Spring Fling: Championship Day
Recent Fordham commit Jio Fontan leads Playaz to title
April 2, 2007
By Pat Stevens
CSTV.com
Make it back-to-back Spring Fling titles for the Playaz, the hosts of the New York/New Jersey area's AAU season tip off.
Fordham commit Jio Fontan was named MVP for his efforts running the team at the point guard spot over the weekend. He scored 10 points and had support from Jarrett Mann's 15 points and Kenny Faried's game of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Mann lists Stanford, Virginia,
The Metro Hawks were led in the finals loss by Samardo Samuels' 22 points (14 second half) and 14 rebounds, while Sylvan Landesberg went for 18 points.
17-U Championship
Playaz 69, Metro Hawks 63
Semifinals
Playaz 51, Triple Threat 50 (OT)
Metro Hawks 65, Gauchos 51
Top 2008 power forward Samardo Samuels was saddled with foul trouble in the first half, picking up two early and his third just before the half. It took him away some from continuing as the most dominant player in the tournament. Landesberg also struggled to get going in the first half as both he and Samuels had big games earlier in the morning against the Gauchos, with 22 and 28 respectively in a 65-51 win.
Instead, it was the Playaz who attacked the rim on both ends, off the dribble and on the boards. Fontan kept the defense honest with his attacking and Faried was the energy inside, challenging Samuels and taking charges from the horse on the defensive end.
The second half began with Metro getting back within five points, with Landesberg starting to shake free. The Playaz would re-take control midway through the half with Mann going to the rim and getting himself to the line on several occasions. In crunch time, Metro came back from down 10 with three minutes remaining to cut it to two. When Samuels had a chance to tie the game with just over a minute remaining, Faried made a huge play coming weak side for a block that drew a tie-up call and gave the ball to the Playaz. He proceeded to make two free throws and capped off a very productive weekend on the floor.
The usual suspects got theirs, but the Technology High (N.J.) forward was a nice surprise and ended the Spring Fling with a mark made.
The Playaz came together and got it done without star guard and teammate of Fontan at St. Anthony's (N.J.), Mike Rosario.
He's wearing a boot on his foot after injuring it a couple weeks back and should be back on the floor in two to three weeks. Rutgers,
Fontan scored 17 points and Faried had nine in the semi-final victory over Triple Threat. The game went to overtime and Fontan hit a game-winning three-pointer to send the Playaz into the championship.
Kevon Moore had 15 points in the loss and 2008
16-U Championship
DC Assault 67,
2009 guard Rodney McGruder of Archbishop Carroll (D.C.) scored 29 points to lead all scorers. All the locals are on this young, composed wing and he's already got interest from outside the area with schools like Pittsburgh, Clemson, Seton Hall and UConn.
Daryl Trayham came up with 17 points and six steals and 6-foot-8 Wally Judge chipped in with seven points and 10 rebounds.
Quick Hits
The Playaz do it again, they won it last year with pro JR Smith's younger brother Chris getting MVP honors and Syracuse-bound duo Antonio Jardine and Ricky Jackson adding the punch...
It was a DC Assault flashback with Rodney McGluster doing what Nolan Smith did two years ago at another Playaz hosted event at Seton Hall. The '07 Duke recruit and McDonald's All-American was starting to come into his own when he led the team to 16-U Championship win then. The similar in size McGluster made it feel like yesterday when he was coasting in for some rim-swinging dunks today. He's going to be tough...
The Juice All Stars' top dog Lance Stephenson, the top overall prospect in the area and 2009 national top of the chart kid, was actually in
The live period opens up next weekend with Real Deal on the Hill in
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