Derby State Thoroughbreds beat Team Nelson (PA) this morning then SMAA Trojans (FL) this afternoon to advance to play on the final day of the AAU Nationals.

 

Derby State will play Meanstreets from Chicago tomorrow morning at 9:20 AM, if Derby State is able to beat Meanstreets they are guaranteed a top 14 finish.

Here is the link, you can look at divison 1 or division 2 nationals or other tournaments. The 7th grade nationals was last week and the Kentucky Gators finished 5th in the country, last year they were 4th.

 

MATTS Mustangs and Spiece Gators are in the division 1 8th grade with Derby State and the 8th grade division 2 has Derby State Colts, Louisville Lightning, Kentucky Select / Tarheels I know for sure from Kentucky in it, there might be a couple more. Haven't looked at the D-2 brackets yet but was reportedly to be about 150 teams in it.

 

AAU Boys Basketball > Results > Results Archives > Nationals

 

I asked the question last week in the girls thread, but I'll repeat it here... what's the best showing a Kentucky team has ever had at AAU nationals division 1? Is last year's 4th place finish by the Gaters the best? For those that don't cross over into that thread, I asked because the 5th grade Kentucky Royals girls got to the national championship game, and was wondering if there had ever been a Kentucky team get that far...

Derby State ended up finishing 20th nationally, played the worst half they had played all year against Meanstreets this morning in the 1st half as they slept walk through the 1st half. They did end the game showing fight and heart and had a three at the buzzer to win it but missed it. Meanstreets won the game 60-58.

 

The Kentucky Gators last year finishing 4th and this year 5th is two of the highest. I know Central KY storm under Maurice Garrard back in the late 90's early 2000's had a girls team finish really high nationally but I don't remember the exact finish.

 

I also know when shawn fields played AAU I believe his 12u year the tournament was in Salt Lake City and his team finished really high but not higher than 4th. Marquise Estill and the Central KY Magic back in early to mid 90s finished high nationally in the 13u division, I believe a top 8-12 finish.

Central KY Warriors (with Green Grundy Cunningham etc) finished 2nd and 3rd in back to back years in 8u (I believe it was the first ever championship at that age group) and 9u division 1. Not sure which year they finished higher but had a nice 2 year run.

 

Georgetown Thunder (made up of kids that just graduated hogh school) was runner up in D2 nationals as a 10u team.

Derby State ended up finishing 20th nationally, played the worst half they had played all year against Meanstreets this morning in the 1st half as they slept walk through the 1st half. They did end the game showing fight and heart and had a three at the buzzer to win it but missed it. Meanstreets won the game 60-58.

 

The Kentucky Gators last year finishing 4th and this year 5th is two of the highest. I know Central KY storm under Maurice Garrard back in the late 90's early 2000's had a girls team finish really high nationally but I don't remember the exact finish.

 

I also know when shawn fields played AAU I believe his 12u year the tournament was in Salt Lake City and his team finished really high but not higher than 4th. Marquise Estill and the Central KY Magic back in early to mid 90s finished high nationally in the 13u division, I believe a top 8-12 finish.

 

Isn't 14th the highest anyone gets placed?

in 8th grade division, nobody has placed top 14

in 8th grade division, nobody has placed top 14

 

Actually, pretty sure Hoop Dreams 14U (8th grade) finished in top 14 last year. That's primarily how they ended up ranked #13 in the end of year AAU ranking (and the pre-season this year). They lost to Houston Defenders trying to get to 9th place, and there were 4 teams vying for 9th place. So I suppose that could mean 12th or 13th, but 13th is what was said.

Derby State ended up finishing 20th nationally, played the worst half they had played all year against Meanstreets this morning in the 1st half as they slept walk through the 1st half. They did end the game showing fight and heart and had a three at the buzzer to win it but missed it. Meanstreets won the game 60-58.

 

The Kentucky Gators last year finishing 4th and this year 5th is two of the highest. I know Central KY storm under Maurice Garrard back in the late 90's early 2000's had a girls team finish really high nationally but I don't remember the exact finish.

 

I also know when shawn fields played AAU I believe his 12u year the tournament was in Salt Lake City and his team finished really high but not higher than 4th. Marquise Estill and the Central KY Magic back in early to mid 90s finished high nationally in the 13u division, I believe a top 8-12 finish.

 

Still a great job by Derby. A top 20 national finish is excellent. They are a very, very good team.

Last year in 8th grade nationals it was

 

1.) Dunk Dog

2.) Karolina Diamonds

3.) Team Scan

4.) DC Assault

5.) Team Penny

6.) All Ohio Elite

7.) Witts Elite

8.) CP3 All Stars (Hoop Dreams beat this team by 20 this year at the nike)

9.) Houston Defenders

10.) Heat Check

11.) Team Thad

12.) The Family

13.) Maryland Bullsyouth Club

14.) Atlanta Xpress

15.) Hoop Dreams

16.) Illinois Tigers

17.) Team Louisiana

18.) Athletes First

19.) ETU Warriors

20.) Texas Pro

 

 

The Top 14 is what gets automatic bids back to the nationals the next year, but this years nationals only had 22 teams in it for the 15u division which Hoop Dreams would have played in if they had chosen to go to nationals.

