The Basketball Movement Invitational recap

The Basketball Movement’s 2018 Boys Invitational Camp was a success for all involved.

The Movement wants to thank all of the players that came out, parents or guardians of those players, staff and volunteers, and sponsors for helping to make this another successful camp.

A camp like this one sets out with several clear goals: Improve players, showcase their talent, build relationships, and have fun playing the amazing game of basketball. We enjoyed meeting first-time participants and parents as well as reconnecting with those we already knew well. The Basketball Movement is thrilled to be able to provide a platform for these up-and-comers as they look to improve and gain recognition.

The camp is invitational because iron sharpens iron. Players were able to compete at a very high level that they may not always have the opportunity to do. Aside from playing 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5, players also got to focus on skill development while soaking up the wealth of knowledge Rob Yanders and his coaches provide. A focus on physical well-being, interactions/connections, and continuous development are always at the forefront at The Movement.

With interviews, professional photos, some Twitter shoutouts, and more, players got to experience a professional atmosphere that is rare at this level. Part of it builds confidence and promotes an elite-level experience, but also… it’s fun! Basketball is a game and The Movement always pulls out all the stops for players at all levels.

There was no shortage of highlights from the weekend. Let’s get into which players stood out from the pack!

All-NBA Division Second Team

The games were broken up into three tiers: NBA, G-League, and Division I. The games were played using corresponding rules from their league. Below are The Basketball Movement’s selections for the All-NBA Division Second Team.

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Evan Guillory

6’2” - Joplin class of 2020

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Donyae McCaskill

6’2” - Vashon class of 2019

Committed to University of Portland

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Isaac Haney

6’0” - Dora class of 2021

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Anton Brookshire

6’1” - Kickapoo class of 2021

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Quenton Shelton

6’2” - Lebanon class of 2020

Congratulations to The Basketball Movement’s All-NBA Division Second Team players!

All-NBA Division First Team

Now for the players that stood out all weekend long and earned top honors. Below are The Movement’s selections for All-NBA Division First Team.

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Malek Davis

5’10” - Cardinal Ritter Prep class of 2019

Committed to Drury

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Tre Edwards

6’7” - Link Year Prep class of 2019

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Chase Adams

5’8” - Link Year Prep class of 2019

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Tyem Freeman

6’6” - Parkview class of 2019

Committed to Missouri State

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Austin Johnson

6’9” Link Year Prep class of 2019

Congratulations to the above All-NBA Division First Team players from The Basketball Movement’s Boys Invitational Camp!

Of course we still have other divisions. Keep an eye on The Basketball Movement’s blog and follow us on Twitter @BBall_Movement to stay on top of this and all other things basketball. Thanks again to all involved with making this year’s tournament a success. Keep grinding!

Day two grinding - TBM Invitational Camp

Bigger day - bigger turnout as some holdouts from Friday night football are here to round out the rosters.

The Basketball Movement’s 2018 Boys Invitational Camp had a great turnout night one. Players were able to get their pro photos taken, some great workouts in, and even a few trims in the chop shop upstairs. Day two is gearing up to be even better with a full crop of young men and great action on deck.

Yesterday was filled with drills, half court work, and a get-to-know-you feel. Today the players will be going harder at their stations and get in some NBA style combine work. Everything will culminate tonight in games divided by the respective tiers.

The Division 1 game will be played first this evening, then G-League, finishing with the NBA division. As we had mentioned, the games will be played using the corresponding rules of the league. That means we will be firing up the shot clocks, running 12 minute quarters, upping foul counts, and everything in-between.

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A lot of the players are pumped for the combine drills, but of course the games are the highlight. Game-time situations are always a player’s favorite. It will give them the opportunity to show out and apply everything they have learned so far from Rob Yanders and The Basketball Movement.

The players are going through stretches now and Rob is - you guessed it - fired up. Like a kid in a candy store, Rob is jumping around like a ball of energy and encouragement. Coach Rob genuinely loves improving players as people and players. Each one of these athletes will have the opportunity to grow in the game of basketball here as well as soak up Rob’s positive influence.

