Five-Star Basketball - 16U Power Rankings Week 2: April 18, 2012

As spring season heats up, so does competition for 16U rankings

Team Takeover Caron Butler holds down the top spot with a bye week, while the Texas Titans earned the right to be called elite with their play. Boston-based BABC had the most impressive week with a tournament championship in Milan, Italy, which helped them to move up 13 spots in the rankings to No. 10.

Rank	Prev
1	1	Team Takeover Caron Butler Washington, D.C.
After an idle weekend, Takeover’s Baltimore-bound for the Big Shots Tournament, which boasts a list of over 4,000 alumni who have played collegiately in the last six years.
2	2	Dream Vision Las Vegas, Nev.
They didn’t play this past weekend, but Stephen Zimmerman and co. will attempt to defend their home turf this weekend at the adidas VIP Exclusive Run in Las Vegas.
3	3	Texas Titans Dallas, Texas
The Titans won the Great American Shootout in a 2OT thriller over Team Texas Elite, which helped to solidify their place amongst the elite.
4	4	Sports U Newark, N.J.
Some of Sports U’s players participated in IS8 this pas weekend in Queens, where the squad notched two wins by a total of 47 points. This weekend they will be in Pittsburgh for the Hoop Group Jam Fest.
5	5	Houston Hoops Houston, Tex.
The H-town based club rested up this weekend but will be put to the test in Minnesota, where a gauntlet of 16U Nike teams await at the IM BBall Spring Showcase.
6	6	St. Louis Eagles St. Louis, Mo.
Following their entrance into the rankings, the Eagles will have a tough test ahead of them in Minneapolis, MN at the Spring Showcase.
7	7	Playaz Basketball Club (N.J.) Paterson, N.J.
Apparently the Playaz excel in bandbox gymnasiums. This sophomore bunch put a pair of drubbings on Positive Direction (71-53) and Mountain Ball (90-64), and also squeaked out a 86-81 win over Manhattan Sports Academy.
8	8	Team Scan New York, N.Y.
They were off this past weekend, but this coming weekend a talented SCAN team will head to the Basketbull Hall of Fame Championships in Middletown, CT.
9	9	Las Vegas Prospects Las Vegas, Nev.
A gap in action last weekend should leave the Prospects with well-rested legs as they participate in the inaugural Pangos Spring Spectacular at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) High School.
10	23	BABC Boston, Mass.
BABC had an extremely impressive week, capturing the Victor RHO International Basketball Tournament overseas in Milan, Italy. This run to the gold has only been done by one other American team (1990) and did not go overseen, and BABC has moved up 13 positions in the rankings.
11	10	Mac Irvin Fire Chicago, Ill.
They had a tough weekend a few weeks ago at the NY2LA Swish ‘N Dish, but the Fire will look to rebound strongly at the Nike Spring Showdown.
12		Team Texas Elite Dallas, Texas
No shame in losing to the Texas Titans in 2OT at the Great American Shootout. Team Texas Elite's bounce-back effort at the Next Level Nationals in Dallas, TX this upcoming weekend will go a long way toward next weeks rankings.
13	11	MN Pump N' Run Minneapolis, Minn.
The Pump N Run won a local tournament in Minnesota last week, beating the Minnesota Fury and Comets, but will certainly be heavily tested at the upcoming Best Buy Spring Classic this weekend in Bloomington, MN.
14	13	All-Ohio Red Columbus, Ohio
They won the Championship of the All-Ohio Nike Cup this past weekend, beating Cincys Finest in the finals, and will head to the Big Shots tournament this upcoming weekend.
15	14	Ray Allen Select Milwaukee, Wisc.
Riley Chance participated in the Maximum Exposure Invitational this past weekend. He’ll lead the Select team at the NY2LA Spring Extravaganza on Saturday and Sunday.
16	16	Meanstreets Chicago, Ill.
They won the HOF Chicago Tournament this past weekend and hit the Nike Spring Showdown this upcoming weekend - another chance to prove their worth.
17	17	MoKan Elite Kansas City, Mo.
Their first tournament of the season is this weekend at the IM Basketball Showcase in Minneapolis, MN. MoKan had better come out of the gate ready in order to remain included in the Power Rankings.
18		Team United
Winners of the Knoxvegas Heat Invitational, Team United enters the rankings at No. 17. They took down Forest City Heat, CP3, Worldwide and Team Final.
19	21	Oakland Soldiers Oakland, Calif.
The Oakland Soldiers beat the Oakland Rebels 16U and 17U teams this past weekend and will head to the Double Pump Hoopfest this coming weekend.
20	15	Forest City Heat Forest City, N.C.
Forest City swept pool play (4-0) at the Knoxvegas Heat Invitational, including a victory over Cincy Royals Elite, but they were bounced by Team United in the semifinals.
21	18	Louisville Magic Louisville, Ky.
The Magic rested this past weekend, but will head to Las Vegas for the adidas Exclusive VIP Run. With other ranked teams there, they will have an opportunity to move up, or fall backwards, in the rankings.
22	20	Arkansas Hawks Little Rock, Ark.
The Hawks have their eyes on another tournament title this weekend, this time at the Best Buy Spring Classic in Minnesota. They were of this week.
23	12	Indiana Elite Bloomington, Ind.
Fell to Fieldhouse Elite this past weekend at Indyball.com Shootout, but that isn’t a defeat that is going to take them out of the rankings. Hopefully, the Elite is ready to prove itself this weekend at the adidas VIP Exclusive Run in Las Vegas.
24	19	CP3 All-Stars Winston-Salem, N.C.
The All-Stars notched a pair of Ws against South Carolina Raptors Elite and Florida Assault before falling to a tough Team United in the semifinals at Knoxvegas Heat Invitational (Knoxville, Tenn).
25	24	KC Run GMC Olathe, Kan.
There was no run for GMC this weekend, but that changes with a trip to Minny for the NY2LA Spring Extravaganza on the 20th.
Best of the Rest IBA Select, Iowa Barnstormers, Team Impact, Atlanta Celtics (J-Smoove), Worldwide, CIA Bounce, Albany City Rocks, Southern Stampede, Cincinnati Knights, Fieldhouse Elite