2010 AAU 16U National Championship Highlights

Here are highlights from the 2010 AAU 16U National Championship game between Team Memphis Elite - Daniels and Jacksonville Lady Rams.

Team Memphis Elite - Don Williams AAU Nationals Recap

Team Memphis Elite - Don Williams traveled to Orlando, FL last week to participate in the 15U D2 AAU Nationals. Although there were some setbacks and injuries, it sounds like they had a very successful trip.

Check it out!!!!

Opened pool play with win over Baltimore Cougars 55-38 on Sunday afternoon. 1-0

Started Monday with win over CASE team from Europe 58-45. 2-0

Finished pool play later that same day with win over Hollywood FL Eagles 67-48, Tiffany Jones (Manassas) had a field day on the front end of the press, stealing multiple balls and scoring 31. 3-0

So, we finished 3-0 in pool play, win pool and get BYE into Sweet Sixteen.

Started Bracket play late Tuesday with win over Bay State Jaguars, 57-54 with a come from behind win and advance to Elite Eight, post players dominated with Tiffany Jones with 16 and Dee Dee Jones (Chester County) with 24. 4-0

Took first loss of tourney in game that would have put us in the Final Four, but ran into a buzz saw by the name of New England Shooting Stars and lost 75 – 42. They had 11 players and 11 players scored and 6 of them had at least 1 three pointer. By the way, this team WON the tourney and the National Championship and is now on their way to Arizona to play in the Super Showcase there. 4-1

We were bouncing back nicely against the Vermont Lighting when Paige Williams (St. Benedict) sprained her ankle badly and we went on to lose 62-56 despite a great effort from Denise Johnson (Manassas) with 26. Vermont went on to win next game and got 5th. 4-2

In our final game of the tourney on Thursday, we faced the Brevard Lady Blue Thunder for the 7 / 8 game. Paige’s ankle was still really bad and I was not sure she could walk, must less play so we taped it up and put them in a zone. After being down 14 at one point in the second half, we came back and won 7th place with a 61-56 victory. Paige Williams finished with 16 to go along with 15 from Denise Johnson and 18 from Dee Dee Jones. 5-2

A great week from the team after going 3-1 in the week before in the AGSE Tip Off Classic at Bishop Byrne High School.

8-3 over 2 weeks, not bad, we will take it.

Quote of the Day

“Create a vision and never let the environment, other people’s beliefs, or the limits of what has been done in the past shape your decisions. Ignore conventional wisdom.”
-Anthony Robbins

Memphis Girls Basketball Fundamental Friday: Guard and Post Drills

Here is footage from the 2010 NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp for boys. This camp regularly features the nation's top high school players and gives them insight in to what it takes to play in the NBA (both on and off the court). The camp is staffed by over two dozen former NBA players as well as current high school coaches.

Boys just seem to have all the fun and access to top camps learning new skills and drills. Don't worry girls---I plan to change all that..

This video has some really great drills to help you with ball handling and some great post moves. I can't wait to get back in the gym.

Team Memphis Elite - Daniels 2010 AAU Nationals Runner Up

On yesterday, Team Memphis Elite - Daniels competed for the 16U Division 1 National Championship in Orlando, Florida at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Milk House. Jacksonville Lady Rams defeated Team Memphis Elite 68-62 in the afternoon game.


Danielle Ballard and Hasina Muhammad were named members of the AAU All-American Team.

GAME RECAP FROM ESPN HOOPGURLZ

Brittany Roundtree scored five points and had three steals during the final 26 seconds to help the Jacksonville Lady Rams to a 68-62 win over Memphis Elite in the 16U AAU Division I championship game.

Roundtree, a North Carolina commit ranked No. 44 in the 2011 class by ESPN HoopGurlz, and Antoinette Bannister, also a UNC commit ranked 16th in the 2012 class, finished with 19 points to lead Jacksonville. The two teams battled to a 29-29 halftime tie. Bannister, the tournament Most Valuable Player, scored 14 in the first half.

