Five-Star Top 25: 17U: May 4, 2011

Second EYBL leg and big head-to-head matchups help sort out 17U picture

It's still early in the Spring season, but thanks to several stacked tournaments and two EYBL sessions, a once-cloudy picture is clearing up. And the 17U landscape that has emerged is one based on tiers. The top eight teams in this week's rankings have stood out with consistent excellence. The rest of the pack, though, is hard to separate, with talented teams like the New Jersey Playaz and Mac Irvin Fire rocking more identities than Lady Gaga and other teams like the Long Island Lightning and Terry Porter Elite looking for chances to show their stuff against top competition. With a host of top tourneys scheduled for this weekend, we'll see if anyone else from that second group can join the teams up top.

Rank	Prev	Team		Comments
1	4		Team Takeover (D.C.) Washington, D.C.
No team is defining that term better than Takeover this season; they climb into the top spot with a 10-0 EYBL record, including a signature win in Dallas over the Oakland Soldiers.
2	5		Houston Defenders Houston, Texas
The undefeated Defenders' schedule finally heats up, beginning with this weekend's trip to Baltimore.
3	10		Memphis YOMCA Memphis, Tenn.
Another big jump for the Real Deal champs after they nipped BABC in EYBL play, but how much credit belongs to moonlighting Atlanta Celtic Shaq Goodwin?
4	1		BABC Boston, Mass.
Nerlens Noel's ankle injury and poor second-half D cost previous No. 1 team in EYBL loss to Memphis YOMCA.
5	6		Atlanta Celtics Atlanta, Ga.
Everyone's preseason No. 1 team enjoyed a week off before hosting Wallace Prather tourney this weekend, but how will they deal with a roster that seems to be constantly in flux?
6	3		Oakland Soldiers Oakland, Calif.
At 9-1, they trail Team Takeover in EYBL's loaded Division A as a result of 6-point loss in Dallas.
7	2		Houston Hoops Houston, Tex.
Suffered a Texas trip-up in a 3-point loss to California Supreme, but still 9-1 in EYBL and loaded with talent.
8	7		New England Playaz Springfield, Mass.
After winning Providence Jam Fest, tough, tested Playaz will head to Baltimore with possible showdown against Houston Defenders looming.
9	9		DreamVision Las Vegas, Nev.
Rebounded from shocking pool play loss to Minnesota Southside to win Jayhawk Invitational over Colorado Hawks.
10	11		All-Ohio Red Columbus, Ohio
Tough team to gauge all season put in another mixed weekend, winning four EYBL games against a soft schedule while falling hard to BABC.
11	13		Boo Williams Hampton, Va.
Big weekend in Dallas (wins over NJ Playaz and Baltimore Elite) somewhat offset by upset loss against Alabama Challenge.
12	8		Playaz Basketball Club (N.J.) Paterson, N.J.
Their talent level can't be questioned, but consistency remains an issue, especially after losing to Boo Williams and All-Iowa Attack in Dallas.
13	14		Indiana Elite Indianapolis, Ind.
Bye week came at the right time; talented, but beat-up squad needs to be healthy to make a major statement at Spiece Run-N-Slam.
14	15		CIA Bounce Brampton, Ontario
The Canadians are another EYBL team that can't quite put it all together; beat Georgia Stars, but lost to All-Iowa Attack during 4-1 Dallas trip.
15	16		Long Island Lightning Gold West Hempstead, N.Y.
Quietly dangerous, the Lightning went 4-0 at AAU regionals and will only face local tests until Bob Gibbons TOC.
16	18		Connecticut Basketball Club Hartford, Conn.
Everything went well at home, as CBC went 3-0 at state tourney and Kris Dunn earned a scholarship offer from UConn.
17	23		Spiece Indy Heat Fort Wayne, Ind.
A 5-0 showing at EYBL Dallas pushes Spiece back up the rankings, although there are tougher quintets than Texas Titans, Louisiana Select, King James, Each 1 Teach 1 and Tennessee Travelers.
18	17		Georgia Stars Norcross, Ga.
Solid squad played to their ranking in Dallas, beating four lesser foes and losing to CIA Bounce.
19	20		Team Loaded Richmond, Va.
The Pitt Jam Fest finalists enjoyed another weekend off before beginning a busy May with a trip to the Southern Jam Fest in Virginia.
20	19		New Heights New York, N.Y.
The NYC scrappers put forth another solid showing, reaching the finals in Providence before losing to the New England Playaz.
21	21		Terry Porter Elite Milwaukee, Wis.
Had a week off to enjoy their Nike Spring Showdown chip, but it's back to the grind this weekend with a major test at Spiece.
22	24		Eric Gordon All-Stars Indianapolis, Ind.
Cruised to the title at their own tournament against Team Derrick Rose; another team that hopes to make noise with a big weekend at Spiece.
23	12		Mac Irvin Fire Chicago, Ill.
It was a nightmare in Dallas for the Chicago guys after adding Jabari Parker; instead of challenging for the top spot, they went 2-3 in EYBL action.
24			All Iowa Attack Des Moines, Iowa
Behind PG Marcus Paige, they're back in the Top 25 after a big EYBL weekend that included wins over NJ Playaz and CIA Bounce.
25			Arizona Magic Phoenix, Ariz.
They're emerging as a team to watch out West after winning the Adidas Spring Classic in Las Vegas.
Best of the Rest Albany City Rocks, Colorado Hawks, CP3 All-Stars, D.C. Assault, Double Pump Elite, Howard Pulley Panthers, Houston Hoopstars, Kingdom Hoops, Louisiana Select, Pump-N-Run Elite, Texas Pro. Nominate others on our Facebook page.