IPS In-Season Tournament- All Tourney 1st Team

The talents of these players were on full display last night. These young stars showed why they are worthy of being first team All Tournament players.    The first time I watched Demone play, he was shorter and displayed the skills of a shooting guard. Last night, I saw a player who grew significantly and played more like a small forward. He still handles the ball well, drives around defenders and makes plays. The biggest change I saw was his ability to dominate smaller defenders in the paint. If he was not attacking the defense off the dribble, Demone was grabbing rebounds and scoring tough baskets. Some of these scores led to three-point play opportunities from the foul-line. I noticed a new addition to Demone's skills. He showed the ability to extend his range beyond the three-point line. When I saw him play last season, he exclusively attacked the basket. On defense, he used his length to block shots and create turnovers on the perimeter. Demone is a good player who will have a smooth transition into high school basketball. He finished the game with (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks.)     In my opinion, this young man has drastically improved since I watched him play last season. Jaxon knocked down three three-pointers and a host of perimeter jump-shots during last night's game. He effortlessly found ways to free himself for clean looks at the basket. His teammates played a big part in successfully getting him open shots. They set screens and ran plays that allowed him to be effective. Jaxon introduced a new facet to his game. He attacks defenders off the dribble and scores floaters around the basket. I was in shock! These were skills I did not see last season. After watching him play last night, I was thoroughly impressed with his belief in himself. Jaxon showed no signs of being a confident player when I saw him last year. Well, that has changed drastically! Jaxon is a serious threat from the three-point line. I expect him to have a great season shooting the basketball. He finished the game with 17 points.     Jeremiah was great at handling the basketball, getting to the basket and knocking down perimeter shots. He's a fearless player who always looked to score. I appreciated the aggression he showed for the duration of the game. It did not matter who guarded him, Jeremiah was on a mission to score and make positive plays. Every time he got into the lane, Jeremiah looked to either pass or score. Some of his assists were on the flashy side. He excelled at scoring tough baskets through contact. There was a play that stood out above the rest. He drove down the lane and contorted his body around the defender for an acrobatic lay-up. Jeremiah is a scrappy player who does whatever he needs to win games. Once he figures out how to control his emotions, he could become a serious problem for opposing defenses.                                                           Adarius is an excellent ball handler who excels at creating his own shots. He easily drove around defenders, attacked the paint and dished off assists to teammates near the basket. Whenever he decided to take a shot, it usually ended with a floater in the paint. Adarius showed his skills as a shooter. In isolated situations, he used great dribble moves to free himself for mid-range jumpers. There were instances in the game where Adarius brought the ball up-court, stopped at the three-point line and knocked them down. This shows his prowess as a legitimate threat from behind the three-point line. Defensively, he showed a knack for turning over the opposition. He finished the game with multiple steals. Adarius will continue to grow as an all around player. He already has the ability to be a scorer and play-maker. Imagine how good he will become as his game continues to progress?     Ramone showcased his skills for all to see last night. Whether it was being the primary facilitator, driving to the basket, knocking down perimeter shots or scoring in transition, Ramone was effective from everywhere on the court. Whenever he grabbed defensive rebounds, Ramone immediately pushed the pace up-court. This led to him assisting teammates or scoring in transition himself. Everything he did on the court, was off sheer hustle and determination. Whenever he had opposing players in one-on-one situations, Ramone beat them off the dribble and effectively attacked the basket. I appreciated the energy he showed throughout the game. Ramone played like a person who was determined to win at all cost. He's an excellent player who I expect to have a big season in middle school basketball. Ramone finished with (10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.)

The talents of these players were on full display last night. These young stars showed why they are worthy of being first team All Tournament players.