By Jordan Divens

Session 3 of the Under Armour Association basketball circuit was filled with excitement: the top teams separated from the pack, the bubble teams established themselves in the postseason picture, and MVP candidates strengthened their cases. After 12 games, 15 teams sit at .500 or above, and three teams remain on the bubble for the remaining spot at 5-7.

Take a look at the storylines below!

Reigning UAA Champion Rolls into Postseason Play

Team Charlotte (11-1) won the regular season with a balanced attack from their guard trio—2017 6-4 SG Ty-Shon Alexander, 2017 6-4 SG Jalen Cameron, and 2018 6-2 PG Devon Dotson—who are all averaging 10-plus points per game heading into postseason play. Team Charlotte is looking to repeat as champions after finishing tied atop the regular season standings a year ago. They took the finals with a 56-46 win over Canada Elite. Team Charlotte will look to defend their title as the top seed in this year’s postseason.

Tied atop Hungry Division: DC Premier (10-2) and Houston Defenders (10-2)

DC Premier have been rolling—they won their last six consecutive contests. And Houston Defenders haven’t lost since Session 1, and accumulated a UAA-leading nine straight headed into postseason play. These two teams haven’t faced off since their very first game of the season, when the DC Premier took down Houston Defenders 84-70. Houston Hoops' 2017 6-3 PG Cameron Mack led the UAA in assists, averaging 6.9 per game, and four players averaging double figures led by 2017 6-7 SF Savion Flagg (14.2 per game) and 2017 6-2 SG Maxwell Evans (13.9 per game). DC Premier has a big three at the top of their lineup in 2017 6-7 SG Naji Marshall averages 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game; 2017 6-9 PF Nate Watson with 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game; and 2017 6’ 3” PG Prentiss Hubb with 11.4 points and 5.9 assists per game.

Squeaking into Finals Play:

Atlanta Xpress earned the final spot in the Humble division, finishing 5-7 in the Association. MJ Walker averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Atlanta Xpress won the tiebreaker against Connecticut Basketball Club for eighth in the Humble division, because of a big 78-75 win behind 32 points from Walker.
Team Thad finished eighth in the Hungry division after finishing the regular season with a record of 6-6, a game above the ninth place finisher SportsU. Team Thad was led in scoring by 2017 6’ 4” SG Dedric Boyd who averaged 16.3 points per game, and had the fifth leading rebounder in 2017 6’ 10” Ruot Monyyong who averaged 6.7 rebounds per contest.

UAA Finals:

Humble

Team Charlotte 11-1Earl Watson Elite 9-3
Louisiana Elite 9-3
WE R1 9-3
New Heights 8-4
Beast Mode 6-6
South Jersey Jazz 6-6
Atlanta XPress 5-7

Hungry

DC Premier 10-2
Houston Hoops 10-2
Florida Vipers 9-3
KC Run GMC 9-3
Indy Hoosiers 8-4
Splash City 7-5
Team Felton 7-5
Team Thad 6-6

Regular Season Under Armour MVP Candidates:
2017 6’ 5” SG MJ Walker (Atlanta Xpress) 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, .452 FG%
2017 6’ 4” PG Jalek Felton (Team Felton) 19 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2.5 steals, .560 FG%
2017 6’ 4” PG Trevon Duval (WE R1) 15.9 points, 4.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2 steals, .413 FG%
2017 6’ 3” PG Paul Scruggs (Indy Hoosiers) 14.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, .541 FG%
2017 6’ 1” PG Isaiah Washington (New Heights) 13.6 points, 5.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, .394 FG%

Honorable Mention:
2017 6’ 5” SG LJ Figueroa (Team Breakdown) 20.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2 steals, .534 FG%
2017 6’ 4” PG Nathaniel Pierre-Louis (SportsU) 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, .506 FG%
2017 6’ 8” SF Kris Wilkes (Indy Hoosiers) 20 points, 6 rebounds, .563 FG%
2017 6’ 3” PG Cameron Mack (Houston Defenders) 11.9 points, 6.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds, .485 FG%
2017 6’ 9” PF Josip Vrankic (Canada Elite) 14.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, .531 FG%
2017 6’ 5” SG Myles Cale (South Jersey Jazz) 20.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, .443 FG%