USA TODAY High School Sports has been given exclusive access inside the making of the new AAU program started by Washington Wizards All Star John Wall. Here is the next installment.

Jalen Harris said things would be different; in fact he guaranteed it.

Still, who knew that he and Team Wall (N.C.) would make it look so good?

“We had it going last weekend,” said Harris, Team Wall’s point guard. “I feel like we all had something to prove and we played like it.”

By the time the Hoop Group Southern Jam Fest (Hampton, Va.) concluded, the general consensus among spectators was that Team Wall, the AAU team started by Washington Wizards All Star point guard John Wall, was, arguably, the most exciting show on hardwood.

From countless poster dunks to ankle-breaking crossovers to lockdown defense to clinic-worthy ball rotation, Team Wall put on a show memorable enough to wipe away the stench of their dismal 0-4 showing at the adidas Gauntlet in Indianapolis April 24-26.

“It’s one thing to tell yourself that you’re gonna turn things around; it’s an entire other thing to put action behind it,” Team Wall coach/director Kendrick Williams said. “It’s a lesson for life: How will you respond when you get knocked down? These guys answered the bell in a big way.”

Team Wall finished 3-1 and made it to the Elite 8 of the Southern Jam Fest; this weekend they’re focused on building on that success at the Capitol City Hoop Classic (Annapolis, Md.).

“We didn’t want to lose anymore and we came out and played like it,” said Harris, who averaged 17 points, nine assists and posted a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio at the Southern Jam Fest. “I think we were all a little embarrassed after Indianapolis and we wanted to prove to everyone, including ourselves, that we were better than that. We just came out and played the way we’re capable of. We had fun out there.”

Williams said, at times, the team played so well he had flashbacks of when he coached Wall, former Maryland star Dez Wells and former N.C. State star C.J. Leslie in high school and AAU.

“They were out there making those types of ‘wow’ plays that John, Dez and those guys used to make,” Williams said. “It was eerie to watch. We’ve moved on from Indy. You’ve gotta remember we’re building a program from the ground up; this isn’t just a new year it’s the first year in the history of the program. Literally three months ago there was no Team Wall. They just went out and played the way they’re capable of playing, but this weekend is the most important step. Now we’ve got to show consistency.”

Especially since Wall will be watching.

Team Wall will suit up for practice at the Washington Wizards practice facility this afternoon before lacing ‘em up for its first game Saturday morning.

Jalen Johnson is confident that he and his teammates are up for the challenge; makes since for a guy who averaged 27 points and six rebounds at the Southern Jam Fest last weekend.

“I feel like we’re all clicking on a different level after last weekend,” Johnson said. “Not making excuses, but we had a lot going on that weekend in Indianapolis, but that’s in the past. Honestly, we played well last weekend, but we could’ve played even better. We felt better about playing better, but no one was happy because we didn’t win it all. Now we’re focused on taking that next step. We’ve grown a lot, and we know that we can beat anybody. Now we want to prove that to everyone else.”

Here’s how Team Wall got it done at the Southern Jam Fest. 

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

The third of four tournaments in the Under Armour Association Grassroots Basketball Circuit takes place from Friday night, May 22 until May 24. Here are the dominant storylines to keep an eye on in Ardsley, N.Y. this weekend:

Are New Heights and We R1 out of reach in the Hungry standings?

The UAA circuit is broken down into two different “leagues”: Humble and Hungry. While Humble has a whopping eight teams within a game of the league, Hungry has two teams well out in front: Longtime summer circuit power New Heights, not far from Ardsley in New York City, and We R1. It would take a two-game swing to knock either of those squads from the upper rung and threaten their position heading into the UAA circuit finale in Atlanta. That may be a lot to ask from MWA Elite, Philly Pride and the DC Blue Devils, the three squads that are two games back of New Heights and We R1.

Team Thad and Canada Elite need to play hot to strengthen position heading into Atlanta

The headline says it all here. Team Thad is loaded with talent — new Kansas commit LaGerald Vick among the stars in tow — and Canada Elite is one of the more storied names on the UAA circuit. Canada Elite features Justin Jackson, a top 30 overall recruit (and UNLV commit)  in the Class of 2016. Yet both those squads are muddled in a group of six squads at 5-3, with another powerful program — Earl Watson Elite — right behind them at 4-4. A rough weekend in Ardsley and two of the pre-circuit favorites could be facing Porky Pig time before they even get to Atlanta.

Josh Jackson vs. Kameron McGusty for the scoring crown

Speaking of Jackson, another, even higher-rated Jackson is right in the mix for the UAA scoring title. Josh Jackson — arguably the top-overall prospect in the Class of 2016 and the star of the 1 Nation squad — is right in the mix for the 2015 circuit’s scoring title. The Southfield, Mich. native is just two buckets behind unranked recruit Kameron McGusty, the Katy, Texas native who has lit up the scoreboard for the Houston Defenders. And Jackson is the man with the circuit-best 41-point game. So who will win out, the small forward with offers from just about every top collegiate program in the nation (Jackson, with Kentucky, Duke, Aruzona, Kansas, North Carolina and Louisville in hot pursuit) or McGusty, who is being chased by Big XII schools Texas, Kansas State, Oklahoma and lesser lights including Stephen F. Austin and Rice? The Ardsley games may go a long way toward deciding that once and for all.

Is McGusty or Quade Green the breakout star of the UAA? 

