17U Inside the Rankings
A comprehensive look deep inside of the nation's top 5
No. 1: HOUSTON DEFENDERS
Total weeks at #1: 1
Total weeks in Top 5: 12
Highest Ranking: 1
KEY WINS vs. Top 25:
- No. 2 BABC at AAU Super Showcase Championship
- No. 3 Team Takeover at AAU Super Showcase Semifinals
- No. 17 New England Playaz at Baltimore Invitational
- No. 20 Atlanta Celtics at New Orleans Invitational
- No. 8 Indiana Elite at Double Pump
KEY LOSSES vs. Top 25:
- No. 19 New Orleans Elite at New Orleans Invitational
- No. 17 New England Playaz at Best Buy Summer Classic
- No. 23 Pryme Tyme at Best Buy Summer Classic
- No. 25 Eric Gordon All-Stars at adidas Invitational
- No. 8 Indiana Elite at adidas Invitational
- No. 14 Texas Pro in bracket play at AAU Nationals
Total Record vs. Top 5: 2-0
Key Tournament Championships:
AAU Super Showcase (Orlando, FL); Double Pump Spring Tournament (Lakewood, CO); Great American Shootout Open Division (Duncanville, TX)
Other Key Wins/Notes:
Houston Hoopstars; Arkansas Wings; Wisconsin Playground Warriors; Each 1 Teach 1; MeanStreets
Other Key Losses:
All-Ohio Black at AAU Nationals
Final Analysis:
At the end of the day, the Houston-based squad proved their worth on the court when it mattered most. A dominating win over BABC in the Super Showcase final, a semifinal win over Team Takeover and a handful of Top 25 wins puts them over the top. They are the only team to go undefeated vs. the Top 5 and they did so to finish the season on top.
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No. 2: BABC
Total weeks at #1: 4
Total weeks in Top 5: 17
Highest Ranking: 1
KEY WINS vs. Top 25:
- No. 12 CIA Bounce at EYBL Session 1 in Hampton, VA
- No. 11 Georgia Stars at EYBL Session 1 in Hampton, VA
- No. 16 All-Ohio Red at EYBL Session 2 in Dallas, TX
- No. 10 Mac-Irvin Fire at EYBL Session 3 in Los Angeles, CA
- No. 3 Team Takeover at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 4 Oakland Soldiers at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 7 Memphis YOMCA at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 12 CIA Bounce at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 11 Georgia Stars at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 10 Mac-Irvin Fire at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 22 All-Iowa Attack at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 9 SYF Players at AAU Super Showcase
- No. 11 Georgia Stars at AAU Super Showcase
KEY LOSSES vs. Top 25:
- No. 7 Memphis YOMCA at EYBL Session 2 in Dallas, TX
- No. 1 Houston Defenders at AAU Super Showcase
Total Record vs. Top 5: 2-1
Key Tournament Championships:
Nike EYBL Peach Jam (Augusta, SC)
Other Key Wins/Notes:
Hoop Heaven Elite
Other Key Losses:
Ohio Shooting Stars at Super Showcase; Howard Pulley at Peach Jam
Final Analysis:
BABC was consistently in our Top 5 all year. Equipped with our EYBL Most Outstanding Player, Nerlens Noel, its defense was suffocating and led the Boston-based squad to the presitigious Peach Jam title. They took down No. 3 Team Takeover, No. 4 Oakland Soldiers and No. 7 Memphis YOMCA (with Shaq Goodwin) along the way to the chip. They were heavily considered for the No. 1 spot and would have been the runaway No. 1 if they had defeated the Defenders to conclude their season.
