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No prob...And I stated underrated kids, because they are. No player on the Ballerz South 17u roster is ranked higher than #13 on Andre's Prep hoops site in Class of 2009. Same in 2010. And of course none are Nationally ranked. I feel a number of the guys on the Ballerz roster are vastly underrated, and hope to see them getting more pub soon...Same with the Ballerz 16s, who have now beaten the NIKE Boo Williams winner and the NIKE Memorial Day winner this season... (Amare Stoudamire Team Stat and Illinois Warriors)... Again, pretty impressive feats for a TN team on the National circuit...

Wrong thread buddy... The rankings have not been posted on CoachT.com... Already started a negative thread on another site... Way to be completely off topic and negative on a thread about a great accomplishment of a group of hard working and underrated 17 year old kids...

Flash, I agree! And yeah, the core of our 17 Ballerz South roster is def filled with East Tn players! Parker is honestly playing his way into Top 10 Class of 2009 with his production and upside. McBee has Conference USA offers, to go along with Mid offers and High Maj interest. Pryor should likely settle in as the #3 player in the State in 2010. Sam, Chase, and Chance are all playing themselves into Division 1 scholarships!! Great class for East Tn talent!!

From the website... Sunday's 4:30pm Championship game gave everyone just the matchup they were wanting to see, the top 2 teams in the State, Midstate Ballerz South and Memphis YOMCA. The Ballerz came out and played oustanding team ball in the intense, phyiscal championship game, and jumped out to a 41-22 second half lead before finishing the game out 55-46. A focused and defensively-charged Ballerz squad overcame a poor shooting and free throw shooting game to win the Jr Boys AAU State Championship, only the 2nd time this decade a non-Memphis team has accomplished such a feat (the other being the Ballerz as well)! 6'5 wing Nathan Parker scored 18 in the title game on a variety of threes, dunks, and mid range jumpers, and Austin East teammates Chase Jones and Travei Pryor each tallied 9 points, to go along with double digit rebounds. Pryor finished with 12 boards, Jones with 10. The 5-0 run to the State title was led by offensive balance, with 5 Ballerz players averaging right at double figures for the tourney. The Ballerz North squad, with new additions 6'4 PG Josh Odom and 6'5 wing Ashlon Adams also played well, earning a bid to the Jr Boys AAU Nationals in Orlando, FL. The Ballerz North lost a heartbreaker in the quarterfinals and ended up finishing 5th in the State...

Ballerz start with 15u, and have 16u and 17u as well, with multiple teams in each age group (6 teams total this year)...

Stokomo!! How's it going? Site is unapproved website.... Tourney is in it's 6th year, and looks to be the best one yet! We still have spaces available in 15u thru 17u, so email me, coachshulman at unapproved website ....

We are looking to fill one or two more roster spots on the Midstate Ballerz 15u roster. We have a great set of guards now, but need one or two hard working post players w size to finish out our roster. Please email coachshulman @ midstate ballerz . com

Ballerz Challenge of Champions May 16-18 Dickson, TN coachshulman @unapproved website

Congrats to Ken Bingham and Three Rivers!! Finished 4th at Juco Nationals!! Teammate w the Midstate Ballerz, 6'6 F Jeff McClain (Fulton Co, KY) also starts for Three Rivers and had a great tourney!! Former Ballerz G Freeman Pinkney (Kenwood HS) also played well at Hutch (Juco National tournament) for Walters State... And a great showing by rival Itawamba (MS) CC, going 1-2, with just an overtime loss to Indian Hills in the first round and loss to power Chipola as blemishes at Hutch... MAJCA represented well!!

Tryouts for Midstate Ballerz will be Saturday morning March 15... If interested, reply back here

I agree that Rhodes has great potential, but inconsistency issues. Hopefully he can get to the right Juco and really get things going on the right path... And you're right, Manassas is loaded w great prospects!!!

No opinions on who some of the top players from TN that will go Juco next year are??

I want to get everyone's opinion: Who are the Top Junior College prospects from this year's high school senior class?? Who are the kids w mid or mid-high D-1 potential, but may have to go Junior College first due to grades??

Lol!!! Yeah, this is the first time I have been on these boards in FOREVER! Got the day off due to the super bowl, so I thought I would see how things in TN high school ball were going! And yeah, I'm sure Prather has improved a ton- can't wait to see him play for u guys this summer!!

U are all right about Buckner...! He is special, and vastly underrated. He is the 2nd best Jr in the state behind McDonald. 6'8, long, athletic, and versatile!!

