Brooklyn College Academy’s Tarik Phillip and one of Manhattan Center’s finest were the N.Y. Knicks’ hardest worker MVP’s during the second session of Jim Couch Reunion Conditioning Clinic front page photo: Alton Ritter.
Manhattan Center needs to hit me back with the name of our hard worker!
***Last Sunday’s Rising Freshman Recap if you keep reading and click more below***.
Last Saturday’s 3rd Annual Jim Couch Reunion Games saw some of the best players from the Tri-State area display talent that has many high school, college and streetball/AAU coaches anxious to be a part of. A middle-school star from New Jersey emerged, a budding young streetball legend showed up in the fourth quarter to try to rally his team and a down to the wire Rising Sophomore Game had the crowd on its feet. There was also a strong showing by the daughter of a legendary streetball coach in the Girls High School Uptown Challenge Game and a primo offensive display by John F. Kennedy shooting guard Jeff Short in the High School Challenge Game that was won by Westchester, led by ultra-talented Jabari Hinds.
Photo of Shooter: Jarred Moorer -Middle School New York All-Star
Special Thanks to Pro-City’s Ray Diaz, Coach Elliot Rosado, Wayne Simone, Donald Osborne, Claude Pritchard, Jim Hart, Johnny Mathis and Starr Jones from John F. Kennedy and Ben Corpus and Machli Joseph from Baruch College.
Sunday’s Rising Freshman Recap
Game #3
Boston 74
New York “B” 72
The best game of the day displayed some of the top national talent in the country between Boston’s Ramone Gibbons and Kuran Iverson and New York’s Jason Boswell, Davonne Ragin, Steven Bush, and double-duty from Shane Rector. Coached by Claude Pritchard, the Boston team was up 41-32 at half time before NY’s Boswell took over, scoring 12 points in the second half propelling New York to a 4 point lead with 90 seconds left in the game. But Gibbons was a grown man around the bucket. with several offensive rebounds for strong put backs throughout the game and at the end, keeping a ball alive on a rebound that bounced out to an open Zach Lewis for a three that sealed the win for Boston.
Boston’s 6′8″ Kuran Iverson against NY’s Jason Boswell (10) and Steven Brown (20).
MVP Ramone Gibbons
Game #2
New Jersey 76
Connecticut 62
Jordan Forehand, Manny Suarez, and Jaren Sina led a very talented New Jersey Squad over a Connecticut team led by Cane Broom and Jahvaney Beckferce. Forehand went off scoring 17 of his 25 points in the second half while Sina had a strong all-around game scoring 17 points. Sina took the Shirts and Skins MVP honors for the game.
Conn’s Trevor Perez
MVP Jaren Sina
NJ’s Manny Saurez, who had 17 points, with Coach Sina, Coach Osborne, and Sina Jr.
Game #1
Upstate New York 66
New York “A” 58
The Second Annual Jim Couch Rising Freshman Games started with an In-State match up featuring a NYC team led by Shane Rector, Jay-Quan Lynch and Kindell Kinloch. New York got off to a rough start and was down 9 at halftime due to the strong play of Maurice West who scored 10 first half points.
For New York, Shane Rector was super-quick throughout the game, demonstrating strong driving skills and solid defensive
anticipation. He has a chance to be a strong finisher in transition on the high school level. New York’s Jay-Quan Lynch was also effective offensively but the NYC crew came out flat and couldn’t get the lead below double figures until late in the third quarter when they narrowed it to 6.
However, Upstate New York began to control the boards in the middle of the fourth quarter and a balanced scoring attack – Trahmier Burrell (13), Darrien White (12), Demere Hannah (10), and Casey Hall (10) – proved to much for NYC. Kindell Kinloch was also a bright spot, blocking shots and providing solid rebounding for the smaller NYC team. Upstate New York’s Maurice West ended up the Shirts and Skins MVP and Shane Rector was Most Valuable for NYC.
Maurice West with the double gold-plated grip
Kindell Kinloch blocks a shot
Shane Rector on right
Boys City Challenge Game
Westchester 64
New York 56
Despite 30 points in three quarters by JFK shooting guard Jeff Short, the New York City team fell to the Westchester team mostly comprised of players from Mount Vernon in an up and down ball game. Dylan Sinnickson led the Westchester team with 12 points and Jabari Hinds scored 8. Mike Reyes from Yonkers displayed strong floor leadership leading a balanced attack that saw four other players score between 7 points to 9 points. Jeff Short was named game MVP.
