Playaz Making a Run in Philly

New England Recruiting Report | Friday, April 27th, 2012

Last weekend it was Expressions Elite who were making a run at a Jam Fest tournament.  This weekend there are two Jam Fests going on, one if Philadelphia and one in Providence.  While the vast majority of local programs are competing in Providence, the Playaz chose to make the trip and are faring well through the second day of action.  

Despite playing without big man Jarred Reuter, who went down with a sprained ankle last week, the Playaz are now 3-0 in the u17 bracket including a hard fought 56-53 win over the SYF Players, an Under Armour sponsored team from Indiana.  That win was preceded by twenty point victories over 716 Crusaders and Higher Level as a variety of different players stepped up including the backcourt trio of Adrian Oliveira, Aaron Calixte, and Cane Broome along with their frontcourt trio of Mohamed Bah, Kerem Kanter, and John Powell.  

The 16’s were also playing without their key man in the middle as Djery Baptiste remains out with his sprained MCL.  But it didn’t have much effect as the Playaz opened with a 62-45 win over Crusader Nation and then scored a big come from behind win over Tri-County Basketball from Canada. Aaron Falzon, Ian Sistare, and Jeff Spellman all took turns playing a staring role.  

The 16’s are back in action bright and early on Sunday in an 8:15am quarterfinal match-up against The City from New York while the 17’s will take on the sharpshooting Utah Reign at 9:15.  

In other New England related action from Philadelphia, Prodigy Basketball Club gave the Illinois Wolves, another Under Armour sponsored program, all they could handle before eventually falling by single digits.  Jacquil Taylor was especially impressive in that contest, scoring points in a variety of different ways but also turning heads with his shot-blocking ability.  

Worcester Academy guard Ausar Madison was also in action, running with the Southern Kings out of Georgia.  The floor general showed off a strengthened frame along with his trademark lockdown defense, all while doing a nice job running the show for yet another Under Armour program.