Magic are facing the same challenge they faced last week with Florida Elite.  These teams with 7-footers are problems for the Magic.  Fortunately there are like 5 in the country.  Unfortunately, the Magic have faced two in the last 6 days.

Magic holding for final shot!

52-52.  Coach Ellis Myles and crew drawing up a final play for the Magic.  The NY2LA crew have a net problem.  I blame the 7-footer for tampering.  He is the obvious culprit, since he can pretty much reach the rim standing on his feet.  13.3 seconds on the clock.  52-52.  Here we go.

Adam Trapp gets caught trapping high on a screen action.  Dante Smalls slashes to the paint and finishes with a flurry.  54-52 Magic up.  2.5 seconds left.  Wisconsin has to go the length of the floor.

McCabe misses a desperation shot.  Magic win!

Amazing slate of games right now.  I will try to give a little info on 4 different games at once, so try to keep up.  It can be confusing.

Mac Irvin Fire 15u handling Northern Kings (Toronto), 39-29.  Chase Adams is playing very well.  He is the best passer in 15u I have seen all summer.  Still working on his jumper.  Zion Young is wonderful SG.  He has very physical and has good range.  Love his future.

Northern Kings are lead by Marcus Carr.  He is probably the best 15u player in the entire tournament, UNLESS Kezo Brown is playing.  He is out hurt right now, or this would be a matchup of two top 30-type guys. 

Still the FIRE are always more than one man.  They are strong.  I expect them to advance tonight and possibly win a couple tomorrow.

Dream Vision 16u has a tough battle with Kingdom Hoops Elite (Iowa).  Dream Vision is a proud adidas program that routinely attracts elite talent out of SoCal and a handful of NorCal guys.

The best players on this current squad include Miles James (Inglewood) and Myles Franklin (Villa Park).  Loyola Marymount has offered Myles.  He also camped there.

The Louisville Magic 15u are trying to wrap up the night with a win just like their amazing 16u team did an hour ago.  Top players on the Magic 15u include Willie Hill, Danny Butt, and my new favorite player on that squad is Steven Fitzgerald.  Great team.

Mac Irvin FIRE up 48-40 in the final minute.  Should be able to close this one out.  Dream Vision 16u jut had its 2nd technical foul of the second half.  They do not look pleased with the officiating.  To me it is hard to complain when you have 3 refs and 2 security guards per court.  It is under control.

Chase Adams dives on the floor up 9 points in the final minute.  There is a reason he wins basketball games.

Fantastic matchup here today:  SW IL Jets/Ramey facing Wisconsin United.  There are multiple ranked players on the court, including:
Ramey/Jets stars——
PG Courtney Ramey #54
SG Torrence Watson   #59
PF Carteare Gordon   #15

United:
Tyrese Haliburton and Johnny Saenaphonphakdy are both likely to jump into the rankings next update.

Gordon is incredible.  Today is my first time seeing him play.  He has the body of a young Caleb Swanigan, but the touch of Zach Randolph.  He is very, very good around the rim.  Once he bulls his way to the block he elevates and the ball comes off his hands so, so soft.  It is strange to see.  Usually players with his physicality are lacking with the touch around the rim.  Not him.    Potential top 10 player in his class.  Incredible.

Team Ramey just grabbed a 14-6 lead with 8:05 to play in the first half.  I like them to win this game.  They were tough before Gordon joined them yesterday.  With him, they might just win the whole 15u bracket.  On the other half of Semifinals will be Louisville Magic (great team) and Mac Irvin FIRE.  Both are capable of challenging Ramey (assuming Ramey wins this game). 

Right now the St. Louis Eagles 17u team is the best STL-area team I have ever seen. 
Jayson Tatum
Tyler Cook
Jeremiah Tilmon
Jordan Godwin

They are wonderful.  But this Team Ramey/ SW IL Jets team has two years and a world of talent that could eclipse them.  With this team you have three guys that probably wind up Top 50.  One of them is at least Top 20, maybe higher.

So, that is better than STL Eagles, in terms of depth.  Tatum (Top 5), Tilmon (Top 20), and Cook (Top 60).

After a quick run thru the 17u quarterfinals I am back at Wisconsin United 15u vs. Ramey 15u.  Ramey is winning 48-38 with 3:25 left.  Gordon sliding his feet well.  His balance is uncanny. He dribbled behind his back under severe pressure at midcourt and then dropped off a dime over the defense. 

Ramey floater in traffic.  These guys are crazy good.  57-41 with 2:00 left.  Watson pulls up like a 20 year old.  Just incredible skill up and down this roster.

Next up Mac Irvin FIRE versus Louisville Magic.  Yesterday Kezo Brown sat with an injury.  I don’t think he will play today, but I hope he does. 

Kezo Brown putting on his jersey.  Will he play?  Sitting on the end of the bench.  Starters:

PG Chase Adams
SG Zion Young
SF Quincy Diller
WG Joffari Brown
WG Bakari Simmons

Magic running with
PG Willie Hill
SG Danny Butt
F Steven Fitzgerald
PG Eric Boone
PF Dante Smalls