2012 J.P. Tokoto
2013 Deonte Burton
2014 Jonathan Carson
2008 NY2LA Sports Invitational Wrap-Up - Part 2
June 10, 2008
Antonio Curro - NY2LA Sports
The 15U-17U divisions weren't the only ones with strong performances at the 2008
NY2LA Sports Invitational, there were a ton of them at the 12U-14U level as well
throughout the weekend. When the dust settled, it's was the Playground
Elite program that captured the tournament championships after outlasting a host
of strong challengers on Sunday afternoon.
14U Division Champions - Playground Elite
14U Division Co-M.V.P's - J.P. Tokoto & Otis Pertle (Playground Elite)
The 14U Division featured some big time talent throughout the weekend and the
championship game was another classic as the powerful Chicago Summit squad took
on the same from Playground Elite. The Summit advanced to the championship
after outlasting the always tough Wisconsin Swing in a classic semi-final
matchup that featured a monster performance from Trashaun Carroll of the Summit.
On the other end it was the play of J.P. Tokoto and Otis Pertle that pushed the
Playground Elite squad past a tough P.C. Players Red squad in the semi-finals
and into the championship game.
The championship game was nothing short of a classic as both teams took the
floor with a host of some of the top young young middle school prospects both
regionally and nationally rocking both ends of the floor. Malcolm Hill-Bey,
Jamal Millison, and Trashaun Carroll put down big time performances in the 1st
half that saw the Summit grab a 31-28 halftime lead. However, the second
half belonged to the Playground Elite as big time play from J.P. Tokoto, Otis
Pertle, and Anthony Hatfield proved to be the difference maker as Playground
Elite captured the tournament championship with a 67-63 victory over the Summit.
Playground Elite put together a solid team effort all weekend long as different
players were able to step up in big situations and make things happen. As
good as Tokoto and Pertle were game after game on the boards and around the
basket, Hatfield, Nic Stokes, and Seth Mortage were equally solid in their own
right and made solid contributions along the way. For the Summit, Malcolm
Hill-Bey was sensational all weekend long as he used his dribble penetration to
attack the rim and create for his team. Inside it was all Trashaun Carroll
as the top 10 national Class of 2012 prospect proved to be all that with his
tough interior physical dominance throughout the weekend. On the wing it
was Jamal Millison who slashed to the rim for baskets and used his length and
athleticism to create problems. Also solid was the play of Chaz Stevenson
who displayed solid range while knocking down a number of trey balls including 3
big ones in the title game.
13U Division Champions - Playground Elite
13U Division M.V.P. - Deonte Burton (Playground Elite)
The defending state champions cruised through pool play into Sunday's
championship round and after outlasting an upstart Milwaukee Basketball Club in
the semi-finals, they took on the Wisconsin Force, who are led by one of the top
Class of 2013 prospects in the state in Nick Fuller. Playground Elite 13U
has a ton of talent in their own right though and leading the way was young
forward Deonte Burton, one of the top Class of 2013 prospects nationally.
The championship was another solid performance by both squads as the Nick Fuller
hit for 19 points and P.J. Butler hit for 15 to lead the Force against the
Playground Elite squad. However, as good as Fuller and Butler were, Deonte
Burton, Jarvis Garrett, and Kadden Coleman were equally as solid and in the end
proved to be too much for the Force as the Playground Elite squad took home the
championship with a 59-53 victory. Burton continued his monster play
throughout the weekend as he hit for 17 points and grabbed a ton of boards while
Garrett chipped in with 15 points on the come up. Not to be outdone was
the strong interior play of Kadden Coleman who hit for 10 points. Another
bright spot on the weekend for the champions was the strong play of Jacquan
Carson who put down a number of strong performances again as he continues to
develop into one of the solid young prospects to watch over the coming years as
well.
12U Division Champions - Playground Elite
12U Division M.V.P. - Jonathan Carson (Playground Elite)
In what proved to be an interesting championship matchup, the Playground Elite
squad took on the Wisconsin Playground Warriors. Both of these teams have
developed into 2 of the top young 12U teams in the state of Wisconsin in their
first year and the Playground Elite squad was fresh off their tournament
championship at the Spiece Memorial Day tournament.
The Elite took the floor with arguably the most dominant Class of 2014 prospect
in the state of Wisconsin in Jonathan Carson while the Wisconsin Playground
Warriors countered with David Burrell, an equally solid talent in his own right.
In the end though, the depth and skills of the Playground Elite squad proved to
be too much as Jonathan Carson, Jerell DeBerry, and Nick Cobben proved to be too
much to handle and the Playground Elite defeated the Wisconsin Playground
Warriors 71-60. Carson had 18 points, Deberry hit for 15 and Cobben
grabbed 12 on the come up. On the flip side David Burrell was big time as
he hit for 18 points and Bennett Kohlhardt and D.J. DeValk both hit 3 trey balls
a piece for the Wisconsin Playground Warriors who fell short despite a great
effort throughout the weekend.
Gotta give major props out to Jonathan Carson who hit for 40 points in an early
tournament game. Carson continues to really make his presence felt in a
monster way locally, regionally, and nationally.
All the teams in these divisions gave a great effort throughout the weekend and
it's safe to say that with the type of talent that took the floor at these age
groups set to hit the high school levels over the next few years, the future of
basketball in the Midwest is going to be very strong.
Note: Antonio Curro is the National Editor of NY2LASports.com, the Midwest
Editor of the HoopScoop and national consultant for the HoopScoop.
