2010 Hoopville Elite 8 – Friday Notes

BOSTON – The first day of the Hoopville Elite 8 got things started with seven games, and there was plenty to talk about with them. Some of the highlights:

• The best game of the evening in the high school age divisions was unquestionably an early 16-under matchup of All For One and Bomb Squad. It was another meeting between two programs full of Boston kids that have had a pretty good rivalry in recent years, meeting several times in state and regional AAU competition, and it lived up to the billing. The game was close throughout, and still tied at 40 late before All For One scored the last four points for a 44-40 win. Talented guard Kenny Reed (So. SG, Roxbury (MA) Reading HS) led the winners with 14 points.

• In the 14-under division, the Brockton Mavericks gave Expressions Elite a ballgame for a while, but Expressions broke the game open in the second half to take home an early win.
• The Expressions Elite 15-under team won their opener over MYCW. One thing is for certain about point guard Kaleb Joseph (6’1″ Fr. PG, Nashua (NH) South HS): he will never be considered a ball hog, as he’s almost unselfish to a fault. At times he passed up shots he should have finished, but that’s a pleasant problem to have in addition to the physical gifts he has.
• BABC won both of their games, with the 16-under team coasting over the Greater Boston Lions thanks largely to playing their game and great teamwork. It’s clear that this team’s experience playing together, especially playing up in the Nike EYBL, is a big reason for their success thus far. They don’t lack talent, but they’re not loaded, either.
• Blackstone Valley Chaos gave BABC a good game at the end of the night in the 15-under division. BABC broke the game open when they scored 13 unanswered points in the first half to go up 38-19, but Blackstone Valley rallied behind several three-pointers, including a few from Mark DeVries (Fr. SG, Uxbridge (MA) High), who has a reputation for being able to hit the outside shot. They eventually got within single digits a couple of times before BABC pulled away late.
• Colin Richey (Fr. PG, Whitinsville (MA) Christian School) had a solid 18-point outing against BABC and showed why he’s a player to watch, as he’s very comfortable using his left (off) hand and finds ways to score using his good basketball I.Q. The biggest thing he lacks is strength, and he’s working on that while part of it is that his body just needs to mature naturally. When that’s the biggest knock on a player, he’s clearly a talent.

Coming up on Saturday is a full day of action, starting with games featuring two junior high age groups at 8:30 in the morning. Once the afternoon arrives, the high school kids take over, including the 17-under teams as they start play a little past noon and culminate with second and third place games at the end of the day.