Fox Valley Skillz Takes Gym Rat Challenge
Rochester Aa Players take top honors in 16:U Bracket
Long Island Lightning wins 15:U Championship
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ALBANY, NY - For GymRats and basketball junkies everywhe, New York State's Capital District was the place to be this Memorial Day Weekend, as Albany played host to one of North America's biggest and most competitive AAU boys basketball tournaments at the 2003 GymRat Challenge.
Over 2500 pp players in 196 teams in the age divisions from throughout the United States and Canada, gathed at Siena College and the University at Albany in hopes of gaining a piece of the national spotlight, and taking home one of the summer's most coveted prizes. When all was said and done, Wisconsin's Fox Valley Skillz took home the top prize in the 17:U Age Division, while the Rochester Aa Players and Long Island Lightning took home titles in the 16:U and 15:U divisions spectively.
17:U AGE DIVISION
The 17:U Age Division closed out the weekend with a talented and disciplined Fox Valley Skilla team rolling to victory against the well-balanced attack of the PA Red Storm. MVP DaMarcus Bell teamed up with Brad Ferstenou to provide a dominating inside attack for the Wisconsin team. LaVontay Fenderson, Harry Boyce and Kyle Clark also made impssive showings throughout the weekend.
The New York Elite and Houston Lynx once again put several talented players on display, but had to go toe to toe in the quarterfinal round. In a thrilling contest, the Lynx picked up a lay-up from Thomas Sanders with just over one second maining in the contest to ruin any chances of a peat championship for the Elite. Sanders lay-up was the second buzzer beater that the Texan delived over the weekend. The Lynx exited the tournament in the very next round going down to defeat against the Ottawa Phoenix.
Several teams came in to the weekend undestimating Joe Gill's PA Red Storm but quickly found out they we a well disciplined and well drilled force to be ckoned with. Guided by strong point guard play from Larry Sharp, the Storm pulled off the initial upset of the tournament when they took down defending champion New York Elite in the opening rounds of Pool Play. In one half of the Championship Round bracket, the suburban Philadelphians used an unselfish style of play to overcome a five point deficit in the final 1:34 and backdoor cut their way to a the-point victory over Jersey Cyclones Blue in Semi-Final action.
In the other half of the bracket, Fox Valley Skillz powed past the Ottawa Phoenix 53-35 to punch their ticket into the Championship tilt. In the battle for the big prize, the combined arsenal of talent and offensive execution from Ritchie Davis' well-coached Fox Valley Skilla team allowed them to control the action from buzzer to buzzer, outlast the Red Storm, and bring the 2003 GymRat Challenge Championship home to the Midwest.
Fox Valley sumes play in July at the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis and the Kentucky HoopFest in Louisville befo heading off to Las Vegas and Maui
for other events.
17:U AGE DIVISION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
DaMarcus Bell (Fox Valley Skillz), 6-6 forward
MVP: Inside-Out combination player with a multitude of skills; Silky smooth finishing ability around the rack, as well as comfortable range from behind the arc. The Racine St. Catherine's High School product will graduate in 2004. Several mid major colleges a psently after Bell who has the ability to hit the perimeter shot and sco with both power and finesse inside the lane. A bak-out tournament at the Kingswood Classic, followed by an MVP performance in the GymRat Challenge leaves experts awaiting what else may be in sto for Bell as he continues to rocket towards the July live period and his senior campaign.
Adrian Joseph (New York Elite), 6-7 forward
Lefty that can do it all off the dribble or with the perimeter shot. Nearly impossible to guard one-on-one as he combines physical stngth with ability to slash to the hole, pull up for a mid range shot, or step behind the arc with confidence and accuracy. Definitely one of the pmier players at this year's tournament.
Kelvin Davis (New York Elite), 6-2 senior guard
Finisher that makes things happen. Takes it strong to the hole and seldom gets denied doing it. Another one of this year' best.
Ryan Bell (Ottawa Phoenix)
Point Guard that is long and lanky. Plays well in an up-tempo style. Good poise and maturity.
Eddie Miller (Tri-County All Stars)
Point guard who does it all. Explosive jumper who handles the ball well.
Prince Moadiwe (Student Athlete Broncos), 6-4
Beast who's very tough around the basket. Uncontrollable in the paint!