It’s not hard to make a case for McGusty to be the single most notable breakout star of the entire UAA circuit. After all, he’s currently the leading scorer. Yet, a deeper look uncovers a diminutive, 5-foot-11 point guard from Philadelphia power Neumann Goretti who is seventh in the overall points standing and eighth in points-per-game. That’s one Quade Green, who has been the surprising glue in We R1’s run to the top of the Hungry standings. There’s never been a question of Green’s talent, but if anyone knew he was primed for this kind of a breakout, they’d probably be lying. Or at least stretching the truth. So far Green has just one significant D1 offer, from Maryland. Expect that to change very soon.

Can We R1 keep up it’s trapping success?

In the first two UAA events, We R1 rode Green’s hot hand and a relentless trapping defense to rise to the top of the Humble standings. Paramount to that trapping success was Trevon Duval, the Delaware-based  rising junior at St. Benedict’s Prep who is ranked among the top-15 overall players in the Class of 2017. Duval leads the circuit in steals and is second in steals per game. That he can contribute that on the defensive end while also serving as one of We R1’s primary offensive threats will be critical for the squad to keep its momentum heading into the final weekend in Atlanta.

Omari Spellman will make PSA a force to be reckoned with at Peach Jam. / Jon Lopez

Over the last 47 days, 40 teams from all over the country went to battle in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in four select cities (Hampton, Va., Lexington, Ky., Houston and Minneapolis, Minn.) in hopes of securing a spot in the ultra-exclusive Nike Peach Jam (July 8-12).

In the end, only 20 teams – top five in four separate divisions – were left standing after the fourth and final session in Minneapolis this past weekend. Four additional wild card teams, who have yet to be determined, will also earn bids to play in Peach Jam.

The CP3 Rising Stars (N.C.) won the regular season title finishing 14-2 overall.

Harry Giles III, an ALL-USA first teamer this past season, led the way for CP3 in Minneapolis. His best game was a 29-point, 20-rebound performance in an overtime win against Team Final (Pa.).

Howard Pulley (Minn.) shooting guard Gary Trent Jr. won the regular-season scoring title, cranking in 22.1 points per game. In its inaugural Nike EYBL season the Las Vegas Prospects posted an 11-6 record and qualified for Peach Jam.

Last season Kentucky bound point guard Isaiah Briscoe put the Playaz Basketball Club (N.J.) on his back and led them to the Peach Jam title.

Here’s what it takes to get it done at Peach Jam.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Worried about the gradual erosion of American hoops hegemony? Let this highlight reel ease your mind.

The video you see above depicts all the best moments from the USA Select squad’s dominant performance at the Adidas Eurocamp. Competing against squads of Europe’s top teen talent, an American group led by super-recruits Kobi Simmons, Edrice “Bam” Adebayo and Rawle Atkins absolutely schooled the field, embarrassing defenders on everything from power dunks in the lane to deft backdoor assists that would make legendary Princeton coach Pete Carrill proud.

The entire highlight reel is well worth your time, but if you must cut ahead to the good stuff, jump to the 0:49 mark, where Kobi Simmons starts taking over. It’s not hard to see why he’s one of the most compelling athletes in the rising senior class, regardless of sport.

So, the next time you see a Spain or Argentina squad, or maybe even one from France or Greece that looks threatening, take a deep breath and remember the Eurocamp. You can be sure all the defenders who were on the wrong end of Simmons and Rawle’s monster slams sure will.

Josh Langford will suit up for Michigan State. (Photo: 247Sports)

After a visit to Michigan State last week, Madison Academy (Huntsville, Ala.) shooting guard Josh Langford picked the Spartans over Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Stanford and Texas Monday morning.

“I felt a great connection with head coach Tom Izzo and liked the family atmosphere at Michigan State,” Langford told ESPN, who first reported the commitment.

Langford, a rising senior, is ranked No. 13 overall in the ESPN 100. He’s averaging 22.3 points per game on the prestigious adidas Gauntlet running with the Atlanta Celtics this summer. Earlier this month he helped the U.S. Select team finish undefeated at the adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.

Last season, Langford averaged 24.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game while leading Madison Academy to its second state championship in three seasons. He was subsequently named Alabama’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

Langford joins Lincoln (Gahanna, Ohio) center Nick Ward to form the Spartans’ 2016 class this far.

Here’s what Michigan State is getting in Josh Langford.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

The Arkansas Wings 16-and-under team practices for the AAU Boys Basketball Elite Tournaments in Louisville. (Photo: The Courier-Journal )

Some of the nation’s top 10th- and 11th-grade basketball players will converge on the Kentucky Expo Center July 22-27 for the AAU Boys’ Basketball National Championships and Super Showcases.

According to a press release, many of the top players will be showcased, including 2016 ESPN 100 ranked Edrice Adebayo (#6, Boo Williams Summer League), University of Louisville commit V.J. King (#16, King James Shooting Stars), Trent Forrest (#49, Alabama Challenge), Nick Ward (#52, All Ohio Red), Derek Funderburk (#53, King James Shooting Stars), and Xavier Simpson (#58, King James Shooting Stars).

“AAU Basketball strives to provide the very best event experience for athletes, coaches and spectators,” said Boo Williams, AAU Boys Basketball National Chair and winner of the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Human Spirit Award. “We feel the 10th Grade and 11th Grade National Championships and Super Showcases are the premier basketball event in the country where the nation’s best players compete year after year.”

Approximately 500 teams, over 5,000 players — accompanied by close to AAU 1,000 coaches — will compete on 28 courts over the six days of the event.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to again host the AAU Boys Basketball National Championships in Louisville,” said Karl Schmitt, Louisville Sports Commission president and CEO. “This is basketball country, and local sports fans always look forward to the chance to watch these future sports stars. In Louisville, if you provide people with a good quality basketball event, we will support it.”

