The Legends have beaten us in the State tournament. But haven't played Air Kev, SP Shooters or SWOH Elite.

 

I'm hoping we can play SW today. On any given day all these teams can beat each other. SWOH has a unique advantage. They have two kids that are over 6'4" one is pushing 6'7". With the changes that have occurred with us in the last two weeks I think we can compete with them. Comparing scores over the season of common components I know we can we are very similar. (With all our players) if The Legends are hitting 3's and not in foul trouble they can beat any of them. I would guess that Air Kev is on the outside of the group. Also, looking at the additions the SP Shooter have made I'd add them to the group as well.

 

From what I've seen this season the top teams in greater Cincinnati are. (No particular order)

 

The Legends (beat Shining Star Sports, Split with BallStars)

SWOH (Beat SP...not sure others, Beat BallStars I think)

The BallStars (Lost to SSS, Beat Legends, lost to Legends)

SP Shooters (split with SSS, Split with BallStars, Split with AirKev, lost to SWOH)

Shining Star Sports (lost to Legends, beat BallStars, Beat AitKev x2, Split with SP)

 

It seems like SWOH hasn't been beaten by the Greater Cincy teams. But they are beatable. Had a hard fought game last night vs. SP Shooters until the end.

 

Today 3 of these teams are in a Four team bracket. Along with Cincy Lakers.

 

Hopefully all of these teams will be in the Kings Island event next weekend.

I might have my teams mixed up as we have played so many. And, I don't follow all these other teams, scout them, or try to keep track of them. Most times, I learn about who they have played & beaten when I talk to their coach before the game. I usually worry about my own team, and know that if we play well, we are just fine. We just focus on the kids in NKY and try to make them better.

 

But, I believe that we have played SWO Elite with a couple big kids, and we beat them by 20+ in a tournament at RG. If this is the team coached by a guy from Walnut Hills, then its the same one.

 

We also beat SP Shooters by 20 or so in the MLK tournament earlier this year, if it is the team that has one of the guards from Highlands. We haven't played them since then.

 

To answer the question, Legends have played Shining Stars, SWO Elite, and SP Shooters. We have not played AirKev. It is rare that we have all of our kids for a tournament because of baseball. But, when they are all there, we have lots of options both offensively & defensively. We played last weekend without 2 starters. We played the 14U State tournament without 2 starters. I haven't seen a 7th grade team yet that I would trade my team for in a 1 game MUST WIN tournament. And, I certainly haven't seen a U13 (new AAU age rules) team that I would trade my team for.

Played SWOH yesterday in the final. Lost 60-50. Coaches son went off for 31. Had 8 3's. We had spell right before half and allowed them to jump up 39-30. Great up and down game. I seriously have never seen a kid shoot the ball like this before. He pulled up between mid-court and the 3 point line and drained one. Pretty special shooter. From what I heard though is that he did'nt really do that in other games. Just got hot at the right time.

 

After playing them, I can see The Legends beating them consistently. Despite having the 6'6" kid they were not near as physical as The Legends, BallStars or Air Kev. We played a pretty good game overall I was pleased. Have to tip the cap to a kid shooting like that.

 

I did talk to the coach and he is from Walnut Hills and they did play The Legends in their first event of the season. (I was wrong about that) He also confirmed that the NKY Rockets beat them in the same event. He said this event was 3 days after they formed their team.

 

The SP Shooters have actually completely flipped rosters since MLK. I saw that game and the only players they have now vs. then are the two KY kids. The OHSAA has a rule that will not allow player to play until after the Middle School season concludes. This is why all the Ohio Clubs don't get started until late March every year. All the SP Shooter kids were playing school ball in fact their team was not even together like it is now in the March 21st event. They had everyone the following weekend and beat the defending Bearcat Classic/Ky D1 State Champ Playmakers. They are a solid team aswell.

Playmakers finally got 2 of the three injured kids back for first time this weekend. won the midwest super regional in Indy. Glad to have those two kids back.

Playmakers finally got 2 of the three injured kids back for first time this weekend. won the midwest super regional in Indy. Glad to have those two kids back.

 

Coach that is good to hear. Are you guys still under The Thundermaker name? Where are you guys playing in upcoming weeks?

Who are these kids on the roster's of these NKY teams, and what high schools will they go to?

Are NKY Legends and Shining Stars the only northern ky AAU teams that play in a bunch of tournaments? Seems like they are the only ones mentioned. It seems like legends play more outside of this area, and Shining stars play mainly in this area.

The Defenders have a nice D3 level team as well. Shining Stars play mostly in the region/area. Pretty much like The Legends. Last year we played each other several times. (Became a burden on the kids and families I think) This year just seen each other the one game. I try to make it as easy as I can on my families. I usually try and balance out the travel with the Quality of the event. The really weak tournaments do not help us get better and the really hard ones are always far. We have attempted to play in the toughest events in the Cincy, Lex, Louisville region. Next weekend we may be in Indianapolis. We are planning to go to Atlanta in July and Possibily Pigeon Forge or Evansville in June (more of a fun trip). Then conclude with HoopFest in Louisville.

 

We were planned for the Eddie Ford event also and were denied because it was full. Then once families made other plans it opened back up.

