LAS VEGAS – Two Southern California-based programs were “surprise” finalists Sunday afternoon in the top divisions of the major national grassroots tournaments that were held in front of 100s of college coaches over a five-day stretch in the city.
But just one of those proved to be a stunning tournament champion.
The Cali Stars of director and Coach Julius von Hanzlik aren’t “sponsored” by an athletic apparel company, unlike dozens of programs in town for the various events that receive funding from adidas, Nike and Under Armour.
But, once guys step on a court, it’s all about skill, grit and chemistry, regardless of what kind of logo – if any – is on a jersey or pair of shorts.
And that was the case for the Cali Stars, which knocked off the team squad that beat them in the opening game of pool play on Thursday – the Chicago-based Mac Irvin squad that is a member of the Nike-owned and operated EYBL – by an eight-point (68-60) margin behind event Most Outstanding Player Jordan Brinson, a 6-foot-3 guard, in the final game of the 17U Invitational Premium playoff of the Las Vegas Classic at Spring Valley High
Some six or seven miles to the south at Bishop Gorman High-hosted Fab 48’s Invitational Division, another SoCal squad making an eye-opening appearance in a tourney final – the EYBL’s “The Truth” – couldn’t pull off yet another upset in order to take home championship hardware.
The Under Armor-fronted (Washington) DC Premier program – which went 5-0 a few days earlier in order to take the UAA Summer Championship across town (and into Henderson) at Coronado High – rallied from 14 points down early in the second half to knock off Coach Jason Crowe’s “The Truth” squad, 83-75.
Crowe’s crew – led by one of the west’s best jump shooters, 6-4 Jaden Shackelford (Hesperia) – went 3-0 in pool play then knocked off Louisiana Supreme and MEBO Team Hood (from Mississippi) on Saturday and PSA (New York) and Quad City (Iowa) earlier Sunday before taking on the DC club.
Shackelford, who hit four critical deep jumpers in the late going of the eventual 74-63 decision against Quad City, dropped in five 3s and scored 21 points in a first half that ended with The Truth up on DC Premier by 11.
And Shackelford hit his sixth 3 to start the second half for a 14-point advantage.
But the UAA champion methodically sliced into the Truth’s lead, by way of ill-advised shots and turnovers by the Truth (a member of the EYBL circuit), as well as the strong post play of twins and Maryland-bound Makhi and Makhel Mitchell (District Heights, MD, McNamara), and the scoring of forward Mekhi Long (Massanutten Academy in Virginia) and guard Josh Wallace (Hyattsville, MD, DeMatha).
Wallace scored 18 of his team-high 21 points after intermission while Makhi Mitchell (the event’s Most Outstanding Player) added 13 and Long 16.
Shackelford (PICTURED) scored only five points after that initial second-half 3 and finished with a game-high 29 points while being shadowed by multiple defenders.
According to von Hanzlik, Brinson (who played throughout the spring and first weeks of July with the Why Not/EYBL squad) led his team in the final with 20 points.
He also hit the game-winning free throw against Minnesota’s Howard Pulley squad with a second to go in the semifinal.
The Cali Stars also got strong play over the event from forward James Keefe (L.A. Loyola) and guard Giordan Williams (Long Beach Poly).
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