The intensity is already palpable as the coaches are moving from stretching into conditioning. No one is going halfway today.

Side note: The shoe game today is on point with these players! Of course the TBM crew is looking fresh as well in head-to-toe Nike/Jordan gear.

On that note we want to give another shoutout to our tournament sponsors: Nike, Gatorade, Eastbay, Houlihan’s, Hilton Garden Inn, Guaranty Bank, Great Southern Bank, Old Missouri Bank, and TLC Properties

TBM's 2018 Boy's Invitational Camp is underway!

Coach Rob Yanders is firing up the troops as The Basketball Movement kicks off it’s annual invitational camp.

The Basketball Movement’s camp is different. Players from Springfield to Spain and everywhere in-between have gathered to learn under the tutelage of Coach Rob Yanders and his crew. Players started off by getting up some practice shots and coming over for professional photographs ahead of the real work.

There is a sense of excitement from the moment you walk through The Movement’s doors. The scent of hardwood, sound of balls bouncing, and nervous energy give off the perfect vibe. The camp already has a professional feel.

Rob was firing up the players already, as is his specialty. The inspirational Yanders is mixing his patented brand of toughness with a little humor and of course - fire.

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After getting a few shots up, some jogging/stretching, and a couple more words of encouragement - we are already going full-speed.

The players have been divided up by initial tiers and are cycling through their stations. The nervous energy is quickly evaporating and turning into sweat and instinct. As the players continue to warm up and fully get their blood pumping, they will soon be ready for Robert’s hardcore basketball style.

It is an impressive crop of players from very diverse backgrounds. It will be exciting to see how far The Basketball Movement can elevate their game. If they are willing to put in the work, they will leave day one exhausted, better, and hungry for more.

Stay tuned.

The Basketball Movement 2018 Boys High School Invitational Camp

The Basketball Movement is hosting an elite camp under head instructor Rob Yanders with combine drills, scouting, development, and competitive play.

This weekend, September 28-30 is the 7th annual Basketball Movement Invitational Camp. However, this year is completely different. The Basketball Movement is taking the traditional basketball camp experience and ratcheting it up multiple levels. This invite-only camp is designed to showcase and improve top-tier men’s high school basketball talent.

The camp will feature NBA style combine testing, intense skill development work, and competitive gameplay. After a successful career at all levels of the game, coach Rob Yanders and his staff will spend the weekend grooming players for success and instilling lessons for life on and off the court.

For More on Rob Yanders and his vision for The Basketball Movement, click here.

WHEN

Things will start Friday at 7:00 PM and run through Sunday at 5:00 PM. Friday will largely consist of NBA-style combine work so that players can show their abilities and skill level. Saturday will involve intense development as players cycle through stations, learn schemes, and participate in competitive halfcourt situations (2v2, 4v4, etc.). Games will be played nightly.

WHERE

Everything will take place at The Basketball Movement Facility:

2135 N Sports Complex Ln, Nixa, MO

WHAT TO EXPECT

There will be former NBA players, college players, coaches, scouts, and of course top high school boys talent in attendance. There will be media and scouting coverage by Slam Magazine, BallisLife, MidwestBallers, The Basketball Movement, 8EYE Media, SWMO Basketball, and other scouting outlets.

The games will be broken up into tiers this year. There will be NBA Level, G-League level, and D1 level. Each night will start with the D1 game and end with NBA, using rules from the corresponding levels. This means that the top level games will be played with NBA rules - 24 second shot clock, six fouls, four 12 minute quarters, etc.

Stats will be a point of emphasis this year, with statisticians in the building for each game. They will be implementing a European approach to complete player evaluations after each game. This will be a true measure of productivity that extends well beyond scoring. Rebounds, deflections, everything that happens on the court will be taken into account.

CHARITY ASPECT - CONVOY OF HOPE

The Basketball Movement will be using this opportunity to teach players the importance of paying it forward. Athletes have the privilege of playing the sport they love - but not everyone can experience such privileges.

