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Southwest Showcase 11U/12U Championships

By: Jeff Meadows

Once again Ron Coleman put on another GREAT tournament filled with all of the top players/teams which is such a delight for me because I get the chance to see/evaluate all of the teams/talent all at once. This event was just a prelim of what’s to come this spring and for all of you players and parents here are the events that I will be grading all middle school players on for my spring/summer middle school rankings, the three (3) big middle school events coming up this spring Ron Coleman’s Spring Classic, www.azhoopsreport.com Post Season Arizona Middle School All-State Games and Chad Groth’s Phoenix  Middle School Spring Showcase all will be held in March so make sure you don’t miss either event it will be vital in my middle school all-state selection process and remember, U CAN’T BE AMONG THE TOP PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY IF YOUR NOT ONE OF THE TOP PLAYERS IN THE STATE.

Southwest Showcase Tournament 11U Championship game: Team Magic vs Select

                                                           Game summary

With this game being such a big rivalry between the two teams (which the Select have usually come out on top) it had the makings of something special and it was. Dominic Cagglione and Micah Price got started early by hitting back to back long range baskets for the Select team and 5’8 ½ Marvin Bagley III showed why he is the top 10U player in the state and also among the top 3, 11U players in state by controlling the tempo with his rebounding and scoring in the early stages of the game for Team Magic which made it hard for the Select team to get into any kind of rhythm. Colten Cressel began to take over for Team Magic by scoring many different ways. With 10:06 remaining in the 1st half after a Colten Cressel 3, the Team Magic led 22-15. The Select’s super trio of Cagglione, Price and Fowler just could not get their shots to fall while Marvin Bagley III & Colten Cressel pretty much were having their way with the Select leading their Team Magic team into the half with a 32-22.

2^nd half: Colten Cressel continued his offensive assault by hitting shots from all areas of the court while Marvin Bagley III continued to dominate by scoring inside and blocking shots for the Team Magic. Meanwhile the Select just couldn’t get any of their shots to fall while the Team Magic was clicking on all cylinders. The Select fought back by cutting the Team Magic’s lead to 7 but in the end it was too much Marvin Bagley III and way too much Colten Cressel as the Team Magic went on to pull off the upset in convincing fashion 52-43. “It just wasn’t our day” said Select Coach Taylor Lilly “We just didn’t play like ourselves, not to take anything away from the Magic because they played an outstanding game”. Colten Cressel led all scorers with 25 pts and Marvin Bagley III dropped 17 pts 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. Dominic Cagglione scored 9 pts and Micah Price scored 11 pts for the Select. “It was a great battle as usual between two tough teams.  I’m sure we both enjoy the rivalry.  Magic had fun playing hard!” said Coach Walter Tindal III of Team Magic.

My take on the game

My take on the game is plain and simple, the Team Magic’s duo of Colten Cressel & Marvin Bagley III outplayed the Select’s super trio of Dominic Cagglione, Micah Price and Bryce Fowler which is something I’ve never seen happen before. Colten Cressel (who I have as a preseason 5^th grade 3^rd team all-state selection) flat out put on a show. I’ve seen this young man play quite a few times but I can’t say that I’ve seen him do what he did in this game. Colten drove to the basket left or right, shot the 3 with great consistency and he shot the mid range very well. If Colten can continue to play like that, he will definitely be moving up in my post season 5^th grade all-state selections in April. What can’t I say about Marvin Bagley III, every time I see this young man he’s gotten taller and better. Bagley pretty much had his way with Bryce Fowler (who is a 5^th grade preseason 1^st team all-state selection). Bagley is beginning to start to become too much for kids his age group and an age group higher to deal with, he’s like Shaq but at the 4^th and 5^th grade level. I will be watching Marvin Bagley III very closely from this point on so that I can attempt to make an accurate prediction on how good I think this young man can and will be. 

Southwest Showcase 11U MVP’s: Colten Cressel & Marvin Bagley III

Player evaluations

Colten Cressel (PG) Team Magic From what I seen in that game, if Colten can continue to play like that he’s definitely among the top 3 guards in his class. Colten did some things that I had no idea he could do, Colten has the TOTAL package meaning, there’s really nothing that Colten can’t do, Colten has the opportunity to move up in the Post Season Middle School All-State Rankings if he attends the three (3) big middle school events coming up this spring (Ron Coleman’s Spring Classic, www.azhoopsreport.com Post Season Arizona Middle School All-State Games and Chad Groth’s Phoenix  Middle School Spring Showcase).

Dominic Cagglione (PG) Select Dominic is a very solid guard, he’s a scrappy little guard who get’s good results on both the offensive and defensive ends on the regular, Dominic is a high level guard that never plays to the level of the competition because he makes the competition step their game up, I’m looking forward to seeing Dominic play in the three (3) big middle school events coming up this spring (Ron Coleman’s Spring Classic, www.azhoopsreport.com Post Season Arizona Middle School All-State Games and Chad Groth’s Phoenix  Middle School Spring Showcase).

Micah Price (PG) Select As a scout you have to like Micah because he loves the game and as a scout it’s easy for me to see, Micah is also a high level guard who will mostly give you positive results during a game which makes him a nightmare for opposing teams, I’m really looking forward to seeing Micah in the three (3) big middle school events coming up this spring (Ron Coleman’s Spring Classic, www.azhoopsreport.com Post Season Arizona Middle School All-State Games and Chad Groth’s Phoenix  Middle School Spring Showcase).