The economic impact to the area is expected to be over $3 million, with participants and their families visiting local hotels, shops, restaurants and other Louisville area businesses, according to the release.

The event is open to the public with a day pass cost of $19.85 and tournament pass of $50.00. Discounts available for seniors and children. Tickets available at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

We’re already underway in one of the biggest elite prep hoops weekends of the year, with the Adidas Gauntlet tipping off on Wednesday and the Nike EYBL Peach Jam getting underway Thursday. USA TODAY High School Sports will be covering it all for you from both Georgia locations, and colleague Jason Jordan was on hand to witness this monster right here:

That’s Dennis Smith Jr., a consensus top-5 prospect in the Class of 2016. We already knew he could ball, and he’s apparently intent on showing the nation in one of his most high profile stops. Here he completely broke down a would-be defender, sending him sprawling, then streaked down the lane for the overpowering thunder dunk. That is some high quality Gauntlet action.

Here was Jason’s reaction. All we can do is echo this passionately:

Will it be the best play of the weekend? We’ll have to find out. It’s certainly one heck of a good start.

NY RENS win the adidas Finals at North Gwinnett High School in Atlanta Georgia. (Photo by Kelly Kline/adidas)

SUWANEE, Ga. – NY RENS wing Rawle Alkins limped out of North Gwinnett High in his street clothes with his ankle wrapped in ice Thursday night after his big win over Indiana Elite in the adidas Finals semis, plopped down on the brick sidewalk and smiled.

“Make sure you come to the championship tomorrow now,” he said. “We’re gonna win and, I promise, we’re gonna put on a show.”

Alkins made good on his word Friday night, scoring 34 points in the RENS, 80-66, win over the Atlanta Celtics.

Mustapha Heron chipped in with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win; Kobi Jordan-Simmons led the Celtics with 15 points, but shot just 2 of 19 from the field.

RELATED: Atkins unsure of prep school destination

The RENS, who led by 18 for most of the second half, held the Celtics to 19.2 percent from the three-point line and swiped nine steals.

“In this game if you don’t have confidence you don’t have anything,” Alkins said. “I don’t get up to play against teams or players in particular; I knew we’d win because I get up to play, period. When I hit that first three I knew the game was over.”

This marks only the fourth year for the RENS’ program; it was Andy Borman’s first year as head coach.

“It’s a great feeling to come out and have this level of success so early for the program,” Borman said. “The guys were really up for this tournament because we hadn’t played since April. They were really focused, but, hey, it’s July; this is a big time for all of these kids for a lot of different reasons. Rawle was just himself. He’s done that all year; definitely one of the best in the country.”

Rawle Alkins was the best player on the court. / Kelly Kline

Alkins’ trajectory is eerily similar to one of the best in the country from last year’s class, his good friend Isaiah Briscoe, the top point guard in the 2015 class who is now a freshman at Kentucky.

“I just pulled the ‘Isaiah Briscoe’ of this summer,” Alkins said. “I thought about this the other day, but last summer he won MVP of the Pangos All-American Camp and I did that this year. Then he won Peach Jam and now I won adidas. He blew up in every tournament all summer and that’s what I’m doing; I’m not saying I want to follow in his footsteps exactly, but, certainly, my goal is to do way more. It’s not over yet; I want to be top five and maybe even No. 1. I definitely already feel like we’ve proved that we’re the No. 1 team in the country… On any circuit.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — The Peach Jam serves as an elite circuit championship for a reason. Each year it hosts the top 20 performing teams comprised solely of the nation’s top basketball players. It’s an all-elite affair, filled with players who, quite frankly, aren’t used to coming up short.

That’s what makes rough results tough for many teens to take … and sometimes the most valuable lesson they’ll learn.

The 2015 Team Penny squad is an apt example. The team entered the Peach Jam after an impressive EYBL campaign only to run into a series of buzz saw teams in its pool. It was demolished by Team CP3, with the game much more one-sided than the final scoreline indicated. It hard a tough time with Arkansas Wings Elite, too, finishing Day 1 with an 0-2 record. Then it bounced back, with Friday victories against Mac Irvin Fire and the nightcap rout of Team Final.

Led by a legendary player who is pretty used to winning himself, the entire Peach Jam process, the transition from first day losses to has been a learning experience for Penny Hardaway’s young charges

“This is teaching me patience,” Penny Hardaway said. “This has been particularly tough for us because we’re missing four starters. So the guys on the bench have to come in and step up.”

The goal on Thursday’s losses was that the teens would quickly learn how to bounce back from tough setbacks, something Hardaway had to learn during his own career. If they don’t, the success they wish they were enjoying in North Augusta might be even more fleeting later, when it’s much more important.

“It’s been tough,” Paul Washington II said. “You have to keep fighting. That’s what we did so well today.”

USA TODAY High School Sports has been given exclusive access inside the making of the new AAU program started by Washington Wizards star John Wall. Here is the next installment.

John Wall dropped in to check on his AAU team this week at adidas Finals. / Kelly Kline, adidas

SUWANEE, Ga. – John Wall sits with a group of friends on the wooden bleachers inside a muggy gym at Tucker High School on Wednesday night watching intently as his AAU team struggles in its opener against DFW Elite (Texas) at the adidas Finals.

His body language reads indifferent. He occasionally claps and nods, but mostly surveys.

Wall was a schoolboy legend during his playing days at Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) and in AAU mostly because of his ferocious competitive edge coupled with the type of speed and athleticism you’d swear was attained by some sort of ethereal implantation.

