DMV Impresses the Nation with Multiple NYBL All-Star Selections

The All-Star selections for the top middle school league in country; the NYBL was announced today and the DMV again has a heavy contingent of players in this year All-Star festivities.  Below is a list of all players selected and their associated game and team; congratulations to each players for their selection and phenomenal performances this year.  Each selection is well deserved and each player has done his family as well as the area proud!

Class of 2021

NYBL NATION GAME

Trevor Keels – Team Takeover

Jalen Hall – New World

Christian Winborne – Bmore’s Finest

TOP 20 GAME

Trevor Keels – Team Takeover

Jalen Hall – New World

Chris Winborne – Bmore’s Finest

Rodney Rice – Team Takeover

Brayon Freeman – New World

Kino Lilly – Team Takeover

Elijah Hawkins – New World

TOP 40 GAME

AJ Thomas – Team Melo

Julian Ellerby – New World

Quadir Pettaway – New World

EJ Speight  - Team Takeover

Ahmad Harrison – Bmore’s Finest

Jake Koverman – Team Melo

Malik Missouri – Bmore’s Finest

Delvin Johnson – Team Melo

Damieko Ross Jr. – Team Melo

Honorable Mention  

Trey Thomas – Team Takeover

Jalen Miller – Maryland Playmakers

Jalen Bryant – Bmore’s Finest

Class of 2020

NYBL NATION GAME

Cameron Byers – Team Melo

AJ Hoggard – Team Melo

Zion Harmon – Oakland Soldiers

Jordan Toles – Team Melo

TOP 20 GAME

Cameron Byers – Team Melo

Demon Clowney – Team IZOD

AJ Hoggard – Team Melo

Zion Harmon – Oakland Soldiers

Jeremy Roach – Team Melo

Jordan Toles – Team Melo

TOP 40 GAME

Tyler Brelsford – Team Melo

Chuck Harris – 023 Feet

Ishmael Leggett – Team Takeover

Honorable Mention

Josiah Freeman – 023 Feet

Austin Allison – Team IZOD

Class of 2019

NYBL NATION GAME

James Bishop – Bmore’s Finest

Mikhel Mitchell – DC Premier

Marvin Price – DC Premier

TOP 20 GAME

Mikhel Mitchell – DC Premier

James Bishop – Bmore’s Finest

Marvin Price – DC Premier

Jay Heath – New World

TOP 40 GAME

Che Evans – Team Melo

Karim Couliby – New World

Cole Mathieson – Maryland Playermakers

Honorable Mention

Malik Anderson – New World

Gerard Mungo – Bmore’s Finest

Logan Curtis – Bmore’s Finest

COACHES

*Bill Francis – Team Melo

John Perry – DC Premier

*Ray Hawkins – New World

Mookie Dobbins – Bmore’s Finest

Fred Standback – Team Takeover

*Will Coach in NYBL vs Nation Game Also 

 ONLY THE BEST PLAY HERE - WHERE WILL YOU BE (CLICK BELOW)

 

Team Melo’s Magnificent Championship Run Comes Just Short – Still Brings Home Hardware to the DMV

"....I saw something special from this group this weekend and that was that they didn’t want to let each other down" Said Coach Francis

BY: CONTRIBUTING ONSITE REPORTER

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The 2020 Team Melo / Terror Squad had a riveting weekend competing in the NYBL National Championship – showing why they have long been considered one of the top teams in the nation.

Arriving to Ohio the talented bunch had claimed the title in every single tournament or league that they entered in the 2014/2015 season, except for one which was lost on a last second buzzer beater.  Confident and poised the group realized this would be one of its biggest challenges on the season.

Prior to game one the players made a commitment to play each possession and every game for each other, to go beyond the framework of team and to operate as a family.  The results were devastating to the competition as they opened play with a dominating performance in the round of 28 to advance to the Sweet 16.

In the Sweet 16, Melo was pitted against Canada Drive who upset the favorite Team Felton by double figures in the previous round.  The Canadian upstarts came in on a high but any hope of victory was quickly put to rest as Team Melo continued to click on all cylinders in route to a 23-point drubbing.   

