Hold’n Court: The HoopGroup Blogs

Hoop Group Skills Camp returned to its boy sessions after two girl sessions of camp. Boys point guard weekend consisted of intense competition and top-notch instruction. All players really took this two-day camp seriously and as an advantage to work on their game and improve. All drill and skill development workshops were intense and enthusiastic. Players took home an individual workout demonstrated in a lecture.

  

One highlight from the week included more than half the camp attending the Early Bird Workout. These are 7:15 AM optional workouts that half the camp came out to get better. This was a dedicated group of young men who came to camp ready to get better and walked away with an understanding of what it is going to take to get there. 

  

In our younger division (ACC), Jonathan Williams won league MVP by dominating both the offensive and defensive side of the court. He was very explosive, and able to attack the rim and finish hard. Another solid player in the division was Ryan Pearson. Ryan, an excellent defender who had a perfect attitude for the game, shined all weekend with his ability to find the open man and make the right decision. 

  

Cameron Williams, a 5^th grader from Arizona, showed a lot of skill and promise. Cameron was a very hard worker, and was able to demonstrate a knowledge and passion for the game at such a young age. The Hoop Group hopes to see Cameron back on the east coast in years to come. 

  

Samir Taylor, a very talented guard, was able to shoot the ball from the outside and get to the rim. His versatility really helped his team be successful this week. Peter Gormley, a tough guard who used his strength and athleticism to muscle around smaller guards, was a factor all weekend in games. 

  

Other Players to Watch (ACC) 

  

Ellis Christmas 

Gary Jennings 

Devante Cross 

Philip Isom 

Simaj Motley 

Luke Conrad 

Jack Wheatley- League Most Improved Player 

  

Hard Workers (ACC) 

Derek Answini 

Kevin Wisser 

Lonnie Cooke 

Brian Sharpe 

Tyki Muhammed 

  

In the older division (NBA) league MVP Martin Evans demonstrated why he was the Most Valuable Player not just because of his sheer talent but also because of his leadership and floor ability. A strong, athletic swingman, Martin was able to dominate the offensive side of the floor with his decision-making and ability to get into the paint. 

  

Shakir Evans, another talented guard from the older division, had a nice stroke from the outside. Shakir has natural talent and sheer ability to make things happen on the court. 

  

Jared Calhoun, a bigger guard, was able to use his strength to “muscle” around the smaller guards. Jared had an ability to get to the rim and stretch the defensive with his ability to knock down the open shot. 

  

Other Players to Watch (NBA) 

  

Elliot Boyce 

Walter Noel IV 

Johnny Amoroso 

Danny Thompson 

Mark O’Leary 

Craig Randall 

Tim Gavin 

  

Hard Workers (NBA) 

  

Tom Cusate 

Zach Adler 

Nathan Fiertag 

Craig Randall 

  

If you missed out on Boys Point Guard Weekend I or want to continue to refine your point guard skills, make sure you attend Boys Point Guard Weekend II, featuring the 2009 National HS Coach of the Year Kevin Boyle. For more information, or if you would like to register, please call us at 570-992-6343. 

Who says boys have more fun? Hoop Group Skills Camp kicked off their girl sessions with a shooting camp on June 21^st. Like the boys, each girl camper got their shot videotaped and analyzed. Coach Herb McGee, the legendary coach from Philadelphia University, came to camp once again to give an informative lecture on the technique of shooting the basketball. Coach McGee also ran shooting blocks and shooting stations and the girls were very enthusiastic and energized to be taught by one of the best coaches in the game.

 
In the ACC division (younger division), Virginia led by coach Danielle Thomas took the championship game on the last day of camp. Virginia was led by league MVP Shyla Osmond, an aggressive guard who was a good playmaker for the team. Shyla’s ability to get the rack opened up easy looks for the rest of her teammates. Shyla also won the Hot Shot competition in the Tournament of Champions.

 
Keyanna Meyers and Cy Lippold were two other solid guards in the ACC division. Playing for UNC, both Keyanna and Cy had a knack to shoot the basketball and play aggressive on the defensive end and cause havoc. For Duke, coach Yonah Greenstein complimented his player Alivia Wilson stating, “She has the right attitude for a young player.” Alivia is going to be a player to watch in the future. Closing out the ACC division, Chantell Thomas, a quick guard who set the tone for her team defensively, was the spark-plug behind Maryland’s success all week.

 
In the WNBA division (older division), Carly Gallagher from Mercury helped lead her team and coach Yasmine Bates to the championship. Carly earned the league MVP title in her ability to dominate, especially on the offensive side of the court. Carly has an ability to knock down the open jumpshot and to get to the rim. Carly demonstrated her ability to shoot the basketball when she won the Hot Shot contest for her league as well.

 
The Shock was led by Lianna Caerrero, a guard from Connecticut. She was an all-around tough player who had the ability to get to the rim. Lianna also made the right decision with the basketball and was truly the key behind the Shock’s successes all week. Cierra Nimmons, an 8^th grader playing up all week, also demonstrated an ability to knock down the open shot, as she was the runner-up in Hot Shot. This is a great feat for an 8^th grader playing with all high school level girls.

 
Every girl’s week features a girl’s week tradition- The Gong Show. This year, the show was filled with skits, song, dances and impersonations. It truly was a great night!

 
 
Congratulations to our award winners in both leagues.

 
ACC Division

 
Most Valuable Player-  Shyla Osmond

Most Improved Player- Jessica Ayala

Hot Shot- Shyla Osmond

Free Throw – Alyssa Alston

 
 
WNBA Division

 
Most Valuable Player- Carly Gallagher

Most Improved Player- Luya Murphy

Hot Shot- Carly Gallagher

Free Throw- Lianna Caerrero

 
If you missed out on this girl’s camp, or would like to come back to either one of our sessions in August, please call us at 570-992-6343.