MVP Jeff Short
Mike Reyes
Jabari Hinds
Dylan Sinnickson
Girls Uptown Challenge H.S. Game
New York 60
Westchester 55
The backcourt of Alicia Cropper (13 pts) and Starr Breedlove (18 pts) combined for 31 points leading a strong New York team to a victory against John Riley’s Westchester crew. Teneka Whitaker, last year’s MVP, led Westchester with 24 points. The New York team received a strong effort from Tori Jarosz who has played her summer tournament ball in Harlem’s Rucker League, Martina Ellerbe who plays in the Rose Classic in Brooklyn and Aziza Patterson of Manhattan Center. Breedlove took the MVP and made her father, Mousey, former coach of EBC’s Terror Sqaud and presently the commissioner of Harlem’s Tri-State Classic proud.
Starr With the MVP “Doonkie”
Alicia Cropper
Westchester Team
Sophomore Game: New Jersey 90
New York 87
The highlight of the day was the exciting Sophomore Game that featured Rice’s DaShawn Suber, St. Ray’s Nkereuwem Okoro and Dan Dingle and a super-talented Melvin Johnson, also from Rice, who put on an impressive offensive display dropping 28 points in a losing effort. The player who put New York on lock was Chris Orozco from Tenafly H.S., whose 26 point effort was boardclapped with 15 in the fourth quarter earning him the MVP. Last year’s MVP, Dominic Hoffman, had 18, and Wesley Dickenson dropped 16 for the winners. DeShawn Suber scored 15 along with Okoro and Dan Dingle ended up with 14 for New York.
NJ’s MVP Chris Orozco
NYC’s Dan Dingle
NYC’s DeShawn Suber
NYC’s Melvin Johnson
Middle School Game: New Jersey 86
New York 77
The 1st annual Boy’s Middle School Game saw New York go up against a Jersey team that featured Kay Hester and Nassir Barino, who dropped 31. New York received strong play from Adey Adams (23), Shawn Jones(12), Cheyenne Nettleton (11), and a 4th quarter seven point effort from Jerron Love who came from Rick Rivers’ Brooklyn middle school tournament to play. Jarred Moore displayed a lot of promise and should develop into a solid all-around player on the high school level. The Jersey crew was led by Barino, whose strong drives to the rim and excellent foul shooting–7-for-8 from the line–were too much for NYC. Both teams played hard, and the guards in particular showed strong ball handling and point guard skills that make for good entertainment.
Cheyenne Nettleton Photos: Damion Reed
Jerron Love
MVP – Nassir Barino in the lane.
Weekend: Rising Freshman Review
October 28th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Yung Mac says:
The Manhattan Center Guard is Stanley Stephens. (The one in black) If you have more pictures can I please have them, I’m his brother.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Zach Radz says:
I wasn’t at the game , but I am very confident that if Jerron played the whole game , score would have been very different .
Just my opinion .
Z
October 29th, 2009 at 7:27 am
Zach Radz says:
Freshman Games Players from Upstate NY Team :
Game MVP :
Maurice West
Notables :
Darrien White
Casey Hall
Demer Hannah
October 29th, 2009 at 9:21 am
trayBAGZ!! says:
easy, nas had game on smash!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Elliot Rosado says:
Zach Radz, You might be right about J. Love he came in the game and gave the team a much needed spark.
October 29th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Zach Radz says:
There is another real nice player from Harlem named Jaquan Hickmann that would have an impact on this event as well as Shavar Newkirk .
I have had the pleasure of playing with both these guys & they are a force to be reckoned with as well .
Shout out to my man Coach Gary with the Crusaders on Lenox , see u & the boys soon .
Z
October 29th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Sean Couch says:
I saw Shavar play in the 8th grade showcase in the BK and he is super nice. We def know about these kids and we always want the best to compete. Maybe next year in our freshman games and you Zach in our middle school showcase…
October 29th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
KHenry says:
Shavar Newkirk is tough. He has a slick, but effective handle. Especially in traffic. Don’t really see that much in kids his age.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
NJ says:
WHEN WILL THE FRESHMAN GAME INFO POST ?