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No. 3: TEAM TAKEOVER
Total weeks at #1: 11
Total weeks in Top 5: 15
Highest Ranking: 1
KEY WINS vs. Top 25:
- No. 10 Mac-Irvin Fire at EYBL Session 2 in Dallas, TX
- No. 4 Oakland Soldiers at EYBL Session 2 in Dallas, TX
- No. 16 All-Ohio Red at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 10 Mac-Irvin Fire at EYBL Session 3 in Los Angeles, CA
KEY LOSSES vs. Top 25:
- No. 11 Georgia Stars at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 2 BABC at EYBL Peach Jam
- No. 1 Houston Defenders at EYBL Peach Jam
Total Record vs. Top 5: 1-2
Key Tournament Championships:
Pitt Jam Fest (Pittsburgh, PA); Regular Season EYBL Champions
Other Key Wins/Notes:
CP3 All-Stars; Boo Williams; Houston Hoops
Other Key Losses:
Arkansas Wings at Peach Jam
Final Analysis:
The DMV crew finishes the year at No. 3 after an impressive run - which to them is probably still disappointing. Up until Peach Jam, Takeover was undefeated in EYBL regular season action (15-0) and went home with the Pitt Jam Fest title. They entered Peach Jam as favorites but were stunned by their first loss to No. 11 Georgia Stars. They then lost to the Arkansas Wings in pool play and were blown out by BABC in the Quarterfinals. Takoever won't make excuses, but they were without the services of Arnaud Adala Moto for those losses, which derailed their chances at a Peach Jam title. They wrapped up the season with a series of wins before falling in a tough, close contest to our final No. 1 Houston Defenders.
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No. 4: OAKLAND SOLDIERS
Total weeks at #1: 0
Total weeks in Top 5: 15
Highest Ranking: 3
KEY WINS vs. Top 25:
- No. 12 CIA Bounce at EYBL Session 1 in Hampton, VA
- No. 6 New Jersey Playaz at EYBL Peach Jam
KEY LOSSES vs. Top 25:
- No. 3 Team Takeover at EYBL Session 2 in Dallas, TX
- No. 2 BABC at EYBL Peach Jam
Total Record vs. Top 5: 0-2
Key Tournament Championships:
Slam n Jam (California)
Other Key Wins/Notes:
Texas Titans; Boo Williams; Nike Baltimore Elite
Other Key Losses: N/A
Final Analysis:
To many, the Soldiers stacked the court with the most high-level talent on the circuit. Their mixture of talent and athleticism packed gyms and brought out fans, as evidenced by the large attendance at their games at the Fab 48 in Las Vegas. Despite the assortment of talent, they did not come home with either of the two titles they valued the most - Peach Jam and Fab 48. At Peach Jam, they dominated the competition until Nerlens Noel and BABC shut down their offense in the semis. A favorite going into Fab 48, they were upended by Branch West in the first round in the biggest upset of the tourney. Their near undefeated run through EYBL (one small-margin loss to Team Takeover without Five-Star rated Aaron Gordon) and margins of victory throughout, still show that the Soldiers are a Top 5 team in the nation.
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No. 5: DREAM VISION
Total weeks at #1: 0
Total weeks in Top 5: 2
Highest Ranking: 4
KEY WINS vs. Top 25:
- No. 13 CBC at Adidas Invitational
- No. 18 Texas Assault at Jayhawk Invitational
- No. 9 SYF Players at Jayhawk Invitational
- No. 8 Indiana Elite at Adidas Invitational
KEY LOSSES vs. Top 25:
- No. 20 Atlanta Celtics at Adidas Invitational
- No. 12 Texas Pro at Under Armour Summer Jam
- No. 9 SYF Players at Under Armour Summer JamTotal
Total Record vs. Top 5: 0-0
Key Tournament Championships:
Fullcourt Press Easter Classic (Las Vegas, NV); Jayhawk Invitational (Lawrence, KA); EBO Showdown (San Diego, CA)
Other Key Wins/Notes: None
Other Key Losses:
Southern Select; Minnesota Southside; Kansas Pray and Play
Final Analysis:
Dream Vision is worthy of being recognized as one of the nation’s best teams, but they do not have a top-tier winning résumé. The Shabazz Muhammad-led squad won the tournaments they were supposed to win, but could have made a strong case for No. 1 by winning the Adidas Invitational and/or the adidas Super 64. The West Coast crew did impress in Vegas, however, going undefeated in their Super Pool (including wins over No. 8 Indiana Elite and No. 19 Atlanta Celtics) and advancing to the chip before falling to No. 18 Texas Assault. Dream Vision had a strong roster full of talent and experience and very successful season, but were unable to win championships on the biggest stages.
