through pool play 3-0 with victories over the Georgia Stars (78-36), N.O. Rising Stars (64-35) and Team Providence (72-24). Deron Williams Elite was also perfect in pool play with wins over Team FOE (62-18), SO LA-ATR (46-30) and Georgia Heat (64-12). The SC Hornets were a perfect 3-0 with wins over the Louisiana Jaguars (68-28), Team YCP Hoyas (69-37) and Chick Webb/B-More Finest (44-33). Southern Stampede went 3-0 in pool play with victories over ACAD Prep (56-47), Minneapolis F.A.B. (66-37) and Diamonds in the Rough (59-34).

ETU Select will carry a 3-0 record to bracket play with wins over the Aiken Warriors (55-26), College Park Express (61-57) and Indiana Elite Force (39-24). E1T1 finished pool play 3-0 with victories over Middle TN Impact (55-48), LA Razorbacks Elite (42-38) and Metrolina Havoc (55-41). Carolina Chaos finished pool play 3-0 with wins over the Atlanta Celtics Black (62-37), a forfeit win over TN-EOTO and  DC Assault (69-50). The Upstate Warriors finished 2-1 with a 47-43 win over M.A.D.E. Elite, a 60-41 win over the Tidewater Wildcats and a 49-45 loss to the Broward Sharks.

The Metro Flyers will take a second place pool finish to bracket play after a 51-42 win over the Metro Sixers, a 57-34 win over the Georgia Red Storm Red and a 40-46 loss to Team Teague JTO. New Heights finished second in their pool with a 2-1 record which included a 58-45 win over the Milwaukee Spartans, a 53-47 loss against the Reach Higher Kings and a 71-41 win over M33M Elite. Team Izod/Sports U finished 2-1 with a 46-30 win over South Piedmont, a 47-45 loss to the SC Raptors and a 59-56 win over the Tennessee Legends.

The 6^th Man Warriors were the only NYBL team that failed to punch their ticket to the championship bracket.  However, they could rebound from an unfortunate situation and run the table in the Classic Bracket. It should be noted that the Warriors actually won 2 pool games, but a discrepancy involving a player’s release from a prior team and a successful protest led to them forfeiting their first game. Consequently, they finished 1-2 and was relegated to the Classic Bracket.

In the first round of championship bracket play on Friday, NYBL foes Upstate Warriors and the Metro Flyers will face off for a berth in the Sweet 16. The winner of that game could face another NYBL brother if E1T1 can get by ACAD Prep Hawks in the first round. ETU Select and New Heights could meet in the Sweet 16 if ETU beats cross-town rival DC Assault and New Heights handles their business against Cats 6^th in round one. Southern Stampede will match-up against Metroline Havoc, a former NYBL team in round one. Friday night at 6:00pm could see a rematch between All-Ohio Red and the SC Hornets with a ticket to the Elite 8 on the line. This could be another grudge match between 2 very talented NYBL combatants. Deron Williams Elite will match-up with the defending national champions, G3 Hoosiers at 3:20 Friday afternoon if both teams hold serve in the opening round game Friday morning.  Stay tune for more updates.

Ohio Teams Place at D-II AAU Nationals

Ohio Hoopsters Elite-6th Place D-II AAU Nationals

Last week, 2 Ohio-based 6th grade teams placed in the top 8 of the D-II 6th AAU Nationals in Virginia Beach, VA. The Ohio Rising Stars placed 4th and the Ohio Hoopsters Elite placed 6th. The Ohio Hoopsters enjoyed great success this year as evidenced by their impressive 50-8 record. In addition to their 6th place finish at the AAU Nationals in Ft Wayne, IN, the Hoopsters went 7-1 and finished 3rd at the Gym Ratz Nationals. The win was highlighted by a 32 point win over the defending national champions, Indy Storm. The Hoopsters were led by AJ Bennett, Tre Watkins, Jeremiah Keene, Gavin Baker, Will Chatman and Sean Marks.

Also, the Riverside Flyers bounced back from disappointing pool play to win the Classic Bracket at the D-II AAU Nationals. The Flyer roster included; Tanner Wilson, Andrew Shope, Joel Lambiotte, Ty Wilcoxn, Charlie Large and Graeson Malashevich. Congratulations to all 3 teams for repping the Buckeye State!

NYBL Teams Finish Undefeated on Day One of AAU Nationals

At this point, most 2019 basketball fans already know just how ultra competitive the field was in the inaugural season of the National Youth Basketball League (NYBL). As an example, of the 13 teams that played in the NYBL this year and are currently participating in the 6^th grade AAU Nationals in Hampton, Virginia, all 13 teams won their opening round games on Tuesday. In fact, in most cases on Tuesday, NYBL teams not only won, they won BIG!

Below are the day-one results: The league champions, All-Ohio Red, defeated VA Select 70-28 to make a big opening round statement; Carolina Preps smashed the Georgia Stars 78-36; Deron Williams Elite crushed Team FOE 62-18; the Southern Stampede got by ACAD Prep Hawks 56-47; the SC Hornets rolled over the Louisiana Jaguars 68-28; 6^th Man Warriors pulled out a 54-49 win over the Cats; ETU Select got a 55-26 win over the Aiken Warriors; Carolina Chaos outclassed the Atlanta Celtics Black 62-37; the Metro Flyers beat the Metro Sixers 51-42; New Heights defeated the Milwaukee Spartans 58-45; the Upstate Warriors squeaked by M.A.D.E. Elite 47-43; E1T1 notched a 55-48 win over Middle TN Impact; and Team Izod/Sports U blew by South Piedmont Heat 46-30 to secure an opening round win.

In all likelihood, one of the NYBL teams listed above will take home a national championship. If the NYBL finals are any indication, All-Ohio Red and Carolina Preps could be the favorites to win it all. With that said Deron Williams Elite, SC Hornets or Southern Stampede could get on a role and pull the upset. The only real chance that the NYBL won’t be able to claim national championship is if the G3 Hoosiers get by Deron Williams Elite in the Sweet 16 and makes a run at the title.

In terms of the possible match-ups in bracket play, if the seedings hold, All-Ohio Red could face the SC Hornets in the Sweet 16. For those of you who followed the NYBL this year, you know that All-Ohio beat the Hornets twice. The winner of that game could matchup with Southern Stampede in the Elite 8. All-Ohio Red and Carolina Preps could meet in the “rubber match” in the Final 4. Both teams split during the NYBL season. ETU Select could run up against the 6^th man Warriors in the Sweet 16.

The way I see it, they only way we see an all NYBL final is if Deron Williams Elite can get by the G3 Indy Hoosiers in the Sweet 16 on Friday and the Memphis War Eagles on Saturday in the final 4. I think one of these teams will come out of the left side of the bracket. Unfortunately, the other top teams are all on the right side of the bracket and are likely to knock each other out.  It should be a great tournament and the NYBL should be well represented in the medal round come Sunday! Good luck to all of the NYBL teams!

NYBLWebsite