Hoop Group Skills Camp opened their first week-long camp of the summer on June 15^th in the Poconos. This camp, called Shooting Skills

Camp is dedicated to helping players improve in the shooting aspect of the game. Coaches really concentrated on the player’s form and technique. All players did form shooting for the first 5 minutes of each shooting development block, which took place two times a day. Here at Hoop Group Skills Camp, we feel that in order to have a good shot, one must have good form, which is why we repetitively did form shooting. Each day coaches added on a new, advanced level such as shooting off the dribble or shooting coming off a screen. All players also got their shot video-taped and analyzed and were then sat down by a coach and they can see on tape the mistakes they made. Coach Herb McGee, one of the finest shooters and shooting coaches in America from Philadelphia University, also gave a lecture during the week on simple keys and facts on how to shoot the basketball. Players really dedicated themselves to get better and more advanced in their shot.

 

In the older division, the Cleveland Cavaliers led by Coach Mike Zito escaped away with a 5 point championship victory over the Nuggets, who got to the championship despite being the lowest seed. The Cavs were led by league MVP Sal Capone who was the leader of the team. Sal Capone played with poise all week and always made the right decision with the basketball. Whether it was making the extra pass, attacking the rim, or pulling up for a jumpshot, Sal truly helped his team win the Championship and capture league MVP.

 

Despite losing in the championship, all-star Max Reyes was key in helping the Nuggets through their playoff run. Max played with unbelievably energy all week and was a force defensively. He had an uncanny ability to step into the passing lanes and intercept passes.

 

Matt Guise from the Magic, a versatile big man with a long wing-span, truly helped his team throughout the week. Matt had a knack for scoring the basketball from inside or out. He also had an ability to run the floor in transition and finish easy baskets from passes Danny Fogarty, the floor general of the Magic.

 

From the Lakers, Mike Dougert, a quick, crafty guard, really was the offensive leader of the team. He always found the open man and was a main component in the success of the Lakers that week.

 

Other Notable Players from the NBA Division

 

Patrick Dill

Brett Neagle

Craig Presant

Mike Guise

Caleb Knudsen

Mike Okafor

Andrew Fuehrer

Dashawn Russell

 

Congratulations to our NBA award winners!

All Star MVP- Max Reyes

Hot Shot Champ- Mike Guise

Free Throw Champ- Dan Fogerty

League MVP- Sal Capone

League MIP- Andrew Fuehrer

 

In our younger (ACC) division, 3^rd seeded Duke coached by Dave Reiter upset the 2^nd seed in the semifinals, and the top seed by 2 in the finals to capture the Championship. Duke was led by League MVP Elijah Gonzales, a very unselfish bigger guard who was able to get to the rim. He had an ability to score from all over the court, and to get his teammates involved. Andrew Wert also played an important part in Duke’s successes as he helped control the boards and played solid defense. Bobby Hendrickson’s ability to knock down the outside shot was also key in Duke’s ability to take home the championship.

 

Maryland, league runner up, was led by Dwayne Manlove. Dwayne’s athletic ability allowed him to dominate the paint. He was a lockdown-defender and played extremely aggressive on both ends of the court. Taije Cross and Sean Lewis, two guards who did a great job leading the offense for Maryland all week.

 

Taije’s brother, Devante from Wake Forest, made Wake Forest a tough opponent all week. Devante was a guard who played with great amount of energy, desire, and enthusiasm. Also from Wake was Quindon Stintson, a guard who was able to get to the rim and explode. He was able to shoot the ball very well.

 

Finally, from UNC, Richie Wiltshire had his team pumped and ready all week. He was always enthusiastic and had his teammates ready to play. On the court, Richie had the ability to shoot the basketball and as a big, stronger guard able to get to the rim as well.

 

Other Notable ACC Players

 

Seth Stankowitz

Damian Brown

Eric Marbury

Sean Lewis

Kevin Dulorie

 

Congratulations to our ACC Award Winners!

 

Allstar MVP- Dwayne Manlove

Hot Shot Champ- Richie Wiltshire

Free Throw Champ- Seth Stankowitz

League MVP- Elijah Gonzales

League MIP- Jared Reiser

 

We hope to see you again this summer! Please do not hesitate to contact us for any of your basketball needs. Remember, to always work hard on your game. For more information, or if you would like to register for another week of camp, contact us at 570-992-6343.

 

