Super Seven Week 3

In our third edition of the Super Seven there has been some major shake-ups in the rankings. The big tournament held this weekend was the Hoop Group Southern Invitational. The Southern Inviational had 3 of the top 4 teams in our Super Seven competing and some came up big and other disappointed. There is a small break in the action right now with the next tournament not being till Labor Day weekend down in North Carolina, the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions.

1.) Boo Williams
Key Players: Kendall Marshall, Andre Dawkins, Travis McKie, and James McAdoo
Notes: It was hard to move this team up to the top spot considering Team Final was without Dion Waiters and Mike Gilchrist this weekend. However, from what I seen this team was very impressive even though CP3 All-Stars (NC) pounded them in the championship of the Southern. However, they did beat DC Assualt in the Semis and were very impressive all weekend long.

2.) Team Final (Pa)
Key Players: Mike Gilchrist, Dion Waiters, Markcus Kennedy, Tyreke Duren, Trevor Cooney, Darius Quarles, and George Harper.
Notes: Team Final was without the services of Waiters and Gilchrist this weekend but still played very well. Tyreke Duren elevated his game and is looking more and more like a Big East point guard every time I watch him play. When this team is at full strength they are dangerous and I expect them to have a full cast in a couple weeks down in Gibbons

3.) Gauchos (NY)
Key Players: Doron Lamb, Shane Southwell, Kadeem Jack, and Mohammed Lee
Notes: The Gauchos did not play this weekend so there is no need to move them up or down. I am still impressed by the way they beat All-Ohio Red in the championship of the King James Shootout. It will be interesting to see if this team goes to Gibbons, a tournament the “Chos” normally don’t go to. However, either way they still need to be considered as one of the top teams.

4.) DC Assualt
Key Players: Joshua Hairston, Tyler Thorton, Byron Allen, Cedric Lindsey,and Eric Atkins
Notes: Although they lost to Boo in the Semis down at the Southern Inviational, they were still impressive all weekend long. They beat a very tough NJ ABC team by 20 in the round of 16 and never looked back. I will expect to see them at Gibbons and see if they can continue there success this season.

5.) Playaz (NJ)
Key Players: Isaiah Epps, Cameron Ayers, Fuquin Edwin
Notes:The Playaz looked did not play this past weekend, but Jimmy Salmons is supposed to be running a tournament this up and coming weekend with 8 teams. It will be interesting to see which 8 teams come in and how his team plays.

6.) New Heights (NY)
Key Players: Jayvaughn Pinkston, Ashton Pankey, Devon Collier, Derrick Williams, and Jermaine Saunders.
Notes: Dropped out of the Southern at the last minute. However, they are still a talented team who has looked very good this spring. I expect to see them at Gibbons which could make or break whether they stay in the rankings or move up.

7.) Cecil Kirk
Key Players: Cleveland Melvin, Antonio Barton, and Kesse Kouassi

Notes: A team that has been a long fixture on the AAU circuit, Cecil Kirk did not disappoint anyone down the Southern Inviational. They upset Team Final by 2 in the quarterfinals, before losing to eventual champion CP3 in the semis. These boys from Baltimore play hard and fight for everything. It will be interesting to see how they perform the rest of the summer.

Outside Looking In
Albany City Rock
Team Philly
Mass Rivals
Baltimore Assault
NJ ABC
NE Playaz
God’s Glory