Five-Star Basketball: UCF Day 3

The third day of camp is where Five-Star legends are made. It’s the day where the stars really begin to shine and standout. This day consists of not only stations but it’s playoff season capped off by the all-star game at night.  Where really going to see what the players are made of; some having to go through 12 stations as well have the possibility of three, intense, playoff games.  

So far we are through the first round of games and one half of the Lakers tandem is struggling with injury, only being able to play one quarter of the game.  But with or without his big, Frank Martin refused to be stopped, carrying his team with big three after big three.  We’ll see if Jakov Pilic’s injury will effect them in the later rounds.

We now look ahead to the second round match-ups of  Lakers v.  Thunder and Knicks v. Suns.  The Knicks, Suns match-up pair, Five-Star standouts Jahman Delancy and Hasheem Moore against The Suns “Twin Towers”, Paul Jones and Marcus Neely.  It will be interesting to see who shows up and who will be knocked out and who will be going home in the Semi-final round.

So the Semi-finals had some players come up big, and both games had the underdog’s come out on top. The Lakers stud, Frank Martin, put forth one of his best effort to try and carry his team to the finals but came up just short. For the Thunder, guard, Jose Morales, dominated the entire game and left it for his big man, Darreyl Purnell-Robinson to come up big, late, hitting the two game winning free-throws with 15 seconds left. (Seen Below)

 

The playoff will also help some players make their last and final push to make the Five-Star All-Star team; a possible canidate could be Kyjon Jones from the Suns.  We will see if some all-star caliber players will raise their games , helping them become “shoe-ins” for the all-star roster. 

 

Marcus Neely- Sr.  6’3 G Cardinal Gibbons

Hasheem Moore- Sr. 6’4 G Cardinal Gibbons 

Paul Jones- Sr. 6’4 Lake Worth Christian

Frank Martin- Sr. 5’9 G Port St. Lucie

Jakov Pilic- Sr. 7′ C Lake Worth Christian 

Jahman Delancy-  So. 5’11 G North Broward Prep

Kyjon Jones- Sr. 5’10 G Riverview HS

Darreyl Purnell-Robinson- Jr. 6’8 F Erwin HS

Jose Morales- Fr. 5’9 G Cardinal Gibbons

 

In terms of the the NCAA Division, we had team Kansas go undefeated, lead by the “Little Three” of Trayvon Gildon, Ty Hands and Jared Groff.(Seen Below)  Our NCAA division is absolutely filled with promising prospects for the future. 

 

Five-Star Orlando June 19 & 20 Report

This session in Orlando looks promising.  We have players starting to blossom and make a name for themselves.  They are putting in the work necessary to take their games to the next level.  A few of the names that have stood out, thus far; from our NBA division, Jahmah Delancy, Shavano Cooper, Hasheem Moore, Paul Jones, Frank Martin and from our NCAA Division, Jason West. These players have emerged from the pack.session.  Jahmah made his mark in the first couple NBA games by lighting up the points column.

Whereas Paul Jones is coming in looking to establish himself as a scholarship bound player.  This cast has

set the bar high early on. We also have seen an unstoppable duo, that has begun to dominate our NBA division for the Lakers. PG- Frank Martin and C- Jakov Pilic have been a dynamic twosome thus far.  They dropped their first game of the season but since then have demonstrated the “team” concept; finding the pick-and-roll to be unguardable.  With playoffs just around the corner you’ll have to check in a couple of days to see how the Lakers fair. The Knicks are the lone undefeated team.
Check in on the 22nd to see what’s going to happen with the all-star game and and playoffs.

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Paul Jones-  Sr.  6′ 4 F -Lake Worth Christian (Seen above finishing an alley-oop)

Jahman Delancy-  So. 5’11 G – North Broward Prep

Frank Martin- Sr. 5’9 G- Port St. Lucie

Jakov Pilic- Sr. 7′ C- Lake Worth Christian

Jasen West-  6th 5′ G- Like Highland Prep (Seen Below)

Five-Star Australia: 2011 Recap

After 5 days of camp that featured 6 sets of station work, 7 games, a situation tournament, a no dribble tournament, a free throw contest, and 5 station 13′s, it was the consensus of the locals that the first ever Five Star Camp in Australia was a huge success.  For over an hour after camp parents and players alike met with coaches from the staff not only to thank the coaches, but to continue to pick the minds of a great staff that helped to make a great week of learning for each and every participant.

