BABC Dominates Mass. AAU Final Four

QUINCY, Mass. – The NEAAU Final Four started a year ago, and this year split up the age groups to separate junior high school from high school divisions. The high school age divisions had their games played at two sites in Quincy, a little south of Boston, and highlighted by Quincy High School. It was also the scene of one program re-asserting its dominance in the state.

Sunday morning started off on that note as the BABC Freshmen played up in the 10^th Grade Division II final and took home the title with a 62-43 win over MPLEX. Damion Smith (6’1″ Fr. SG, West Roxbury (MA) High) led BABC with 22 points, while Joey O’Connell (6’4″ Fr. SG-SF, Hatfield (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) added 15.

Next up was the 11^th Grade Division II final, a dandy between Mass Elite and Worcester West. A late first-half run by Worcester West helped them get close, before Mass Elite stemmed the tide with late baskets to take a 34-25 lead at the break. Mass Elite answered several mini-runs by Worcester West until losing the lead late in regulation, but regained it until a three-pointer with 10 seconds left sent the game into overtime. Each team struggled to four points in the extra session, leading to a second overtime. There, Worcester West ran out to a 72-67 lead before Mass Elite scored the final eight points to take home the title with a hard-fought 75-72 win. Eric Greene (6’5″ Jr. SF, Mountain House (CA) St. Mark’s School) led Mass Elite with 29 points and school teammate Jaymie Spears (5’8″ Jr. PG, Georgetown (MA) St. Mark’s School) added 20.

The 8^th Grade championship saw BABC Academy grab the lead early and hold it for most of the first half, although they never led by double digits in that frame. They pushed it there later in the second half and pulled away late in a 58-42 win over the Shooting Stars. Jordan Scurry, who will attend Beaver Country Day School next year, and Kareem Davis, who is undecided on a school, each had 15 points to lead BABC Academy.

The 10^th Grade championship was all BABC, as they ran away from Bay State Magic 68-21 behind 19 points from Nerlens Noel (6’9″ So. PF-C, Everett (MA) Tilton School) and 18 from Wayne Selden (6’3″ Fr. SG, Roxbury (MA) Tilton School).

The 9^th Grade Division I final was very similar, with BABC blowing out Mass Premier 85-37. Johnnie Vassar (5’9″ Fr. PG, Chicago (IL) Lawrence Academy) led BABC with 17 points, while Smith added 14 in his second game of the day. They also got 13 points from Marcel Pettway, an eighth grader who played up for his second game of the day and will attend Wilbraham & Monson Academy next year.

The last game of the day was a dandy, a game with a big momentum swing that ultimately came down to the end. Middlesex Magic led the New England Storm for much of the first half, though it was never a commanding lead. The Storm rallied to score the final ten points of the half for a 26-24 lead at the break, then scored the first nine of the second half. Middlesex Magic would gradually rally and tie the game at 39, but the Storm would score six of the next eight, then get two key free throws late to seal a 47-43 win in the 11^th Grade Division I final. Patrick Bradanese (Jr. Billerica (MA) High) and Craig Luschenat (Andover (MA) High) led the Storm with 13 points apiece.

A few additional player notes:

Pettway looks like the best prospect among the eighth graders, as he has a big body for his age and moves very well. Most of all, though, he judges the ball well coming off the rim, an underrated aspect of rebounding. He also made a nice interior pass, and if he grows more, could have a very bright future. Davis, his teammate, was a pest at the defensive end, as the lefty got his share of steals that turned into layups at the other end.

Among the freshmen, BABC’s Gerald Adams (6’8″ Fr. PF-C, Norwood (MA) Catholic Memorial HS) has some potential that is a ways off right now. He has a wide frame and will need to shed some of the weight he has, but he showed some skill in scoring close to the basket that suggests he has a chance at the next level if he improves his body. Point guard Jonathan Joseph (5’9″ Fr. PG, Brockton (MA) Southeastern Regional Voc. Tech) at times tried to do too much with his dribble, but has undeniable talent as he’s a baby physically, bouncy and can rebound for his size. He also shot the ball well in the final. Smith continues to show a touch shooting the ball, and if he continues to improve the skill package he will have a chance as a guard at the next level after playing a lot in the frontcourt previously while on smaller teams. Vassar’s body has a ways to go but his game doesn’t, as the lefty sliced through the defense at times and knocked down shots from deep. O’Connell is a nice complementary player in the group with his skill package on the wing.

Bonzie Colson (6’5″ Fr. PF, New Bedford (MA) St. Andrew’s School) injured his ankle early on Sunday but still played in both games, returning for the 9^th grade final. He worked inside and played through contact well, while also running the floor a couple of times and scoring 16 points in a semifinal game on Saturday. He’s come a long way since last fall, and continues to do so as he shows skills away from the post like a jumper from the foul line and a drive from the foul line to get a close basket.

In the 10^th grade division, VBC didn’t give BABC the kind of run for their money they did a year ago in the 15-under final, but one player who impressed was Alijah Mukiibi (So. SF, Lexington (MA) Christian Academy). He’s athletic and has a good body, and the skill package isn’t bad, but he also looks like he can be a better player than he showed and the body language was questionable at times as well.

Johnnie Spears (So. PG, Georgetown (MA) High) handled the press quite well for Mass Evolution, who took third place in the 10^th grade Division I. In the halfcourt, he was able to drive and dish, as he’s more of a natural playmaker than his brother was at the same age, and he took his fair share of contact while driving. He is set to repeat his sophomore year next season at the Pingree School.

BABC didn’t have any signature performances of note in their dominance of the 10^th grade division. Noel scored once while being clutched and grabbed and got his usual array of blocks and stickback dunks. Selden continued what has been a terrific spring, as did Jaylen Brantley (5’9″ So. PG, Springfield (MA) Wilbraham & Monson Academy) on Saturday.

Two noteworthy performers were Jherson Colon (5’8″ So. PG, Boston (MA) Beaver Country Day School) and newcomer Tyrese Hoxter (6’3″ So. SG, Boston (MA) Charlestown HS). Colon had 13 points in the final and has developed into a dependable reserve. Hoxter is now able to play on the perimeter on this team, and while he’s athletic enough for it the skill package needs some work. The lefty isn’t entirely lacking in perimeter skills, but it’s not hard to tell he’s spent a lot of time having to player closer to the hoop thus far.

Looking at the 11^th graders, Mass Elite was carried by its two stars from St. Mark’s. Greene’s body is maturing, and he’s always had athleticism and some skills on the wing. Playing on a loaded team, he hasn’t always had the chance to show his ability like he did here, where he drove and made things happen, hit several jumpers, and also made a big steal in the second overtime. Spears, whose body has likewise matured, took a pounding on a couple of screens but kept competing and was a key down the stretch for Mass Elite.

Anthony Barry (6’3″ Jr. SG, Milford (MA) Brooks School) now has a more mature body while continuing to play hard all the time. His ball skills look better, although they need further upgrading, and he’ll defend whoever he’s asked to.

Ryan Freeman (6’6″ Jr. PF, Methuen (MA) High) didn’t put up eye-popping numbers for the New England Storm in their championship, but he was a key player nonetheless. The lanky forward battled all game and was active at both ends, and while offense wasn’t his forte he did knock down a mid-range jumper.