From Coast To Coast: AAU 14U Nationals Bring Teams From All Over U.S.
From Coast To Coast: AAU 14U Nationals Bring Teams From All Over U.S.
Teams from all over the United States convene starting tomorrow for the AAU 14U national championships.
Arne Duncan brings a special cachet to the game of basketball. The former Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama (2009-2015), the Chicago-reared Duncan is in his third year coaching with the Mac Irvin Fire, one of Chicago's best programs.
"For me, basketball's always been a good way for kids to get to know each other, build friendships, and get to know kids from other neighborhoods, which in Chicago isn't an easy thing to do," said Duncan, who coaches his son, Ryan, among others with the Mac Irvin Fire 14U.
Added Duncan, "The Mac Irvin 14U's feature some really good kids from a bunch of different neighborhoods."
Duncan played professionally in Australia and captained Harvard's basketball team in 1987.
Watch the 14U AAU National Championships LIVE on FloHoops July 5-9!
Baton Rouge, LA-based Sports Academy Team Garrett Temple carries a vaunted tradition into the tournament. Baton Rouge has been home to a slew of former and current professionals.
"They all came through Sports Academy," said coach David Fergurson. "The team we have is sponsored by Garrett Temple of the Sacramento Kings. Collis Temple, who played in the NBA, Glen Davis, Marcus Thornton, Brandon Bass (all came through the program)."
The Georgia Stars 2022 will represent the large and respected Peach State program (along with Georgia Stars Wiggins) in the D-I Elite bracket. The Atlanta-area program, which has seven teams on the eighth-grade level, has established itself as a presence on the national level.
"Our main goal every year is the to plan on going to AAU Nationals and to qualify for Division I," said coach Donald Williams.
In 2015, the Stars 16- and 17-year-old teams each won Nike EYBL championships.
Miami, Florida's Pro Day Premier 2022, based in the southern part of the city, makes its D-I Elite debut in 2018.
"Our coach, Mike Simmons, who helped lead the University of Miami to the Sweet 16 in 2000, stayed in the Miami area, taking his knowledge and passing it along to the kids in the academy," said Curt Warren, the director of the organization. "Most of our kids are with us from elementary school up until high school."
The Seaford Heat, out of the New York City metropolitan area, are raring to go following a strong spring.
"We won the Rumble in the Bronx, we lost in the championship game of JRNBA and we lost in the Championship Game of Gym Rat," said student coach Isaiah Wilson, who coaches the team along with Nicholas Tsikitas. "We've been constantly elevating all season."
The Heat are led by guard Zaire Baines, who played on the varsity this year as an eighth-grader this year for Tsikitas at The Portledge School (Locust Valley, NY).
The Raleigh, NC-based Big Shots Elite NC 2022 return to the D-I Elite Championship after an appearance last season.
"Most of them have been together since the third grade," said coach Mike Proctor. "The Big Shots are a tournament series in the Southeast. It's run by Kevin and Jeff Schneider. They're our sponsors."
After winning the D-II Championship in Greensboro, NC in 2017, S.K. Elite Basketball Club makes its D-I Elite debut.
"We're taking it up to the next level this year," said director John Garcia.
Following wins at the Spring Fling in Memphis and Shaun Livingston tournament in Peoria, IL, St. Louis, MO, team GoL1ve is hungry in its first appearance at AAU Nationals.
"We're really coming to win," said general manager Champ Johnson. "We're not coming for a vacation."
GoL1ve is coached by Johnson and Columbia, MO, based trainer Pep Stanciel, a former player at NAIA Columbia College and a professional in Europe.
Brian Towey is a Queens, New York, based writer covering basketball and track and field. He can be reached at bc_towey@yahoo.com and @BcTowey.
Related Content
- Campbell Penland Was On Fire In The Post Season
Mar 27, 2024
- Replay: Hampton WBB Press Conference | Mar 27 @ 10 AM
Mar 27, 2024
- Sweet 16 Set For NCAA Women's Bracket 2024; Top Performances From 2nd Round
Mar 26, 2024
- How to Watch: 2024 Troy vs North Carolina A&T - Women's | Basketball
Mar 26, 2024
- Replay: Colgate vs Providence - WNIT | Mar 25 @ 7 PM
Mar 26, 2024
- Replay: Ro CBI - College Basketball Invitational | Mar 25 @ 12 PM
Mar 26, 2024
- EVANSVILLE vs. SEATTLE - 2024 Ro CBI - College Basketball Invitational
Mar 26, 2024
- EVANSVILLE vs. SEATTLE - 2024 Ro CBI - College Basketball Invitational
Mar 26, 2024
- CHICAGO ST vs. FAIRFIELD - 2024 Ro CBI - College Basketball Invitational
Mar 25, 2024