17U Power Rankings: Week 14: July 18, 2012

Florida Elite does it again: back-to-back adidas Invitational titles

Florida Elite dropped a few spots in our rankings a week ago after Brannen Greene left the squad, but at adidas, they proved they are still incredibly potent behind the likes of Kasey Hill and Chris Walker. They put together an undefeated run for the second straight year and are justifiably a top-5 team right now. All in all, the Invitational certainly saw some teams surge while others stumbled. Check out where they all landed.

Rank	Prev		Comments
1	1	Texas Titans Dallas, Texas	Key Wins: Mac Irvin Fire, GASO Championship (x2) Key Loss: CP3
The Titans hold court atop our rankings and can solidify their top billing by winning Peach Jam — they begin with matchups against Wisconsin Playground Elite and BABC.
2	2	California Supreme Los Angeles, Calif.	Key Win: All-Ohio Red Key Loss: Mac Irvin Fire
Cali Supreme has its eyes set on a Peach Jam title, and they will get things started by facing MoKan Elite, Arkansas Wings, and the CP3 All-Stars in their first three games.
3	3	Meanstreets Chicago, Ill.	Key Wins: CIA Bounce, Houston Hoops Key Losses: Oakland Soldiers, Boo Williams
Meanstreets picked up a solid win over the Mac Irvin Fire in the D1 Elite event.
4	5	CIA Bounce Brampton, Ontario	Key Win: Houston Hoops Key Loss: Meanstreets
CIA Bounce will face both the Titans and Mac Irvin in pool play, which means we'll get the latest of Wiggins vs. Randle and Wiggins vs. Parker.
5	12	Florida Elite St. Petersburg, Fla.	Key Wins: Eric Gordon All-Stars, Michigan Mustangs, Team Nashville, Garner Road, Dream Vision Key Championships: adidas Invitational Key Loss: Terry Porter Elite
No Brannen Greene, no problem. Kasey Hill absolutely dominated the tournament for the 2nd straight year. He dropped 46 on Dream Vision and led his squad to the title.
6	4	All-Ohio Red Columbus, Ohio	Key Wins: CP3, Mac Irvin Fire Key Loss: California Supreme
All-Ohio Red may have lost to Team Loaded in the semis at Big Shots, but they went down fighting without four key players, including Marc Loving and Nigel Hayes.
7	7	D.C. Assault Washington, D.C.	Key Win: Illinois Wolves Key Loss: Milwaukee Runnin' Rebels
D.C. Assault stays put for now, and will play at the UA Summer Jam in Milwaukee.
8	9	Oakland Soldiers Oakland, Calif.	Key Wins: Houston Hoops, Meanstreets Key Losses: Howard Pulley, Boo Williams
The Soldiers will have the opportunity to avenge an earlier loss to Boo Williams when the two square off in pool play at Peach Jam.
9	10	CP3 All-Stars Winston-Salem, N.C.	Key Wins: E1T1, Texas Titans, Mac Irvin Fire Key Loss: All-Ohio Red
The CP3 All-Star get a slight boost for taking care of business and winning their own tournament.
10	14	Sports U. Newark, N.J.	Key Wins: Houston Defenders, Compton Magic, Rumble in the Bronx, Reebok Showdown Series Key Loss: Milwaukee Runnin' Rebels
Sports U. breaks into the top 10 after winning the championship at the Reebok Showdown Series. They beat the Arkansas Hawks by 3 in the title game.
11	6	Dream Vision Las Vegas, Nev.	Championships: Real Deal in the Rock Key Win: Michigan Mustangs Key Loss: Paul George Elite, Florida Elite
Dream Vision's 17U squad fared better than its younger counterparts at adidas, but fell in the Final Four to the eventual champs, Florida Elite.
12	19	Team Nashville Nashville, Tenn.	Key Championship: Wallace Prather, Garner Road Key Losses: OBC, Florida Rams, Eric Gordon All-Stars
Team Nashville gets a big boost after putting together a 6-1 run at adidas, including a big win over Garner Road. The faltering of other teams around them also helped bump them up.