Prather is an outstanding talent, and I look forward to watching him this summer... That being said, I agree w some of the posts that it's tough to put him up or ahead of those other four just yet. Willie, Wayne, Rich, and Reg all were not just great players who put up numbers, but also won a ton of games at both the HS and AAU levels against great comp. While none of the 4 are quite the run/jump athlete Prather is, all four were more skilled at the same stage in their development. Time will tell, but as NashCelts said...there sure is some great talent in West TN (ex- Varnado leading Nation in blocked shots, and how bout Nicchaeus Doaks' 26 points and 11 boards last night against a top Davidson team!)!!! Dell Coleman is redshirting this year at Jacksonville State (OVC) after 2 outstanding years at Itawamba (MS) CC where he was a honerable mention Juco All American and his team Nationally ranked!! Congrats to Dell, who is one of the hardest working and toughest kids I've ever been around!

Skylar did hit 7 treys in ONE QUARTER in July!! It was actually against Martin bros Select 16s (a team that knocked off a very good YOMCA 17s team the next day) at 17u AAU Nationals. Skylar had 34 points for the game, and was honestly outstanding throughout the entire Spring and Summer. He is a great kid with a very bright future!

I completely agree!!! In addition at 15s State, our 15s were in the same pool as you all and the Y, which resulted in narrow 3 and 5 point losses. A case could be made that the top 3 teams at the 15u State were in the same pool (not to take anything away from a very good Celtics team, just saying a case could be made). I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes... But back to the topic, I completely agree with what you are saying. That's why I (and I hope others) try to look at more than just tourney finishes, but who you played as well. Because pool (and even tourney pairings) are often unbalanced, intentionally or not. At King of the South, our 17s had to face SE Elite in pool, and a loss there (with two other wins) pitted us first round against the Atlanta Celtics. So that meant without an upset over one of those two (both ranked top 10 Nationally, and the top 2 teams at the event before half the SE Elite roster went home after pool play), there was no way to advance past the first round of the tourney... I would love to hear some more voices on all of these topics, as this is a very interesting conversation (one of the best on these 'Travel boards' in quite some time)...

Definitely understand what you're saying. And I do agree that at those three Invite only tourneys, that pool play is ridiculously tough!! My point is two fold: 1) you agree with me, that there are a ton of talented teams, nike and non-nike and 2) that the schedules can be just as tough in pool in Non-Nike events TOC is just that tough. It is Invite only. And the pool are loaded. Our 15s pool consisted of 2 of the top 10 15u teams in the Nation, plus a very good Nike team. Last year our 17s pool had elite level Reebok teams Baltimore Stars and NY Panthers finish 3rd and 4th in pool, though there were High Majors galore between those two rosters. Real Deal at the 17s level is as well for the most part. Two years ago, our pool at Real Deal included the #1 and #2 teams in the Nation at that point, in the same pool!!! (Spiece Indy Heat w/ Oden etc, DC Assault w/ Beasley etc...plus B'ham Raptors). Also at Kingwood, Vegas, Great American Shootout, and even Peach State Summer Showcase, if you are in a "Super Pool" the comp is just as hard as the most loaded Nike events. Nike top dawg GA Blazers finished last in pool in Kingwood in fact. Our 17s finished 2nd in that pool. There is a pool in Vegas right now with Atl Celtics, Playaz, Pump n Run, and Indiana Elite (4 of the top 12 teams in the Nation). In Peach State, the top 6 teams were all in the same Super Pool, and the team that finished last, Fla Ambassadors, had 4 High Majors, including a 7 footer, a 6'8 long F and a pair of athletic 6'6 guards. I love that there is a good, high level, intelligent discussion going on here (thank u gomerpyle and blackburn)... My main point is that there are a number of programs out there in TN that play an Elite schedule (not just elite tournaments) and that I would honestly put our Ballerz schedule up against any team in the state (again not arguing who is better, just schedule toughness). The schedule our 17s played between Great American Shootout, Adidas Atlanta, and Peach State Showcase heading into Super Showcase and Nationals has been nothing less that brutal!!

