NEW YORK, NY – What figures to be one of the travel ball circuit’s top circuits demonstrated exactly why that will be the case this spring and summer Friday night during the opening session of the Under Armour Association at Basketball City on the edge of Manhattan.
Six-foot-one Isaiah Washington (St. Raymond in the Bronx) and 6-5 Keith Williams (Brooklyn Bishop Loughlin) led New York’s New Heights on an 8-0 run to close out Southern California’s Earl Watson Elite, 63-58.
Williams (who finished with a game-high 24 points) hit a 12-foot, step-thru with a second on the shot clock (and about 30 seconds on the game clock) and a three-point edge then, after Earl Watson missed an attempt, Washington was fouled and sank the insurance free throws.
Washington, who keeps his dribble low, tight and strong, chipped in with eight assists and made it quite the shore for defenders to stay in front of him while on the dribble.
Williams and Washington – who were outstanding during the Pangos All-American Camp in Southern California late last June – should climb most “shooting” and “point” guard ratings for the Class of 2017 over the next four months.
Earl Watson Elite, which missed the front ends of a couple 1-and-1 free-throw opportunities in the final couple of minutes, got 14 points and 15 rebounds from 2017 forward Ira Lee (Prolific Prep from Napa by way of Sierra Canyon in Southern California city Chatsworth) and 15 points – all via 3s – from 2017 shooting guard Jemarl Baker, who is committed to Cal.
Trevon Duval, the likely most high profile player on the UAA circuit, gave credence to those who suggest he is the best, or no worse than one of the two best point guards in 2017 (along with Trae Young of North in Norman, OK, and of the Nike EYBL MOKAN squad) with his performance during WE R1’s 71-50 win over Beastmode of Texas.
In something you only see in the spring and summer events, Duval – who scored 21 points Friday night – actually played for Beastmode Coach/Director Rodney Forsett’s Advanced Prep International program in Dallas last season.
Six-three Eric Ayala, a Delaware resident and a member of the Puerto Rico junior national team who is going to attend Putnam City Academy in Connecticut, scored 13 via his usual collection of impressive drives to the iron.
Guards Ju’Vante Smart (Scotlanville in Louisiana) and C.J. Roberts (Richland in North Richland Hills TX) did their best to keep Beastmode reasonably close for much of the first half.
Smart, a junior-to-be who played for the Elfrid Payton Nike/EYBL program last year, scored 13 points and was able to break down Duval off the dribble a couple of times in the first half.
Roberts was exceptionally hot with his jumper before cooling off. He scored 21 points.
Although M.J. Walker didn’t jump shoot to his normal level of quality, the 6-5 senior-to-be from Jonesboro in Georgia made enough plays – even while finishing with just 11 points – to help the Atlanta Xpress hold off Team Breakdown of Florida, 55-51.
After Team Breakdown got to within two points with about 20 seconds to go, Walker dribbled through pressure and fed Ahmad Rand for the final two “insurance” points.
Walker’s passing, in fact, was outstanding throughout the contest.
The Florida squad got strong efforts from 6-5 senior-to-be Lionel Figureroa (Oldsmar Christian in Tampa), who handled, rebounded, passed and shot well Friday night, as well as 6-10 Emanuel Dowuona, a 6-10 prospect in the 2018 class who was as good an instinctive shot blocker as I saw Friday night.
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