The result?

A scholarship to Kentucky, a max contract with the Washington Wizards, an NBA All-Star starting spot and consecutive trips to the NBA playoffs.

RELATED: Team Wall takes its lumps in Indy

Still, Wall is an avid believer in the notion that “everything has its process.” That is why, when he asks Team Wall point guard Jalen Harris why he was so tired after a 55-48 loss, Wall smiles and keeps it light.

“Come on man, what in the world are you tired for?” Wall says. “Tell ’em K (coach/director Kendrick Williams), I never got tired and sometimes I’d play seven games a day!”

Harris smiles and shrugs his shoulders; Wall relents.

It’s clear that Wall isn’t worried about either of the team’s first two losses. He’s fully aware that his program is still fighting to find a consistent positive identity in its inaugural season.

What he would like the players to tweak is their body language.

“After we lost our second game John told a couple of us that our body language wasn’t good,” says Jalen Johnson, Team Wall’s leading scorer. “It’s definitely something that I took to heart. How can you not? It’s John Wall. I definitely agreed with what he said. It’s something the coaches have told me.”

Harris got the same message from Wall, an echo of what Williams has preached all summer.

After Team Wall fell to Garner Road (Raleigh, N.C.) Thursday, Williams urged his team to hold a players-only meeting where they could hash out their issues.

RELATED: Team Wall coaches deliberate on players

“I told them whatever happens in the meeting would be no one else’s business,” Williams says. “That’s for them to work out.”

Once the meeting concluded, Williams pulled Harris into a gold Chevy Suburban and had a heart-to-heart with his floor general about leadership. Williams talked to Harris about the philosophy of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart.

Walton believed leaders should focus more on what people are doing right and be less concerned about what they’re doing wrong because they already know that.

“I just noticed that he’d ride the guys sometimes when they messed up and that can’t be the only communication you have on the court,” Williams says. “So what I told him was not to get on them at all and, instead, like Sam Walton said, only tell them what they’re doing right. The good thing about Jalen is he listens. He wants to learn stuff like this because he’s driven by his desire to be the best.”

Harris had never heard Walton’s wisdom, but agreed that “the whole week” was his biggest wake-up call of the summer.

“It definitely hit home for me,” Harris says. “When you keep hearing the same thing you have to really look at yourself and change how you move. That’s something that I want to get better at.”

RELATED: Team Wall holds tryouts

That much was evident in Friday’s matchup against Hoop Dreams (Ky.); Harris was doling out so many compliments he was downright charming, Johnson was more engaged on both ends of the floor and Kyran Bowman was yapping away and directing traffic more precise than a season crossing guard.

The shift became infectious; their body language was positive.

The result?

An 80-74 win.

“We were back to having fun and going hard out there,” says Johnson, who scored 22 points and threw down the dunk of the summer when he posterized a Hoop Dreams defender in the second half. “I want to have the right body language when things aren’t clicking too though; that’s what the next step is for all of us I think.”

Team Wall finished 4-7 in adidas Gauntlet play this summer, but, despite the record, Williams says the program “is overachieving big time.”

“And that’s something I was saying after we went 3-1 in Dallas,” Williams says. “I’ve been doing this a long time and this first season is more about establishing core values, fundamentals and making guys better. We got to the championship at Hoop Group and our 16’s won that tournament. Of course, we want guys to be able to showcase their skills while buying into the team concept because the primary goal is for these guys not to have student loans after college.”

Mission accomplished on that front.

After their stellar showings in the third game, Johnson picked up offers from Alabama, South Carolina, Miami, South Florida and Buffalo; Harris also picked up and offer from Buffalo, Scott Spencer picked up an offer from Alabama and Osinachi Smart picked up an offer from Miami.

Today Team Wall will head to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for the Big Shots Tournament before coming back to Georgia for the Peach State Tournament next week.

“This was the best scenario for us headed into our next tournament,” Bowman says. “We’re growing up a lot and learning from what the coaches are telling us. That’s all you can really ask for. We’re on the right page and I think we’re gonna build on this and take it up from here.”

“It was a successful week,” Williams says. “John came in and told them the same thing that me and my staff have been telling them all summer and when he said it it registered a little more. I think that’s great. I’m not mad at that. We’re all family and, as they say, it takes a village.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

USA TODAY High School Sports is launching a series called “60 for ’16” to highlight 60 members of the Class of 2016 who we will be watching in the coming 12 months. The athletes were selected by the USA TODAY HSS staff. 

To see previous entries, click here

PLAYER PROFILE:

Name: De’Aaron Fox

School: Cypress Lakes (Katy,Texas)

Sport: Boys Basketball

Position: Point Guard

What we’ve seen: De’Aaron Fox has been dominating the high school hoops scene since his freshman year when he dropped 51 points in a win over Nimitz (Houston). He barely missed that total this season when he led Cy Lakes past Spring (Spring, Texas), dropping 50 points in the win. Fox, who is ranked No. 10 overall in the ESPN 100, solidified why he is considered one of the top point guards in the country with his stellar play this summer with Houston Hoops AAU.

Why we’re watching: Fox just has “it”, and “it” has been on display all summer.

Fox has managed to do something that few players are able to accomplish – elevate his dominance.

Fox averaged 17 points and 5.6 assists during the regular season, but, last week at Peach Jam, arguably the toughest, most competitive league in the country, he upped that production to 21 points and seven assists per game. Fox turned in one of the best games of any player on any circuit in the Nike EYBL finale when he dropped 44 points, including 17 straight.