I wanted to take some time and talk about a few topics.
I will start with Colts Neck head coach JT. I want people to know a few things about JT. Here is a man with a great love for the sport of basketball. He has turned Colts Neck into a power house. His critics will point to the talent he has at Colts Neck. They don’t talk about the man’s track record. How he turned around a Toms River program. Then, of course, they don’t talk about what he has done with the talent. He has won! Last year he and his inexperienced group won the SCT. This year he lost in the TOC final. What I like about JT is that he is a stand up guy. Let me tell you a few things about his life. JT did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was raised without a dad. This is why he is so loyal to his two kids. This is a man who travels hours a day to his job, rather than up root his family. He wants his kids to feel stable and safe. Something he didn’t have as a child. He made the travel sacrifice for his family the past few years. He is also a teacher first. Here is something people don’t understand, the man loves being a teacher. He enjoys making other people’s lives better. He understands what it’s like not to have someone around to tell you what you can be if you dream. I watch him with his kids; he is firm but very loving. I’m amazed how they make him light up. They are easily the most important thing in his life. This year Colts Neck lost to St Rose in the SCT tourney. This was a tough time for him. I’m sure some parents, fans and players, were out for blood. Like in all sports, it’s the coach that must take the heat. CN won the SCT the previous year and had accomplished so much before the lost to St. Rose. Yet JT was a marked man and his track record and high standards’ that he set were working against him. How did JT handle this? He showed up the next night for the SCT semi final. He not only showed up, he brought his family as well.  No doubt he felt the stares and the angry of those who believe he had let them down. No doubt there were those who took joy in his disappointment. Yet there he was, being a standup guy. He sat in the front row of the stands and spoke with people even discussed the game. It left me with an uneasy feeling. I was not sure why he would do this to himself. How many players or coaches would do such a thing?  Most would be hiding after such a horrible ending. I believe JT’s background made him show up. When you grow up with no one to fight your battles, you learn not to run away. Maybe this is why CN put it all back together and beat Shabazz, then got to the TOC final. Now JT is trying to decide his future. He now must deal with the lies about how the parents and him are fighting, he has to listen to people trying to minimize his impact at CN, saying he was dealt a stacked hand before he arrived, and most important, he must deal with the uncertainty surrounding his future.  Does he stay at Colts Neck or does he reduce the travel and strain on his family. I do know this; JT is a great coach and may be more suited for the college game. That’s a story for another day. Now he must decide what his next move is. I hope JT does one very important thing this time. Do what is best for his family. Colts Neck and JT back to make one more run would be fun. Yet watching JT turn around other program would be fun to watch as well. I asked JT what he was thinking and he said he would take his time and was in no hurry.  JT is a winner and I wish him and his family the best! JT is a stand up guy and will make any program or kid he comes in contact with better, in the class room or the gym.
Now I want to talk about the Mayrose family. I was very shocked to hear that Shannon broke a bone. This was very upsetting to the family, I am sure. Shannon may have been the best two way athlete in the state the past few years. No doubt she would have been a Div 1 basketball player, if she decided to go in that direction. The girl is just fearless. I understand she will be fine. What I find interesting is how she has inspired a whole group of young girls in Freehold. David Eagle and Jeff Kneller are two basketball junkies that helped turn Shannon into this one of a kind player. These two are starting a basketball movement in Freehold, which may become a major feeder for the Freehold school system. The two men simply love watching kids develop. The same crazy guys that helped turn Shannon into this special basketball player are now taking it to a new level. It is strange to think Shannon will only play soccer in college. We may never see a player like her again. I just loved watching her play. She is the kind of girl coaches love and opponents hate. What’s funny about Shannon is that she has been in the spotlight for so long and her older sister Alyssa has been under the radar. Well that’s about to change. Shannon’s big sister was recently named All NEC and MVP of the FDU basketball team. Coach Pete Cinela and I discussed Alyssa. She is a great example of how hard work can change everything. She was not considered a big recruit coming out of high school. A year ago Coach Celina called me to ask me how good Alyssa was, I told him she was a nice player. Yet I thought he needed a little better player to win the NEC. Pete then said something to me. He said “tiny I always like kids that play hard, and she plays hard.” Well Coach Cinela you were right. Anytime you have a kid that is one of the top 10 players in your conference your doing good. Now here is the crazy news. Alyssa is also injured and needs surgery. So both these special kids are recovering. Both are expected to make full returns. Alyssa really shows that if you’re good and work hard, your dreams can come true. The FDU staff thinks she will be even better next year. The Mayrose family should be very proud. To think one family could produce such fine student athletes is pretty amazing. My hats go off to Mr. and Mrs. Mayrose…WELL DONE. Tell us your secret!… If you are a good post player FDU is the place to be right now. They may be a big girl away from being the next Marist College! Remember how Marist was knocking off all the big time teams?
Now I want to talk about AAU basketball. The summer recruiting is getting ready to get started. I hope all the seniors are taking time to work on their games and are mentally ready for July. The pressure on the rising junior’s and senior class can be overwhelming to both players and families. I also hope players are attending events to showcase their talent. I know of a team of low and mid-major players skipping Penn State to go to Chicago. This is just flat out insane. The parents are afraid of the coach and the coach does not understand the recruiting process. The Academic Elite for example is a must for all good students. No kid should ever be made to feel bad about doing what is best for them in the July recruiting period. I had a young lady tell me her team was in a tourney the week of Academic Elite and asked me what she should do. I told her if she planned to attend a high level academic school then go to ELITE. She was afraid to ask her coach. To think a kid missing one day of basketball with their AAU team could cause such problems is scary. This type of thing has to stop! The coaches must be flexible and allow kids to do what is best for them. Winning an AAU tournament just is not that important. I want to urge everyone who wants play in college to read my blog about recruiting. I believe the shore will be well represented on the AAU circuit.
Here is my list of Div 1 players in the Area! I believe Central Jersey is a Hotspot for recruiting over the next 2 years. The junior class is just flat out amazing!
SENIORS- I believe the senior class already has four certain division I players. I also believe this number could rise to 6 before the year is over. Much of it depends on how people play in the summer and the amount of exposure they get.
Kristen Sharkey- Southern High School- I believe Miss Sharkey is a mid major starter one day. I also believe she could one day be an all conference type player. I would be shocked if all the mid majors, patriot and ivy schools are not recruiting her…. Mid major player
Lauren Clark- Colts Neck High School- I believe Lauren can play at the highest level of basketball at the next level. Now here is what I want people to understand. This young lady plays her best against the best. The better the talent the more she performs. I believe she can play in the Big East. Now some may disagree and that’s fine. I’m sure many of the Atlantic ten schools and mid majors would love to have her. She is no doubt an all conference player for the mid major schools. Lauren is a great student as well…Major college player… Conference player of the year candidate if she attends a academic school.
