Kuran Iverson: ESPN’s #2 Sophomore in the country played with Wayne Simone’s Team Connecticut. Photo: Cassell A. Ferere

Every player in the nation knows about the NYC aura. It’s the place where the lights are the brightest and the comp the deepest. The Jim Couch Reunion Games personifies that challenge through its Regional Reunion Series, and the players that compete are among the best in the nation. While a NYC Public School Athletic League pre-season conditioning clinic was held in the aux gym, attracting 200 plus players, 7th grader Unique McLean dunked in the Middle School Metro Showcase, Coach Munch’s Middle School all-star team shined, NYC triumphed over Long Island in the spotlight Rising Freshman Game that St. Raymond’s Shawn Jones (projected as a possible starter as a freshman) and Rice High School’s Shavar Newkirk dominated, as the starting backcourt of the New York Knicks watched. Kuran Iverson dropped 20 in the Sophomore Regional Showcase Game between Connecticut and New Jersey. At 6-8, Iverson showed the versatility of a guard, reminding me of Brooklyn’s Jerry “Ice” Reynolds, an extremely talented NBA point-forward with playground handle Read More »

Shavar Newkirk (on right with trophy) featured on www.middleschoolelite.com.

One of more provocative websites on the middle school level is www.middleschoolelite.com, supported by Adidas Basketball. The site features players from all around the country and one of the founding members is Jerry Love, the father of Jerron Love, the top-rated rising 8th grader in New York City and heralded as the future of playground ball in NYC. Bounce and Nike NYC are also featured on the site.