Bryce Fowler (PF) Select Bryce is a very good prospect who we haven’t seen the best of yet, my prediction is that as good as Bryce is now, we will see the best of Bryce a few years from now that’s right Bryce will be even better in two (2) to three (3) years from now, Bryce is a very solid forward who has played extremely consistent basketball over the years, I’m really looking forward to seeing Bryce the play in the three (3) big middle school events coming up this spring (Ron Coleman’s Spring Classic, www.azhoopsreport.com Post Season Arizona Middle School All-State Games and Chad Groth’s Phoenix  Middle School Spring Showcase).

Southwest Showcase 12U Championship: “Attitude Dream” vs Team Bibby

This was another major rivalry game between two (2) old foes, “Attitude Dream Team” and Team Bibby (which Team Bibby has won most of the times). “Attitude Dream Team” had a new addition to go along with an already talented squad, his name Justin Mandrel. Who will come out on top this time?

                                                                  Game summary

To start the game off, “Attitude Dream Team” immediately went to their secret weapon Justin Mandrel and he delivered scoring the first 3 times he touched the ball and Russ Bidege scored in transition and even in a half court set keeping the“Attitude Dream Team” neck and neck with Team Bibby. Gavin Lindstrom played well scoring a lot in transition or off of assist from Bryce Fisher and JJ Rhymes, this game was definitely going to go down to the wire. While both teams played well, Team Bibby went into the half with a 23-22 lead.  2^nd half: The game continued to be a nip n tuck, Grant Fogherty played very well for “Attitude Dream Team” controlling the tempo and hitting big shots throughout the second half, keeping the pressure on the Team Bibby guards. Midway through the second half, Bryce Fisher, Micheal Dane Bibby, JJ Rhymes and Gavin Lindstron all played big, hitting big shot after big shot to which led to Team Bibby’s 7 pt lead with 2:03 remaining which led to a time out called by "Attitude DreamTeam" calling a time out. After the Time out, “Attitude Dream Team” cut Team Bibby’s lead down to 42-39 but that was as close as they would get as Team Bibby held on to win 47-42.

                                                              12U Tournament MVP’s

The 12U tournament MVP’s are Bryce Fisher, Micheal dane Bibby, JJ Rhymes and Gavin Lindstrom. All of those players played extremely well throughout the tournament.

Player evaluations

Grant Fohgerty (PG) “Attitude Dream Team” Fohgerty is a well rounded (PG) who can stroke the mid range and long range shot, has a very high basketball I.Q., understands SITUATIONAL basketball, has a very good handle, a very good guard, must see him at Chad Groth’s Spring  Middle school  Showcase, Ron Coleman’s Spring Tournament and www.azhoopsreport.com’s Post season Middle School All-State games.

Russ Bedige (F) “Attitude Dream Team” Russ has always been one of the top players in his age but the problem has been that he hasn’t participated in the big events such as: Chad Groth’s Spring Middle School Showcase, Ron Coleman’s Tournaments and the Preseason or Post season all-state games. If Russ participates in those events there’s no doubt in my mind that he will be at the top of his class.

Justin Mandrel (P) “Attitude Dream Team” Mandrel has immediately become a TOP GUY! Mandrel is definitely one of the best in his class, he has good size, good foot work, very skilled and he dominates high level competition, must see him at the three (3) BIG events this spring.

Kaman Walls (PG) Team Bibby Kaman has been among the top two (2) or three (3) (PG) in the state the past few years, Kaman is very skilled and has lots of heart, I need to see Kaman at the three (3) BIG events coming up this spring competing against the top players in his class in order for him to maintain  his top ranking.

Bryce Fisher (G) Team Bibby Bryce has game, Bryce is very skilled and can play in either a half court set or in a transition offense, Bryce is a very good defender, Bryce can hit the open outside shot or get to the basket, must see him at the 3 BIG events coming up this spring.

Micheal Dane Bibby (SG) Team Bibby Micheal has gotten better, his ball handling has improved, Micheal is a very good long distance shooter who has potential to get even better, defensively he can improve, need to see him at the three (3) BIG events coming up this spring.

Darion Adams (W) Team Bibby Darion is a talent, Darion is multi skilled, can do pretty much everything that he needs to be able to do to continue to be a high level player, look for this young man to continue to improve, need to see him at the three (3) BIG events this spring.

Irvy Smith (G/F) Team Bibby Irvy is a hidden gem, haven’t seen him very much but what I’ve seen I like, wel rounded player who is multi skilled with a lot of pure basketball talent, I must see him at the three (#) major events this spring.

JJ Rhymes (G/F) Team Bibby Rhymes is awesome, Rhymes is a big guard/forward who can play just about any position and Rhymes will certainly get better as he gets older, need to see him at the three (3) BIG events this spring.

Gavin Lindstrom (F/C) Team Bibby Gavin is a top notch player, Gavin continues to dominate and impose his will on his opponents and the question that’s going to start to arise is how much bigger will Gavin get? Not sure but for now Gavin is still one of the top dogs in his class, must see Gavin at the three (3) BIG events this spring.