I looooove this topic!!! So I'm very eager to jump in!! Let me start, however, by saying congratulations to the Travelers 16s and Coach B!!! Great run at the Showcase!! Classy coach and classy organization... Ok, now on to the topic... It is my opinion that though I do not agree with the Nike circuit being the toughest. Also, great run by Travs in Hoosier shootout, but they did not beat the Indy Elite 17s team that won Kingwood and TOC. That Indiana Elite team was in Cinncy during the same time for the Adidas Take 5ive Classic... Here are some observations just from the Showcase: -Super Showcase is a Nike-heavy event -The Showcase takes anyone these days just like other tourneys. Word is the Harambee Dragons may have been the worst team to compete in any major event all year long. And I continued to look at the pools and saw a high number of poor to mediocre teams. -Aruably the top Nike 16u team in the Nation, BABC finished 3rd in pool behind two non-Nike teams, including a 13 point loss to a Birmingham Ice team we played (and beat) -I see 6 teams in the Gold Bracket that are non-nike teams (national christian, reach legends, Lauderdale Lakes, Fl Roadrunners, Fl Elite, charlotte storm) -Also 10 teams in the Silver Bracket are non-Nike Here are a few more non-Showcase observations: -Only 3 of the top 15 teams in the latest Top 25 AAU poll for 16u are Nike teams; same with 3 of the top 15 in the 17u in the poll -Georgia Blazers are considered the Top 17u Nike team this year, or at least top 2 or 3, after winning MDC, final 4 at Peach Jam. Our 17s beat the Blazers by double digits in Houston. -First hand observation:: It has been fun to see first hand how many talented non-Nike teams there are throughout the country, especially under-the radar teams. Whether teams from years past such as H-Squad and RBC West, or teams this year like Hoop Planet, Team Truth, Carolina Raptors, Augusta Metros/Caveliers, Inner Strength, Fla Ambassadors, SA Roadrunners, T-Mac All Stars, etc... In closing, there are a lot of great teams on the Nike circuit, but there are also a ton of great teams that not. There is so much talent accross the country, and many not wearing a Nike uni...

The Ballerz 17s continue their outstanding July even without the services of top player Scotty Hopson, who has been in Major Camps for the last month (USA Olympic Fesivals, Nike Vince Carter SF Camp, Nike Lebron James Skills Academy), by shocking the competition and reaching the Final 4 of two straight major events!! The Ballerz won their pool at the Adidas Atlanta Kickoff by beating Arkansas Hawks, Inner Strength, and Atlanta Select, before bowing out in the tourney semifinals. Then the Ballerz advanced to the Final 4 of the Peach State Summer Showcase with wins over Carolina Raptors, SC Ravens, Vic Simms All Stars, and GA Lakers, before falling to the Raptors in a semifinal rematch in the 18 team tourney. PG John Primm (Dickson Co), PG Tyrone Caldwell (Clarksville) and 2G/WF Rayshawn Walker (Clarksville NE) led the way for the Ballerz. Primm established himself as one of the top PG's in the State and has now picked up a few D-1 offers along the way. Meanwhile Walker has brought his game to another level and is now a bonafide Mid Major prospect with his athleticism, long arms, and all around play, in addition to his nice outside shot and ability to get to the rim off the bounce...

The Midstate Ballerz 15s, who rarely get any pub, capped off their summer winning the Gold bracket of the Adidas Atlanta Summer Kickoff this past week!! This team had great wins all year long, particularly the ones over Richmond Squires (Wallace prather champs) and Alabama Lasers 16s (who placed in 16u Nationals), and was led by Demarius Smith (Kenwood), Tarius Johnson (Liberty Tech), Terace Clemmons (Wilson Central; for half the year), Cordaro Williams (Liberty Tech), and Keneal Windom (JCM)...

The Midstate Ballerz 17's, playiing without Scotty Hopson, stepped up to the plate again for a second consectutive stellar tourney, reaching the Final 4 of the Peach State Summer Showcase, before bowing out to the Carolina Raptors. The Ballerz 16's played up in the event, and also reached the Final 4 in the 18 team tourney, knocking off Birmingham Ice in the quarterfinals (who had just beat South Carolina Ravens), before falling to a hot-shooting, unbeated Augusta Metros team. Great run by both Ballerz squads to finish in the Final 4 out of a field that included SC Ravens, Team Georgia Elite, Fla Ambassadors (w/ 4 High Majors), Carolina Raptors, Vic Sims All Stars, Birmingham Ice 16s (Wallace Prather 16u champs), South Georgia Kings, United Celtics, Augusta Metros, and Garner Road, among others!! Great first year tourney that I would definitely recommend to any Tennessee teams looking for a great deal of competition and exposure on their July calendar!!

Well, unfortuantely doesn't look like it will be a reality this year... Next year I am going to do everything I can to find a weekend to make this happen!! I would like to say thank you to the top teams that contacted me that were willing and eager to attend!! Next year we will make this happen...

I would like to make special recognition of 2 players who rarely garner any type of accolades on the Ballerz 16s, and are so often overlooked: Covington G D'Alvin Brown and Brighton wing Terrance Williams... These two kids have been at the core of the Ballerz success all year, and never was that more prevelant than this past weekend. Brown was amazing on the defensive end all weekend long, and hit clutch 3 after clutch 3 throughout the weekend. Williams is the ultimate role player and "glue guy", who will leave his heart on the floor whether he plays 1 minutes or 20 minutes. Williams also played incredible defense in on Sunday, and knocked down numerous key midrange jumpers throughout the weekend... These two have been a pleasure to coach, and go a long ways in defining what the true meaning of team is all about