2019 Made Hoops The Warm Up Report
This report will cover the 2019 Warm Up presented by Made Hoops. This version of The Warm Up will be mostly remembered for Team Mother Nature dominating most of the tournament. Mother Nature continued to dominate taking game after game at the Springdale Park and Rec but it wasn’t strong enough to capture the championships. Chad Babel did and outstanding job of finding new gym sites and getting the tournament completed safely. It might’ve not been the most ideal but it he did a great job with what he had to work with. Major props to him on pulling it off.
Made Hoops The Warm Up Showcase
Friday April 12, 2019
Fayetteville High School
Fayetteville, AR
(B) Bradley Beal Elite 90
Woodz Elite 85
Notes: This game was mostly billed for the match-up of Moses Moody (6-3 ’20 G Montverde Academy (FL)/Bradley Beal Elite) and Chris Moore (6-7 ’20 F West Memphis (AR)/Woodz Elite). Moore and Moody both had very solid games and delivered but it was the guards that got my attention. Caleb Love (6-3 ’20 PG Christian Brothers (MO)/Bradley Beal Elite) and Davonte Davis (6-4 ’20 PG Jacksonville (AR)/Woodz Elite) both played really well going back-and-forth with each other. Look for both of these guards to have big summers. Payton Brown (6-4 ’20 SG Waldron (AR)/Woodz Elite) knocked down several three’s to get Woodz back in the game near the end.
Made Hoops The Warm Up Pool Play
Saturday April 13, 2019
Springdale Park and Rec
Springdale, AR
15U
(B) MEBO 51
All Arkansas Red 46
Notes: All Arkansas Red led pretty much the entire game until MEBO finally pulled ahead at the end. Semarion Grant (5-10 ’22 G Provine/MEBO) drove and kicked out to Cameron Brent ( ’22 PG Jackson Prep/MEBO) for a three to take the first lead in the game with 1:22 to go. MEBO went up 47-44. Brent went on to hit two free-throws for a 49-45 lead. Jederion Lewis (’22 MEBO) finished it off with two free-throws of his own for the 51-46 win. Brent really sparked the MEBO team with his ability to drive and find the open man.
MEBO
’22’s
Avaughn Johnson 12 pts 1 reb
Tralin Turner 6 pts 6 reb
Jederion Lewis 8 pts 7 reb 2 ast 1 blk
Cameron Brent PG Jackson Prep 10 pts 3 ast 1 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Semarion Grant
Provine/MEBO
5-10 ’22 G
13 pts 4 reb 2 ast 1 st
15U
(B) Bluff City Legends EYBL 76
Arkansas Demons 45
Notes: Bluff City rolled to an easy win. Matthew Stokes (6-7 ’23 F Collierville (TN)/Bluff City Legends EYBL) played up with the 15U and will develop into one of the better prospects in the Memphis area. He is still finding his way with this team right now but watch for him to have a big summer.
Bluff City Legends EYBL
’22’s
Kobe Wilkes 11 pts
Markese Washington 6-4 G Memphis East (TN) 11 pts
Chunterron Ward 11 pts
Arkansas Demons
’22’s
Eli Patterson 19 pts 5 3’s
17U
(B) Woodz Elite 71
Alabama Fusion 68
Notes: This game came down to a phantom free-throw violation and was exciting the entire game. Chris Moore (6-7 ’20 F West Memphis (AR)/Woodz Elite) stepped up big down the stretch to help get the win. Jaylin Williams (6-9 ’20 F/C Northside (AR)/Woodz Elite) had one of the biggest breakout weekends of any player there. He showed that he can step out and shoot from the outside and play well on the inside too. Devonte Davis (6-4 ’20 PG Jacksonville (AR)/Woodz Elite) had another solid battle. This time it was against Mark Sears (6-0 ’20 PG Muscle Shoals (AL)/Alabama Fusion). Sears is really good and is a very over-looked prospect. He is a smooth and shifty, lefty guard. Reginald “RJ” Perry (6-7 ’20 C Fairfield Prep School (AL)/Alabama Fusion) is a big football beast that rules the paint when he’s on the court. And then there was Colby Jones (6-4 ’20 G Mountain Brook (AL)/Alabama Fusion). Jones was the biggest surprise for me this weekend. His play was way beyond what he showed during the high school season. He was all over the place and filled all the stat categories the whole weekend. His motor turned him into a dominant presence. Tommy Murr (6-1 ’20 PG Lindsey Lane (AL)/Alabama Fusion) was held in check by apparently the best defender in the country, me. I seem to be able to slow his scoring down. He still was able to contribute with his high level passing and guard play. His eyes and passing are high level.
