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Boys Basketball: Team NLP 16s finish ninth in AAU nationals
Updated: August 27, 2012 10:48AM
ORLANDO, FLA. — Top 10 in the country?
Now, that’s getting it done.
The Team NLP (Next Level Performance) 16U boys basketball team completed play in the AAU Division I nationals — held in Orlando, Fla., July 13-19 — with a 7-1 record.
The high-powered squad, which features Stevenson’s Jalen Rose, Connor Cashaw and Matt Morrissey, and Lake Forest’s Evan Boudreaux, wound up ninth overall.
After falling to a team from Charlotte, N.C., by 10 points in the Sweet 16 round, Team NLP rebounded to beat the North Carolina Heat 55-52 in the ninth-place game.
“We’re pretty happy with that,” said Team NLP founder Dickey Simpkins. “We beat a number of tough teams.”
Brunson, a standout freshman point guard for Stevenson’s varsity last season, did a nice job of quarterbacking Team NLP.
“He was solid the whole tournament,” Simpkins said. “A true point guard, he runs our team. He’s very smart out there. And he shot the ball very well.”
Cashaw, a 6-foot-3 sophomore-to-be, was the team’s sixth man.
“He’s a big contributor for us,” Simpkins said. “He’s an excellent defender who has a great feel for the game. He’s skilled and very smooth.”
Morrissey, who’s heading into his junior season, wasn’t able to make it to Orlando due to a prior commitment. Still, Simpkins said Morrissey, “has been a big factor” this summer.
As expected, the 6-7 Boudreaux came up big in Orlando. The sophomore-to-be, who received a scholarship offer from Northwestern University, continues to attract a lot of interest.
“Evan has expanded his game,” Simpkins said. “He’s not only blocking shots but knocking down three-pointers. He’s considered a mobile forward who can pick and pop.”
Boudreaux will have an extended stay in Orlando. He’s also playing for the Team NLP 17s in the AAU Division I nationals, which was set to run from Wednesday through July 30.
