After a thrilling inaugural season, the JaVale McGee Pro-Am is back in action in the heart of Flint, Michigan, at the International Academy of Flint. The anticipation is high as some of the best hoopers in the mitten (and around) gear up to play in the burgundy-filled Phoenix gym. Last year, Carmelo Harris of Overseas Elite snatched the MVP crown and led his team to the championship. This year, Harris and his team are back, but the competition has intensified with the addition of more pros, All-Americans, and college standouts.
The format is simple: These hoopers will showcase their talents every Saturday and Sunday until the middle of August. The 8-team format allows each team to play twice a weekend. Here, we'll highlight some of the standout moments and performances from week 1!
Ball Hogs: 2-0
This squad is one of two remaining undefeated teams. After a strong 91-85 win against the stacked Team Bridges on Saturday, they followed up that dub with a 65-58 handling of Hamo Law Firm.
Guard play stands out with this team. Their trio of A'monte Allen-Johnson (Indian Hills CC), Lamont Tolbert (Lansing CC), and Daquan Coleman (St. Clair CC) will be tough to stop. Each guard offers something different but brings consistency and steady play.
Nate Brown made his season debut on Sunday. He's a big guard who hustles and gets his teammates involved. He was hitting the floor for loose balls, which is rare in Pro-Ams.
We can't forget about the skilled big Kareem Aburashed who hit the game-tying three against team bridges to send the game to overtime. What a chilling shot.
Gym Rats: 0-2
The Gym Rats aren't off to an ideal start, but there are some things they can build on. For one, former Iowa Hawkeye great Devyn Marble was in the building playing under the bright lights.
He has a pro game with his face-up work and smooth midrange jumper. He finished with 31 points on Sunday. Look for former Beecher All-State athlete Earnest Saunders to get it going; surely, someone will end up on his poster. Jordan Houser had a productive weekend, as he was a double-digit scorer in both games. He's a Tasmanian devil who attacks the rim with nifty spin moves and tough left-hand lays. Expecting these guys to come out with a chip on their shoulder this upcoming Saturday (July 6th).
Hamo Law Firm: 1-1
This is probably the youngest team in the league. Although they lack the experience some of the pros have, their young legs are spry, and they force teams to play fast. They displayed their versatility and togetherness when they knocked off the Gym Rats on Saturday. Collin Albert and Colby Wiggins are a helluva backcourt. Albert has that herky-jerky handle and will stop and pop in any defender's face at any time. Wiggins is young, but he controls the ball like a seasoned vet. He made big times 3's and kept applying pressure on the defense with rim attacks in transition.
Hamo Law Firm isn't a big team. Aijalon Williams is their big man, but he doesn't move like one laterally. He has good feet, is a beast on the boards, and often attempts monkey-nuts dunks. Sam Dillard, out of Fenton High School, is a smooth hooper who likes to talk out there a bit. He added 13 points in their Saturday victory. Ball Hogs got the best of them Sunday, but this youthful squad will be a great watch all summer.
Overseas Elite: 1-1
The defending champs are at it again, looking to go back-to-back like the 01 Lakers. Reigning MVP Carmelo Harris picked up right where he left off, taking over the game down the stretch to lead Overseas Elite to a 61-60 win against Small Guard on Sunday. His running mate Robert Lee is nobody to sleep on, either. He's a do-it-all wing who literally does whatever it takes to win.
Tyree Keyes is right at home playing at the International Academy of Flint. His turbo speed allows him to speed boost to the cup whenever. Being the floor general he is, he looks to get his guys involved after breaking down the defense. Another International alumni, Lance Adams, drilled the game-winning shot on Sunday after a cold overall game. That's Kobe-like: making game-winners after struggling takes a lot of cajones.
Team McGee did sneak by them during the opener on Saturday, but that punch woke them up. Teams will be giving them their best shots because heavy is the head that wears the crown.
Prime 810: 0-2
Prime 810 is winless, but both games could have gone either way. They lost a tough nail-biter 65-69 against Small Guards on Saturday and came up short on Sunday, 72-77, against Team McGee. They'll be fine; they're right there.
When Prime starts to rack up some dubs, Antonio Davis's name should be square in the MVP conversation. That's a real bucket-getter. The one-leg running jumper is stable in his game. That move is so difficult, and he makes it look like child play. He dropped a 26-point bomb vs Team McGee on Sunday. John Ukomadu added 20 points and some earth-shattering jams. His double-pump finish off the lob was ridiculous. Oh, this one was, too (he was snubbed in the 2024 College Slam Dunk Championship).
Small Guard: 1-1
Small Guard runs out of a star-studded lineup. There are a few Beecher Buccaneer champions on the squad; they bring that championship DNA with them wherever they go.
Malik Ellison laced up and played on Sunday after coaching on Saturday. He and his brother Mehki Ellison stole the show many times last summer as they got up and down the court in a blur. You have to keep your eyes open, or you'll miss one of their trickery layups that seem unblockable.
Jordan Roland of Kentucky Wesleyan is a poised lefty guard who doesn't get rattled. He's a killer to watch as he should explode for a big-time scoring game sooner rather than later. Tre Garrett contributed a ton over the weekend. He'll be a consistent force on this roster.
Their game against the defending champs on Sunday came down to the wire, and they took a tough loss. It happens, but this will be a dangerous team come tournament time.
Team Bridges: 1-1
Showtimeeee! What did Keyon Menifield do? He dropped a league-record 53 points, only making two 3's! That means there were a lot of buckets going around. Gym Rats even tried sticking the 6-foot-7 Devyn Marble on Menifield at a point, but that was nullified when Keyon scored three buckets in a row. High school teammate Jalen Terry (Eastern Michigan) was right along for the ride. He finished with 15 points on Sunday and drilled a pair of Curry range triples. He's known for his bunnies, but honestly, his on-ball defense is one of the most impressive parts of his game. It's challenging to screen him because of his physical gifts and reaction time.
The fans missed out on watching Terry Armstrong on Sunday even though Menifield was a movie himself. Terry did this on Saturday.
That bump sent the building into a frenzy. Sadly, I missed the play because I was taking notes. When this team is playing, never take your eyes off the court; you're bound to miss something.
They have John Wick snipers, too. Lonnell Martin is arguably the best shooter in the gym, and leaving Keenan Coleman open isn't ideal. They are going to be the favorites in the majority of their games.
Team McGee: 2-0
The league's namesake starts the season off red hot at 2-0. Isaiah Jones led the way, averaging 17.5 points this weekend. He's what we call a fearless driver: he's looking to get the rack and put you on Sports Center's top 10 plays every possession. The only way he doesn't get a viral-worthy body this summer is if guys got the memo and stopped jumping with him.
Myron Gardner, Vern Nash, and Najashi Tolfree all scored double-digit points. This is a well-balanced team that can score from anywhere. Their roster includes skilled guards, big guards, athletic wings, and great defenders. They are off to a 2-0 start, and they know everyone wants to take their 0. How long will they keep it?
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