April 22, 2007

By Van Coleman

CSTV.com & Hoopmasters.com

The Kingwood Classic moves into its championship day run with the playoffs set.

Meanstreets, Pump N' Run Elite, King of the Court, Atlanta Celtics Black, Indiana Elite, TMAC All-Stars, and Lamar Odom I-Can All-Stars are the leading contenders for the crown this weekend at the Kingwood Classic.  They all head into today's stretch run with the ability to win it all.  Unfortunately, Indiana Elite and the Atlanta Celtics meet in the Sweet 16, while the rest of the favorites face stiff, but not quite as formidable opposition.

A couple of the pre-tournament favorites like the Southern Cal All-Stars, Athlete's First and the Louisiana Select lost in the early rounds last night.  Those losses eliminated some of the tournament's top individual talent as Brandon Jennings (So Cal), Xavier Henry (Athlete's First), and Greg Monroe (Louisiana Select) were all sent packing last night with losses in the round of thirty-two.  But, still there is a lot of talent left to entertain the coaches, scouts, and fans at the Kingwood Classic.

We thought it would be something different to take a look at the teams in the "Sweet 16" and who have been some of the keys to their survival in Houston...

Meanstreets (IL) - The runner-up at Boo Williams is one tough group of Midwestern kids headed by 6-foot 6 wing man Matthew Humphrey who has been stellar in both games we watched.  He gets solid support from 6-foot 1 point Kevin Dillard, plus big men 6-foot 8 Josh Crittle and 6-foot 9 Michael Dunigan.  They have balanced game that could take them to finals.

Texas Blue Chips (TX) - Mitch Malone's squad has had good balance headed by 6-foot 1 combo guard Jeremy Johnson an explosive scorer with knack for making big play.  He got solid support from prep school guard Ronnie Moss, 6-foot 7 wing Eric Frederick, and 6-foot 9 post Brandon Moore when we had a chance to watch them last night.

Howard Pulley (MN) - The Pulley squad is led by 5-foot 8 prep school point Angelo Johnson, an explosive scoring point who showed he can get the rock to big men off the dribble.  He gets solid support from 6-foot 2 backcourt mate Jordan Taylor, plus big men 6-foot 10 Jared Berggren and 6-foot 8 Royce White.

Team Stat (FL) - We just caught a couple minutes of this squad at the end of their opening round win last night.  They are very quick and athletic.  They overcome their lack of size with a relentless attack on the glass and will "D" you up for 94-feet.  I didn't get a good feel for their top players, but they seemed to play as a well oiled unit!

Branch West-Reebok (CA) - Bob Gottlieb's squad has a deep base of seniors that give them depth and experience.  We will see them for the first time this morning once we head back to the gym.  They are a very disciplined squad that won't beat themselves - that's the mark of Branch West Academy.

King of the Court (OH) - The LeBron James sponsored club is led by the future Michigan State duo of 6-foot 8 Delvon Roe and 6-foot 3 Anthony Crater.  They are the nucleus of this team's success along with 6-foot 11 junior big man Kenny Frease who patrols the paint for the Court!

Team Texas (TX) - Wes Grandstaff's squad is lead by potential top ten junior, 6-foot 3 Willie Warren who has been lighting it up all weekend.  He gets lots of help from 6-foot 1 combo scorer Rotnei Clark and 6-foot 9 Damey Steptoe who have been stellar as well in the two match-ups we observed.

Pump N' Run Elite (CA) - The champions of the Real Deal on the Hill have found the going tougher in Houston, but have survived behind the leadership of Jrue Holiday, Larry Drew, and Jerime Anderson.  Plus the relentless inside play of 6-foot 7 Reaves Nelson has had the coaches buzzing all weekend!

Atlanta Celtics Black (GA) - The Celtics are huge inside, and feature a trio of supers in 6-foot 9 bookends Derrick Favors, Howard Thompkins, and Chris Singleton.  They have been a dominating force in Houston.  They have gotten solid point play so far out of 5-foot 10 Andre Cornelius, he has been a key to their run so far at the Kingwood Classic.

Indiana Elite (IN) - The Elite can match-up with Atlanta inside with their bigs, 7-foot Tyler Zeller, 6-foot 10 Beas Hamga, and jumping jack forward 6-foot 7 Emmanuel Negedu.  They have been steady all weekend, but the real key to their success may be the shooting of 6-foot 3 Matt Roth and the ballhandling of 5-foot 9 Lewis Jackson.  They have tools to win it all, but do they have the consistency?

Georgia Elite (GA) - The Elite are in the hunt due to the inside-out play of 6-foot 4 Jerel Stephenson (outside) and the steady production of 6-foot 8 bookends Toby Veal and Laron Dendy (inside), plus a solid group of athletes that gives them depth to compete with best in Houston.

Lamar Odom I-Can All-Stars (CA) - This Lamar Odom sponsored squad has been riding the backs of 6-foot 7 Jordan Hamilton and 6-foot 5 Larry Anderson this weekend, as both have been in the twenty point range in every outing.  But it may come down to how well the supporting cast plays today, as to whether they can make some noise on the final day.

TMAC All-Stars (TX) - This Tracy McGrady sponsored squad has depth and star power.  They are led by 6-foot 3 combo guard J'Covan Brown, who teams with 5-foot 10 Jamaal Fenton to form a deep backcourt, while upfront 6-foot 10 Anthony Jones, 6-foot 9 Steve Tchiengang, and 6-foot 9 Will Brown give them a frontline that can take on the best here.  They have tools to win it all, so stay tuned for their run today!

Alabama Challenge (AL) - The Challenge has been led by the stellar play of 6-foot JaMychael Green who has put up some big numbers, along with the solid leadership of 6-foot 3 point guard Andrew Steele.  Add in a very deep and athletic squad and you know they are a threat to make a run today.

Smyrna Stars (GA) - We haven't gotten the chance to see them in Houston as they have been in exile much of the tournament playing outside the Westfield area.  We saw them in Arkansas, and they have a solid balance between size and quickness that allows them to match-up with best here athletically and physically.  Don't be surprised if they make a run this morning.

Georgia Blazers (GA) - We only caught a quick glimpse of them at the end of a blowout game yesterday, but with 6-foot 8 Brandon Gibson patrolling the paint and a bevy of quick backcourt talent, they can match-up and play with best here. 5-foot-9 Andre Young pushes it and just goes and goes and goes. 

We will continue to bring coverage of the Championship Day from the Kingwood Classic, with a wrap up of the 17 & 16-Under divisions, as well as some of the top prospects in Houston, right here at "Generation Next".