NY2LA Sports Grassroots Update
By Antonio Curro
December 28, 2007
Tons of interesting news, tidbits, and rumors about the Grassroots scene nationally have taken place but there have been major developments the past few months on the scene in Wisconsin that are worth noting with the upcoming spring/summer travel season right around the corner.
Here's a brief rundown of the big stories and an early preview of just a few of the programs expected to put it down next spring at multiple age groups:
Playground Elite
While D.T.A., Milwaukee Running Rebels, Wisconsin Swing, Madison Spartans, P.C. Players, Blessed IJN Purple, and a host of other travel programs are still in place, the biggest development and/or rumor this offseason is the recent changes on the side of what was once the Wisconsin Playground Warriors organization. Many of you may recall that at one point the Playground Warriors organization was sponsored by Nike, and last year Ritchie Davis was brought in as the Executive Director of the program and with that the program came under the umbrella of the Reebok brand. However, last year's situation was short lived as Duane "Ike" Wilson and Brian Johnikin have finally broken their silence and confirmed with NY2LA Sports last week that they will run a new organization next year called The Playground Elite. According to both Mr. Wilson and Mr. Johnikin, the use of the "Playground" name was done both out of respect for the individuals instrumental in building the organization since its inception and the large number of players who played for the original Playground Warriors organization through the years."
Both have also confirmed that The Playground Elite organization have finalized a "multi-year sponsorship from Nike for the program". The sponsorship is exclusive to The Playground Elite for the state of Wisconsin and Nike returns after a 2 year hiatus from the state of Wisconsin. This has also been confirmed from outside sources as well. The 17U team featuring Jamil Wilson and Johnnie Lacy, the 14U team featuring J.P. Tokoto and Duane Wilson Jr., and the 13U team featuring Deonte Burton and Jarvis Garrett will all be with the Playground Elite organization next year according to Wilson and Johnikin.
Obviously the 17U team with Wilson and Lacy is the flagship of the new program next year as that team is expected to return in tact and will enter the year as one of the Top 5 teams nationally on the travel circuit with 3 major tournament championships and a host of Final 4 finishes last year. Both Mr. Wilson and Mr. Johnikin also indicated that the program will have teams at every age group and their new program will not have any affiliation or connection with Ritchie Davis.
There have been a bunch of rumors in recent weeks as to the direction Ritchie Davis will now go with some indicating that he will maintain use of the Wisconsin Playground Warriors name and others indicating he may return to the use of the Fox Valley Skillz name, the program he started before becoming the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Playground Warriors last year. As of the time of this article, nothing has been confirmed as to the direction Ritchie Davis will go but his 16U team next year will again feature 6'11" F/C Evan Anderson who is strongly rumored to be headed to Wisconsin when it's all said and done. Marquette and Iowa State have also offered Anderson and he's gotten interest from other mid to high major programs as well in recent months. Regardless of where Anderson goes, the 16U team is again expected to be strong with the likes of Kameron Cerroni and Chim Kadima also expected to play with Anderson at the 16U level.
D.T.A.
The Development Through Athletics program is expected to again be very strong as they boast the defending 16U state champions and Class of 2010 prospect 6'7" Calvin Godfrey of Milwaukee Custer. That's not all as the 16U team also boasts Marcus Kirk and Troy Huff, two of the top guards in the Class of 2010 out of the state of Wisconsin. They will again be sponsored by Adidas making D.T.A. and the new organization discussed above as the only two programs in the state to have direct shoe company sponsorship next year on the Grassroots level.
In addition to the 16U defending state champions, the D.T.A. program is expected to again field multiple teams at both the middle school and high school ages with all being equally competitive and elite. The program is always one of the best in the state and nationally as the likes of Korie Lucious, Bryquis Perine, Diante Garrett, and Troy Cotton Jr. have all put it down for D.T.A. in recent years. With the defending 16U state champions in the fold and a host of other teams expected to rock the D.T.A. jerseys at various age groups this spring/summer, Executive Director Troy Cotton Sr. should again have one of the premiere Grassroots organizations in the state of Wisconsin under his direction.
