The summer basketball clubs from the St. Louis metropolitan area showed up and showed out on the grassroots circuit during the all-important July evaluation period.
St. Louis-area teams in the boys 15-17 age divisions brought home championship hardware from such places as St. Louis, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Lawrence, Milwaukee and Las Vegas. In total, local clubs won eight big showcase tournaments and finished in second place in three other tournaments.
The St. Louis Eagles 17U team won championships at the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance Invitational in St. Louis and the Jayhawk Summer Finale in Kansas City. The Eagles were also runners-up at the Nike Elite Youth Basketball Association Peach Jam, which is the best summer basketball league in the country. The Eagles’ semifinal and championship games at the Peach Jam were televised nationally on ESPNU.
The Jets-Ramey United 15U team won three tournaments in the month of July. The big one came last weekend when they won the Las Vegas Super 48 against a talented field of teams from around the country. Jets-Ramey United also won the Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis and the NY2LA Summer Jam in Milwaukee.
The Southwest Illinois Jets 16U team won the Platinum Division championship at the Sunflower Showcase in Lawrence, KS. last weekend.
The Gateway Basketball Club 16U team won the championship at the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance Invitational in St. Louis two weeks ago.
The Gateway Basketball Club 15U team won the championship at the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance Invitational in St. Louis two weeks ago.
The St. Louis Eagles 15U team finished as runners-up at the Adidas Three Stripes Alliance Invitational in the 16U Division two weeks ago.
The Southwest Illinois Jets 17U team finished as runners-up in the Platinum Division at the Sunflower Showcase in Lawrence, KS. last weekend.
Adding a cherry on the top of all of this success was watching two of our area’s finest in Jayson Tatum and Napheesa Collier play major roles for Team USA in winning gold medals at their respective FIBA U19 World Championship Tournaments.
The success of these teams on the regional and national circuit confirms to others what I have already known for the 30 years that I have been covering basketball; that St. Louis produces quality players on an annual basis.
Not only are our local teams making their mark on the national level, but college coaches keep coming back year after year to offer scholarships and provide a free college education for our talented youngsters. That’s the most important thing in this whole deal.
Congratulations to all of our talented players from The Lou that keep things alive and kicking on the national stage. You are perpetuating a great tradition that is making people around the country pay attention.
