On The Road With the Wisconsin Playground Warriors: Day Three
posted by Mark Miller at 4/21/2009
By Mark Miller Wishoops.net Editor (Third in a three-part series on the Real Deal in The Rock Tournament) Sunday morning in the Bible Belt means one thing … church.
Only on this day, it also meant basketball.
There were plenty of dressed up workers at the various gyms Sunday as people in this part of the country still believe in keeping the Sabbath day holy. It was refreshing to see.
I rolled out of bed early, hailed a cab and headed across town to one of those multi-use facilities that seem to be popping up everywhere. In the Madison area where I live, we have three or four of these places and they are used primarily but not exclusively for youth sports.
Back in the day, kids played at the park or school playgrounds, usually on a whim. The games were on blacktop with chain nets if there any at all. Now, kids play in organized events 12 months of the year at places like the MAC Center in Verona, the Impact Sports Enhancement Center in Stoughton and the Keva Sports Center in Middleton. Times change.
Talent galore In the gym Sunday morning at 8 a.m. were six outstanding 17U teams. On court one, the Memphis Magic played against Team Texas. On court two, the Houston Swoosh Select battled the famous New York Gauchos. And on court three, the Jacksonville Lee Bulls and Marquette recruit Aaron Bowen tangled with the New York Panthers.
The talent in the gym for those 8 a.m. games was absolutely incredible. I just shook my head as I wondered how many of these kids would one day earn money in the NBA.
The best game was without question the Memphis Magic against Team Texas. Joe Jackson was outstanding as usual for the Memphis Magic, but the story of this game was the incredible performance turned in by Cameron Clark, the 6-foot-6 wing player from Sherman, Texas.
Clark went off for 39 points in a narrow defeat and pretty much cemented his status as the talk of the tournament.
After playing exceptionally well Saturday, Bowen struggled as the Jacksonville Lee Bulls were easily defeated by the New York Panthers. Bowen finished with seven points and eight rebounds, but he missed eight shots and turned the ball over several times.
Despite Bowen’s struggles against the Panthers, I came away highly impressed with the future Marquette wing. He is athletic, skilled and fast with the ball in his hands. His length and ability to get off the floor are traits that will serve him well in the Big East.
Since the Wisconsin Playground Warriors 17U and 15U teams both won their 8 a.m. contests, they were both on different courts again at 10:20 a.m. So I got in a cab and went to another gym across town, this time to catch the 15U squad.
The arrival of J.P. Tokoto J.P. Tokoto made a very positive impression during the 2008-09 high school season while playing for coach Ben Siebert at Menomonee Falls, and he currently sits at No. 2 in the class of 2012 in the Wishoops.net Player Rankings.
The enormously talented and athletic 6-5 wing player has taken his game to even higher heights during the early portions of the AAU season.
Playing for the Playground Warriors 15U squad, Tokoto was head and shoulders the best athlete on the floor in a 57-55 victory over a game and spirited Oklahoma Magic squad in the semifinals of the consolation bracket.
Playing on a sprained ankle, Tokoto dominated the glass, had an impressive dunk, swatted away several shots and scored nine points to help his team pull out the victory.
A smooth athlete who gets places with the ball in a hurry, Tokoto is an unselfish teammate who can score facing the basket or with his back to the basket.
When Tokoto adds some weight, gains additional strength and hones his skills, he will evolve into a dynamic player. Heck, he already is a dynamic player, and one that will unquestionably wind up playing college basketball at the highest level.
In addition to the outstanding play of Tokoto, the Warriors got a stellar performance out of Sheboygan Lutheran guard Sam Dekker, who drilled five three-pointers and scored 17 points. The 6-3 Dekker got on a roll in the second half, connecting on three consecutive triples to give the Warriors a lead they would never relinquish.
Eau Claire Memorial wing Wally Ellenson (6-4) also played well for the Warriors as he scored 13 points and threw down an impressive dunk in traffic on a fastbreak. Ellenson has outstanding jumping ability and strength and can get to the basket and finish.
Playground Warriors 17U squad bows out Competing in their third game of the day, the Playground Warriors ran out of gas and fell to a team from Houston in the semifinals of the 17U consolation bracket. The Warriors thus ended their stay in Arkansas with a 5-3 record.
Each of the players on the Warriors’ 17U squad played well at times in Little Rock.
Catholic Memorial’s T.J. Bray was able to get into the lane and either score or find teammates. He also knocked down some three-point shots.
Eau Claire North’s Evan Anderson used his 6-11 size to disrupt opponents on defense, and when he got post position on offense, he was often able to score over defenders.
Arrowhead’s Ben Mills showed off his sweet baby hook shot in almost every game and ran the floor like a guard.
De Pere’s Brandon Pritzl competed as hard as any player in the tournament and used his physical strength and toughness to score in the lane over bigger opponents.
Sussex Hamilton’s Kameron Cerroni knocked down three pointer after three pointer while also looking for his teammates on drives to the basket.
