Los Angeles, California…..  The Playaz 17u team concluded the Nike EYBL 13-1 and will be the #1 seed in the upcoming Peach Jam Tournament to determine the top A.A.U. team in the nation. The Playaz went out to Los Angeles, California to conclude the EYBL regular season by playing 5 more games during the weekend. They finished it up 4-1 taking their only loss in the EYBL season.They beat Friends Of Hoop from Seattle 85-69 behind Myles Davis 29 points and 5 rebounds, Kyle Anderson’s 15 points and 6 assists and Desmond Hubert’s 14 points and 5 boards. The next game was against the Arkansas Wings as the Playaz started the game down 19 -0 before pulling it out 65-59 behind 25 points from Myles Mack and 18 from Davis, all coming on threes, including 4 in the 2nd half. Derrick Randall brought the energy with 11 points and 10 rebounds. They continued the next day blowing out D-1 Sports of North Carolina 104-61 which is led by 6’10 wing Quincy Miller, who’s ranked #5 in the class of 2011. Anderson had 21 and 13 assists, Davis 21 on 5 threes and Mack 17. Vaughn Gray chipped in 16. The lone loss came from Georgia’s Southern Kings team as the Playaz took it on the chin in overtime 66-62. The Playaz rebounded by defeating the N.Y. Gauchos 64-51 as Gray led a balanced attack with 18 points. The result is the regular season champs in a strong EYBL league. The Playaz 17’s will now try to finish it up in North Augusta, South Carolina July 12-15 in The Peach Jam.

                          Meanwhile, The Playaz 15u team( pictured )made their presence felt in L.A. by going out and winning  The Adidas Magic Memorial Festival at U. of California Dominguez Hills College. The Playaz, playing without Shacore Edwards were led throughout the weekend by 6’6 Reggie Cameron, 5’10 Kavon Stewart, 6’2 Josh Marquez and also got strong play from 6′ DeAndre Noble, 6’8 Mike Young, 6’7 Amir Maddred, 6’2 Geno Thorpe and 6’4 Connor Cuccinelli. The Playaz 15’s won the “chip” 64-52 over The Las Vegas Prospect. Stewart led them in scoring with 17, while Cameron added 16. They won their 6 games by a 20 point margin in the tournament with the championship game being their closest contest. The Playaz 16’s also played well this weekend as they played in the Adidas Festival against the 17u group. They reached the semi finals behind the play of Dallas Englin, Tariq Carey, Grant Ellis and Davon Jacobs before losing to The Las Vegas Prospect 17u team in overtime.

Paterson……. The Playaz 15u basketball team(pictured below) beat a game New Heights(N.Y.C.) team 79-72 to win the Tuneup A.A.U. Tournament ” CHIP’. The Playaz got a huge game from 6’4 Shacore Edwards who lit Heights up for 35 points in the contest. Edwards offset the hot shooting of New Heights 6’1 guard Isaiah Lewis who rang up 31 points himself. Edwards(pictured),who was named M.V.P. of the tournament got it done inside and out. The Playaz reached the chip by defeating Team Philly of Philadelphia 74-66 behind balanced scoring led by 6’6 swingman Reggie Cameron’s 21 points, Josh Marquez 16 and 11 apiece from Gino Thorpe and Edwards and got strong guard play from 5’10 point Kavon Stewart.. Dominick Reid led Philly with 21 points and Hanif Sutton added 12. Heights reached the finals by beating the New Jersey Pirates 57-53 as 6’7 power forward Jordan Washington scored 14 points to lead Heights. Raekwon Kelly led the Pirates with 14. Lewis won the Sportsmanship Award while Washington, Marquez, Stewart and Shamiek Sheppard all made the All tournament team. The addition of Thorpe and 6’8 “big” Mike Young has made the Playaz 15 team even more imposing. The Playaz 16u team played respectable throughout the weekend, losing to the eventual champs,The Gauchos of N.Y.C. the 16’s showed signs behind the play of  Dallas Englin, Davon Jacobs, Grant Ellis, Zaire Williams and newcomer Tyreke Carey. The Playaz program will take their show on the road, traveling to Los Angeles, California Memorial Day Weekend as the 17u team will join the other squads to the west coast. 

 Paterson…….. The Playaz Club A.A.U. basketball hosts it’s 2nd annual Tune-up Tournament for it’s 9th/ 15u and 10th/16u teams at Kennedy Highschool in Paterson, N.J. The games will begin Saturday at 9am and go on throughout the day culminating in the championship for each age group Sunday. Some of the teams involved in the tournament are New York A.A.U. powerhouses New Heights, N.Y. Panthers, The Gauchos and The Long Island Lightning and Washington D.C. A.A.U. power D.C. Assault. Some of the local talent in the tournament from the Playaz are for the 15u team, Josh Marquez #23( Depaul H.S.) and Reggie Cameron and Kavon Stewart(both pictured), who are both undecided on their next Highschool due to the closing of Paterson Catholic. The 16u team consists of Dallas Englin(Seton Hall Prep) and Paterson’s Davon Jacobs( Depaul) and Zaire Williams(Newark Academy).The 15u team in particular are considered one of the best around after winning the Boo Williams tournament in Virginia early in the A.A.U. season. Come see some of the best young talent in the metropolitan area this weekend!