Agent Zero to Hero Invitational Champs
Ron Bailey, Publisher
July 14, 2008 – This past weekend at Hoop Magic Sports Academy in Chantilly, VA, much hoops action was on tap, as Friday-Sunday featured top players in the boys 14 and under through 17 and under age classifications in the Agent Zero Invitational. Below is a listing of age classification winners, with all star teams and standouts presentations to follow later this week.
The ‘Agent Zero’ was about more than around 80 teams coming to do battle; it was the first in hopefully a long line of similar, open recruiting events. Per NCAA guidelines, all coaches, including those from Division I schools could observe the tourney and resultantly close to 40 institutions were present, including the following: UMass, Fordham, Morgan State, Navy, Georgia, Miami, Pitt, Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming, Robert Morris, George Mason, Oklahoma, Providence, St. Joseph, VA Tech, Loyola Marymount and a slew of others.
Curtis Symonds, Hoop Magic’s founder and owner, was bullish on future of ‘Agent Zero’. “Look at the number of coaches who showed up” said the longtime sports business professional. “That’s major. We got a good blend of majors, mid-majors, and Division II schools.
“It’s good to see an event like this in Northern Virginia. Not only the teams, but the business we brought in is significant. People should want to partner with us going forward”.
Indeed. This has the makings of something special.
Triple Threat's Dwayne Jackson could be headed to Morgan State.
17 and under Super Gold
Triple Threat (DC) 91 Baltimore Select (MD)
60
In a thrashing, Triple Threat defended and fastbreaked Baltimore Select to a mercy ruled stoppage, as with four minutes to play their lead eclipsed thirty points. Led by rising senior and game MVP Mo Creek’s 22 points, along with super sophomore Mike Gbinije (12 points), Triple Threat was virtually unstoppable.
One late, first half period illustrated the game well: Select, down as much as 13 early, cut their deficit to five with fewer than four minutes before intermission, in part by using a sagging man to man defense that appeared zone-like. For greater than three minutes, Triple Threat would only score two points.
Enter Gbinije, who scored back to back pull up jumpers after Triple Threat earned defensive stops. To end the half, the squad went on a 16-4 run, and to their credit the onslaught continued after intermission.
Of their second half effectiveness, Triple Threat’s coach, Keith Stevens noted “A lot of it was they did a good job of controlling us in transition. But in the second, we got going”.
Select was led by a pair of rising seniors, Devon Saddler (15 points) and Donte Stuckey (14 points).
17 and under Super Silver Champs – Kingman
(DC)
17 and under Super Bronze Champs – Metro Sixers
(DC)
17 and under Select Gold Champs – Winchester Rising
Stars
17 and under Select Silver Champs – Fundamental
Hoops (MD)
17 and under Bronze Champs – CIC Warriors
16 and under Gold Champs – Triple Threat (DC)
16 and under Silver Champs – DC Assault Blue
15 and under Gold Champs – DC Assault Blue
15 and under Silver Champs – Hoop Magic
14 and under Champs – Baltimore Select