AAU Weekend Wrap Up- King James Classic

Great weekend for Ohio teams in one of the spring's top events: The King James Shooting Star Classic in Akron. A lot of guys from the Buckeye state, and Cincinnati, really played well this weekend. We even had two instate champions............
Weekend Photos

DJ Wingfield helped lead his Martin Wolverines
team to the finals of the 16u Gold division

17u 

All-Ohio Purple: Playing in a Super Pool (A loaded pool where all teams advance to Gold bracket) is never easy. That was the case this weekend for AOP who finished 1-3. Their weekend ended with a loss to the Baltimore Stars in second round of Gold. Purple lone bright spot was the continued success of Dayton Dunbar wing Gary Akbar, who is having a great spring scoring the ball and was already known as one of the most versatile forwards in the state.

All-Ohio Red: Winning the King James Classic means that you are one of the truly elite teams in the country, and that is the case with AOR. They won the Gold bracket, defeating several premiere teams, behind solid play from their bigs. Kenny Kasminski (Medina PF), Elijah Macon (Marion Franklin PF), Jalen Robinson (Northland PF), and Teddy Hawkins (Dayton Dunbar SF) all had great weekends as did Middletown combo guard Geovonie McKnight.

Cincinnati Knights: The Knights won their first four games on Saturday before losing to King James Shooting Stars in the dreaded fifth game of the day. Advancing to the round of 16 in the Gold bracket makes it a very successful weekend for the Knights who got good contributions from Semaj Christon, Mike Boyd, Darrin Harris, and Paul Woodson.

Queen City Prophets: QCP split their pool games before losing in the third round of the Silver bracket to the York Ballers (PA). Ladell Griffin, Michael Van Kleunen, and Landen Gaulden stood out this weekend for the Prophets.

OBC's Devin Williams was a dominant inside presence.

Club Ohio: Also split their pool play games and then lost in the first round of the Silver bracket. Trey Dees and Randale Griffith provided help to Club Ohio this weekend who also got great play from 6'8 Ross PF Max Mischkulnig. 

16u

All-Ohio Grey: The Grey boys ran through their pool, playing without the services of '14 Aiken PG Tyonte Robertson before losing in the Gold bracket round of 16 to OBC. Standout players for the weekend included Clemmye Owens (Toledo Rogers SG), Tony Kynard (Toledo Rogers PG), Ricardo Smith (Toledo St. Johns), Edmond “Junior” Early (Thurgood Marshall PG), and Keith Towbridge (Toledo Central Catholic PF). Grey also benefited from having Bowling Green PF Vitto Brown for the first time this season, Brown provided a shot blocking presence and offensive rebounding scoring touch that was previously missing.

Queen City Prophets: QCP won their pool then lost in second round of Gold to All-Ohio Grey. The Prophets got great toughness and leadership this weekend from Tim Coleman, of Withrow, and Walnut Hills' Sterling Gilmore. CPHR also was impressed with play of Deontae Bolling, of St. Xavier, and Northwest's Ramar Hairston.

All-Ohio Varsity: Won the Gold division and defeated all the more talented teams in their way, no one plays with more heart then Varsity. Their leader, Westerville North PG Jack Gibbs, continues to turn heads as his complete floor game is now matched by his long distance shooting.

Ohio Basketball Club: OBC advanced to the round of 8 in the Gold before losing to All-Ohio Varsity. Devin Williams had a blow up weekend for OBC by scoring and rebounding the ball at a great pace.

Tim Coleman, of QCP, had his scoring touch all weekend.

Martin Wolverines: The former Team Jordan just continues to improve as they advanced all the way to the finals of the Gold bracket before losing to All-Ohio Varsity. DJ Wingfield continues to be the leader of the team and provided great all around play to go with 6'10 Maverick Morgan of Springboro and Summit PG Antonio Woods. 

All-Ohio Red: Playing with only five players AOR advanced to the Gold bracket round of 16 before losing a close game to the Carolina Hurricanes. Having wings Austin Grimes and Jordan Lauf (Napoleon) back really helped Red due to those two's versatility and strength.

Cincinnati Lakers: The Lake show won their pool behind strong play of Dorian Jordan and Trent Donald, along with Keith Watkins (Moeller) and Ricardo Hill (Walnut Hills). They then lost in the second round of the Gold bracket to the Franchise Ballers (NY).

Club Ohio: Won their pool and lost in first round of the Gold bracket. Their top contributors were Corey Wise (Hamilton), Milt Davis (Summit), and Darius Hilson (Princeton).

15u

All-Ohio Red: Finished 0-2 in their super pool. AOR lost to Elite Expressions (MA), the eventual champs, in the Gold round of 8. Moeller's Adam Gigax stood out with his versatility on the wing this weekend for AOR.

Queen City Prophets: QCP won their pool behind the exceptional play of Winton Woods PG Ronnie Rousseau who had two games of over 25 points. QCP lost in second round of Gold bracket to West Virginia Storm.