Throwback Summer Warm Up Delivered
That grassroots basketball has changed multiple times is without challenge; it's gone from random tournaments to invitation only confabs, to shoe company sponsored leagues. It's a space that is far from settled.
Before the last iteration - EYBL, UAA, 3SSB representing Nike, UA and Adidas, respectively - teams sponsored by rival shoe companies actually played each other. Curtis Symond's Hoop Magic events are a prime example of this competition driven time, along with Charlie Weber's series of tournaments.
Brian Inge, The St. James' Basketball Events Director, not only acknowledges the issue, but did something about it. Enter his DMV Summer Warmup - The Tournament of Champions.
"Participants from every shoe team in the state of Maryland, every high level independent team" recently said Inge, about last weekend's competition. He went on to identify the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) organizations participating as "TTO (Team Takeover), New World, Team Durant, DC Premier, Team Melo, Team Thrill, Team BBC, VA Havoc, TTO National, District Basketball Club, etc". As Inge stated "This is the first time all of the local teams have been in the same gym since I can remember".
Out of area groups that laced 'em up included We R 1 out of Delaware and the City of Brotherly Love's Philly Pride.
At this juncture, Inge is uniquely qualified to bring these competitors together, something many DMV hoops 'stans have pined for. Being not only a trusted basketball trainer, but unaligned event producer, and known to have kid's benefit first and foremost in his mind has created this opportunity for him. Inge's motivation for convening these groups: "We're better together when we come together. Not as strong when we we look at each other as adversaries".
Inge went on to identify some of the top talent that graced St. James for DMV Summer Warmup - The Tournament of Champions, last weekend.
"Over 30 nationally ranked players" suited up, outlined Inge, "headlined by Derik Queen (Team Thrill), Elmarko Jackson (We R 1), Donnie Freeman (TTO), Solomon Ball (Team Melo) KJ Evans, Amani Hansberry (Team Durant)". These guys alone are ranked by Rivals.com 22nd (2024), 144th (2023), 24th ('24), 49th ('23), 14th ('23) and 137th ('23), respectively.
Following are highlights from the Warm Up, as provided by Inge.
Be sure to track his work at The St. James, and via Twitter's @TheRealBdotInge!
* Biggest upset was District Basketball Club defeating Team Melo
* Team Thrill UAA defeated Team Durant EYBL (17u) in the game of the weekend.
* TTO 17u came back to defeat We R 1 (UAA) which was led by Florida commit Thomas Haugh and Elmarko Jackson.
* TTO 16u defeated Team Thrill in a highly anticipated 16u matchup.
* New World 16u defeated Philly Pride in the game of the day Saturday.
* Nova Cavs were very impressive as a program competing against several shoe teams in all age groups.
* VA Havoc is probably the most talented independent team I have seen this year along with the District Basketball Club.
* DMV Stags 17u has a hidden gym in Shawn Jones. Not much known about him, MM type kid.