Investing in community is very important to TBM’s founder, Rob Yanders. As he says, “You don’t have to be great to serve, but you do have to serve to be great.” More on how The Movement will be giving back with clothes, food, etc. to come.

HOTEL / COST

Players will be coming in from all over. Players should have received hotel and cost information from The Basketball Movement. If you still need details or were unable to access this information, Contact The Basketball Movement using the below information:

ROB YANDERS 417.655.1001
CRAIG SMITH: 417.861.2166
OFFICE: 417.988.6723
basketballmovement@yahoo.com

SPONSORS

This year’s camp sponsored by: Nike, Gatorade, Eastbay, Houlihan’s, Hilton Garden Inn, Guaranty Bank, Great Southern Bank, Old Missouri Bank, TLC Properties

Looking ahead at LeBron "Bronny" James Jr. and others

Already in the headlines for obvious reasons, Bronny James Jr. is going to be hyped for many years.

Only 13 years old, LeBron James' son, Bronny James Jr. already has an impressive highlight reel to his name. He is also fresh off a USBA (United States Basketball Association) national title with his AAU team, the Blue Chips. The young phenom raises some questions that likely his Father could best answer; could Bronny and LeBron play in the NBA at the same time?

Before we get ahead of ourselves, not many players make it to the NBA. It is not a given that LeBron's son will make it either. He has good genes, every facility imaginable, and one of the best teachers in the sport available nearly 24/7 though, so his odds are better than most. Especially if he keeps growing (he is 5'10"), his odds are decent. Also, he is only 13. Maybe he will decide he's more into NASCAR... alright, maybe not.

Bronny is a minimum of about 5 years away from being able to be employed by the NBA. In five years, LeBron will be closing in on 39 years old. No player has been playing the amount of minutes LeBron has over the last multiple seasons. If he has any tread left on the tires, you have to think he would love the chance to player either with or against his son.

LeBron's other son, Bryce Maximus is just 11 years old, but shaping up to be an impressive young player as well. It will be interesting as the years go by to see if these kids stick with it and make it to the top.

Some other noteworthy young ballers

A few years older than Bronny, Zaire Wade is a player to watch for as well. Zaire Blessing Dwyane Wade is the son of Kobe Bryant. Wait... alright, maybe not. Dwyane Wade's son, Zaire is 16 years old and already throwing down some impressive jams.

A more recognizable name may be Shareef O'neil. The great Shaquille O'neil's son does not quite have the size of his father. Many colleges would certainly still leave their doors open to the 6'9" 205 lb. forward. Shareef is 18 years old and has shown impressive range on the offensive end of the floor. 

There are of course many current and former noteworthy father-son basketball duos. The above are just a few of the bigger names out there right now. Good genes certainly help, but hard work will be a big determining factor for these (and all) players.

There are more players for basketball fans to keep an eye on than is probably possible. The Basketball Movement will continue to do its best to let you know about big names at every level of the sport, so keep coming back for more!

SLAM All-American high school teams announced

SLAM's All-American selections are often a great indicator of high school players that are destined to make a splash.

The 2018 SLAM high school All-American teams for boys and girls have been announced. The names are certainly familiar to fans of top-tier high school ball.

Names from recent teams can still be seen playing today such as: Anthony Davis, Jabari Parker, Aaron Gordon, Bradley Beal, Andrew Wiggins, DeJounte Murray, Julius Randle, the list goes on.

Below is the tweet by SLAM showing the 2018 boy's squad:

Incredibly, Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish are all heading to Duke next year. One-and-dones or no, Mike Krzyzewski will be very happy with this new crop of players.

Darius Garland is headed to Vanderbilt and Bol Bol (7'2", son of Manute Bol) is going to Oregon.

Don't forget the ladies!

Below is the tweet from SLAM showing the girl's 2018 All-American squad. 

NaLyssa Smith and Aquira DeCosta have both committed to Baylor University. SLAM lists Smith at 6'2", but reports that she has been dunking since 15!