The final day saw a very tired and hard working group of players push through to get every little bit out their final day at the camp.  The morning began with the final set of stations with many players showing improvement in just 5 days of camp.  Stations were followed by tie breaker games in the NBA East as the Celtics beat the Bulls to advance to the Championship game against the Knicks.  After lunch both leagues played out their Championship games.  In the NBA West the Lakers at 5-2 faced off against the Suns at 6-1.  The game looked like a blowout as the Suns were up 17 with 5 minutes remaining when the Lakers went on a huge run.  With 25 seconds left the Lakers had a shot to cut the lead to 2 that rimmed out.  Playing huge for the Suns was Playoff MVP Ben Casey.  In the NBA East the game had a similar feel while the Celtics and Coach Jerry Reynolds had a good lead and the Knicks came back to make it a game.  The Celtics and Playoff MVP Simon Reed were to much as they walked away with the Championship.

After the Championship games it was time for the first ever Australian Five Star Basketball Orange and White Classic All Star Game.  It was an exciting time as the teams were announced and the games proved to be just as exciting.  In the NBA West All-Star Game MVP Kieran Longmuir was to much as his team won a close hard fought game.  In the NBA East the game proved to be a little lopsided for 3 quarters as MVP Alistar Parker helped his team pull out a big win that turned into a close game in the final 4 minutes.

NBA West All Stars

Madison Stringer, Zac Taylor, Brendan Head, Kieran Longmuir, Zac Straker, Ben Casey, James Callus, Chris Latter, Brandon Clarke, Ryan McMahon, Kevin Nesvara, Josh Bull

NBA East Orange Team

Jamal Talo-Nunawading U18′s

Billy Dabonde-Dandenong U20′s

Ben Ayre-Sandringham U18′s

Nathan Griggs-Waverley U18′s

Tom Bottrell-Waverley U18′s

Luke Svensson-MorningtonU20′s

Jack Oeweija-McKinnon U20′s

Simon Reed-Dandenong U18′s

Nathaniel O’Hare-McKinnon Big V

Nodia Odigie-Dandenong U16′s

NBA East White Team

Igor Milos-Melbourne U20′s

Declan Soukup-Dandenong U18′s

Jamie Leclere-Cranbourne U20′s

Alistair Parker-Cranbourne U18′s

Latrell Talo-Dandenong U16′s

Josh Watt-Mornington U16′s

Daniel Tagi-Dandenong U16′s

Dylan Hogarty-Doyle-Knox U18′s

Bosko Kostur-Waverley U18′s

Nick Djordjevic-Melbourne Big V

Mitchell Kerr-Read-Dandenong U16′s

Camp was concluded by Leigh Klein distributing the following awards:

NBA East

6th Man Award-Nathan Signall-Dandenong U16′s

Most Improved-Timothy Molloy-Leigh-Warragle U16′s

Mr. Stations-Mitchell Kerr-Read-Dandenong U16′s

Mr. Station 13-Ben Ayre-Sandingham U18′s

Best Rebounder-Nathaniel O’Hara-McKinnon Big V

Best Playmaker-Josh Watt-Mornington U16′s

Best Defender-Nick Djordjevic-Melbourne Big V

Playoff MVP-Simon Reed-Dandenong U18′s

Most Promising Prospect-Bosko Kostur-Waverley U18′s

Orange and White All-Star Game MVP-Alistair Parker-Cranbourne U18′s

Team Champion-Celtics (Coach Jerry Reynolds)

NBA West

6th Man Award-Blake Taylor-Cranbourne U12′s

Most Improved-Jacob Evans-NarreWarren U14′s

Mr. Stations-James Callus Dandenong U12′s

Mr. Station 13-Brodie Turner-Cranbourne U16′s

Best Rebounder-Madison Stringer-Cranbourne U16′s

Best Playmaker-Zac Straker-Sandringham U14′s

Best Defender-Kalob Bayer-Hills Hornets U14′s

Playoff MVP-Ben Casey-Cranbourne U16′s

Most Promising Prospect-Jake Britbart-Oakleigh U14′s

Orange and White All-Star Game MVP-Kieran Longmuir-Corio Bay

Team Champion-Suns (Coach Tyson Harding)

Magic Overwhelm Wizards and Wall

It was a perfect evening with a light sports’ schedule especially since I have boycotted the World Series with the Yankees being out and all.  The Wall debut on TNT was something I was excited about.  You had a tremendous high school and college talent who was to resurrect a franchise in Washington.