Yes, really.

“I just wanted to come out this summer and play against the guys that are ranked above me,” Fox said. “That’s been my motivation all summer. I feel like I’m the best, and I wanted everyone else to see that too. That’s how I approach every game.”

Mohamed Bamba will be watched closely at the combine this Sunday. / 247 Sports

Players running with the Albany City Rocks (N.Y.) and the PSA Cardinals (N.Y.) will get a strong look from dozens of college head and assistant coaches Sunday during the second of three NCAA mandated live periods in July.

But the two teams won’t be competing against teams from all over the country at an AAU tournament; instead they’ll run drills and sharpen their skills combine style at Commonwealth Academy (Springfield, Mass.).

News of the combine was first reported by ZAGSBLOG.com.

Albany City Rocks director Jim Hart got the combine idea from Kentucky coach John Calipari’s famous Wildcat combine showcasing his nine McDonald’s All Americans, which brought in nearly 100 NBA scouts last October.

Kentucky eventually sent six players to the NBA Draft, including No. 1 overall pick Karl Towns. The six players tied an NBA record set by Kentucky in 2012.

College coaches will be flocking to Sunday’s combine to see a handful of Division I prospects that will be on display including Bryce Aiken, a point guard who has been stellar all summer, Mohamed Bamba, a center who is ranked No. 10 overall in the ESPN 60 and Kassoum Yakwe, a workhorse of a forward with offers from Kansas, Maryland, Louisville, among many others.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Rawle Alkins can now prove which team is really the best in AAU. / Kelly Kline

Just after he dropped 34 points to lead the NY RENS to the adidas Gauntlet Finals championship last week, Rawle Alkins was quick to add perspective on what the win meant in his eyes.

“This proves that we’re the best team in the country,” Alkins said. “I mean who is better than us?”

If we not #1 in america then who is? SET UP THAT GAME SO WE CAN SHOW YOU!! #CHAMPS #NOTDONEYET http://t.co/20SpYjGfz2—
Rawle Alkins (@Iam_RawleAlkins) July 11, 2015

The GA Stars, who took home the Nike Peach Jam title last week, would beg to differ.

Recently, we caught up with players from each of the big three shoe company’s – Nike, adidas and Under Armour – AAU circuits to get their take on which circuit had the best talent.

Naturally, each player was adamant that their circuit was the best.

Come July 22, the answer to that question may be a bit clearer when the RENS and the Stars meet up for a showcase game at Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas), according to RENS coach Andy Borman.

The RENS beat the Atlanta Celtics, 80-66, in the adidas Gauntlet Finals; the Stars were equally dominant in their, 104-77, win over the St. Louis Eagles for the Peach Jam title.

The RENS feature Alkins, who is ranked No. 22 in the ESPN 100, and Mustapha Heron, who is ranked No. 26. The Stars feature Jared Harper, an Auburn commit who posted 34 points, eight assists and four rebounds in the Peach Jam title win, Udoka Azubuike, who is ranked No. 19, and Wendell Carter, who is ranked No. 4 overall in the ESPN 60.

When asked if he finally got what he wanted with the game against Nike’s champion, Alkins simply replied, “Yessir!”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

De’Aaron Fox’s new superstitious accessories have him rolling. (Photo: YouTube screen shot)

Last December, De’Aaron Fox forgot to sport his white headband for a game; Cypress Lakes (Katy, Texas) got the win, but Fox, a point guard who is ranked No. 10 overall in the ESPN 100, played “terrible.”

“I couldn’t get anything going,” Fox recalled. “I learned my lesson after that game. Can’t forget my headband.”

When the Spartans played the next day, Fox threw on his headband and dropped 50 points in a win.

“I definitely feel like I’m pretty superstitious,” Fox said. “After that I never played without my headband. That worked out great.”

Until the weekend of April 10 when Fox suited up with Houston Hoops AAU in the first session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in Hampton, Va.

“Man I had my headband on and just didn’t play well at all,” Fox said. “After that I had to retire the headband. Haven’t worn it since.”

Instead he opted for the Russell Westbrook-inspired arm sleeve and leg sleeve for the second session of the EYBL in Lexington, Ky.

The result?

“I got first team all EYBL in Lexington,” Fox said. “Russell Westbrook’s my favorite player; haven’t taken the arm sleeve or leg sleeve off since.”

Superstitions in sports are almost as common as dunks and touchdowns; everyone from Michael Jordan to Serena Williams to Jason Giambi were and are famous for their good luck charms.

After he won Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year last week, Texas A&M freshman quarterback Kyler Murray revealed the key reason for his 43-0 record as a starter at Allen (Allen, Texas), his three state titles with MVP’s to match and even Gatorade’s prestigious award.

“My necklace and cross,” Murray said. “I wear it during every game. My mom got it for me, and it’s definitely my good luck charm; can’t play without it.”

Fox can certainly relate to the feeling.

He recently starred at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam, averaging 19 points, five rebounds and six assists a game.

And, yes, both sleeves were in play.

“Like I said, I’m superstitious so I wanted to get something else to wear to help me out,” Fox said. “This has definitely been working out for me so I’m gonna ride this one out until I feel like it’s not helping anymore. I’m liking how I’m playing with the two sleeves though.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Jake Wisniewski is a Massachusetts-based hoops prospect, but he isn’t the kind of hoops recruit that you’re likely to hear of. The Williston Northampton School rising junior doesn’t quite crack the top 50 prospects in his own state for the Class of 2017, a status that would seem to rule him out of a future at any of the top Division I programs.