In each of the first two games Melo looked to be peaking at the right time; after a 72-5 start to the season this is saying a lot about the focus and determination of the team.  A team who through the first two games boasted 6 to 7 players in doubles figures in each of the contest.  With a roster of many of the nation’s top players – playing in this manner made them exceptionally hard to contain let along stop.

 As the evening’s Elite 8 game drew closer; the intensity could be felt in the air as Team IZOD/Sports U prepared to face Team Melo with a chance to advance to the final four on the line.  IZOD jumped out to a 17-12 lead behind the shooting of Qudiar Manari and Richie Greavis; but Melo weathered the storm taking a 4-point lead into the half.  After the half the lead ranged from 6 to 10 for Melo as they controlled the pace of the game until IZOD made one last at the start of the 4^th to cut the lead to 3-points 44-41.  Melo’s clutch gene kicked in leading to a 6-0 run and ultimately control of the game as they waltzed into the Final 4 behind their 58-47 victory over IZOD.

Waiting for the Melo squad in the Final 4 was the defending NYBL Champion and national top 5 team West Coast Stars led by top ranked 6’8 Jason Harris.  In what could possibly be labeled as the game of the weekend the two Goliaths battled from tip to buzzer.  Melo put on a shooting display throughout the game that allowed them to answer any run put on by WCAC going 8-14 from 3-point range and shooting 16-21 from the charity stripe.  Again everyone contributed to the win both offensively and defensively where Melo used a collapsing defense to keep Harris off balance.   

Down the stretch Melo maintained a 3 to 5 point lead with WCA cutting the lead to 64-61 with 16.6 remaining on the clock. Melo who looked to be attempting to foul intentionally to avoid the 3-point attempt caused a turnover with under a second remaining in the game, went to the line knocked down a FT and the rest was academic – putting Melo into the long awaited Championship game against their fellow NIKE brothers from the west coast; the reigning AAU National Champions Oakland Soldiers.

Team Melo receives instruction in route to 2nd place finish in Columbus, OH

In the Championship game it opened with each team throwing round houses with mini-runs of their own ending the first quarter tied 17-17.  The slugfest continued as each possession was contested and the players became testy with each other.  Soldiers looked to be in trouble as both superstars Kyree Walker and Shemar Marrow battled foul trouble.  Melo who entered the bonus early in the 2^nd quarter wasn’t able to take full advantage and enter the half down 33-30.  

Coming out of half Melo knocked down a 3-pointer from the leftwing to tie it up 33-33; but immediately went ice cold and sustained a 9-0 run putting them down 42-33 a deficit they were not able to recovery from as they entered the 4^th down 12.  The Solders spread the floor and knocked down their FT’s to secure the win – leaving the DMV’s own Terror Squad who represented the area and Team Melo to fullest finishing second in the most competitive league in the country.

Melo’s Headman, Coach Francis stated; “the team showed confidence and believed in each other all weekend long – they trusted me and were coachable, when this group plays and operates like that there's never been a moment where I’ve doubted them. I saw something special from this group this weekend and that was that they didn’t want to let each other down; it wasn’t about points, minutes, highlights - nothing.. it was about winning at the end of the day we played perfect basketball for 18.5 of 20 quarters, I couldn’t be any prouder of these young men.

Melo’s NYBL Championship Runner-Up Roster

Jordan Toles
Cameron Byers
AJ Hoggard
Tyler Brelsford
Montez McNeil
Jeremy Roach
Ryan Conway
Jenkins Dormu
Justin Graham* (injured) 
Corey Barns* (injured)

DMV Preps - NYBL Session II (2020) Weekend Update

023 Feet (5-5)

This talented group out of the Northern Va. plays the game the right way; and consequently they are in every game that they compete in.  Seeing their growth and development since the beginning of the year has been magical – the teamwork and comradery make this group special.  After a 3-2 start in the Session I; again a weekend filled with barn burners – 023 Feet arrived in Richmond to take on the meat of their league schedule.  Again the group performed admirable; beating the Brampton Warriors 67-55 and then followed that up with a 49-47 win over Canada Drive out of Burlington, Canada – Isaiah Folks was responsible for knocking down the game winning trey ball with seconds left proving the old adage of big time players make big time shots in big time game.