Brooke Hampton- Colts Neck High School- She has committed to West Virginia. No doubt she is one of the best players in the state. I believe Brooke will be a better player in college than High School .The passing and scoring skills will be more on display at the Big East level where the players are talented…Major college player
Semonyeh Allen- Neptune High School- She may be the most underrated player in the Shore Conference. Allen had a big reputation going into high school. Somehow she fell off the recruiting map. The great season at Neptune this year has put her right back on the Radar. I believe the sweet shooting swing player can play at the mid major level right now. It will be interesting to see if she can take it further…Mid major player
Players who will draw interest from Division One schools-but have work to do!
Kathryn Campbell- Wall Township High School- Katherine is almost completely under the radar while playing at Wall. There is no machine working on her behalf. Rewards and recognition are hard to come by. This is an example of how the summer exposure sometimes is more important than the high school, when it comes to recruiting. She will need lots of exposure this summer. She will get this playing with one of the best in the business Don Hampton. I believe Campbell who is a great student (# six in her class), is the ideal ivy or patriot school guard. Campbell is a scorer….Low to Mid Major Player… (Best suited for Ivy’s and Patriot schools).
   Stephanie Cardamone- Freehold township High School- Stephanie is slashing type wing player. Her ability to get her own shot makes her a valuable player to teams looking for a scorer. The fact the she plays hard all the time is also something colleges will like….Low Major player and with a good summer her stock could rise!
Alexx Hall- St. Rose- She could be the biggest sleeper in the shore conference. Now think about this for a second. Aexx played against two of the best guards in the State, Shakena Richardson, who Rutgers has offered a scholarship and Brooke Hampton who has committed to West Virginia. She played them both in what can only be considered classic battles. The 17pts and against SCT champs Neptune almost stole the show. Her heart stopping performance in the upset of Colts neck was one of the year’s best stories. This young lady is coming on like gang busters. She is the real deal. She is quick and can score. I believe Hall is a Division one player at some level. This summer may be a big one for her….Low Major player!
Allie Sweeny-St Rose- This is another girl that is drawing interest from MAC schools and NEC schools. Allie is long and can score. Her size makes her unique for her position. She could have a very big summer and cause a recruiting battle among the low divison 1 schools. She may wind up being this year’s Danille Pankey….A player that must be watched….Low Major Player
Brittany Howes- Colts Neck- She has great size and strength. She will need to show consistency during the summer. Many schools will come and look at her. How she prepares for the summer will be very important to her future. Playing for the diamonds with Davis and Richardson on the roster will get her lots of exposure.
Emily Lawrence- Colts Neck- This player has cause a little bit of a stir. I have received a number of phone calls regarding her. She has good size and is improving her shooting range. She may find herself in the division circles if the summer works out well for her!…
2011 Class- This class is almost impossible to believe. I have counted no less than 10 division 1 players. This number is almost unreal. I will tell you why! In any given year the state of New Jersey will product maybe 8-10 division 1 players. To think one conference could produce 10 division 1 players is real tribute to the youth programs in Monmouth County. The Mid Monmouth league is the blue print for youth basketball.
Here is my 2011 class of division one players:
Jackie Kates- SJV- Ivy’s and patriot schools will conduct an all out war for her services. Throw in the mid majors and Jackie will be one of the most sought after pt guards on the east coast!
Missy Repoli-SJV- This sweet shooting wing player is almost certain to wind up in the patriot or Ivy League. She will be recruited heavily by both conferences..Missy there is a pretty good guard in New Jersey that would love to play with you!!
Arron Zimmerman-SJV- This 6’1”  post player may end up playing the wing in college. Her ability to hit the 18ft jumper and put the ball on the floor makes her a unique and difficult matchup. Arron has already received interest from all the mid major conferences.
Katie O’Rielly-SJV- This makes the fourth SJV player on this list. Katie is long and athletic. She also does the little things all coaches like. I will be making a plea to Katie to attend NBS this summer. I believe if she stays in the gym, Katie could play at a mid major level. Right now she is a low major player…not bad for a sixth man!
Shakena Richardson- Neptune High School- She will be rated among the top guards in the country. She is already being actively pursued by Rutgers, Maryland, and a cast of other top 10 teams.
Syessence Davis- Neptune High School- To think that two players of this ability could be on the same High School team is unheard of. Rutgers has already offered her and most major conferences are recruiting her.
Megan McGuiness- Middletown South HS- Megan was one of the most improved players in the state of New Jersey. Her performance in the SCT elevated her status. She is blessed with size, great vision, and tremendous ball handling skills. This makes Megan a unique blend of talent. Because of the quality coaching Megan will receive during the High School season along with her AAU experience, Megan can rise above her low/mid major status. I expect Megan to join her fellow teammate Danielle Pankey at the division 1 level.
Ashley Cooper- RFH- Ashley arrived last season and is now George Sourlias’ new star player. After spending a year in the shadow of Kate Miller, Cooper now will carry the Rumson fortunes on her shoulders. There were times last year where Ashley was a dominating player. Expect Cooper to continue to wow coaches next season! She has already received interest from Big East Schools. Expect Ashley to land at a mid major school with a possibility of her playing at a higher level if she develops.
China Golden- RBC- One of the best post players in the Shore Conference. She is a major target for all low and mid major schools. Many major college schools have already shown interest in her. The low major schools will have to do a great recruiting job in order to steal her.  China continues to get better each day.
Kasey Hobbie- RBC- The sweet shooting Hobbie plays for the talented New Jersey Demon team. Hobbie will no doubt be recruited by mid major schools looking for a scoring point guard.  
Sarah Olsen- Howell High School- Is clearly, becoming a sought after swing player. Her ability to play three positions, even the point, makes her a very versatile performer. Throw in her improved shooting range and you have a solid low to mid major player.
Christa Evans- Jackson Memorial- This tall, athletic, post player will be on everyone’s recruiting list. Evans, who was hurt at the end of the season, last year, has the ability to post up, pass, and rebound in traffic. She will make a solid mid major player.
Sam Gustella- RBC- Will need to continue to improve, but by the time she is a senior, she could be a Division I player. Lots of schools will be following her development.
Special Note: Out of these 13 players, 9 are sure Division 1 players and the other 4 most likely will attain this goal. This makes the junior class one of the best classes in one High School Conference I have ever seen.
Class of 2012
Sam Clarke- St. Rose- Will be one of the most recruited players in the state of New Jersey. All of the major college coaches are aware of her. Clarke, no doubt, falls into that small population of players who’s recruiting will be filled with numerous schools… Major College Player.
Kasey Chambers- St. Rose- This floor general came on the scene during the Shore Conference Tournament. Her toughness, shooting, and court savvy make her a well rounded point guard. Chambers will end up one at an academic, mid major school. 
Michaela Mabrey- St. Rose- Mabrey certainly is on every major colleges recruiting list. If she can stay focused and avoid drama and outside distractions, she should wind up at a top ten school…. Potential Major college player
 