 

I would say without knowing for sure that Hoop Dreams has had the best finish of any AAU team in the 8th grade division from Kentucky with a #15 finish. 14u is usually the toughest division and biggest division in the AAU nationals.

This years 8th grade nationals top 20 finish is:

 

1.) California Basketball Club

2.) Team Thad

3.) Indy Hoosiers (Got called for a foul on halfcourt shot in semi's vs California at the buzzer, got beat on FT's_

4.) Swilling Storm

5.) Miami City Ballers

6.) Sports U Team Izod

7.) Primetime Select

8.) Birmingham Storm (Easily the most talented team in the tournament)

9.) Rens (NY)

10.) Southern Stampede Elite

11.) Enplay Elite

12.) Milbank Flyers

13.) Southern Stampede Blue

14.) Meanstreets

15.) Lauderhill Lions

16.) Wisconsin Playground Elite

17.) Cincinnati Royals

18.) DC Assault

19.) Expressions Elite

20.) Derby State Thoroughbreds

Actually, pretty sure Hoop Dreams 14U (8th grade) finished in top 14 last year. That's primarily how they ended up ranked #13 in the end of year AAU ranking (and the pre-season this year). They lost to Houston Defenders trying to get to 9th place, and there were 4 teams vying for 9th place. So I suppose that could mean 12th or 13th, but 13th is what was said.

 

What they do is following, if it makes sense reading it.

 

At AAU If you make the Final 8 you are guaranteed a top 8 finish.

 

The Championship bracket has 6 rounds, 1st round losers all go into the same tournament (What Derby State did this year) 2nd round losers all go into the same tournament and 3rd round or sweet 16 losers all go into the same tournament (What hoop dreams did last year).

 

If you make the finals of each of those tournaments you are guaranteed a top 14 finish, if you make the final 4 of each of those tournaments you are guaranteed a top 20 finish.

 

Sweet 16 losers Consolation tournament, if you make the finals, the winner of that gets 9th place, the loser gets 12th place. (Hoop Dreams lost in the Final 4 of this in 2012)

2nd Round consolation tournament, if you make the finals, the winner gets 10th place, the loser gets 13th place.

1st Round Consolation tournament, if you maket he finals, the winner gets 11th place, the loser gets 14th place. (Derby State lost in the final 4 of this in 2013)

 

To get places 15 through 20 it is based on who you lost to. Whoever lost to the 9th place team (Houston Defenders in 2012) gets 15th place which was Hoop Dreams, if you lost to 10th place then you get 16th, lost to 11th place then you get 17th place. Then starts back over if you lost to the 12th place team you get 18th place, the 13th place team you get 19th place and the 14th place team you get 20th place.

 

I had to have an AAU official explain it to me as it was confusing for me as well. The last two years there have been good Kentucky representation from the state of Kentucky in the 8th grade division from Hoop Dreams in 2012 and Derby State Thoroughbreds in 2013. Hopefully next year another Kentucky representative will be able to finish high and represent the state.

Last year in 8th grade nationals it was

 

1.) Dunk Dog

2.) Karolina Diamonds

3.) Team Scan

4.) DC Assault

5.) Team Penny

6.) All Ohio Elite

7.) Witts Elite

8.) CP3 All Stars (Hoop Dreams beat this team by 20 this year at the nike)

9.) Houston Defenders

10.) Heat Check

11.) Team Thad

12.) The Family

13.) Maryland Bullsyouth Club

14.) Atlanta Xpress

15.) Hoop Dreams

16.) Illinois Tigers

17.) Team Louisiana

18.) Athletes First

19.) ETU Warriors

20.) Texas Pro

 

 

The Top 14 is what gets automatic bids back to the nationals the next year, but this years nationals only had 22 teams in it for the 15u division which Hoop Dreams would have played in if they had chosen to go to nationals.

 

I would say without knowing for sure that Hoop Dreams has had the best finish of any AAU team in the 8th grade division from Kentucky with a #15 finish. 14u is usually the toughest division and biggest division in the AAU nationals.

 

Hmm. I was under the impression that since only 4 teams were vying for 9th place, the worst we could've been was 12th. Then they came out with their rankings and we were 13th, which was perplexing - but close to 12th. Thanks for the explanation. They make it way more complicated than it needs to be!

Hmm. I was under the impression that since only 4 teams were vying for 9th place, the worst we could've been was 12th. Then they came out with their rankings and we were 13th, which was perplexing - but close to 12th. Thanks for the explanation. They make it way more complicated than it needs to be!

 

Exactly, some teams lose in the 1st round of the championship bracket and can still place but you can make the sweet 16 of the championship bracket, lose in that round then lose your next game and not place at all.

Someone mentioned earlier that Pouncy's Tarheels were there but I didn't see them listed in the top 20. Were they not there or did they just place outside the top 20?

The TarHeels played in the D-2 Nationals, this was the D-1 Nationals that are listed as finishers. I don't believe they placed in the D-2 though, TarHeels were fighting injuries and weren't at full strength in Florida.