May 7-8 BIG SHOTS FLORIDA STATE Wrap Up, Honors!

Tallahassee, FL -  In Big Shots Florida State several teams made a national splash with their play. The field boasted some of nation's best teams and talent from the class 2012 to 2017.  The Southeast was well represented with Louisiana Dynasty being the headline.

The Louisiana Dynasty are for real! The former OU standout, Coach Quannas White, has built a Dynasty in the Louisiana Dynasty as the 16U and 17U teams came away with glassware.  Each of the LA Dynasty teams displayed the full package with toughness, skill, athleticism, and high basketball IQ that trickled down from their coach.  They play a style that is fun to watch and wins games!

The 17U final showdown was set with two powerhouses in Louisiana Dynasty 17U and Alabama Challenge 17U and the LA Dynasty delivered the knockout early and was too much for The Challenge to overcome.  With the AL Challenge missing their 2 top players (Top 25 2013 C 6'10 Jimmie Taylor and Big Shots 2012 Top 40 basketball player/#2 rated QB 6'6 Jeremy Johnson) the Dynasty took advantage of their size and strength and were able to get to the basket at will and converting. LA Dynasty jumped out to an early 41-25 halftime lead and maintained their attack winning the title 67-48. 

Dynasty was led by a balanced attack of 6 players receiving Conf. USA, SEC, ACC, and Big 12 interest or offers. None shined more than Big Shots 2012 Top 100 CG 6'3 lefty Malik Morgan (John Curtis/New Orleans, LA)who constantly applied pressure creating scoring opportunities with his defensive presence and slashing style in the break and off the dribble.  The physical guard averaged 14.5 ppg in earning 17U MVP honors. All Tournament selections 6'4 GerVaughn McGhee and 6'5 Kacy Jones are versatile 2012 wings that created mismatches with their size and skill entangibles to handle and stroke.  Look for all three to jump into high major talks and make noise throughout the circuit season. Craig Sword led AL Challenge in the final with 17 pts.

In the 16U final, Louisiana Dynasty 16U displayed their physical, 'in your face' style as they set the tone early vs. a talented Alabama Challenge 16U squad holding them to 13 pts. in the first half. Dynasty withstood the Challenge holding on late for a 55-48 win. Both of these teams were two of the more physical teams in the event and that showed in the final.  Dynasty 16U were led by their backcourt of court savvy 6'2 CG 16U MVP Devin Foster (Comeaux HS/Lafayette, LA), tough 6'2 CG Will Jones, and penetrating 5'9 PG Wesley Pinera.  Foster is a strong built combo guard that has a good feel for the game, extremely good vision in open floor and can drop a dime in the break with either hand on the money. In Big Shots Florida State Foster did it all and controlled each game he was in. 

Despite losing in the 16U and 17U finals, Alabama Challenge was well represented with a handful of high major prospects, especially in the class of 2014.  The slashing Mississippi State commit 6'3 2012 SG Craig Sword and versatile 6'4 CG Alex Hamilton were impressive for the Challenge 17U.  Alabama Challenge 16U has a handful of 2014 talents that may be as deep as any in the Southeast. With a premier future front line of Top 25 phenom 6'10 Jimmie Taylor (plays with 17U) and up-and-coming 6'8 William Lee, the Baker bros. (Ty and Chi), Rakeem Lugan, and Ronnie Clark(17U) this group of diaper dandies will make noise and could develop into one of the nation's best!

The 15U championship between TAB Spurs 15U vs. Florida Jr. Kings 15U came down to a guard battle, as 15U MVP Marvin Biggins' tournament best 36 points was enough to outlast Jacknelson Joseph and Marvin Jean-Pierre of the FL Jr. Kings, 81-74.  Biggins hit the game winning floater in the semifinals to get past Orendaz Holloway and the Bama Bulls, 59-58, and continued to have the hot hand in the finals.  Florida Jr. Kings' 2015 6'1 CG Jacknelson Joseph and 2014 6'1 SG Marvin Jean-Pierre were impressive all tournament as the slashing guards were constantly getting into the lane making acrobatic layups at the tin.  However, the combo guard Biggins ate his Breakfast of Champions and was too much to handle on Sunday in carrying his team to the title.

In the 13U title game, Big Shots 2016 Top 40 prospect 6'1 Tyree Crump and attacking 5'7 guard Brandon Gant-McClinton broke down the competition as Team Breakdown 13U came over with the glassware over Tab Spurs Black 13U, 61-43.  Tab Spurs Black came into the final unbeaten, led by 2016 big man Jack McCrae. However, they could not withstand the inside dominance and all intangible Crump in the final as he made plays in the press or in the break.  Crump was named 13U MVP and McClinton to the All Tournament Team.

The 12U championship had TAB Spurs 12U pulling away late from the Tallahassee Wildcats, 44-36. Jeremiah Davis of the Tallahassee Wildcats had a solid showing in earning All Tournament honors. However, the Spurs, led by 12U MVP Trent Bryant and All Tourney selection Michael Worrell, withstood the late comeback to claim the crown.

Notes

- In July, Louisiana Dynasty will be attending Big Shots Mississippi and the Phoenix Desert Duel.

- 17U MVP Malik Morgan of LA Dynasty has Boston College, LSU, Arkansas, and UTEP showing the most interest at this point. His teammates Gervaughn Maxwell, Michael Lewis, Kacy Jones have interest from Texas, Texas A&M, LSU, Miss. St, UTEP, LA Tech respectively. 

- Tampa Titans have two under the radar Div. 1 2012 bigs in 6'9 Kieffer Jordan (Plant/Tampa,FL) and 6'8 Javonta Pearson (Gibbs/St.Pete,FL).  Both are bouncy, long, and mobile.

- Team Breakdown 13U has a solid nucleus led by phenom Tyree Crump, Brandon Gant-McClinton, and Jalen & Kyle Kinney.  Crump was a joy to watch as he played at an extremely high effort level with skill work well beyond his years. He has big time footwork and post moves with an unselfish 94' floor game to lead the break and can find the open man or score at the tin at ease. Only knock was his attempted dunk that came up two feet short but I'll give him props for the effort.

- TAB Spurs had a strong showing walking around with two titles (15U & 12U).

- Bama Boys' 6'4 2011 CG Malcolm Riley (Selma/Selma, AL) was a microwave this weekend pouring in 35 points in Round 1 and high scoring games throughout the event.

- SC Kings 17U captured the 17U Orange Consolation Championship.

- BCS Football in the House.  FSU Head Football Coach Jimbo Fisher stopped by for awhile to chat it up about the old days and Nole football.  He and Jeff Schneider are from the same town of Clarksburg, WV. Great guy & coach, enjoyed visiting with him. National Champion Auburn Asst. Head Coach Trooper Taylor was also in the building cheering on his son Jeawon Taylor of the Alabama Ballers. 

For more up to date Big Shots News follow Kevin Schneider on twitter at BigShots_KevinS