Hoop Group Skills Camp kicked off their 47^th summer the weekend of June 6^th-7^th with a Junior Elite Weekend up in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. The weekend consisted of the best rising 5^th-9^th graders from all over the northeast. This two-day camp consisted of intense skill development, competitive games, and an interesting lecture from Steve Keller from the National Recruiting Service. The National Recruiting Service was also on hand to evaluate the talent from the weekend. At a camp with over 110 kids, it is impossible to recognize everyone who played well, but here are a few of the top performers from both leagues.

  

8^th and 9^th Grade Division

  

Jimbo Long from Cliffwood, NJ, showed a lot of promise as he begins his career at St. Joseph Metuchen next year. Jimbo is a hard-nosed guard who is an extremely smart playmaker. He sees the floor very well and always seems to make the right play. Jimbo always makes his teammates better, and his great work ethic will help him shine at St. Joseph Metuchen.

Jerron Love, a quick and athletic guard who plays very intense. He has crafty Chris Paul-like guard skills. Jerron is able to get into the lane and find the open man. He also has the ability to step out and knock down the long range shot.

  

Nate Robinson, from Albany, NY, was a solid big man who helped his team compete at the highest level all weekend. At 6’5, he has a great ability to finish around the rim. Nate was a monster on both the offensive and defensive boards, and he is also a great post player. Nate displayed a lot of great post moves against the other big men in the camp.

  

Seth Chisolm, a standout from Delaware, is an athletic wing that has a knack of getting to the rim. Seth always goes hard to the basket and is able to draw the contact, make the basket and get to the foul line. If Seth continues to work on his shooting, he will be one of the top players in Delaware in years to come.

  

Kristofer O’Connor from Mount Ephraim, NJ, was a beast all weekend on both sides of the court. He is a lockdown defender on and off the ball. Kristofer played at such a high energy level all weekend that he always made things happen on the court. He runs the floor like a gazelle and really thrives in the transition game.

  

Greg Noack, a 6’1 versatile big man from Bethlehem, PA who will be attending Liberty HS next year. Greg has superior court vision for a big man as well as great ability in the post. He is able to finish with both hands in the paint and has the talent to step out and hit the 12-15 foot jump shot with consistency. He also runs the floor well and is able to finish when catching the ball on the wing.

  

Majestic Tejada is a very hardworking guard who always outworked his opponent to get easy garbage points. He has great offensive talent which was clearly seen in his ability to break the defender down off the dribble and knock down the outside shot.

  

7^th grade and lower division

  

Mikey Dixon, a tough point guard from Delaware, has the offensive mindset to get his players involved first. Mikey is a true point guard in that he is able to get into the lane and kick to his open man. He has a good shooting touch and was able to knock down the open jump shot consistently all weekend.

  

Rayle Cortoron, a strong guard who causes match up problems for opponents because of his size and strength. His talent and ability shows why Abyssinian Church is one of the top teams in New York. Rayle is able to control the game and has great passing and court vision to find his teammates. 

  

Trevon Duval, A rising 5^th grader from Delaware showed off his skill by playing with mostly older talent all weekend. Trevon did not back down to anyone and always competed and worked hard. Trevon is a true point guard who did a great job running and leading his team. 

Rakym Felder, a tough strong New York guard who has the ability to take his man off the dribble. Rakym was unselfish as he was not afraid to pass the ball when he got into the lane. He was also a very tough defender.

  

Mahamood Davis, another Abyssinian Church standout was truly one of the hardest working guards in the camp. He is a true competitor who does everything for his team to win. He brought energy and intensity to the offensive and defensive end of the court. Once Mahamood develops a consistent jump shot he is going to be one tough player to stop. 

  

Christopher Middleton, a strong guard from New York who has great ball handling ability for his size. He is able to lead the break and find the open man. Chris also works hard on the defensive end and is able to cause havoc. 

  

Here are some players who showed the Hoop Group Skills Camp Coaching Staff that they were dedicated to getting better and improving their game. These guys worked hard in stations, showed up at optional workouts, and put forth the effort every coach wants their players to have. 

  

Class of 2013 

  

Kevin Veizaj- Staten Island, NY 

Connor Rogers- Monmouth, NJ 

Bright Amoako- NY, NY 

Cliff Bragg- East Stroudsburg, PA 

Jack Eisenberg- Pleasantville, NY 

Garrett Clifton- Matawan, NJ

 

Class of 2014 

  

Nathan Feiertag- Emmaus, PA 

Glenn Sanabria- Staten Island, NY 

Kevin Crockett- Breezy Point, NY 

Ben Miller- Bridgewater, NJ 

Dave Sugarman- Bridgewater, NJ 

TJ Brown- Newark, De 

  

Class of 2015 

  

Jack Bors- Upper Saddle River, NJ 

Zach Radz- Waterhet, NY 

David Galvin- Chalfont, PA 

Seth Stankiewicz- Reading, PA 

George Elghoul- Marlboro, NJ 

Bobby Casey- Scranton, PA 

Alec Hill- Saddle River, NJ 

Seth Stankiewicz- Reading, PA

Class of 2016 

  

Jay Goodson- Cherry Hill, NJ 

Brett Hill- Saddle River, NJ 

John Venturi- Point Pleasant, NJ 

  

Our award winners from the weekend: 

  

8^th and 9^th grade MVP- Sterlin Johnson, extremely athletic wing with a high ceiling. Sterlin displayed great 1 on 1 moves all weekend and showed off his athleticism by throwing a few down on the fast break. He is a solid defender and rebounder and if he continues to work hard he will end up being one of the top players in Delaware in years to come. 