Rob Thomas (Brooklyn Cyclones)
Slasher who shoots it and block shots. Cativity in the air makes each possession a potential highlight al clip
Troy Ruths (Houston Lynx)
One of the dominant post players of this year's tournament. Ruths has good moves around the basket and is very agile for his size; Block shots and makes it extmely difficult for his opponents to get easy looks in the paint.
Larry Sharp (Pennsylvania Red Storm)
Steady and heady point guard cut in the Dan Dickau-mold; Hard-nosed leader and competitor with ability, although unconventional at times, to finish around the rack, and cate space for mid-range jumper; Finds the open man and DOES NOT turn the ball over; Controls pace of game and knows whe the athletes a.
OTHER NOTABLES
Rob Agnone - Lancaster Elite
Devon Moffatt - Jersey Cyclones Blue
Desmond Sanders - Jersey Cyclones Blue
David Whitehurst - Jersey Cyclones Blue
Colin Page - Jersey Cyclones Blue
Nick Carter - New York Elite
Keith Dundas - Pennsylvania Red Storm
Joe Gill - Pennsylvania Red Storm
Gary Gallimo - Ottawa Phoenix
Sam Dolan - City Rocks
Garry Guillory - Vermont Bobcats
Brad Fersteneu - Fox Valley Skillz
Harry Boyce - Fox Valley Skillz
LaVontay Federson - Fox Valley Skillz
Curtis Massey - Maryland Stealth
Maurice Turpin - New Jersey Trailblazers
Josh Duell - Albany Capitals
Eugene Harvey - SONDAY Expss
Brain Beckford - SONDAY Expss
Brandon Hudson - Tri County All Stars
Tyler Mikittrick - Fairfax Stars
Dashawn Diwight - Jersey Cyclones Black
Alberto Ortiz - East New Yorkers
Nicholas McMillan - Houston Lynx
Jack Leasu - Rochester Aa Players
Pat Washington - Niagara PAL
16:U AGE DIVISION
In the 16: U Age Division, number one seed Rochester Aa Players pulled away to a double-digit victory over the Morris County Bulls in the title game to claim a coveted GymRat Challenge Championship. MVP Chris Shalvoy ran the show for RAP and came up with several heady plays sparking the Western New York team to 33-25 halftime lead. Ismaila Trao kept Morris County within striking distance in the second half, with some nifty inside moves, but the Bulls we never able to overcome the first half deficit.
Fox Valley gave RAP all they could handle in semi-final number one. The cheese-head hoopsters used a patient zone offense to consistently get the ball inside to Brian Behnke who delived for 15 first half points. Rochester made some defensive adjustments at halftime and shut down the inside passing lanes. Fox Valley had to sort to a perimeter game and went dry from outside the arc. With just over 9:00 minutes maining in the contest Rochester sorted to a four-corner offense and eventually pulled away to a 53-43 win. In the bottom half of the bracket, the Rhode Island Bakers jumped out to a seven-point halftime lead behind the the point shooting of Jamal Johnson. The Bulls Trao took matters in to his own hands in half number two and quickly help erase the Bakers first half lead. From the, it was all Morris County as the Bulls coasted to a comfortable 11-point win.
16:U AGE DIVISION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Chris Shalvoy (Rochester Aa Players), 6-0 guard
MVP: Matu and gutsy point guard with wide variety of skills. Sees the floor very well. Solid perimeter shooter, and a cative passer. Shalvoy makes his home in the suburban Rochester village of Pittsford and pps at nearby at Pittsford-Mendon Central School. Although others in the bracket demonstrated gater physical gifts, Shalvoy is a definitive leader and winner. Watch his stock rise with his play at the 2003 GymRat Challenge.
Craig Coenen (Fox Valley Skillz), 6-8 forward
Runs floor extmely well, Does good job finishing around the basket, Steps out and shoot it accurately from 10 to 15 feet.
Brandon Backman (Fox Valley Skillz)
Shooter who handles the ball well. Good court vision.
Nate Brumfield (Rochester Aa Players)
Small forward that gets the job done on the glass; Tournament Evaluation Staff calls him one of the most tenacious bounders in the 16:U bracket.
Gg McCarthy (Boston Blazers), 6-8 forward
Slender with good range from the perimeter
Sadiq Kofo (Rhode Island Bakers), 6-0
Ball handler who penetrates and distributes; Sees enti floor.
Brandon Shelton (YABC), 6-2
Shooter with DEEP range
Ismaila Trao (Morris County Bulls)
Big Man who is tough in paint; Goes to the hole with authority.