Woodz Elite
’20’s
Caleb London 6-4 SG Memphis University School (TN) 11 pts 6 reb 1 ast 1 st
Chris Moore 6-7 F West Memphis (AR) 16 pts 5 reb 2 blk
Devonte Davis 6-4 PG Jacksonville (AR) 16 pts 2 reb 3 ast 2 st
Payton Brown 6-4 SG Waldron A(R) 5 pts 3 reb 1 ast 2 st
Alabama Fusion
’20’s
Mark Sears 6-0 PG Muscle Shoals (AL) 23 pts 3 3’s 3 reb 4 ast 2 st
Reginald “RJ” Perry 6-7 C Fairfield Prep School (AL) 9 pts 4 reb 1 st
Colby Jones 6-4 G Mountain Brook (AL) 19 pts 9-11 ft 10 reb 2 ast 5 st 2 blk
Tyler Lang 6-6 SF LeFlore (AL) 2 pts 6 reb 1 blk 1 st
Jamel King 6-6 SF Paul W Bryant (AL) 9 pts 3 3’s 5 reb
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Jaylin Williams
Northside (AR)/Woodz Elite
6-9 ’20 F/C
13 pts 8 reb 1 ast 1 st 2 blk
16U
(B) Bluff City Legends 74
Team JAH’s Elite Greg 31
Notes: Bluff City rolled in this game. Eli Federman (5-9 ’21 PG Christian Brothers (TN)/Bluff City Legends) is a high level floor general. He sees the court very well and is a play maker for his teammates. Dondre Watson (’21 F Bluff City Legends) is long and strong. He is a nice looking athlete that has a bright future ahead of him. Mason Hanbeck (6-10 ’22 F/C Southside (TN)/Bluff City Legends) had glimpses of high level play. He had a few nice dunks in transition. Kaeden Laws (6-5 ’21 SG Center Hill/Bluff City Legends) was just as solid as ever. He didn’t do anything flashy but he did everything just right.
Bluff City Legends
’21’s
Jelani Willis 6-3 G First Assembly Christian (TN) 10 pts
15U
(B) WACG 67
Ferguson Elite OK 45
Notes: Devin Ree (6-5 ’22 G/F Terry/WACG) scored 13 points and knocked down a couple three’s on the way to the win. He added 8 rebounds, 2 assist, 2 blocks and 2 steals.
17U
(B) MoKan Elite 83
MEBO 62
Notes: Samson Ruzhentsev (6-7 ’20 SF Hamilton Heights (TN)/MoKan Elite) had a very tough first half. He was distracted by the chattering and picked up a couple cheap fouls early on. Sam made up for it in the second half. The former Hamilton Heights star showed that he can do it from all areas on the court offensively. He knocked down some long range shots and played above the rim too. There was no way N’Faly Dante (6-11 ’20 C Sunrise Christian (KS)/MoKan Elite) was missing this game against his former team. He played in the Nike Hoop Summit the night before in Portland with the game going to nearly midnight. He flew in to catch the Warm Up. Dante left his fingerprints all over the rim with several powerful dunks. Who had the impossible task of holding Dante? That would be Nick Walker (6-5 ’20 F/C Hattiesburg/MEBO). As far as my opinion goes, Nick did an extremely good job with the challenge considering the height difference and the nationally know skill level of Dante. Nick banged for boards and defended very hard.
