Hoops City Highlights

Matt Butler is by far one of the most impressive prospects at the Super 80 Fall Showcase. While Butler may not be the flashiest player or have the sexiest game, he kills you with good ole' fashion fundalmentals. Butler has one of the sweetest strokes from beyond the stripe that I've ever seen on the high school level. Butler also impressed with his ability to free himself up by using sceens and picks. Once he catches the rock the battle is over because he's going to find a way to score.

Just a collection of the best dunks thus far at the Super 80 Fall High School Basketball league. Making an appearance in this Vol. are the following ballers: Deshawn Dockery - Ridgeway 2012, Tavin Askew - Wooddale 2012, Andre Applewhite - Central 2012, Jarnell Stokes - Southwind 2012, Larry Spicer Jr. - White Station 2012, Leron Black - White Station 2014, Markell Crawford - Melrose 2013, DeMarc Richardson - Briarcrest 2012, and Skal Levissiere - ECS 2015

Andre Applewhite's, 6'4" SG Memphis Central 2012, time has come. After being the guy along side Top 20 nationally ranked big man, Jarnell Stokes for three years, Applewhite will now have to lead a young group of Central Warriors as the experienced vet. From everything that I wittness during the Super 80, I think he can deliver. Dre is a defensive nightmare because of his length, strong plus active hands, and quick feet. Over the Summer, Applewhite put the work in and became more consistant with his jumper and worked on his moves off the bounce. In Andre's eyes the Central Basketball Warriors aren't dead yet. Be on the look-out.

The first thing people notice about Skal Levissiere is that he is tall. He has a shot shooting touch from 17ft in. He's not very physical, but he runs the floor like a 6'6" wing plus he blocks and changes alot of shots. The one thing that you won't notice at first glance he his amazing story of how survived one of the worst earthquakes in modern history. Skal, a native of Hati, was at his home when the quake hit causing his entire house to collapse on him. Skal talked about how he was trapped in a small cramped space under the rubble that was his home. After three hours, Skal was rescued by his father and neighbors.

Markel Crawford is magic with the rock. At 6'5", Crawford has tremendous play making ability with the ball in his hands. He also has the ability to play off the ball. Markel was one of many talented players on the Memphis YOMCA 17u team that finished second in the Nike Peach Jam and AAU Nationals.

Leron Black's, 6'7" Small Forward 2014, game is morphing into beast mode. Black is the perfect combination of size, length, skill, and plus he has the will to want to be great. Leron's White Station Spartans lost three key players to graduation, but he feels that he and fellow 2014 team mate Davell Roby are ready to step up.

Alex Anderson works harder than any prep basketbball player I've ever seen. Over the Summer, Alex Anderson wanted to become more of a floor general than a scoring point guard. At 5'9", Anderson is naturally quick and his handles along with his strength allows him get his shot off on any defender. Going into his senior year, Anderson's Woodale Cardinals have a chance to make some noise and surprise a few teams.

After transfering to Woodale, 6'7" combo forward Tavin Askew is ready to make his mark on Memphis High School basketball. The athletic four-man is always active around the paint. Askew has quick lift, meaning he jumps high and quick. Add post moves and an expanding wing game, Askew is poised to have a break-out year. The name Askew is familiar to old Memphis State fans from the mid 80s. Former Tiger, Vincent Askew is Tavin's uncle.

The last time PM Hoops talked to Austin Nichols it was during the 2010-11 basketball season. At the time Nichols was averaging about 15 point and 12 rebounds near the end of his sophmore year and had two offers from colleges hoping to land the talented big man. What's changed since then? A lot! Nichols took advantage of playing along side 2012 Nationally ranked stud big man Jarnell Stokes during the Summer and for lack of a better term,"He Blew Up!" Nichols turned heads during the Nike EYBL. Most importantly, he was able to catch the attention of some major college coaches. Nichols took what was two offers for college scharlorships and turned them into fourteen. Now all eyes will be on the 6'8" big man from Briarcrest Christian.

Darrius Sorrell,6'7" SF 2012 Memphis Central, launched a shot from half-court at the end of a game in the Super 80 Fall League in Memphis, Tn this past weekend.

Memphis Central High School is without a doubt in transition. This Summer, the Warriors found out that they were losing Nationally ranked senior forward Jarnell Stokes and last years starting point guard, Blake Johnson, both to transfer. The thing about basketball is that someone must always step up. Tim Shaw, 2013 Point Guard, is poised and ready to do so. The 6'1" lightning quick Shaw will be one of the best scorers on the Warriors roster for 2011-12. PM Hoops caught up with Shaw at the Super 80 Fall Basketball League.

