By Jordan Divens

The Under Armour Finals will take place in Emerson, Georgia, in less than a month from July 13 to 16. After 12 action-packed regular-season games, 16 teams are ready to compete in postseason play. Defending champions Team Charlotte won the regular-season title and will be the team to beat; however, multiple teams have the firepower to take them down and go home with the Under Armour Association title. Watch for elite guard play to continue in the upcoming single-elimination postseason bracket.

Top Dogs:

Team Charlotte is the clear favorite heading into Under Armour Association Finals play—they finished the regular season 11-1 and are looking to defend their title behind strong guard play from Ty-Shon Alexander and Devon Dotson. DC Premier and Houston Hoops finished 10-2 tied atop the Hungry division, and will look to challenge Team Charlotte. DC Premier had three players that finished with strong regular seasons as they relied heavily on Nate Watson, Naji Marshall, and Prentiss Hubb to carry the load. Houston Hoops were led by four players averaging double figures, with Savion Flagg, Maxwell Evans, Trevor Moore, and Cameron Mack all averaging 11.9 or more points on the year. WE R1 are always a team to watch in Association play, and are led by elite point guard Trevon Duval, talented 2018 guard Eric Ayala, and emerging big man Bourama Sidibe. All four are led by talented prospects who could lead them to an Under Armour Association postseason title.

Contenders:

Earl Watson Elite and KC Run GMC both finished the regular season with a solid 9-3. Earl Watson Elite are paced by the Association’s seventh-leading scorer, Jamari Baker, and the third-leading rebounder, Ira Lee. KC Run GMC are led by their trio on the perimeter: Darien Jackson, Mitchell Ballock, and D’Shawn Schwartz, who are all averaging double digits in scoring and feature intriguing 2018 prospect Bol Bol. But the biggest threats to the favorites may be the Indy Hoosiers and New Heights which both finished 8-4 in regular-season play. Indy Hoosiers are paced by an elite duo of prospects in Kris Wilkes and Paul Scruggs, and have a legitimate chance to make a run at the title. New Heights will look to make a run behind their own potent tandem of perimeter prospects behind Sidney Wilson and Isaiah Washington in the Under Armour Association postseason. 

Dark Horse:

Team Felton finished the regular season 7-5 behind FloHoops regular season MVP Jalek Felton. The North Carolina commit finished first in the Association in steals, fourth in assists, and sixth in scoring during the regular season with an average of 19 points, 5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Alongside Felton, 2019 Joey Baker was the only player to average double figures, but guards Jordan Perkins and Kameron Langley played strong minutes as well. Team Felton may be a long shot, but Jalek Felton gives them a fighting shot.

Players to Watch:

2017 6’ 10” PF Bourama Sidibe (WE R1)
2017 6’ 9” PF Nate Watson (DC Premier)
2017 6’ 8” PF Ira Lee (Earl Watson Elite)
2017 6’ 7” SF Kris Wilkes (Indy Hoosiers)
2017 6’ 7” SF Savion Flagg (Houston Defenders)
2017 6’ 6” SF D’Shawn Schwartz (KC Run GMC)
2017 6’ 6” SF Sidney Wilson (New Heights)
2017 6’ 5” SG Naji Marshall (DC Premier)
2017 6’ 4” SG Josh Anderson (Louisiana Elite)
2017 6’ 4” SG Dedric Boyd (Team Thad)
2017 6’ 5” SG MJ Walker (Atlanta Xpress)
2017 6’ 5” SG Myles Cale (South Jersey Jazz)
2017 6’ 4” SG Ty-Shon Alexander (Team Charlotte)
2017 6’ 3” PG Prentiss Hubb (DC Premier)
2017 6’ 3” PG Paul Scruggs (Indy Hoosiers)
2017 6’ 3” PG Trevon Duval (WE R1)
2017 6’ 3” PG Jalek Felton (Team Felton)
2018 6’ 3” PG Javonte Smart (Beast Mode)
2017 6’ 1” PG Isaiah Washington (New Heights)
2017 6’ 1” PG Damari Milstead (Splash City)
2017 6’ 2” SG Jemari Baker (Earl Watson Elite)
2018 6’ 2” PG Devon Dotson (Team Charlotte)

Under Armour Finals Field: (16 teams)

Humble
Team Charlotte 11-1
Earl 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