 

I've been very happy with the events that we've had this season in Greater Cincy.

In fact, I've never seen as many teams as there are this season. Also, had a good turnout of teams from Indy driving over.

 

Even last weekend. That event had two 7th grade divsions. Elite division and non-Elite division. The Elite as mentioned had 4 solid teams. This weekend the KingsIsland event has 31 teams. There is really no reason to travel anywhere when we have this level of tournament so close to home. I also like that the KI event is played in all local Norther Cincy High Shools. We've only played at KBA twice this year.

 

How do you define "this area"?

Playmakers normally play state d1, bearcat classic, Lebron, Indy HIT and Midwest youth nationals. Thats a good mixture to me. Bearcat is mostly good d2 teams with usually a mid level d1 top 20 team or two thrown in. Hit tourny gives you the big dogs WACG, George hill, playground etc that we love to play against but hard to compete with their size. We decided against that this year with all the injuries but we will play midwest youth nationals. SSSGODWIN We most likely wont play again till July. We have 5 or 6 kids that their high school is wanting in June.

Who are these kids on the roster's of these NKY teams' date=' and what high schools will they go to?[/quote']

 

I missed this question yesterday.

I have kids that will go to the following High Schools.

 

Cooper

Grant Co

Cov Cath

Mason Co

Calvary Christian

Has the AAU organization been bypassed by all these other tournaments? When I looked these up, they were all based on grade, not age. I thought the grade thing was always the complaint with AAU because stacked teams were using older kids who were in the lower grades. IE -"My 12yr old played against a team with kids who were driving and shaving."

AAU had it wrong when they allowed kids that were two years older the "normal" age for the grade. Example: I took my team to Nationals as 5th graders. At that time there was a young man that went to Tichenor Middle who was supposed to be in the 7th grade but was in the 5th. His 6th grade coach at that time had a son playing with me and there was discussion about having him come play with us. He was in the 5th grade but roughly 18..19..20 months older. It would have been completely legal.

 

AAU has seen the writing on the wall this spring. Many of their tournaments have had 25~30% turnout due to the age change. Many tournament directors will tell anyone that will listen. If they go to age based they lose their teams. Everyone has kids with the late summer birthdays where the kid did kintergarden twice or held out of school initially. (Keep in mind that Ky uses October 1 as the critical date to start school) How ever old you are on 10-1 is when you start school.

 

*** Also, AAU is sponsoring their own grade based events this summer in Las Vegas *** This rule will change again in mid October.

 

Other than AAU sanctioned events, Sports Plus in Cincinnati is the only facility that has used the age requirements. Last weekend there was an event there ran by Ohio Players Association. The Ohio Players website listed the eligibility requirements for the event as Grade based. If you had a exception then they followed the 8-31 date. However, you could not be 2 years over the normal date. If you were in the that grade you could only be 1 year above the date. Then, Sports Plus advertised the same tournament as age based with the AAU rules. (Mass Confusion set in)

 

My youngest player is an 8th grader who just turned 13 on 2-28. He is a grade higher and nearly 9 months younger than our oldest player. (Who is only 5'0" & 80lbs and never plays BTW)

 

I think AAU is on the right track with making it age based. The only problem is the date they used makes NO sense. I have three kids that are deemed too old. One is late July and two in August. Per the AAU rules these kids are considered 14U players. However, they will not play a single game this summer after they turn 14. I think if AAU changes the date to Feb End then all issues will be resolved.

 

Most AAU/Club level teams are not even formed until early March. Some state High School associations prevent clubs from forming until Middle School ball concludes. Players are not allowed to even tryout for a club or they will be ruled ineligible. I had a kid from Ohio come and watch a scrimmage. He couldnt step on the court, he couldnt touch a basketball until some time in March. I forget the date. Basically, because of this, there are NO tournaments for 7th grade and above in Ohio until Mid March. (Ohio doesnt have 6th grade middle school ball) Ohio also, has a rule (that I like) that only two kids from the same school can play on the same club team or they are again ruled ineligible. *** Clarification, only school teams can participate in Ohio tournaments before March or those players are in eligible ***

Playmakers normally play state d1, bearcat classic, Lebron, Indy HIT and Midwest youth nationals. Thats a good mixture to me. Bearcat is mostly good d2 teams with usually a mid level d1 top 20 team or two thrown in. Hit tourny gives you the big dogs WACG, George hill, playground etc that we love to play against but hard to compete with their size. We decided against that this year with all the injuries but we will play midwest youth nationals. SSSGODWIN We most likely wont play again till July. We have 5 or 6 kids that their high school is wanting in June.

 

Same here. I have kids that are being pulled into their high school workouts already. Our practices were killed by this this week. I expect that next week we wont even practice.

Two years in a row we were one of the top 2 or 3 teams and drew the SP Shooters in the opening round of bracket play. Let a double digit lead slip and bowed out of the event early in a game that went down to the wire. We were the only real threat for the Shooters. SP went on to win 4 games on Sunday. the OhioBall Stars also checked out early losing on a buzzer beater in bracket play.

Who are these kids on the roster's of these NKY teams, and what high schools will they go to?

 

The kids from the Legends are all talking about going to Silver Grove together, and making a run at winning the HS State tournament as juniors & seniors.