  

8^th and 9^th grade Most Improved Player- Bernard Mokum, works very hard and showed the coaches he wanted to get better. Bernard was always going full speed, always asking questions and had the attitude it takes to get better. He will become an elite player if he continues this great work ethic. 

  

7^th grade and lower MVP- Jaquan Hickman, a big athletic wing from New York who also plays on the dominant Abyssinian Church team. He has the ability to score from all different spots on the court. He is able to blow past bigger defenders and use his strength against smaller defenders. He was a dominant force all weekend. 

  

7^th grade and lower Most Improved Player- Wayne White Jr, a tenacious working kid who really had a knack to get better all weekend. Wayne worked tirelessly in drill sets and games and caught the coaches’ eye. Wayne is definitely a kid to watch out for in the future. 

  

Watching the games and skill development, this truly was a Jr Elite camp as every player showed some reason why they were invited. Most of the camp came out for our optional early bird workout on an early Sunday morning. Our goal at Hoop Group Skills Camp is to make players better on both ends of the court and making this group of high-level younger players realize coaches want guys who don’t take defensive possessions off was a priority. Everyone responded and showed why they are Jr. Elite players. We expect a lot of big things from all the players at camp as they move on to high school. 

Remember, if you missed out on this Jr. Elite Weekend or if you want to show your skill off again, you can’t afford to miss Hoop Group Skills Camp Jr. Elite Weekend II August 21-22. We hope to see you this summer! 

  

To check out our “players to watch” section, please visit http://www.hoopgroup.com/hoopgroup/hg_skills_jrelite.php

The early sign up discount for Hoop Group ELITE has been extended until June 15th. Take advantage now to reserve your spot in the nation’s #1 exposure camp! Over 950 college coaches attended last July and this summer will be even bigger. Hoop Group ELITE also features the best in instruction and competition, and many of the better younger players in the country will come to Hoop Group ELITE to play against the best and to work on their game! Sessions start next weekend (June 20-21) with our Pre Summer Showcases and last until August. 

 Hoop Group ELITE - 4 Days That Can Change Your Life

Hoop Group ELITE’s move to Albright College in Reading, PA has picked up national headlines, including a feature on d3hoops.com. Click the following link to read more:

http://www.d3hoops.com/pressreleases.php?release=3127

The Early Bird sign up rate ends on June 1st, so make sure to register before then to save money and guarantee your spot in the Nation’s #1 Exposure Camp!

I have been getting a lot of questions regarding camp for kids and high school players and what they should do to get ready for the summer months. I believe that players should plan on attending four types of camps. I will try and talk about all four. I will not discuss overnight camps or the college camps! If you have a question regarding those camps simply e-mail me.

 

The local camp- This camp is best suited for the young kid looking to have fun. Many times these camps take on the form of baby sitting. There is some teaching going on but not much. Many of these camps are designed to play games and have contests. They hope to give a kid a good experience while being exposed to basketball for the first time.

 

The High School camp- These camps are very important to anyone who hopes to play for the local high school team. The talent at these camps is not great. But what you must understand is that the high school coach will get to know you. I would also say the political game is in full force at these camps. I advise any kid to attend a week of there local high school camp. Failing to do so could really hurt your chances of developing a relationship with your future coach. Eighth graders I hope you listening!

 

Competitive Camps- These camps are for the serious player. The camp Staff is usually made up of former college coaches and former college players. These camps tend to cost more and the days run longer. These camps will for the most part separate the players by ability. This gives players a gage of how good they are and what they need to work on!  If you can find a camp such as NBS for example, the players range from div 1 to div 3. This gives the players a chance to be challenged every day. These camps are ideal for 7^th and 8^th graders as well. They allow advanced kids to play up and force them to stay on there heels. I have always enjoyed these types of camps for kids trying to get to the next level. They also give young kids a chance to play with other young talented players. Many times kid’s grades 2 through 6 have a hard time finding competition.

 

The exposure camp- These camps are only effective and useful if you understand how they work. Eighth graders should always try to attend these camps. College coaches will always pay attention to players playing up. Most times they will put you on there recruiting list. Many events will not allow 8^th graders. THE ACADEMIC ELITE CAMP DOES NOT ACCEPT 8^TH GRADERS. Yet most showcases will take anyone that is willing to write a check. The high school player has to know what level of player they are (this is where the competitive camps come in handy to tell you how good you are). Here is why I say this. Some events are only for div 2 and 3 colleges. Some events are during the live period yet coaches don’t attend. Here is a rule of thumb. If you are a div 2 or 3 player, attend any showcase you can afford. There will always be a handful of coaches at any of these events. Next if you are a Div 1 player, call the schools you are interested in and simply ask if they are attending the event. Showcases are most times only one or two days. This can cause problems for AAU coaches. Let me give you an example. Let’s say you are a quality student… Yet your team is at a tourney during the day of the ACADEMIC ELITE CAMP. What do you do? Do you stay with your aau team or do you attend the academic elite camp? I say do what is best for you. But remember, be visible to the schools you want to attend someday. Many times doing what is best for you, will upset an aau coach. Remember some aau coaches are more concerned with winning. I hope I answered most your questions! Try and get the most out of camps you attend.

 

 

I have received many e-mails regarding the hoopgroup, academic elite camp. I have no ability to help anyone get into this event. It is strictly based on a student’s academic record. I will check with Mr. Kennedy to see if there are any exceptions to the rule. If you have any question, you can always call the hoopgroup: 732-897-3196 and I’m sure someone there will help you.

