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GBOA East Blog: Grassroots Canada Pump and Run's Kadeem Coleby |
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Kadeem Coleby, a 6-foot-9-inch forward from the Bahamas is one of Grassroots Canada Pump and Run top players. Being highly recruited by many notable universities such as, Texas, Pitts, Kansas, and Louisiana Tech, this player should shine in the GBOA East tournament. Grassroots Canada will compete against many well known East Coast teams such as the Juice All-Stars, Team Philly, Team Final, New Jersey Playaz, and the Albany City Rocks, just to name a few. Coleby displays enough athleticism, footwork, low block presence, and fundamentals that he is considered to be playing at Division 1 status now. He's been flying under the radar, but I'm sure fans will be impressed with the Bahamian player’s skill at the tournament. Coleby has played for the Bahamian Junior National Team for 2 years and will be playing in the Bahamian National Championship next year. At GBOA East he will finally be playing against many other players that are on his level...it will be fun to see how these players and teams match up... |
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GBOA East Blog: Grassroots Canada Pump and Run - GBOA East Team to Watch |
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Grassroots Canada is one of the top teams to watch on GBOA East. The 17U are 17-2 and the 16U are 18-1. Both have taken away championships from all tournaments they've played in thus far. The Kobe Classic in Philadelphia on April 11-13 Grassroots Canada 17U and 16U won their divisions championship. The Pitt Jam Fest April 18-20, the 17U won open division championship and the 17U silver championship, while the 16U won 3rd place in the tournament. And the Ruston Showcase April 25-27 in Louisiana, Grassroots Canada 16U won 17U division championship over their own 17U team in OT. Not only is this team winning all tournaments played in, the 17U Grassroots Canada team has 3 top ranked players on the team. Tristan Thompson is currently ranked top 5 in 2010 class, Junior Cadougan is ranked top 40 in 2009 class, and Myck Kabongo is ranked top 15 in 2011 class. This team is really HOT! Grassroots Canada should be on fire at the GBOA East tournament on May 17-18, with their current stats and players. Let's see if they take the title home with them as the GBOA East champs. |
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GBOA East Blog: Russ Smith - New York Gauchos' Star on the Rise |
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New York Gauchos has a young star on the rise. Russ Smith, point guard for the New York Gauchos had a stand out game this past weekend. This 6-foot guard was a great set-up man and orchestrated offense very well. He definitely showed what he can bring to the table. However, Smith is a thin build athlete and will have to get bigger and stronger. Smith's upside is intriguing. He's a polished player with a high basketball IQ. Playing with many other talented guards on the Gauchos, Smith will definitely have the opportunity to show what else he can bring to the team this summer. |
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GBOA East: May 17-18, 2008 (New York, NY) The east coast is historically known for its talented players and teams that dominate summer basketball. In the 2008 GBOA season, we will see more of the same from these talented teams. The GBOA East Region will see some of the toughest competition and the best players in every game. Perennial powerhouse teams including DC Assault and the New York Panthers will look to battle for the top spot in the region along with New Jersey Playaz, Metro Hawks and Juice All-Stars. The early polls show the East with five teams in the top 20 and a good chance more will find their way into the rankings before the Challenge of Champions in August.
GBOA East is highlighted by some of the top young talent along with teams that have a winning tradition unmatched by anyone else. DC Assault looks to be the early favorite to win the East crown, led by talented forward Dante Taylor and Kansas State signees, Wally Judge and Rodney McGruder. Judge’s ability to defend along with his athleticism makes him a perfect match with McGruder’s shooting and scoring ability. The three prospects combined should make a solid team with very strong chances of taking the title.
The Metro Hawks will challenge DC Assault’s strive for the title in 2008. The Hawks are led by Rutgers bound center Greg Echenique, a native of Venezuela who plays high school baskeball for the legendary St. Benedict’s out of New Jersey. The New York City based team is a perennial powerhouse with former players such as Ben Gordon, Elton Brand and Jerry Stackhouse. The Hawks had a solid 2007 summer season, finishing with a 30-10 record. In 2008 they will look to increase their wins and compete for the GBOA East Title as well as a run at the Challenge of Champions.
 It will come as no surprise that the New York City area as usual, will be chocked full of talented teams. In addition to the Metro Hawks the Juice All-Stars and Panthers stand to be early contenders for the East crown. Juice is led by arguably the top player in the 2009 class, Lance Stephenson. Any team that has a player like Stephenson is a threat to win it all but will be put to the test against other solid teams like the Panthers and the New Jersey Playaz and their super shooting guard Dominic Cheek.
The GBOA East teams will be strong across the board because of the immense talent on each of the teams. Players to watch out for include: Stephenson, Cheek and Maalik Wayns of Team Philly. Wayns is a point guard from Philly and follows a long tradition of talented point guard’s from the area. The Villanova bound junior is a pass first guard who can still score from outside. His unselfishness and scoring ability will make defending him difficult.
Lance Stephenson is a player who needs little introduction. As a junior he averaged 26 points per game for LincolnHigh School. Not even 18 years old, Stephenson is already a legend that will be among the past New York City Stephenson’s Juice All-Stars chances to win the GBOA East, depend on him; good showings early could prove to be just what Juice needs to get to the C of C in August. greats.
The New Jeresey Playaz’ Dominic Cheek is another player top player in the East. The 6’5 shooting guard matches up well with Stephenson. Cheek’s superb ability to score puts the Playaz in a position to test Juice and DC Assault for a GBOA East title.
Coming from a basketball rich area, the GBOA East tournament will be filled with marquee match-ups no basketball fan will want to miss, complete with rosters filled with talented young stars and those on the brink of breaking out on to the national scene. |
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