Memphis Magic travel team head coach, Eric "Cowboy" Robinson took time out with PM Hoops's Charley Bass during The Super 80 fall basketball leauge, which he runs. Over the past decade, Eric "Cowboy" Robinson's name has become synonomus with youth basketball in the City of Memphis. It was only two years ago that he coached a stacked Memphis Magic Team to an Adidas Super 64 title. That team was headed by current University of Memphis hoop stand-outs Joe Jackson, Tarik Black, Chris Crawford, and Adonis Thomas. Cowboy talked about his current version of the Memphis Magic. He mentioned Ridgeway's senior duo Cameron Golden and Adam Weary as two of his leaders from the Summer. Cowboy commentted on his Memphis Magic Alums such as: Joe Jackson, Chris Crawford, and Adonis Thomas. Robinson also touched on his efforts with the Mid-South Basketball Academy. He even proclaimed the City of Memphis as "The New Millenium Basketball Mecca".

Jarnell Stokes has had an interesting Summer. Stokes head-lined a team full of prep all-stars as the Memphis YOMCA travel team won the Real Deal in the Rock, The Tennessee State AAU Championship, finished runners-up in the Nike EYBL and AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla. Stokes did more than solidify his status as one of the Nation's premier prep Basketball players. With so much going on in his life at this moment, it was a pleasure to get a chance to talk to the young man about it all. Stokes was kind enough to discuss his work-out regiment, his diet, his over-all preparation, and he even broke down his list of top five potential universities. After talking with Jarnell, it's apparent that he's a bright young man and he is just as good of person as he is a basketball player. Thanks to Tigersportsreport.com's Leroy Watson for conducting the interview.

Danielle Ballard is one of the most breathtaking talents to come out of the Memphis girls' prep scene in the past decade or so. Ballard, ranked #24 in the nation by hoopgurlz.com, teamed with Aaliyah Whiteside (Georgia Tech commit, #21 on hoopgurlz.com) to lead Central to a Tennessee AAA state title last fall. She was invited to the Team USA 16-under trials during the summer of 2010. After an intense recruiting battle, Ballard selected LSU over Auburn, Ole Miss, Duke, Rutgers, and UCLA. The lefty dynamo is expected to play both the point and shooting guard for coach Nikki Caldwell and the Bayou Bengals.

These are clips of the best plays at the Bluff City Classic,Summer pro/am basketball league. Featured in these clips are some of the area's best ballers. So sit back and enjoy the highlights. Follow me on twitter @PMHoops, Check out my blog pmhoops.blogspot.com, and hit up the youtube.com/Charleyhorse30 to see all videos.

Last week during the play-offs at the Bluff City Classic, I watched one of the nastiest, down-right disrepectful, filthy dunks that I've ever seen in person. It came via Jahrell Holmes,6-2 Combo Guard Rust College, when he blew past a defender on the right wing.............And then magic happened. Watch and enjoy.

Up until the Mike Miller Classic, I never had the opportunity to see Hanner Perea play. I heard of him before and I remembered talking to a few people who had seen Perea play. Everyone that I talked to raved about his athleticism and I now know why. At 6'8", Perea lives above the rim on every play. PM Hoops's Charley Bass got a chance to talk to Perea after La Lumiere's lost to National Power Findlay Prep at the Mike Miller Classic in Memphis,TN. Perea discussed his team, commitment to Indiana University, his native Colombia, and other things.

This is the 5th installment of The Bluff City Classic Highlight series. In these clips you'll see Will Barton Going off with some nasty dunks and some smooth drives to the bucket.Terrico White,Ole Miss/Detroit Pistons, displays why he's in the league. Antonio Barton shows off his range. Adonis Thomas displays his athleticism with an improved jumper. Unkown baller Jerrell Holmes, Rust College,MS, shows off his skills and hops. Memphis Hoops legend Jimmie "Snap" Hunter makes an appearance. Check it out and please enjoy.

Highlights from action at the Bluff City Classic hosted by Southwest Community College in Memphis,TN. It's a mix of the area's top pro and ameature basketball players and it's an exciting brand of basketball. After a seven year lay-off, Local business man, Stanley Blue and Former NBA great, Penny Hardaway were the driving forces in bring this staple of Southern hoops back to life. Plenty of Memphians are happy that the Bluff is back! Here's a couple of clips from the Bluff City Classic Pro/Am Summer Basketball league. Making an appearance in this Vol., is Chris Crawford, Will Barton, Wesly Witherspoon, Memphis Hoops ledgend Snap Hunter, Lester Hudson, and Randy Culpepper. Please enjoy.

Here's a collection of clips from The Bluff City Classic the week of 06/28-30/2011. This week in the Bluff proved to be special. Memphis Grizzlies's 2nd round Josh Selby made his BCC debut, showing off the skills that had him tabbed as the best high school player in the Nation a year ago. The University of Memphis guys didn't disappoint either. And the local pros were just as good. Will Coleman makes a three pointer. Mike Staley, who runs youth camps for the Memphis Grizzlies and played college ball at Adrian College, put on a show that had the crowd and even some of the area's top ball players in awe. Please enjoy.