Those coaches should ignore Wisniewski at their own risk, because we now know that he is terrifically cool under pressure.

The proof can be found in the video above. With his “We Will” team facing elimination at the HG Jam Fest, Wisniewski bounced back toward the baseline to receive an inbounds pass. He pulled it in, then took one dribble and one big stride forward from the opposing three-point arc and let fly with a Hail Mary attempt at a game-winner. The result? Nothing but net.

Wisniewski immediately exploded into a celebration so fierce his face turned the color of a ripe tomato as he bounced off similarly ecstatic teammates. The teen’s primal scream was so intense you’d have thought he had just won the tournament outright, as opposed to earning a berth in the final.

No matter. The miraculous buzzer beater was the clear shot of the tournament, and absolutely one of the best of the summer thus far.

Malik Monk (5) dribbles the ball against Mac Irvin Fire guard Luwane Pipkins (3) during The 8 tournament final at Rancho High School in Las Vegas. (Photo: Stephen Sylvanie).

In Las Vegas, where Rebels run and spirits float free, Malik Monk made himself at home. He ran wild, scoring inside and outside and every which way, and his Arkansas Wings revved and rolled to a title in The 8 tournament.

On Saturday night, Monk scored 34 points, Jayson Tatum added 13 and Tyrik Dixon had 12 to lead the Wings past Mac Irvin Fire 84-78 at Rancho High School. The game capped a three-day tournament for an eight-team U-17 field in The 8, part of the Las Vegas Classic, an AAU event. The Wings thrived on speed, running out in transition and creating fast break baskets.

Miles Bridges scored 33 and Charles Moore added 22 for the Fire in the loss.

Monk, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Bentonville, Ark., mixed six three-pointers, including three in the first half, with several thunderous dunks for a dazzling display. He even made one of the game’s best defensive plays, running the court end to end to slap away the ball from the Fire’s Jamal Burton and extinguish a breakaway.

Monk and Tatum combined for a crowd-awing, bound-for-YouTube moment late in the second half. Tatum grabbed an outlet pass and whipped the ball behind his back to Monk, who stuffed it home.

Monk, who’ll graduate from high school in 2016 and ranks No. 5 in his class according to ESPN, said his outside shooting spurred offensive opportunities.

“My shot was falling and that opened things up for my teammates,” said Monk. “We got out in transition and it opened things up for my teammates and they started knocking down shots.”

Although the gym was half full of college coaches, Monk said he felt no extra performance anxiety. He said his favorite play of the game wasn’t anything he’d done, but a dunk by teammate Payton Willis.

“There is no pressure,” said Monk, who has been recruited by Kentucky, Indiana, Florida and his home-state school, Arkansas, among others. “I’m playing basketball. I play every game the same.”

Tatum, a 6-foot-8 small forward from St. Louis who committed to Duke on July 12, said he and Monk complement each other well. In Friday’s game, he said, his shots were falling, which helped lift the team with Monk in foul trouble. On Saturday, the scenario was reversed; Tatum was in foul trouble and Monk was hitting shots.

“Malik is definitely excellent; we play off each other,” Tatum said. “But this team is stocked with great athletes. We played well and got the job done.”

Wings Elite player Malik Monk (5) takes a jump shot during The 8 tournament final against Mac Irvin Fire at Rancho High School in Las Vegas. (Photo: Stephen Sylvanie).

Carlos Lambert, a Wings coach, said his team wanted to improve from its performance in the Nike EYBL Peach Jam tournament earlier this month in Augusta, Ga., where they finished 3-2 and missed the quarterfinals.

“We wanted to advance the ball quickly and get quick buckets,” he said. “We didn’t want to box our players in, we didn’t want to make them a handful of robots, we wanted them to play free.”

Lambert said Monk and Tatum form an elite core that elevates teammates.

“Those two great players help give other players great looks (at the basket),” he said. “They open the whole floor. When we get out in transition like that and we’re knocking our shots down, I don’t think there’s anyone in the country that can play us.”

The Fire’s Bridges, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Flint, Mich., whose college suitors include Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Michigan, said the Wings’ threes made the difference and that Monk was formidable.

“He can shoot, he’s athletic, he can dribble,” Bridges said of Monk. “He’s hard to guard.”

With the trophy in hand and the tournament won, Monk said he planned to bask in some neon.

“In Vegas there’s always something to do after the game,” he said. “I think we’re going to go see the Strip.”

1Nation Elite player Joshua Jackson (11) takes a shot attempt during a Las Vegas Fab48 Tournament final at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. (Photo: Stephen Sylvannie, USA TODAY Sports)

LAS VEGAS — 1Nation’s slogan is “Globe on Fire” ­— a collective mantra to light up basketball. On Sunday in Las Vegas, 1Nation burned its way to an AAU title and Josh Jackson lit the match.

Jackson, a 6-foot-6 small forward ranked No. 1 by Rivals in the Class of 2016, scored 22 points and had several key rebounds and blocked shots in the closing minutes to help 1Nation top BTI Select 56-49 for the 17U Invitational title in the Fab48 tournament at Bishop Gorman High School. Devon Daniels added 15 points in the victory.

Isaiah Brooks scored 10 points and Josh Hauser and Bobby Xu scored nine each to lead BTI.

The 17U Invitational title game was a highlight moment for the Fab48, a four-day basketball extravaganza that drew a capacity 384 teams, including five 17U divisions composed of 208 teams. A marquee attraction was Canada Elite and its 7-foot-1 superstar center Thon Maker, who is already on some NBA draft boards.