Milwaukee Running Rebels
Last year they had one of the top 17U teams in the state and next year they will feature arguably one of if not the top 15U team in the state with the likes of 6'7" F Darnell Harris, 5'9" PG Charles Lee, and 6'3" F Elgin Cook expected to rock the Milwaukee Running Rebels jersey next spring. All 3 are highly regarded both regionally and nationally as some of the top young frosh prospects in the state of Wisconsin and the 15U Rebels squad is expected to be very strong top to bottom with Coach Dell and Coach Ramey expected to head up the squad.
The Rebels are also expected to have programs at multiple ages again. The Rebels are always strong whenever they take the floor and their organization also features some of the top middle school talents as well led by the likes of Class of 2013 PG Brandon Ramey who you'll be hearing a lot of in the coming years. Shelby Parrish is again expected to help Coach Dell and Coach Ramey with the program and he always does an excellent job with the younger players in the program. Expect much of the same from them next year as they will again have a very strong program from top to bottom with players based out of the Milwaukee Metro area.
Wisconsin Swing
The Madison based program is expected to again field teams at multiple age groups with their 16U team and 14U team expected to be their strongest. The 16U team is expected to again feature 6'3" PG Josh Gasser and 6'5" Chip Rank and be one of the elite teams in the state of Wisconsin. Equally strong is the 14U team, which is the defending state champions at that age group and features a host of solid floor talents including the likes of David Neis, Connor Morovitz, and a host of other quality prospects.
The Swing will again have teams at every age group and they are expected to again be highly competitive on the travel circuit with the likes of Ben Averkamp also in the fold again next year with Executive Director Dana Mackenzie coordinating the program. The Swing are another of the strong programs in the state from top to bottom and expect nothing less this spring/summer.
Madison Spartans
The Madison based program is expected to again feature one of the top 17U teams in the state and the country with the likes of 6'6" SF Jeronne Maymon leading the way. The long athletic swing from Madison Memorial is one of the top Class of 2009 prospects in Wisconsin. Word on the street is that Baylor is the front runner to land Maymon after Maymon took an unofficial visit to Baylor last summer with Hennssy Auriantal, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Force Grassroots program. While Maymon has not made a verbal commitment to date, very strong rumors have been circulating for months since that visit that Baylor is a strong possibility.
Regardless, Maymon is again expected to play with the Madison Spartans and is again expected to head up a loaded 17U team next year with the likes of 6'6" F JoJo Pregnont, 6'1" G Andrew Keister, and 6'2" G Vander Blue, one of the top Class of 2010 prospects in the state of Wisconsin. Shelton Kingcade is again expected to coach this team which captured the 2007 NY2LA Sports Invitational championship and a 2nd place finish at the 2007 King James Shooting Stars Classic tournament in Akron, Ohio last April.
In addition, the Spartans always feature a number of teams at multiple age groups and their 15U team under the guidance of James Adams and featuring Miles Chamberlain will be one of the teams to watch on the circuit next spring/summer. Executive Director Stephen Blue continues to do a solid job year in and year out with this program as it enters its 20th year next spring/summer.
Milwaukee Spartans
The Spartans lose their strong 17U team from last year but are again expected to field a number of teams including the defending 15U state champions last year, which featured the likes of Larry Bradley, Quevyn Winters, and a host of other strong prospects. While their 17U team with Andy Smith, Chris McHenry, Jarvis Williams, etc. gone, they are again expected to re-tool at multiple age groups and will again be very strong on the spring/summer circuit.
Executive Director Anthony McHenry does an excellent job with this program and the Spartans teams are always expected to be strong and highly competitive year in and year out.
Blessed IJN Purple
The new program last year heads into its 2nd year with a 17U team featuring one of the top Class of 2009 PG's in Danny Mckeown of Milwaukee North Division. Mckeown is one of the most underrated prospects in the state of Wisconsin and nationally as Danny can play with almost any PG in the country pound for pound.
Danny was the 2007 NY2LA Sports Next Level Showcase M.V.P. this past fall and he will lead one of the top 17U teams in the state next year in the Blessed IJN Purple squad.
P.C. Players
The P.C. Players organization has quickly burst on the scene and become very strong very quickly in the Fox Valley Area. Last year they captured the 17U state championship and this year they again bring the Wisconsin Blizzard organization into their fold. Executive Director Rich Kuranda has done a great job in a very short time as the P.C. Players have become a solid competitive organization for the players in the Fox Valley area.