Catholic Memorial’s Derek Schell drained three-point shots, moved the ball on offense and guarded well on the other end.
Oshkosh North’s Taylor Cameron beat defenders off the dribble and used his 6-4 frame to score in the lane. Cameron also showed the ability to knock down three-point shots and hit mid-range jump shots.
Noah Cottrill of West Virginia proved he is a top 75 recruit nationally with his ability to get past defenders and find teammates as well as hit shots from the perimeter.
Dakotah Euton of Kentucky flashed his versatility by making perimeter shots as well as hitting the glass and scoring in the lane.
Of course, all of the above players have plenty to work on as well. But collectively, it’s a very talented group and a bunch of guys who get along as well off the floor as they do on the floor. Indeed, the character of the kids in the entire Playground Warriors program was impressive. I witnessed no issues of bad behavior, poor sportsmanship or arguing between teammates.
“When you travel all spring for entire weekends on a bus and/or plane as well as for weeks at a time in the summer, our guys serve as an extended family to one another,” said Ritchie Davis, the executive director of the Playground Warriors. “Many of our kids are the best of friends all year long, not just during the spring/summer.”
The state of travel-team basketball This was my first opportunity to watch a national travel-team event. Needless to say, the talent level at events such as the Real Deal In the Rock Tournament is off the charts good. It is unlike anything I’ve ever seen in Wisconsin.
There are athletes and kids with size. Shooters and kids with speed. And the depth of teams at this tournament is mind boggling. Nearly every team had at least one Division I player, and many had several.
John Cameron, the assistant coach of the Warriors’ 17U squad who also is an assistant coach at Oshkosh North, believes you can divide AAU basketball into three levels.
At the Division III level, you have local programs that usually play within the state of Wisconsin.
At the Division II level, you have regional programs that play in the state but also venture to other events in places like Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Minnesota. And, of course, Nevada for the end-of-the-season Las Vegas tournaments.
And then there is the Division I level where programs travel to national tournaments and compete against the elite in the country week after week. The Playground Warriors will take part in no less than four tournaments this spring and summer that are invitation only. They definitely fall into the Division I level.
When you have a program at the Division I level, it takes more than one person to make it run smoothly. The Warriors have an entire staff of dedicated coaches and administrators.
“The amount of work that goes into an elite national program is astonishing at times,” Davis said. “Scott Tuttle handles all of the financial responsibilities for our program; Francisco Vasquez handles all legal aspects for the program; Chris Newbauer handles all of the scouting for each opponent along with Jamaal Polk and Levelle Epps. It truly takes the work of many in order to compete successfully every weekend.”
The long ride home After three days of basketball, the players, coaches and parents were definitely ready to go home.
After waiting several hours while a mechanic fixed a flat tire on the bus, we headed home. The bus ride home was long, but it was also strangely relaxing.
Driving in a beautiful Arkansas sunset, movies played and kids laughed and enjoyed hanging with each other.
Parents called home, read and rested.
Ritchie Davis, on the other hand, was working. Full time.
Davis is nothing if not high octane. And he was definitely in his element dealing with college coaches from across the country on the ride home.
He had three cell phones going and used each as college coaches called and texted. They wanted to know how his players fared in the tournament.
Wisconsin texted about Tokoto. Marquette did the same.
Ben Mills was another player many schools checked up on.
The texts were coming at a rapid pace and Davis showed me some of the messages. It was enlightening, entertaining and eye-opening.
Tokoto was, without a doubt, the player that generated the most interest. In addition to Wisconsin and Marquette, Arizona State, Boston College, Iowa, Minnesota, Oregon State, Tennessee and UCLA texted about Tokoto.
“I received text message about Evan Anderson, Nick Arenz, T.J. Bray, Kameron Cerroni, Noah Cottrill, Wally Ellenson, Dakota Euton, Derek Hasanoglu, Trevor Jorgenson, Austin Mecca, Ben Mills and Brandon Pritzl,” Davis said. “The majority of the phone calls were for J.P. Tokoto though as I believe he is the best collegiate prospect in the state of Wisconsin right now.”
Around midnight, the texts started to die down.
Six hours later, we arrived in Milwaukee. A group of 14-to-18 year old kids and some adults were no doubt tired, but ready to hit the work and school week, nonetheless.
In a few short days, many will return and board another bus for another long weekend of basketball, this time in Akron, Ohio.
These basketball vagabonds are on the lookout for the best competition possible. Along the way they get the opportunity to play with some terrific teammates while also getting tremendous exposure. They also create lasting memories and gain friendships that could last a lifetime.
There definitely is a positive side to travel-team basketball.
Comments 2
On
4/21/2009 8:32:46 PM
lcraiders wrote:
sounds like fun
On
4/22/2009 10:41:42 AM
buzzerbeater2 wrote:
Does this start pretty much right after the State Tournament? How much school do these kids miss?
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