Nove Gets Area Big Man

Villanova coming off a Final Four run picked up their second commitment from the class of 2010 yesterday. Markus Kennedy, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior forward from Living Faith Christian Academy (N.J.). Kennedy joins James Bell from Monteverde Academy in Florida as part of Nova's 2010 class. Both players should be nice additions to Coach Jay Wright's Wildcats.

Super Seven AAU Teams This Summer

The AAU season has just gotten under way, but many top tournaments have already occurred in Virginia (Boo Williams) Pittsburgh (HoopGroup) and Providence (HoopGroup). After watching these tournaments I would like to put out the first installment of the Super Seven. This list is the Top Seven Teams on the East Coast followed by other teams that are looking to creep into the rankings.

1. Team Final (Pa)
Key Players: Mike Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, Markcus Kennedy, Tyreke Duren, Trevor Cooney, Darius Quarles, and George Harper.
Notes
Team Final has come out strong this spring winning the Hoop Group in Pittsburgh and losing in the finals of Boo Williams. This might be the most talented squad around.

2. DC Assualt
Key Players: Joshua Hairston, Tyler Thorton, Byron Allen, and Eric Atkins
Notes
Guards win games in AAU and this team has plenty of them, Thorton, Allen and Atkins run the show.

3. Boo Williams
Key Players: Kendall Marshall, Andre Dawkins, Travis McKie, and James McAdoo
Notes
Boo can rival Team Final in terms of talent but they do not always bring their A game. Had a dissapointing loss at Hoop Group Providence.

4. NE Playaz
Key Players: Nate Lubick, Alex Francis, and Naadir Thorpe
Notes
Came strong out of the gate winning the Playaz Spring Fling. They need to ride this early success into the summer.

5. Playaz (NJ)
Key Players: Isaiah Epps, Cameron Ayers, Fuquin Edwin
Notes
The Playaz looked real good up in Pittsburgh. Ayers and Epps play very well together in the backcourt.

6. New Heights (NY)
Key Players: Jayvaughn Pinkston, Ashton Pankey, Devon Collier, Derrick Williams, and Jermaine Saunders.
Notes
One of the best coached teams I have seen all spring. But they are loaded with talent and play hard from start to finish.

7. Team Philly
Key Players: Tony Chenault, CJ Aiken, Deshon Minnis, and Jamir Hanner
Notes
Team is just hitting their stride with the addition of Minnis and Hanner. They can make a big time showing this weekend at Spiece Indy.

On the Outside Looking In
Albany City Rocks
Gauchos (NY)
Baltimore Assualt
NJ Roadrunners

Welcome

Welcome, to the East Coast Basketball Report. My name is Bobby Jordan, I am a senior at Drexel University majoring in sport management. The East Coast Basketball Report will cover grassroots basketball up and down the East Coast. Throughout this blog I will look at some of the top players and teams that are competing on the AAU Circuit this spring and summer. I will be covering tournaments that I will be at as well as all-star games. I hope to provide quality assessments of these teams and players. Any questions or comments can be emailed to me at rdj24@drexel.edu