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Team USA Reminisces Over Reebok Summer Tournaments
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As the Reebok Summer Championships continued throughout the week, Ballercircuit.com had the opportunity to attend the 2009 USA Basketball Showcase. Which had at least four player that have been a main stay within the development of making the Summer 
Championships presented by Reebok a major tournament amongst most events that are running in the city of Las Vegas at this current time.
We met with Derrick Rose, OJ Mayo, and Kevin Love, all of who have each participated in the Reebok Summer Championships long before becoming a house hold name on the NBA level. In speaking with the 2009 Rookie of the year, Derrick Rose; we here at Ballercircuit wanted to know what feelings he had about playing with certain players on the AAU circuit, and now all vying for a position on the USA National Team for the World Championships, and possibly the 2012 Olympics. What he told us was nothing less than we expected from a true professional, which was continue to work hard and always be willing to learn more about the game. Also adding the fact that tournaments such as the Summer Championships gave him the opportunity to showcase his abilities in front of a myriad of college coaches, and giving credit to the strong competition that was always at the tournament held by Reebok. Rose is now with Adidas, but understands that events such as the Reebok Summer Championships are what have made him the player he was before attending Memphis University.
OJ Mayo gave us a little more perspective into what those who are in the same position as he was at that age. Not to let the issues of being an elite player cloud your vision as you continue to grow within you own p
ersonal game, and to always trust in yourself & the abilities that have gotten you this far. Recalling how the competition that was at this event during the times he was there, as tough as they come when playing on that level. However being prepared to face the obstacles that come with being an elite player, and there will be obstacles that athletes will face in which the way you handle them will be how you are judged.
When catching up with Kevin Love, he had definitely remembered his time at the Reebok Summer Championships. He recalled last playing with the SoCal All Stars in the tournament along with players such as Renardo Sidney, and future first round draft pick Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks). Eventually meeting Team MeanStreets which consisted of two of the Team USA’s backcourt; Eric Gordon, and Derrick Rose in the Championship game presented by Reebok. The stands were filled recalls Love when talking about the game that he and his SoCal All Stars ended up winning. Those are the type of match ups that bring out the best in an athlete who wants to play on the highest stage a basketball player could ask for; the NBA. 
Playing up to that level is what makes you a better individual as well as a player.
Reebok has held the standard in bringing in the best teams, and players across the nation year after year. The commitment to excellence goes far and beyond wearing shoes, but dwells into making young men into responsible grown men. As we can see now it is evident that what we learn as young adults will shape us for what is ahead in life, pre & post basketball. Reebok has continued to be a major contributor to helping these individuals reach for the stars, and becoming better individuals on and off the court.
2009 Reebok Summer Championships: Day 3 The Beginning of Bracket Play
Day 3 started with promise & Intrigue. At the start of the day coaches and media alike were greeted with a surprise. Two teams that were to play early in the morning session forfeited, leaving an abundance of time to wait for the evening games. The Playaz Basketball Club, who just recently won the third place consolation game of the Create-N-Finish Cup, happened to be one of the forfeited teams along with the Eastern Ohio All Stars.
The evening session definitely brought the noise, as the Houston Hoopstars Elite made quick work of the Create-N-Finish finalist Texas Bluechips (Navy) with a final score of 54 to 36. As the games started and finished, teams started to begin to fall from bracket play, and the tournament seemed to be running in a more frantic pace as the fact that this was now a single elimination tournament began to set in.
As the evening was drawing to a near the crowd would be in for a late night treat. In the last games of the night at Foothill High School on the main court, there would be a battle between four teams looking to advance to the Summer Championships Quarterfinals. Team Detroit once again had the opportunity to make a name for themselves in this tournament, and they sure seized the chance by fighting off a resilient IAD Full Court Athlete team that wasn’t going to just hand the game over to the team out of Michigan. However in the end Team Detroit pulled out another impressive victory with a 79 to 69 victory, which will have them facing the dynamic duo of Deville Smith & LaQuinton Ross in the 11:30am game to be played on Sunday. Not to be out done the final game of the night would put the Champions of the Create-N-Finish Cup against Petersburg Elite from the state of Virginia. Both teams would battled to a tie game at the end of regulation, but in the end Keala King and company would pull out a two point victory in overtime to face the NW Houston Tigers in the Quarterfinals at 12:45pm tomorrow.
Indeed this will be a climatic ending to an already draw dropping tournament, which will definitely be well worth the wait.
Reebok Summer Championships Day 2: Evening Session
In the seventh place game, D-One Sports went up against the Schoolers of Dakota. In there efforts to try and slow the game, the Schoolers managed to keep the score close throughout the game. Cody Larson’s 29 points, and Derek Brown’s 18 points proved to not be enough as D-One Sports had four players in double figures, with James Terrell leading the way with 28 points, along with Quincy Miller Dropping in an impressive 24 points. Final score: D-One Sports (95), Dakota Schoolers (90).
The fifth place game put the duo of LaQuinton Ross & Deville Smith in a battle with the always tenacious New York Panthers. the game was filled with aggressive defense, and in the beginning it looked as if the Panthers had found the solution to the Elite’s offensive success. However that would be short lived, as Ross scored a game high 26 while Deville Smith chipped in with 18 points of his of his own. The key none the less was that they received help from two others; Demarco Cox put in 16 points, as Tymond Howard also contributed with 11 points respectfully. Jonathan Moore stacked up 25 points in a losing effort as the Panthers of new York took a 74 to 62 loss at the hands of MBA Elite.
After a disappointing loss earlier in the day, Team Detroit was ready to avenge themselves against the Playaz Basketball Club in the third place game this evening. The difference however is that the Playaz were in that very same position today. So this was going to be a fight . From the start the Playaz Basketball Club was focused on ball distribution, and it showed in the stats as three players scored in double figures with Myles Davis leading with 25 points. Now not to be out done, the Detroit squad also had three players that also scored in double figures. Trey Zeigler lead with 21 points. The Playaz Basketball Club pulled ahead late to win the game by seven. Final score: Team Detroit (55), Playaz Basketball Club (72)
As the night was coming to an end there would be one more game to play. The Reebok Create-N-Finish Championship showcasing the California Supreme and the Texas Bluechips (navy). From the beginning the Supreme showed why they are an elite team. At the half the California Supreme held a commanding lead of thirteen, which only grew as the second half continued to show that the team from California were indeed champions. Although this was a championship game; it did not play like one. The Supreme continued their dominance throughout the rest of the half, and ran off to a 75 to 55 victory to claim the 2009 Reebok Create-N-Finish Cup. Gary Franklin Jr. lead his team with 15 points, as Keala King threw in an additional 11 points while contributing on the defensive side of the ball. The California Supreme are to be congratulated for their performance, and will most likely be the number one seed in the open pool play that starts tomorrow.