Christyn Williams is the only UConn-bound star. Charli Collier is staying in her home state to play for the Texas Longhorns and Destanni Henderson is heading to South Carolina.

These are all players to keep a very close eye on as their careers progress. The basketball talent pipeline in the U.S. and all over the world is improving all the time. Stay on top of the movement here with us!

High school: McDonald's All-American 2018 recap

The nation's top high school talent was on display this week, with the McDonald's All-Americans in action last night.

Basketball at the high school level gets more and more impressive each year. The 2018 McDonald's All-American selections still have (literally) huge shoes to fill, as they follow in the path of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Skylar Diggins, DeMar DeRozan, Brittney Griner, Vince Carter; the list is ridiculous.

Below is the full list of 2018 participants:

One of the first things that stands out on the list would be the four Duke commits on the boy's side. Three of them (Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, and Cameron Reddish) are predicted by ESPN to go 1-2-3 in the 2019 NBA draft. We see you, Blue Devils. Kansas had three commits itself, with Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, and Vanderbilt all having two commits from this squad.

Last night's games in Philips Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks) were predictably fun on the girl's and guy's side of things. Though they get a couple practices in, the teams are typically a little disjointed to start. They begin to find their groove as the game goes on, which is what happened in these games. Once they are in the flow, they are some of the nation's finest after all.

Nassir Little (UNC commit) showed out in this one, winning MVP. Unfortunately, Zion Williamson appeared to tweak his leg a bit, so we hope that he comes away unscathed. Overall, there were plenty of high-flying dunks to make up for some suspect shooting much of the night.

The girls seemed to have an easier time finding rhythm, as ball movement and shot-making were more prominent than in the boy's game. Both were competitive, yet playful; ideal for this All-Star style of game. Christyn Williams took home MVP honors. Guess where she has committed to playing college ball. Yes of course: UConn.

The announcers of the boys game seemed to think that this was a little too remniscient of previous NBA All-Star games, with too much dunking and not enough competition. Opinion: there was so much dunking because these are athletic, long, young men that were wanting to show out against each other. These guys have been competing all year, that is how they got here. Let them bounce!

Speaking of bounce, you have to check out the dunk contest below. It includes a nice shake-up, which you just have to see to believe.

Not every one of these players will go on to achieve greatness, but you can count on several from this group busting out and making splashes on basketball's largest stages.

For more high school basketball as well as college and the pros, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

Missouri high school champions

High school basketball has officially wrapped up in Missouri.

With the close of the class 4 and 5 championships over the weekend, 2018 high school basketball is in the books. Some local teams made a splash, while a few champions are from the complete other side of the state.

Below is a very quick overview, highlighting some area finishes and all of the respective state champs. Let's dive into the results, starting with class 1.

Class 1:

Boys: Walnut Grove was able to march all the way to the state championship after beating the undefeated North Andrew. They fell to second in the state, losing to Eminence.

Girls: Wheatland defeated Mountain Grove to advance to the final four, where they lost to Mound City with Craig. Mound City with Craig won the state championship while Wheatland won third.

Class 2:

Boys: Van-Far high school (about 60 mile NE of Columbia) took the class 2 championship by defeating Hayti. Hayti defeated the Purdy boys, who took 4th in state.

Girls: Neelyville defeated Skyline and then Mid-Buchanan (whose boys team took third) to claim the state title.

Class 3:

Boys: Mountain Grove defeated Springfield Catholic to advance to the final four, where they wound up finishing third. Hogan-Prep Academy won the championship.

Girls: A local champ! Strafford defeated Licking to earn a trip to the state championships. They defeated Whitfield before dominating California 77-36 to earn their state championship. Congrats, ladies!

Class 4:

Boys: Logan-Rogersville lost out on their final four dreams dropping their game to Grandview, who would go on to win the championship.

Girls: Carl Junction had to settle for second, losing out to Incarnate Word Academy in the championship game.

Class 5:

Boys: Parkview could not quite squeeze into the final four, losing out to Rock Bridge, who went on to take third. Webster Groves defeated Chaminade for the class 5 state title.