The title itself capped an intense, satisfying day for Detroit-based 1Nation, which needed overtime to top WeR1, a rival from the Under Armour Association, 66-65 earlier in the day to reach the final. Jackson scored 20 points in that game.

The title game’s second half briefly portended another nail-biter. 1Nation led 41-40 with about nine and a half minutes to go, but then turned it on. With about four minutes left, Jackson rebounded one of several errant three-point shots to stop BTI’s momentum. And with about two minutes to go, he converted a key three-point play, scoring a layup in traffic and adding the free throw to put 1Nation up 52-46.

Guard Spencer Littleson said with the game close, 1Nation focused on positivity. To find its flagging shooting stroke, he said his team kept shooting, and Jackson helped create those shots.

“Feeding off Josh is pretty easy because he makes it easy for everyone else; he’s a pass-first guy,” Littleson said of Jackson. “If you get beat off the dribble, you just know he’s going to step up and help you.”

Jackson, who led the Under Armour Association in rebounding, “rebounds like a center,” according to Littleson, who said he also moved the ball like a guard and keeps the pace with the offense in transition.

Despite his scoring heroics, Jackson preached teamwork.

1Nation Elite player Joshua Jackson (11) takes a jump shot during a Las Vegas Fab48 Tournament final at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. (Photo: Stephen Sylvannie, USA TODAY Sports)

“No one’s really that good when you’re trying to play by yourself,” Jackson said. “You can’t win like that.  So we just had to come together and play as a team, rebound and defend. And that was it, that’s the game.”

Jackson, who has been recruited by Duke, Kentucky, Kansas,  North Carolina and Las Vegas’ own UNLV, said it was satisfying for 1Nation to win its first tournament of the summer, and especially the Fab48, which includes Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings among its alumni. Despite the buzz surrounding him, Jackson said he doesn’t even think about his recruiting ranking.

“Not at all, not even a little bit,” he said. “That’s just someone’s opinion of me and a couple of other kids. I’m always going to be me and play my game no matter what, no matter what anyone else says.”

1Nation coach Terrence Robinson praised Jackson’s selflessness, saying he’s always looking to make the next play for his teammates. And 1Nation rose to the challenge, he said, capping a full week of preparation.

“It wasn’t like it was just the one last game,” Robinson said. “It was a culmination effort. It was a complete effort from everyone that got us to that point. And … these kids played for each other. They played team basketball the way the game is supposed to be played.”

The result was hard to swallow for Pasadena, Calif.-based BTI and coach Mike Teller. He said he thought BTI defended Jackson and 1Nation well early on, but wore down toward the game’s end. And Jackson made things hard, Teller said, blocking shots and stifling penetration.

“A big part of it was that offensively, our team is a great shooting team and we weren’t able to hit shots like we normally do. We weren’t taking the ball out of the basket like we usually do. They (1Nation) were able to get out in the open court, get some dunks, and get their energy going a little bit.”

In the short term, Teller said, BTI saw that there are many ways to win a game and that one little spurt, however brief, can change everything. If 1Nation hopes the blaze of victory makes its program shine brighter, Teller hopes the singe of defeat sparks his team to reignite.

“What (the team) can take from it, what we all can take from it is the burn, the burn that you feel when you lose a championship game like that,” he said. “You’ve had such a great season and you’re a couple of possessions away from a championship. It’s that burn that will fuel all of us to correct our mistakes.”

Few players, regardless of class, have seen their star rise as quickly as Dennis Smith Jr. After winning a state title as a sophomore, Smith has turned in a dominant junior season and back-to-back exceptional AAU seasons full of mind-boggling highlights and wins. Now, as the top point guard and No. 4 overall prospect in the ESPN 100, Smith’s subsequently got a “who’s who” of college basketball’s elite all intently pursuing him. Smith has agreed to give USA TODAY HSS exclusive access into his world by chronicling everything from intimate details about his recruitment to his everyday life in a monthly blog.

What’s up world, I’m back at it with my 10^th blog!

I know it’s been a little while since my last one, but I’m gonna catch y’all up on everything right now.

AAU season is going pretty good; we lost in the adidas Finals to the NY RENS by a few points, which was tough, but we bounced back at the Big Shots tournament in Myrtle Beach right after that.

We dominated the whole tournament and ended up taking home that trophy so that felt great!

I feel like we had a great AAU season as a whole.

Some of you guys may know that I cut my list last week.

Right now it’s down to six, in no particular order: Kentucky, Duke, Louisville, N.C. State, Wake Forest and North Carolina.

The latest offer was from Kentucky and, I’ll be honest, it was surprising. I was shocked by it because Coach Cal had watched me a couple of times before then; he watched me with my man John Wall in Atlanta at adidas and had another coach watch me at Myrtle Beach and the offer came.

I was definitely excited to get the offer for sure. It doesn’t matter that they’re just offering me now; they’re a team I’m considering as much as anyone.

Coach Cal mostly talks with me and my dad on three-way and we’re building our relationship pretty fast. It’s been cool.

We just finished up a tournament in Vegas and that’s pretty much it for the summer now with my team. It’s crazy that my last AAU season is over, but, in a way, I’m glad to relax a little now. I know I’m gonna miss it though.

I have been gone this summer a lot more than I’ve been home; that’s crazy!

It’ll be cool to just chill out with the family and kick it with my friends and maybe go play football or something. A lot of you that read my blog already know that I love football and know that I’ve been getting recruiting letters for football for a while now. That’s nothing new.

Football is just as fun as basketball to me.

I played cornerback and I loved it. I didn’t get a lot of picks because the quarterbacks rarely threw to my side.