After a 2-0 start 023 Feet ran into some very tough competition but played them all well and close – often holding leads late into the second half; but fell to the West Coast All Stars, San Diego Select, & Oakland Soldiers.  

Josiah Hardy

Josiah Hardy is quietly becoming a very efficient and versatile combo-forward; possessing excellent length and underrated athletic ability.  He guarded some of the top players in the county this past weekend and he often got the best of them – blocking shots and finishing on the other end.  Hardy utilizes the mid-range area effectively and is exceptional at doing so; he never gives up on a play and is one of the headiest high IQ players that you will find.  

Chuck Harris

Check Harris continues to get the job done and caused opponents problems in space as he attacked from all 3 levels as well as working often as the squads primary ball-handler.Harris showed a very mature game as well as the ability to make significant contributions within the context of the offense.  Much more than a scorer Harris still takes over the game in this capacity for his team ~ but his leadership may be just as powerful to the team as he does anything he can to help his team win.  Isiah Folks handle the ball-well and was under constant pressure; but handled it well running the team and keeping them close.  

023 Feet must continue to be watched; as they have the talent and ability to beat any team on any given day.  Expect a deep play-off run and a solid Session III from the special group. 

Team Melo “Terror Squad” (9-1)

Terror Squad returns to the DMV after a 4-1 weekend and sit one game out of first place at 9-1 after losing game one of the weekend 64-58 after shooting a miserable 12 for 26 from the charity stripe.  In the bigtime match-up against the West Coast Stars the Cameron Byers v Jason Harris match-up was impressive and lived up to the hype as the Melo bigman showed why he is quickly becoming one of the top front court players in the country.  His improved face-up game and the teams understanding of the value of a certified interior threat has allowed him to show well all weekend long.  His blockmate Montez McNeil battled foul trouble against WCA but put on show the remainder of the weekend has he displayed a soft touch from the baseline, performed admirably in transition, and defended with passion.  Now a formidable two way performer McNeil’s continued growth is key to the team’s success – he dominated for stretches on the boards and changed a ton of shots, consistency is the key word for the McNeil equation. 

Jeremy Roach                                                      Montez McNeil

Tyler Brelsford had back to back 10-point outings and played a solid floor game before going to an ankle injury which kept him out of the last 3 games of the weekend.  Stepping in with flair; Jeremy Roach was productive and put up some very impressive point totals – one of the most efficient offensive players in the class he didn’t need volume as he picked and made the most of his opportunities.   Playing a significant amount of lead guard he proved his value and versatility setting up all his guys in great scoring position.  Roach has a very high IQ which allows him to put constant pressure on the defense when the ball is in his hand.  Ryan Conway the consummate knockdown shooter did that and more playing some great on the ball defense, impacting with some bigtime finishes in the paint – but wow the crowed with his passing as he dropped some very impressive dimes off penetration and run outs as he must be honored anywhere on the court.

A.J. Hoggard

AJ Hoggard continued to put up big scoring numbers; adding versatility to game by taking smaller guards to the block and punishing them – the mastery of this aspect clearly will take his game to another level.  When he’s dishing the rock his scoring actually become harder to stop as he has taken on the 21^st century PG role ~ when he incorporates a little Stockton & Magic into his game you very well could be looking at the best of the best at his position.  Jordan Toles continued to add to his highlight reel, but doing it in a much different manner actually showing some impressive consistency in performing at a high level at different speeds.  Toles picked his spots and shot an even great percentage as he looked to set up his teammates – with the attention he drew it led to a lot of easier buckets; while at the same time Jordan become harder to guard as he dropped buckets at the tin while owning the mid-range area.  Considered  by many to be one of the best in the class – Toles has the wherewithal to be the country’s best perimeter defender, this could be the difference in a championship run for Team Melo.