Girls: Kickapoo had the looks of a champion, defeating Nixa, Camdenton, and then St. Joseph's academy en route to the state championship. They were defeted there by Kirkwood, while St. Jo's took third.

NBA looks to eliminate the "one-and-done"

With NCAA teams under fire for rule violations related to amateurism and preferential treatment, the NBA seeks to pave a new path for elite players.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is currently looking into changes in the way the NBA interacts with top high school talent, according to a report by ESPN's Brian Windhorst. This is of course a large step, as the league is not currently allowed to do so, requiring players to be 19 or a year removed from high school before entering the league.

Nothing conclusive has come from the Commissioners office, though we will likely hear more in the coming months. These restructuring initiatives of course hinge on the recent scandals surrounding NCAA and youth basketball. 

Between the multitude of jobs around the league and the infrastructure provided by the G-League (formerly the D-League), paid positions or playing opportunities certainly abound. There are several options here besides just reducing the required age to 18 again.

“We’re spending a lot of time on [youth basketball]. I think there is a big opportunity, on a global basis, focus on elite players in terms of better training, better fitness, so that they ultimately can be successful at the highest level.”
— Adam Silver

The above is a quote from the Commissioner given over All-Star weekend, though talks have recently accelerated due to the FBI investigation of the NCAA.

The takeaways thus far are simply that the NBA, the top global basketball league, is taking close note of the happenings at every level of the sport. More will be coming on this, likely once the NCAA tourney has ended. Stay at The Basketball Movement for everything high school, NCAA, AND pro basketball for more.

See ESPN's full report here.

 

 

Highlight factory - High school edition

As high school basketball winds down, let's take this opportunity to look back at some highlights that stood out this year.

We are in a time in which video sharing is at an all-time high, and high school basketball clips are not an exception. High school footage used to be rare, but we now have the benefit of getting to see all of the top plays from around the country.

Through various outlets such as ESPN, SLAM, and MaxPreps, we have the benefit of insight into some of the nations top playmakers. There are a few that have really stood out in the highlight world.

It is no secret that Zion Williamson of Spartansburg, South Carolina is destined for basketball greatness. The 17 year old is 6'7" and 272 pounds. That is a lot of mass to get up in the air as high as he does. Check out some highlights of the now three-time state champ and Duke commit below:

Another highlight reel star that we have seen emerge is Mac McClung, point guard for Gate City, Virginia. He recently passed Allen Iverson for the most points in Virginia state history.

At 6'2", McClung is a three star collegiate prospect (Georgetown commit) that is certainly not on the level of Williamson. He has still managed to grab headlines with some head-turning plays. Check out a few below:

Of course there are dozen of high school players at this point who are capable of putting up highlight reel footage with their basketball prowess. This is just a taste of what is out there and we could not be more excited about the continued elevated play of the young players around the world.

For some videos of of Basketball Movement players going at it, b-ball knowledge bombs, and more, check out The Movement on Youtube.

For more high school content and vids, stay right here at The Basketball Movement - High School.

Max Preps top 25 high school teams

We are going to keep this simple. We have the updated Max Preps top 25 high school teams in the nation - take a look.

There are a couple of newcomers in Max Preps top high school rankings this time. Gonzaga Prep (Spokane Washington) and Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Washington) break into the top 25.

Brandon Roy, formerly an All-Star guard for the Portland Trailblazers has been coaching his head of in Seattle, Washington with Garfield High. He suffered his first loss as a coach, previously having won 51 straight. They still sit at 18 on the list.