 

*My next post will be sent to area college coaches at no charge. It will list the players in the area I believe are Div 1 and Div 2 players.(no eight graders will be included in this list) Any college coach who wishes to receive this list can e-mail me at tiny@hoopgroup.com. If you know of a player you believe I am missing please e-mail me there infomation or a video tape. I will  only watch one tape so please don’t send more than one.

I thought I’d take a little time to write some of my thoughts about the spring and up coming summer. I love this time of year! Coaches and players are dreaming of what may come next season. Rising seniors are hoping to get noticed by a college. Eighth graders are thinking about those first high school workouts. It can be stressful but it’s worth every second. I believe players and coaches need hopes and dreams going into the summer. It’s the fuel that makes everyone work so hard. I remember the excitement when my daughter was getting ready for her first day of high school. We talked so much about trust and how she was so prepared. I also knew that high school sports have a lot of land mines. Trying to avoid all of them is almost impossible. I know many eighth grade kids are trying to make decisions regarding high school, it will not be easy. Education is always first, but I know basketball plays a huge role in their lives. All the studies prove when a girl is playing a sport she will be more confident and have more self esteem.

Kelly Hughes of Pt Boro is an eight grader trying to settle on a high school. She lives in a town that doesn’t have a great basketball tradition. Yet now she has to make a big decision about where to attend high school. Does she stay in her town or does she go play at a school with a higher profile? This will mean traveling every morning and making new friends, all this while trying to play basketball and getting an education. I would not want to be in her shoes. She is flat out the best shooter I have ever seen in a very long time. I didn’t say the best player, I said the best shooter. It is a gift that has been given to her. I wish her and her family the best while making such a big decision. No doubt it will not be easy. Each child has a different road to success. So there is no road map! I say take your time and make the most informative decision you can.

I also feel for the kids looking to transfer to other schools. There are too many reasons to list why kids may want to transfer, each kid and family have there reasons. I have first hand experience when it comes to this. When I made the decision to move my daughter to Rumson Fair Haven, my family went into melt down. It was not easy to leave or choose a school. I decided on Rumson, I did not allow my daughter to have a say in this matter. This upset my entire family and I fully understood why. I also understood this was a big decision and we couldn’t afford a mistake. I asked Rob Kennedy the president of the hoop group, the smartest man and most honest person I have ever met, what schools should I consider. He thought George Sourlis and Rumson could be a good fit for my daughter. I did not know much about George at the time, but I called him. I asked George about the school and what can I expect. The only promise he made about basketball is that she will make friends for life. George made one thing clear. Education is the most important reason to attend Rumson. I knew right there Candice would be attending Rumson. I felt the basketball could take care of itself. I will never forget that conversation. The thing I really admire most about George was when people said he recruited Candice, he never defended himself. He took all the heat for my daughter. He could have very easily explained I reached out to him. Then throw the ball in my house and let me deal with it. I will forever be grateful to him for that. I think you have to be a strong person to do what he did! He became the bad guy for my daughter.

There are strong rumors about two players transferring, Chyna Golden and Michaela Mabrey. They are both special players. First let me tell you a funny story about Chyna. Recently a Div 1 coach was calling me to discuss players in the area, during the conversation he said my top post recruit for 2011 is Chyna Golden, and then he asked me what Chyna was doing these days. My answer was simple “she is standing in front of me listening to our conversation”. We all got a big laugh out of it!(chyna of course did not speak to him due to ncaa rules) I asked Chyna parents about these rumors and her father said this “unless you hear it from the horses mouth don’t believe anything”. Meaning him or his wife… End of story. I also hope Mabrey is listening to Dawn and her parents and not outsiders. Again this is just a rumor, there is no proof she has made a decision to transfer. Changing schools can be tricky at times. My daughter fell into a unique place at the right time. There was luck involved. The kids at RFH like Kara Abbott and Kate Miller made her feel at home and took care of her. Then she had the ultimate coach leading the program. This is not the case everywhere.

There are a few things I want to tell everyone about. First the Academic Elite Camp on July 26 at the Hoop Group Headquarters. Rob Kennedy has shown his true colors by bringing this event to HGH. I had asked Mr. Kennedy to please do this event. If you are a good student who wishes to play at a high end academic college, this event is a must. All the best colleges will be at this event. I urge all quality students to attend. I would like to thank the Hoop Group and Rob Kennedy for doing the right thing. The boys have always had these types of events. Now the girls rightfully so will get there chance. Good luck to those that get accepted and play well.

The NCAA has shut down the April recruiting period for boys. Now they want to do the same for the girls. I believe this would be big mistake. The boys recruiting process is light years ahead of the girls. Many girls will suffer if this happens. The college coaches are complaining that the AAU coaches are controlling the girls while traveling all over the country, telling them where and when to play. This leaves little time for skill development, academics or social activities. I have seem some scary things myself already, players from New Jersey playing with teams from Alabama or Tennessee. Why are teams in New Jersey traveling to tournaments in Chicago? When your roster is full of low and mid major players, it makes no sense at all. Because low and mid major schools tend to recruit kids in their region of the country. My biggest problem with the AAU coaches is that at times they feel their program is more important than the high school. I personally do not think an AAU coach or team should ever take precedent over any high school team. The NCAA will be making a big mistake ending the April recruiting period. Many players will suffer. I say find a way to limit the games and AAU practices during the non- recruiting period. This will mean the kids will have more time to work on skills and the AAU coaches will have less influence on the players. The players need the exposure in order for colleges to see them. Why take this away from the players. It makes no sense. Not all AAU coaches are controlling the kids and disrupting the high school coach or making empty promises. Many are just giving their time and trying to provide an opportunity to kids.