MoKan Elite
’20’s
Luke Kasubke 6-6 SG Chaminade (MO) 11 pts
N’Faly Dante 6-11 C Sunrise Christian (KS) 15 pts 6 reb
MEBO
’20’s
Keondre “Dre” Montgomery 6-7 SG Forest Hill 11 pts 1 st
Shawn Royal Jr 6-5 G Country Day (LA) 7 pts 3 reb 3 ast 3 st
Cam Brown 6-2 G Hattiesburg 12 pts 3 reb 1 st
Nick Walker 6-4 F/C Hattiesburg 11 pts 8 reb 1 st 1 blk
Justin Bufford 6-5 G/F Ellwood Christian Academy (AL) 9 pts 6 reb 1 blk
Cuwandric Samuel 6-3 G Callaway 2 pts 5 reb 4 ast 2 st
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
Samson Ruzhentsev
Hamilton Heights (TN)/MoKan Elite
6-7 ’20 SF
21 pts 3 3’s 6 reb 1 blk
Made Hoops The Warm Up Tournament
Sunday April 14, 2019
Fulbright Junior High
Bentonville, AR
14U
(B) North Coast Blue Chips 63 Triple OT
Team Griffin Black 59
Notes: This was about the best game of the entire weekend. It had the hype of the crowd. It had the top talent in one game. It had an intense ending going into a win by four triple overtime. LeBron “Bronny” James Jr (5-10 ’23 G Crossroads School (CA)/North Coast Blue Chips) fulfilled all the hype with his play. He connected on a game tying acrobatic layup over a 6-9 defender at the buzzer. He then scored the final points of the game with a steal and layup. The hype he brings to every game he plays in is crazy. Jahzare Jackson (6-10 ’23 C (FL)/North Coast Blue Chips) is an impressive sight to see. He has serious size with a soft touch and agile feet. Amir Robinson (’23 F North Coast Blue Chips) is strong and has nice size too. He did a little bit of everything on the court for his team. Gabe Cupps (’23 G Centerville (OH)/North Coast Blue Chips) will be a nice player to keep an eye on over the years. He had several highlight plays. He can shoot outside or create off the dribble. Khoi Thurman (’23 PG (OH)/North Coast Blue Chips) steadily runs the show. David Oyana (6-9 ’23 C Team Griffin Black) is a nice post prospect. He plays hard on both ends and even caught him a body during this game. Jayden Nicholson (6-4 ’23 F (MO)/Team Griffin Black) and Omaha Biliew (6-7 ’23 PF (IA)/Team Griffin Black) are two highly ranked prospects that deserve every bit of their rankings. Both will be high level players to watch for. Bryson Warren (’23 G (AR)/Team Griffin Black) is a good shooter that can also score from multiple levels.
My view of Bronny taking the game over.
North Coast Blue Chips
’23’s
Khoi Thurman PG (OH) 8 pts 5 reb 1 ast
Gabe Cupps G Centerville (OH) 12 pts 4-4 ft 3 reb
Amir Robinson F 13 pts 6 reb 4 ast
Jahzare Jackson 6-10 C (FL) 8 pts 2 reb 1 blk
Team Griffin Black
’23’s
David Oyana 6-9 C 9 pts 4 reb 1 blk 1 st
Jayden Nicholson 6-4 F (MO) 17 pts 6 reb 2 ast
Bryson Warren G (AR) 21 pts 4-4 ft 3 3’s 3 reb 2 ast 2 st
Omaha Biliew 6-7 PF (IA) 10 pts 7 reb 3 ast 1 st 2 blk
Magnolia Hoops Player of the Game
LeBron “Bronny” James Jr
Crossroads School (CA)/North Coast Blue Chips
5-10 ’23 G
16 pts 4-5 ft 6 reb 3 ast 4 st
Magnolia Hoops Head of the Class
The best players in their respective classes that I saw during this time period based on stats.
2020: Colby Jones
6-4 G Mountain Brook (AL)/Alabama Fusion
2021: Jelani Willis
6-3 G First Assembly Chrisitan (TN)/Bluff City Legends
2022: Devin Ree
6-5 G/F Terry/WACG
2023: LeBron “Bronny” James Jr
5-10 G Crossroads School (CA)/North Coast Blue Chips
Magnolia Hoops Starting 5
The top five players that I saw during this time period based on stats.
Magnolia Hoops 