The top five teams remain unchanged and look like locks for the GEICO National tournament. Below is the full top 25 list straight from MaxPreps.com

1. (last week 1) Montverde Academy (Fla.), (32-0)

2. (2) Sunrise Christian Academy Elite (Bel Aire, Kan.), (21-2)

3. (3) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), (36-1)

4. (4) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), (28-1)

5. (5) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.), (26-0)

6. (7) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), (27-2)

7. (9) Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), (23-1)

8.  (10) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), (25-2)

9.  (11) Simeon (Chicago), (25-3)

10.  (12) Guyer (Denton, Texas), (34-1)

11. (13) Memphis East (Tenn.), (17-3)

12. (14) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), (27-4)

13. (15) Clarkston (Mich.), (14-1)

14. (18) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), (21-3)

15. (8) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), (25-2)

16. (22) Upson-Lee (Thomaston, Ga.), (27-0)

17. (19) Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), (24-2)

18. (6) Garfield (Seattle), (24-1)

19. (20) Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.), (25-4)

20. (21) Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), (26-5)

21. (24) Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), (20-1)

22. (25) South Bend Riley (South Bend, Ind.), (21-0)

23. (NR) Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), (23-0)

24. (17) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), (25-5)

25. (NR) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), (24-0)

Remember to keep an eye out for more high school basketball updates from The Basketball Movement.

Player movement - High school edition

There have been some signings recently, so let's take a look at where some of the top high school ballers in the nation are headed.

Examining the ESPN High School Top 100 list, the column that displays where the players have signed is starting to really fill in.

The list is of course a little subjective, as each player brings a different skill set and will fit with each team differently. Analytics still come into play and it is one of the most comprehensive lists available.

The thing that jumps out right away is the top three player's college selection.

Duke is still a premier destination for top high school talent

Next to each of the top three player's we now see a big blue "D" symbol for Duke. With the recent commitment of Spartanburg's Zion Williamson (number two on the list), Duke appears to have locked up the nation's top talent.

Playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski is a big draw for young players. Krzyzewski's national titles and Olympic coaching tenure means that he is as experienced as it gets and has worked with all-time great players.

Duke has also signed number twelve player, Tre Jones of Apple Valley High School. We cannot forget Kentucky of course, who has plucked the sixth, seventeenth, and twenty fifth ranked players. Kansas has three players in the top thirty as well.

Who has yet to sign?

There are only three players remaining in the top 25 that have yet to commit to a school.

Number five on ESPN, McDonalds All-American Romeo Langford of New Albany High school has yet to decide, though he has offers from Indiana, Kansas, and Vanderbilt.

Number seven, Anfernee Simons (great name) of IMG Academy has twelve offers, three of which are from his home state of Florida. He had committed at one point to Louisville, but the recent scandals steered him away.

Number sixteen, E.J. Montgomery of Wheeler High School currently has five offers but has also drawn attention from Duke and Kentucky, so he may hold out for a little while longer.

Check out the full list at ESPN and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for continued updates.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: JOSH ANDERSON TALKS ABOUT W. KENTUCKY’S BEST RECRUITING CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Josh Anderson showcased why he is a major part of what is widely considered the best recruiting class in Western Kentucky history as his Madison Prep squad competed at the 2017 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

A 6’4, 175-pound 2017 wing player, Madison Prep Anderson is considered a four star recruit by most publications. He brings the ability to score and play above the rim.

He and7’0 2017 big man Mitchell Robinson form what very well could be the best recruiting class in school history. Robinson is a five star recruit who is already projected as an NBA lottery pick in the 2018 draft by NBADraft.net.

“I was really comfortable when I went to Western Kentucky,” he said. “I really enjoyed the coaches and the campus. The recruiting class they had was another huge reason. When I found out that Mitchell Robinson committed from Chalmette, La., that was pretty big.”

Anderson played throughout the offseason for Louisiana Elite and raised his profile immensely on the grassroots circuit. He has helped Madison Prep start the 2016-17 season 16-2.

“During the AAU season I was trying to get better on both sides of the ball. I really wanted to improve my on ball defense and getting my jumper up with Louisiana Elite.”

Anderson chose Western Kentucky over Arkansas, Baylor, Flordai, LSU, North Carolina State and numerous others.

His Madison Prep squad competed against Greenforest, Ga., for fifth-place on Saturday after losing to Findlay Prep in the first round on Thursday and posting a win over local team Republic on Friday.