13	11	Houston Defenders Houston, Texas	Key Win: KC Run GMC, Nike Baltimore Elite Key Loss: Net Gain Sports, SW Illinois Jets
Aaron Harrison did work at the Reebok Breakout Challenge, but his Defenders squad dropped a game against the SW Illinois Jets at the Showdown Series.
14	8	Garner Road Bulldogs Raleigh, N.C.	Key Win: Dream Vision (adidas VIP) Key Loss: Michigan Mustangs, Florida Rams, Team Nashville
Garner Road picked up a nice win against New Orleans Elite but suffered a trio of losses to Florida Elite, Urban DFW and Team Nashville. They slide out of the top 10.
15	13	Michigan Mustangs	Key Wins: Wisconsin Swing, Garner Road Key Losses: Florida Rams, New Heights, Dream Vision
The Mustangs defeated ECE Mass, the Houston Hoopstars and the Indy Elite Stars, but they lost to both Dream Vision and New Heights at adidas.
16	16	Each 1 Teach 1	Key Win: Texas Titans Key Losses: CP3, Mac Irvin Fire
E1T1 stays put, and their Peach Jam run may make or break them: they will face Meanstreets and All-Ohio Red early on.
17	17	Team United	Key Wins: Arkansas Wings, Team Final Key Loss: Texas PRO
Team United was one of the few idle teams this week. They stay put for now.
18	15	Eric Gordon All-Stars Indianapolis, Ind.	Key Wins: indyball.com championship, Team Nashville Key Losses: Florida Rams, Terry Porter Elite, Memphis Magic, New Heights
Despite two losses to the Memphis Magic and eventual runner-up New Heights, the EG All-Stars come away from adidas with a Final Four performance and a nice win over Team Nashville.
19		New Heights New York, N.Y.	Key Wins: Compton Magic, Eric Gordon All-Stars, Michigan Mustangs Key Losses: Dallas Mustangs, Ohio Basketball Club, Florida Elite
New Heights breaks back into the rankings in a big way with their impressive run at adidas. Despite beginning 1-2 in pool play, the NYC-based club rattled off five straight wins before losing to Florida Elite in the title game.
20	18	Mac Irvin Fire Chicago, Ill.	Key Wins: Each 1 Teach 1, California Supreme Key Losses: All-Ohio Red, Texas Titans, CP3
Chi-town's finest went head-to-head at the D1 Elite event, but Meanstreets walked away with the city's bragging rights for now.
21	23	Illinois Wolves	Key Win: KC Run GMC Key Loss: D.C. Assault
The Wolves went out and won the Chicago Summer Challenge, while Nate Taphorn gave a commitment to Northwestern.
22	20	Houston Hoops Houston, Texas	Key Win: Howard Pulley Key Losses: Oakland Soldiers, CIA Bounce, Meanstreets
The idle Hoops dip a bit given the flurry of activity around them. They'll certainly have a chance to move back up.
23	21	Arkansas Wings	Key Win: Wisconsin Playground Key Losses: Team Final, Team United
The Wings were off, but star big man Bobby Ports scored 18 points for the U.S. in the Nike Global Championship game against an Andrew Wiggins-led Canada squad. Up next is Peach Jam.
24	22	Team Final Philadelphia, Pa.	Key Win: Arkansas Wings Key Loss: Team United
Team Final can avenge its loss to Team United Thursday night as the two go head-to-head at Peach Jam.
25	24	Terry Porter Elite Milwaukee, Wisc.	Key Wins: Florida Rams, Eric Gordon All-Stars, Net Gain Key Loss: M33M, Wisconsin Swing
Despite losing to "Best of the Rest" newcomer Wisconsin Swing, TP Elite clings onto a top 25 spot given its resume that includes wins over Florida Elite and the EG All-Stars.
Best of the Rest Wisconsin Swing, Seattle Rotary, Upward Stars, Net Gain Sports, Boo Williams, Team Penny, Compton Magic, New Rens, Nike Baltimore Elite, Playaz Basketball Club, Ohio Basketball Club, Kingdom Hoops, New Heights, The Family