Wisconsin Scholars
Keith Bearden is again expected to field a number of teams at various levels with the 16U team expected to be very strong with the likes of Flavien Davis and Montez Porter expected to return. Davis is one of the top Class of 2010 prospects in the country and he helped lead them to a 2nd place finish at the 15U division in the 2007 NY2LA Sports Invitational last June. The Scholars will be competitive and field a number of teams next spring/summer on the travel circuit.
Wisconsin Playmakers
Executive Director Mike Lee will again feature a number of highly competitive teams at multiple age groups as his Wisconsin Playmakers organization has slowly made a very strong name for themselves in Wisconsin and the Northwest part of the state. Expect this organization to continue to grow in the coming years as they are already highly competitive at multiple middle school age groups.
Note: One thing to remember in the Grassroots world is that wearing shoes and sponsorship are two different items. Programs are able to utilize the logo of a brand when they purchase uniforms and shoes but that does not constitute sponsorship of the program, it's simply permission to utilize the logo as a result of their purchase. That's important to know when making a decision as to where your son or daughter will play and having the information necessary to make an informed decision in that regard.
Next Level Basketball
Executive Director Kyle Brown has done a solid job over the past two years of putting together highly competitive teams. However, his program last year featured the likes of 09' Jake Thomas and Nick Watkins at the 16U level and Watkins is not expected to return as he now lives in Atlanta, GA. Nevertheless, Next Level always puts together solid competitive teams at multiple age groups and if 09' SG Jake Thomas returns, they will have one of the top 09' prospects in the state in their fold.
Wisconsin Wizards
Executive Director Ken Taylor will field a number of teams again at the middle school and high school level with a solid 13U team again that was one of the top Division II teams in the area last year. Expect much of the same from that team and a few others again as the Wizards again will have some quality players from the Milwaukee Metro area.
Ray Allen Select
The Ray Allen Select 12U team is again expected to be one of the tops in the area as last year's 11U state champions are expected to return in tact with PG Jackson Johnson leading the way again. Expect them to again be very competitive across the board.
Randolph Boys Club
Hugh Roberts is again expected to field a strong program at the high school levels with the likes of David Anderson (Oshkosh West) and many others expected to again play for Roberts. Last year he had John Benskoske who's headed to Loyola, Chicago and Hugh always does an excellent job with the kids.
Badger Sporting Goods
This program features one of the top Class of 2010 prospects in the state of Wisconsin in 6'5" F Marquis Mason of Madison East. The explosive forward already has an offer on the table from Marquette and continues to improve each and every time out. Expect him to again lead the way for a highly competitive 16U team next year out of the Madison area.
D.W. Wildcats
Mr. & Mrs. Hankins always do a solid job in the Milwaukee Metro area and provide kids at multiple age groups an opportunity to play basketball and get off the streets. Mr. Hankins is one of the most respected men in the Milwaukee Metro area and they will again provide another option for Milwaukee Metro are kids to play ball and travel as last year they went to a number of tournaments out of state including the King James Tournament in Akron, Ohio.
Stay in the Game
This program will again have teams at the middle school and high school level with Executive Director Curtis Weathers and his assistant Charles Jordan again utilizing the Boys & Girls Club - Mary Ryan Branch as their home base. Last year their 17U team had DeMarcus Phillips of Milwaukee Washington, who's developed into one of the top 2008 prospects in the state of Wisconsin, and this year they should again travel for some different tournaments in the Midwest.
Milwaukee Titans
Executive Director Richard Mason will again have teams at the 12U and 15U levels this year along with Clyde Myles. Their 12U team won the 2006 NY2LA Sports Invitational and should again be very solid on the spring/summer travel scene in Wisconsin.
Racine Heat
The Racine Heat are expected to have teams at a number of levels again with Ricky Person's 11U team regarded as one of the top ones in the area for younger teams. The Heat always have teams at the middle school and high school levels and they are expected to do the same again next spring/summer
Note: This list is not exclusive to the state of Wisconsin. There are a host of solid programs throughout the state that field solid teams that travel locally and some also outside the state.
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