“It’s big to play in a tournament like this because you get to go up against other big time programs and players,” Anderson said. “You get to see where you are at as a team and an individual.”

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TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEMPHIS EAST 2018 ALEX LOMAX HITS BIG SHOT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Memphis East guard Alex Lomax’s game is all heart and on Friday, he showed out with one of the biggest shots in Tournament of Champions’ history, knocking down a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat national ranked Montverde in a semifinal game.

A 5’11, 190-pound 2018 guard, Lomax answered a bucket by five star 2019 Montverde guard RJ Barrett with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game and give Memphis East a 59-56 win.

Lomax has a host of Division I offers and says he brings passion and energy to the court.

“I am a dog first, I don’t bow to anyone, I really don’t care if you’re a top player or even if you’re not a top player,” Lomax said. “I feel like it’s my life on the line and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to survive. That is what my coaching staff has taught me and how I was raised up.

“Offensively, I am going to make sure my teammates are happy because in basketball if you’re teammates are happy on offense, they’re going to be extra excited on defense. I always put others above myself and make plays. At the end of the game, I just try to put myself in the best situation. If I have to I to take the last shot I will, and if I have to pass it to the next person I will. I try to put others first and recognize the situation.”

Lomax said playing for former NBA legend Penny Hardaway at Memphis East has been a special experience as Memphis East has had an opportunity to travel the country and play in a host of high profile events.

“Memphis East high school is a regular, neighborhood high school,” Lomax said. “That’s not not what it is to coach Penny. To him, Memphis East is Memphis University, it’s a high school, but basically a college. He is showing us that inner city kids, we don’t have to go to prep school. We can stay right in the city and play basketball and have the right mindset and be prepared for college.

“He prepared us for the season and we can’t do anything but just thank him.”

Lomax competed for Team Penny has helped prepare him for the Tournament of Champions and a tough schedule. He competed on the 17U circuit as an underclassmen.

“Playing against top guards in the country like Trae Young and Quade Green, that just motivated me,” he said. “Playing against guys that are better than me motivated me to get better and get to where they are and get better than they are.

“If I can play with those guys, I can play with anybody.”

He currently holds offers from Memphis, Ole Miss, Florida, Seton Hall, LSU, UMass, Temple and California, and has drawn interest from Arkansas and Tulsa.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEET RJ BARRETT, THE NATION’S NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE 2019 CLASS

SPRINGFIELD — The nation’s premier players in the Class of 2019 showed off an impressive arsenal of skills at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions held at Missouri State in Springfield

RJ Barrett, a long, athletic 6’7 point guard that can rebound, pass, handle the ball and create plays, Barrett has already created a significant recruiting buzz drawing a host of high major offers.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Barrett spent the offseason competing for UPlay in the Nike 16U EYBL and says the experience helped make him a better player.

“I was trying to work on my shooting and a little bit of everything,” he said.

Barrett said competing in the Tournament of Champions in front of some of the largest crowds any high school event will draw was a good experience. Montverde knocked off local favorite Kickapoo in the first round and advanced to face Memphis East in a semifinal contest. Memphis East is among the nation’s top ranked high school programs and have already split a pair of games this season against Montverde.

“It was a good atmosphere especially with us playing a team from Missouri,” Barrett said. “Just great to play against such great competition in a great tournament against good teams.”

Barrett said he lets his dad and coaches handle his recruiting, but has offers from Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC and Missouri where the TofC is being played. On Thursday, Kentucky head coach John Calipari was in attendance to watch Barrett after watching Kentucky signee PJ Washington compete in the previous contest.

Barrett says he enjoys watching some of the NBAs best players and tries to implement elements of their game into his own.

“In the NBA I like to watch LeBron James and James Harden because they are both great leaders and can score the basketball so that’s who I try to get my game like.”

Montverde features a slew of high level players with several players already committed to high major college programs. Barrett says the team has high expectations for the remainder of the season.

“We have a lot of potential,” he said. “We are close on and off the court and most importantly we play a lot of great defense so that gives us a great chance to win a lot of games.”