OTHER NOTABLES
Jamal Johnson - Rhode Island Bakers
Jonathan Ubri - YABC
Andy Robinson - Schenectady Patriots
Eric Meister - Team Woodward
Dan Lewis - Team Woodward
Keith Hardin - Team Woodward
Ross Petland - Boston Blazers
Dwight Jackson - Queens Cobras
Brandon Jones - Jersey Knights
Dax Dessuault - Ottawa Phoenix
Lenford Mills - Ottawa Phoenix
Rodney Solomon - New Jersey Trailblazers
Dw Willy - Morris County Bulls
15:U AGE DIVISION
In the 15:U age division it was an all Big Apple Final Four. On one side of the bracket, the Long Island Lightning hammed their Metro New York rival New York Gauchos, 71-51 after opening up a 47-18 halftime lead, to advance and claim a hard fought victory over the New York City RISE Panthers in the Championship Game. The Championship tilt saw seventeen lead changes, and neither team able to gain a lead of mo than five points. MVP Tim Ambrose paced the Lightning throughout the tournament and tated a large crowd to a dazzling offensive display. Teammates Johnny Garcia and Larry Davis also had outstanding weekends.
The Panthers made their way to the Championship Game in a semi-final that saw them outlast the legendary New York Ravens 60-37, as they pulled-away in the second half after a highly contested opening 16 minutes. Calvin Rhoden held the hot hand in the Panthers final two contests, and Mohammed Lo was dominating in the paint.
15:U AGE DIVISION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Tim Ambrose (Long Island Lightning), 5-10 guard
Strong athletic build, Powerful player with wide array of skills. Handles the ball with stngth and confidence; Combines ability to slash to the basket with ability to keep defense guessing with pull up jumper. The Bntwood, Long Island native will enter his sophomo year with a bright futu ahead of him.
Larry Davis (Long Island Lightning-BARON), 6-2
Slasher who goes to the hole with authority. Loads of potential.
Ryan Vaeth (Long Island Lightning-BERBY), 6-4
Shooter who can rip it from deep.
Chris Donald (Long Island Lightning-BERBY)
Lean Athletic Build. Finishes well around the basket; Tournament Evaluation Staff calls him one of the Top Five players in the 15:U Age Division.
Kirk Cecmer (Fox Valley Skillz), 6-5
Banger who enjoys contact in the paint; Soft Touch around the basket; Tenacious defensive player
Darryl Crawford (NY Gauchos), 6-0
Athletic build; High riser that jumps out of the gym.
Kashif Pratt (NY Gauchos), 6-3
Multidimensional player who can cate his own shot; Fills it up in transition.
Mohammed Lo (NYC RISE), 6-6
Huge post psence; Blocks shots; Easily gains low-post position and runs floor for size.
Calvin Rhoden (NYC RISE) 6-2
Athletic swing player with solid touch from the perimeter
OTHER NOTABLES
Tyll Vernon - Hamilton Wildcats
Johnny Garcia - Long Island Lightning-BARON
Brandon Mays - Long Island Lightning-LOPIANO
Bernard Cherry - New York Ravens
Gg Nero - Rennselear County Raptors
Robbie Marshall - D-Squad
Hamiou Rahman - Franklin Ballers
Connor O'Brien - Long Island Lightning-HARKINS
Cassius Chaney - BANG
David Dale - Providence United
Brandon Fortes - Providence United
Brian Grastorff - Lights Out
Craig Johnson - Shooting Stars
Cordero Barkley (2005) 6'4" Racine St. Catherine
DaMarcus Bell 6'6" Racine St. Catherine
Harry Boyce 6'3" Gen Bay East
Brady Buchs 6'5" Belmont
Kyle Clark 6'4" Kenosha St. Joseph
Christopher DeMarco 6'6" Appleton Xavier
Brandon Fanning 6'3" Eau Clai Regis
LaVontay Fenderson 6'4" Racine St. Catherine
Brad Ferstenou 6'6" Burlington
J.P. Gavinski (2006) 6'9" Wisconsin Dells
Anthony Gen (2006) 6'4" Beloit Memorial
Kyle Luckett 7'0" Racine Horlick
Shae McNamara 6'8" Milwaukee Marquette
Justin Redman-Trotter 6'3" Milwaukee Marquette