Symone Daniels' steal and layup pulled Memphis to within one point, 63-62 with less than a minute to play, but Roundtree stalled the comeback attempt with her late game heroics.

Hasina Muhammad led Memphis with 19 points. Daniels, and Danielle Ballard, Lauren Douglas each scored 11. Shalethia Stringfield and Alexis Brown chipped in nine points apiece for Jacksonville.

Drake Reed of Memphis Gets Love from Girlz Prep Report

image from Girls Prep Report site


Drake Reed Basketball Club of Memphis (formerly known as Memphis Select) participated in Peach State Hoops' Best of Summer tournament in Georgia last week.

Girlz Prep Report was at the event reporting on some of the action.

Check out more photos and what they had to say.

Music City Madness 2010 Girls Basketball Tournament Schedule/Brackets

CLICK HERE

Bonnie-Jill Laflin, NBA's Only Female Scout

image from slamonline.com



Bonnie-Jill Laflin has worked as a scout for the Lakers since the 2003-04 season and also serves as the assistant general manager for the 22Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA Development League. A former cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys and Golden State Warriors, Laflin began her association with the Lakers as a sports broadcaster covering the team for KCAL/KCBS during its three-title run from 1999-2002.

Check out some of the Slam Magazine interview:

SLAM: What are your scouting responsibilities?
BJL: The Pac-10 and Big 12. I went to the University of Texas. Well, now not the Big 12, we don’t know what it’s going to be called. [Laughs]

SLAM: Back to the Lakers — you’re also an assistant GM for the D-Fenders in the Development League.
BJL: Yes. That’s something I’m really passionate about. I love it. It’s amazing to see these guys living their dream and they’re just on that fringe to making the bigs and to see these guys work so hard. They’re not getting paid very well; it’s just like minor league baseball. It’s blood, sweat and tears to at least try to get even a 10-day callup. I really like seeing how much these guys are living out their dreams.

SLAM: How much are the jobs with the Lakers and D-Fenders related to each other?
BJL: Well, obviously when I’m scouting, it’s not just for the Lakers. I’m also scouting for D-League players for our team. So they definitely relate to my job responsibilities because I’m doing both. There are always those guys who teams are going to pass on and I’m thinking ‘Okay, this is a guy who can develop into something good and he’s got some raw talent. Let’s see how he can grow as a player.’

SLAM: Are you always scouting players with the Triangle in mind?
BJL: Definitely. We run the Triangle with the D-Fenders, as well. And obviously running the Triangle, as you know, you have to have a high basketball IQ. We look for someone who is a smart player on the court, good ball handler, someone who can run the Triangle so you have to think of that right away. Phil [Jackson] likes big guards, there are little things we know that Phil likes.

SLAM: How do you judge whether a player has a high basketball IQ?
BJL: A player that makes smart decisions, someone with good court vision. You can tell when a player is smart and has this raw talent that hasn’t developed into the high basketball IQ that we need. It takes awhile to get that Triangle down. We’re always looking for good point guards.

Click here for the complete Slam Magazine interview

Team Memphis Elite - Holmes 13U 2010 Highlights

The future is bright for Memphis girls basketball and Team Memphis Elite - Holmes 13U squad is an example of that. I caught a glimpse of the future in June.

Here is the roster of the team: (20) Takira Clay, (22) Olivia Cunningham, (54) Eryn Foster, (3) Kiara Golden, (23) Aqueen Hayes, (00) Minyone Hill, (11) Amber Holmes, (13) Taylor Lewis, (4) Maia McCoy, (12) Kalynn Parks, (16) Brianna Smith, (21) Kairneisha Trent.

Check out this highlight of Team Memphis Elite - Holmes with appearances by Erin Wilson (Memphis Lady Bobcats Red) and Arkela Ware (Memphis Select/Drake Reed of Memphis).

Quote of the Day

“Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.”
-Peter McWilliams