BABC takes Bronze at AAU 9th Grade Nationals

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, July 17th, 2015

The BABC freshmen defeated Team Mississippi to win the Bronze medal at the AAU 9th Grade Division I national championship in Memphis this week.

This was the 45th time a BABC team has advanced to a National Final Four in the program’s history.

Coached by East Boston High School coach Shawn Brown, the BABC 9th graders have comprised a record of 71-11 heading into their final event of the season, this weekend’s Hall of Fame National Invitational in Springfield, and have claimed championships at Zero Gravity Nationals and Providence Jam Fest among others.

Beaver Country Day’s Shandon Brown and Lawrence Academy’s Maurice Works lead the way in the backcourt while Brooks’ Cam Ray provides a spark off the bench. St. Andrew’s forward Cole Swider is the resident shot-maker of the group while Paul Durkee in an ultra-versatile swing from Shrewsbury.

The frontcourt was short-handed this week after New Mission forward Darion Jordan-Thomas broke in nose in the first game of the tournament, but the trio of Mitch Doherty (Acton-Boboro), Jared Whitt (Worcester Academy) and Devandre Edmonds (Commonwealth Academy) held the fort down.

BABC also played without Tanajh Pettway, who has been out the entire spring AAU season with injury but is expected back in the fall. Martin Mann was also age eligible but did not travel and will instead continue to play with the BABC 10th graders as they head to nationals next week in Louisville.

In other BABC notable accomplishments, Jonny Josephed signed an NJCAA Division I letter of Intent with Gillette Junior College in Wyoming while program alum Kamari Robinson signed with NCAA division II school Texas A&M International following two years in the junior college ranks.

Britney Papile, who is both the head coach of the BABC 10th grade team and an assistant at the Tilton School, is currently in Chicago for the Nike Global Challenge where he is the head coach of the USA East team.

The BABC EYBL squad is on the west coast for the next two weeks, taking part in the Full Court Press tournament in Los Angeles this week before rounding out their summer at the Las Vegas Fab 48. The BABC City team will wrap-up their summer at the 11th Grade AAU Gold Showcase next week in Louisville.