Two early warnings I ignored before the opening tip;

Point 1: Barkley was on the money in talking about with players as good as Wall on the floor, now we’ll see what he is made of.  I got the sense before the game had even started that Barkley was not impressed with Wall and knew he would struggle.  I am not a huge Barkley guy but the holes in your game are exposed in the NBA.  Wall’s lack of an outside shot or inclination to defer was evident.  I started dissecting his game from jump: Can he shoot?  Does he drive left?  Does he move to the open spot after he distributes the ball?  Does he defend?  These questions never came up last season at Kentucky, now all of the sudden I recognize this kid has to get a whole lot better.

Point 2: When they starters were flashed on the screen: McGhee, Wall, Hinrich, Blatche and Thornton, I wondered “who is going to score the basketball?”.  This can’t be a playoff calibre NBA team.  The personnel for the Magic was considerably better.  In fact, the Magic 2nd five could start for Washington.

For most of the summer, as people have discussed the teams to be reckoned with this season in the East with the Heat, Celtics and Bulls getting a lot of attention, I have been one to discuss the Magic being in the conversation.  Now seeing them play and their depth, they are for real.  Vince Carter is not ready to hang them up.  He still has game.

Washington must get Arenas back, they need offensive weapons so that Wall can be the point guard which is where he can excel and not option 1.  Blatche was disappointing last night.  I thought this season he could take a huge step up but he’s a long way away from the elite in this league.

This is a season for Wall to worry less about winning Rookie of the Year and more about gaining confidence in his offensive game and becoming a threat from the perimeter.  It’s critical for his long term success.

Five-Star Campers Commit

BJ Young-Arkansas

Nick Jacobs -Alabama

Ike Nwamu-Cleveland St

Quincy Miller-Baylor

Deuce Bello-Baylor

Joe Crisman-Loyola (IL)

Justin Moss- Toledo

Jabarie Hinds- West VA

Corey Edwards-George Mason

Vaughn Gray-George Mason

Trey McDonald-Ohio St

DeAngelo Harrison-St Johns

George Matthews-Utah

Naadir Tharpe-Kansas

Bishop Daniels-Miami

Isaiah Morton-Marist

Jamir Hanner-Marshall

Lamin Fulton-St Peters

Conroy Baltimore-Lehigh

Angel Nunez-Louisville

Jermaine Sanders-Cincinnati

Tavon Sledge – Iowa State

Mike Taylor – Rutgers

Damien Leonard-South Carolina

Tanner Wozniak – NC ST

TJ Buchanon – URI

Ash Yacoubou-Villanova

Jabril Trawick-Georgetown

Edson Avila- Manhattan

Devontay Grace- Manhattan

Julian Dubose- Rice

Juan’ya Green-Niagara

Jervon Pressley-GA St

Shaq Thomas-Cincinnati

Jacob Lawson-Purdue

Pat Ackerman-Penn St

Will Cummings-Temple

Myles Mack-Rutgers

Maurice Harkless- St Johns

Kadeem Jack-Rutgers

Malcolm Gilbert- Pitt

Rakeem Christmas-Syracuse

Malick Kone-Rutgers

Jacoby Davis-UNF

Durand Johnson-Pitt

Jalen Reynolds-Xavier

Anthony Davis-Kentucky

Marcus Thornton- William & Mary

LaDontae Hinton- Dayton

Breon Key-ODU

Jordan Allen-Hofstra

Aquil Younger-Drexel

Adrian Diaz-KS St

Stevie Taylor-Ohio U

Derrick Randall- Rutgers

Aaron Brown-WV

Wayne Blackshear-Louisville

PJ Hairston-North Carolina

Mike Gbinije-Duke

Shannon Scott-Ohio St

Sam Thompson-Ohio St

Sidiki Johnson-Arizona

Trevor Cooney-Syracuse

Marquis Rankin-VA Tech

Austin Etherington-Indiana

John Johnson-Pitt

Sterling Gibbs-Maryland

Ronnie Stevens-Hawaii

Fred Landers-UNF

Chris Santo-Vermont

George Marshall-Wisconsin

PJ Boutte- Detroit

Jaylen Bond-Pitt

Ge’Lawn Guyn-Cincinnati

Steve Zack  - LaSalle

Keith Belfield-Furman

Dylan Ennis-Rice

Jordan Myrrick-Cen Mich

Danny Lawhorn-Md Eastern Shore

John Ward Adams-Navy

Nick Faust-Maryland