October 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Cheyenne Nettleton says:
I thank you for letting me participate in the Jim Couch Allstar Classic Coach Couch, I appreciate the support from you and Bounce Magazine as well.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Sean Couch says:
The Saturday Girl’s Game and the H.S. Game are next. Sunday’s Freshman Games will come over the weekend.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Zach Radz says:
Pencil me in for that Middle School Showcase Sean !
Do you or have you done any Clinics at Fordham U ?
Thanks ,
Z
October 29th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
peter Jenkins says:
Yeah, but which one of ya names is more super nice with skills than Jerron Love???
October 29th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
peter Jenkins says:
Who has a better ball handle than Jerron Love?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
peter Jenkins says:
Whos better Jerron Love or Z?
thats for writing his name so much what r you trying to do sell tickets at the door
October 29th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
peter Jenkins says:
40 cal gave JLove a write up b4 all u Katz Good Luck
October 29th, 2009 at 9:46 pm
peter Jenkins says:
If Jerrons not there who cares!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
peter Jenkins says:
http://www.nycbasketball.com/video/metro-classic-nyc-vs-li-oct-25
October 29th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
and1basketball says:
Kid is big tyme
October 29th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
basketballscoop says:
Myron Rolle has Jerron Love in a new series. you read it here first
October 29th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Sean Couch says:
Pencil me in???? How old r u???
October 30th, 2009 at 1:37 am
basketballscoop says:
Jerron is the only youth street ball entertainer
October 30th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Zach Radz says:
LOL Sean !!
Went Old School on u a lil bit there .
Too much time in the car with my Dad I guess .
Have a great weekend .
Z
October 30th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
40 Cal says:
Basketballscoop, you obviously don’t watch basketball if you think of Jerron as an entertainer.
October 30th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
Sean Couch says:
Jerron is a player, and I haven’t seen enough of Zach but maybe next year. As for the other guards mentioned in the blog, all of them can play and play at a level that is on par with Jerron.
Jerron has a seasoned game. He has a floater which is rare for a kid his age, He also shoots off the dribble in rhythm on balance which again is a rarity . His individual offensive game is advanced and the awards and fame he is receiving are a result of hard work.
October 31st, 2009 at 10:45 am
funkalot says:
I heard that Boston guard, Ramone Gibbons played well. I am curious about others observations of his play in the Freshman game.
October 31st, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Sean Couch says:
Gibbons showed range and was very tough around the rim on the finish. He showed good body control when confronting bigger players and jump stopped and finished under control several times in the lane. I was impressed with him and it validated his choice as a Young World player in Issue 22.
Good work Ali!!
October 31st, 2009 at 7:26 pm
funkalot says:
Actually Sean,I was Ali’s resource for the Ramone Gibbons story.
I am proud of the young homie and after speaking with my guy,Claude Pritchard, the Boston Coach, he was impressed with the Jim Couch Showcase and we hope to participate in future years.
October 31st, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Sean Couch says:
No doubt, I thank your keen eye and ability to scout talent.
Also, Kuran Iverson is a very strong prospect who at 6′8″ could develop into to a major talent if he gets stronger. He already has handles and solid outdoor skills.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 am
talent scout says:
hey coach sean couch i was at your rising freshman showcase games on saturday and sunday alot great talent but on sunday game the upstate ny team had a pg darrien white super quick he have cazy handles by far the best player out there was very impressed with his skills very strong prospect,major talent from what i hear he 13years old keep up the good work darrien watching you
maybe you couid be on the next cover of the boundmag
November 4th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Sean Couch says:
Darrien played well, good handle and his head was up and ready to deliver the ball at all times. Very quick.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Zach Radz says:
I can confirm that Darrien is the real deal .We are from the same area Upstate . He played at the Varsity Level for Albany Academy last year ( yes , the Team that beat Bishop Laughlin in Albany) . Darrien also dropped 30+ on the Playaz crew at Rumble in the Bronx ‘09 .
At his current age , Darrien will graduate High School at the age of 16 which is also amazing .
Watch out for my Brother Darrien as you will hear his name a lot more , guaranteed .
November 4th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Sean Couch says:
Complete Rising Freshman recap is up on now.