ON THE RECRUITING FRONT:

Danielle Pankey has signed a letter intent with Farleigh Dickinson University. Tom Brennan has done a great job preparing this young lady for the next level. FDU is making the Shore Conference a recruiting playground. They now have Pankey, Strich, and Mayrose on their roster. What happens if they add a post player? Interesting right!

Emily Lawrence’s name seems to pop up any time I speak with a college coach. Her decision to play for the Diamonds out of Neptune was a great decision. The Diamonds will get lots of exposure and she will benefit from this.

Speaking of the Diamonds they won their bracket at the Boo Williams’ tourney and then went on to win the Pat Williams Championship. I heard Sy Davis and Richardson were great.

The Central Jersey Hawks 15u team played up and was the talk of the tourney. They went 2-1 and played in the top 32 bracket for 17u. Their only loss coming to the James River Blaze, who finished 4^th in last year’s 15u nationals. Boo Williams tourney is the best event in April. They run the event perfectly and Boo himself is one the classiest guys out there.

The Sting 17u team won their pool. Hampton is gearing up to have a big summer. Brooke

battled injuries last season but appears to be healthy and ready for a big senior year. All reports say Hampton played sensational.

Michaela Mabrey and KC Hobbie led Demons won the Joe Smith bracket that included the Hawks and the Sting.

The biggest story of the event had to be Chyna Golden’s Philly Triple Threat. They lost in the semi –final of the Silver Division of the super bracket. This is a special bracket made up of only the best teams in the country.

I recently asked a college coach how many Div 1 players she thought where playing in the Shore Conference. I heard the shocking number of 15. People that is amazing!

Last but not least but USATODAY final girls ranking had SJV ranked at #21 and Shabazz at #25…Can someone tell me how Colts Neck is not on this list.

ESPN RISE TOP 50 GIRLS had Shabazz at #22 , SJV #37 and University at #46. I guess Colts Neck didn’t call the right people. All in all New Jersey made a great statement about girls’ basketball this year.

Well I hope everyone is working on their game and is safe. I would like to leave everyone with something Carlene Mitchell the recruiting coordinator from Rutgers told me.

“When I recruit a kid the first thing I want to know is if she is a good person. If you are not a good person you are not going to fit in at Rutgers. That’s more important than any rebound or shot”. I thought that was a great statement. It doesn’t all ways work out that way but I wish more schools thought like that.

I will write a blog when anything interesting pop up. Please send me any interesting news you hear in the basketball

Tiny green can be reached at tiny@hoopgroup.com

HERE’S THE DEAL…As we stated in our last poll, Oak Hill is our 2009 “Deal or No Deal” Champions. They ended the season with an impressive 40-1 record. They beat our final second, third, and fourth place finishers. In the end their undefeated season ended in the championship game of the first ever National High School Invitational Tournament when they fell to Findlay Prep High School from Las Vegas, NV.

            St Patrick rolled to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions title and secured our final number two spot while St Benedict’s held on to get the third spot. Montrose Christian settled in at number four as their only loses were to Oak Hill and Findlay Prep.

            The number five spot was hard to fill. We ended up going with Rice of New York over both Dematha and Gonzaga. Rice followed up their New York City title with the New York State Federation Championship.

            Dematha and Gonzaga was really our first real big dilemma. In the toughest of choices, we when with Dematha as they won the DC Catholic League Championship and beat Gonzaga two out of three times. After the DC Catholic League Championship they fell to St Francis in the Alhambra and is wasn’t easy putting them in front of Gonzaga who went on to win the Alhambra.

            Our other big problem was how to get Pennsylvania in the right order. In the end, and unlike many others, we stayed with Neumann Goretti as the number one team in PA. We know Goretti lost in the 3A state tournament and it cost them several spots in our final poll but their overall body of work was what we based our final decision. They lost their last game to Archbishop Carroll but had already defeated Carroll twice. They also beat Pennwood in their head to head matchup. If all we did was wait to see who won their last game then everyone’s first thirty games would be meaningless. We expect to get plenty of resistance to this move.

            Hats off to Kings Fork, who we slept on, for winning the Virginia State Title and beating Petersburg. All indications are both these teams are very good. Congrats to both Lake Clifton and Springbrook for winning the Maryland State Championships and going undefeated. Also getting back into “the Deal” is Windsor for coming back and winning the Double L Connecticut State title.

And now onto the teams in question…Deal… or No Deal?

 

1	Oak Hill VA	40-1
2	St. Patrick NJ	30-3
3	St. Benedict’s NJ	24-3
4	Montrose Christian MD	22-3
5	Rice NY	25-3
6	Dematha MD	31-4
7	Gonzaga DC	29-5
8	Eastern HS/Lake Clifton MD	28-0
9	St. Frances MD	31-4
10	Christ the King NY	25-4
11	Paterson Catholic NJ	26-5
12	Neuman Goretti PA	26-3
13	Kings Fork VA	31-1
14	Penn Wood PA	28-4
15	Petersburg VA	30-1
16	St. Anthony NJ	24-5
17	Springbrook MD	28-0
18	Imhotep Charter PA	32-1
19	Windsor CT	26-1
20	Jamesville Dewitt NY	27-2
21	Archbishop Carroll PA	27-3
22	Newburgh Free Academy NY	21-5
23	Niagara Falls NY	24-1
24	Pennsbury PA	24-6
25	Mount Vernon NY	21-4
26	Hillhouse CT	23-1
	Close But “No Deal”
	Central Catholic MA	23-2
	Chester PA	24-5
	Bishop McNamara MD	21-12
	Norristown PA	23-6
	Long Island Lutheran NY	19-8
	St John’s Shrewsbury, MA	23-3
	Trinity Catholic CT	24-2
	Peekskill NY	24-2
	Kennedy NY	26-2
	Newark Science NJ	30-2
	Lynn English MA	25-3
	Lincoln NY	22-11
	Brockton MA	22-1