I’ve heard from Tennessee, Arizona State, Florida State, Stanford, UNC, N.C. State and Wake Forest for football.

We’ll see what happens down the line.

I definitely wanna shoutout my man Jayson Tatum for committing to Duke!

That’s a great look for him. I was watching the game when he committed and I was excited for him.

Of course y’all know that I’ve talked in my blog about me, Jay and Harry (Giles) teaming up in college and that hasn’t changed. It’s definitely something that we all still talk about and I’d say there’s still a great chance of it.

At the end of the day, I’ve gotta do what’s best for me, but, again, it’s something we still all talk about and it’s definitely the most serious package deal I have with anyone in my class.

OK, I appreciate you guys checking out my blog…

Oh wait, y’all know to look for me in Season 2 of Empire! Haha! My acting skills have gone to another level!

OK, again, thanks for reading my blog, as always.

I’ll be back soon to hit you guys with another one.  

Follow Dennis Smith Jr.

Twitter: @Jhooper_3

Instagram: @desmith4

Dennis Smith Jr. is thinking about changing his number if not adding a line to deal with the “craziness” that comes with recruitment. (Photos by Kelly Kline/Adidas)

Before June 15, Michael Porter Jr. was never mistaken for being “that” guy who never returned calls or texts from friends.

No, before that day, Porter was a prompt responder who prided himself in his ability to nurture, not neglect, his close relationships.

Porter hasn’t changed. It’s just that he now has an unreal number of college coaches and media members hitting him up, wanting everything from interviews to the highly coveted verbal commitment.

Such is the life of the No. 2 overall player in the ESPN 60.

“It’s been rough ever since June 15,” said Porter of the date the NCAA allows college coaches to make unlimited calls and texts to rising junior basketball players. “Your friends end up getting on you for not getting back to them and after a while it kinda weighs on you.”

The remedy?

Adding a new phone line exclusively for coaches and media — an idea that a handful of elite rising senior and junior hoops stars have either done or are at least strongly considering.

“I just feel like it’s the smartest thing for me,” said Porter, a rising junior forward with Mokan Elite (Kan.). “It gets to be a lot at times. You’ve got a bunch of texts and calls from coaches and you don’t want to not respond, but then you forget that your friend texted or called you and it gets hard to manage. I know some guys in the classes before me that did this and they said it made it a lot easier to navigate.”

But it costs.

Generally, it’ll run you an extra $10 a month to add a new line with a $35 activation fee attached.

Houston Hoops point guard De’Aaron Fox thinks that’s money well spent. He said he’d “definitely” add an extra cell phone if his parents would foot the bill.

“Sometimes when I’m out with my friends I don’t really want coaches to call me,” said Fox, who is ranked No. 10 in the ESPN 100. “I think another phone would be a big help with that. My parents just won’t pay for it. I understand because after I commit then I’ll just have another phone for no reason. I think it’s smart though. I miss a lot of calls! A lot, just dealing with getting back to coaches and all that.”

MWA Elite (Texas) forward Billy Preston said he is in talks with his mother about getting an extra line because, among other things, constantly keeping in touch with dozens of coaches takes its toll on your battery over the course of the day.

“Battery life is everything at our age,” said Preston, who is ranked No. 20 in the ESPN 60. “These coaches will make your battery go fast. It’s not a knock to the coaches, but I don’t want my basketball stuff to come in between my social life.

“I want to have the same interactions with my friends. I don’t want to miss a text from my friend because I had 40 texts from coaches that day. I just think it’s smarter to have a phone for basketball stuff and a phone strictly for personal use.”

Still, not every elite prospect feels the need to have phones bulging out of both pockets.

Atlanta Celtics point guard Kobi Jordan-Simmons said that he’s able to manage texts and calls from coaches, media, friends and family “pretty well” with one line.

“I don’t let it interfere with me keeping in touch with my family and friends,” said Jordan-Simmons, who is ranked No. 2 among point guards in the ESPN 100. “Right now, I’m not worried about having a separate phone; maybe that’ll be more necessary as I continue to play at the next level and, hopefully, past that.”

Team Loaded (N.C.) point guard Dennis Smith Jr. sees a separate line as a necessity for a much different reason.

“Fans have gotten my number about 10 times and they keep calling me and saying crazy stuff,” said Smith, who is ranked No. 1 among point guards in the ESPN 100. “I don’t like that so I’ve definitely thought about at least changing my number if not adding another line. The coaches and media can be a lot to deal with, but it comes with the territory at this point.

“But if we can do something to make it easier on ourselves I say why not.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Give something to 11-year-olds: They play hard right until the final whistle. They don’t seem to know how not to.

The latest proof of that universal truth came in the contest you see above, an U-11 final at an AAU tournament this summer. Rather incredibly, the game was still tied after double-overtime, sending the contest into a third extra period with the title on the line. At the end of that period, In the closing minute of that period, the San Francisco Rebels trailed 58-57, and were attempting to set up a potential final shot. It didn’t happen, thanks largely to a turnover that appeared to hand the game to the Rebels’ Las Vegas-based foes.

Game over, right? Wrong. Instead, cue that never say die spirit and a spot of magic, with Rebels player Tre Phearson picking off a wayward pass in the open court and launching a wild, running three from near mid-court, just in time to beat the buzzer.

The make sent the entire Rebels sideline into delirium, with their foes looking around as if trying to puzzle out precisely what went wrong. For Phearson, it was what went right, with that final bucket helping he and some teammates feel better just as they anticipated the worst in the final game of a tournament.