Handy Manny

I am just trying to start a discussion. I recently saw on social media where an AAU program out of Louisville, KY will be fielding teams in the 6th, 7th, & 8th grades this year. The 6th grade will have 2 players at 6'9" and the 8th grade will have 2 players at 6'10" or better. I have not seen the listed heights of the big guys on the 7th grade team. I have coached a lot of AAU and these 6th graders are bigger than anyone I have ever had even at the 17U level. So my question is, how do you defend this size with a typical 6th grade team where your bigs are in the 6'1 - maybe 6'3" range. I had a 6'1" big man in 6th grade and he towered over everyone.

Some of the selections were surprising and some were spot on. I was just curious myself about who picked them and what they used to decide.

Were the all tournament selections made by each team's coach?

This was the best middle school game I have seen in a very long time. Both teams competed and the atmosphere was great. The crowd was standing the whole last minute at an 8th grade game. Congrats to both programs. They were clearly the best two teams in the NKMSAA.

I'm liking Ockerman over Holmes Highlands over Ballyshannon Woodland over Summit View St. Pius over IHM

Pius has to be the overall favorite. I would never had guessed early on that this team would have 1 loss all season playing less Hagen and Hussey for a good part. Ockerman was my early favorite at least on paper. Highlands seems to be peaking at the right time now that everyone is healthy and had a chance to play together for a while. I feel like either of three could win it all, but Woodland, IHM, and even Camp Ernst could sneak in. Camp Ernst is my dark horse pick. They had regular season wins over Highlands and Ockerman.

We are wrapping up the regular season this week. Who stood out as 8th graders this year? Any surprises? I know some of the programs suffered as a result of players playing up and I believe there are several other guys who could have played up but didn't.

Holmes at Camp Ernst 7th - Camp Ernst 8th - Camp Ernst by 5.

Does anyone know where we can see the standings? I believe Pius leads the way with only 1 loss, then Highlands, Ockerman, & Woodland.

Summit View at Camp Ernst 7th - Camp Ernst by 10 or so. 8th - Camp Ernst by 5.

Conner at Camp Ernst. 6th - Conner by a lot. 8th - Camp Ernst by a lot. 7th was played at Conner.

Camp Ernst at Gray 7th. grade - Gray by a couple 8th. Grade - Gray by 1

Ballyshannon at Camp Ernst 7th - Camp Ernst over Ballyshannon by 20+ 8th - Ballyshannon over Camp Ernst by 3.

Camp Ernst at IHM 7th - Camp Ernst by close to 20 8th - IHM over Camp Ernst

Camp Ernst at Ockerman 7th - Camp Ernst by 20 8th - Ockerman by 13.