A youth basketball coach in East New York allegedly disappeared with $30,000 to $40,000 that was to be used to take his team to a tournament in Las Vegas, parents and players say, according to a report from ABC7 and other outlets.

The parents says AAU coach Karim Seabrook never even signed up Team 12 for the tournament last weekend in Las Vegas and now they can’t find Seabrook or their money.

“I think he must have in total collected $40,000 and you turn around the guy is gone, just disappeared,” parent Martin Mitchell told ABC7.

RELATED: Elevate Basketball Circuit leader collect money and no-shows own event

In a Skype interview with News 12 Brooklyn, Seabrook denied any wrongdoing. He said he was only present for an initial payment of $140 and the team did not raise anywhere near the amount of money the parents suggest.

He said he left New York because he was forced out of the Team 12 organization and wanted to start his own organization in St. Louis, although he has not moved out of Brooklyn. He added that he shut off his phone because he did not want to have contact with his former team or organization.

Some of the parents went to the local policy but the police said they could not file a criminal complaint because they willingly turned the money over to Seabrook.

“The police told us that they can’t really do anything as of yet because it’s a civil matter. We have to take it to the court because he says he didn’t actual steal anything from us, that we actually gave it to him,” parent Alison Roberts said.

The parents of players on the U-11 Charlottesville Cavs boys basketball team were extremely unhappy at a Myrtle Beach youth basketball tournament. As it turns out, they had every reason to be, too.

As reported by the Scrimmage Play youth sports site, the Cavs were disqualified from the Elite Eight of a youth basketball tournament in Myrtle Beach because of the inclusion of Kymora Johnson, a soon-to-be fifth grader in Virginia, on the Cavs roster. While the team’s coaches could traditionally bear responsibility for this disqualification, the Cavs officials insist that they did not try to hide Johnson’s involvement, going as far as to insist that tournament officials understood that Johnson was a girl when the team checked in. Rather than face potential elimination, Cavs coaches were told that teams were allowed to field one girl on their roster.

That’s before things apparently changed, following the decision by officials to disqualify the Cavs shortly after the team had advanced to the tournament semifinals, apparently because another team from Florida had already been disqualified for fielding a girl. The decision was a consistent one on the part of the officials, who had not cleared the Florida team to use a girl as they had Charlottesville.

Yet the disqualification still smacked of a double standard on the part of Myrtle Beach officials, which hasn’t been lost on Johnson’s mother, Jessica Thomas-Johnson.

“We submit all of the paperwork, the whole team checks in in full uniform, with a birth certificate,” Thomas-Johnson told Scrimmage Play. “She has hot pink fingernail polish and a pink headband. She’s a girl. … (We asked them to) let the rest of this team play tomorrow, let’s be fair. Even if that was the rule, which is nowhere to be found.”

The decision has sparked controversy both locally and throughout the national baseball community. If nothing else, the flashpoint incident has created a sense of unity that everyone deserves to play, regardless of gender or belief.

Harry Giles III (left) and Jayson Tatum (right) have talked about being a package deal in 2016.

Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young teamed up for Mokan Elite (Kan.) to form one of the most dynamic 1-2 punches in AAU basketball, regardless of circuit.

Gary Trent Jr. and Wendell Carter provided the inside-outside combination that led USA Basketball’s U16 National team to the gold medal in Argentina; Mustapha Heron and Rawle Alkins led the NY RENS to the adidas Gauntlet title; and Harry Giles III and Jayson Tatum played off of each other masterfully to help the USA Basketball U19 National team win gold in Greece.

Each player’s list of potential college suitors reads like a “who’s who” of college basketball’s most elite, and while the vast majority of them have no clue where they want to go just yet, they’re all plenty sure about who they want to go with them.

“When you play with a guy that you have great chemistry with you definitely want to keep that going into college,” said Porter, who is ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 60 for 2017.

That’s right, all have expressed their interest in joining forces in college by uttering the famous, albeit cliché, two-word phrase: Package deal.

“We’re all really competitive and most of us want the best chance to win a national title right away in college,” said Tatum, who is ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100 for 2016. “I looked at all the success I had with USA Basketball and in AAU and it’s just smarter to play with the best players. Harry’s the best.”

But as history shows, what elite players say on the recruiting trail and what happens when the time comes to make a college choice often are not the same. There are more package deals that weren’t than package deals that were.

For example, last summer, Malik Newman, Diamond Stone and Ivan Rabb talked about the prospects of a package deal. Newman will attend Mississippi State, Stone is heading to Maryland and Rabb is staying close to home at Cal.

Michael Porter Jr. (left) and Trae Young (right) are adamant about teaming up in college.

Package deals aren’t a new phenomenon. In 2006, Mike Conley and Greg Oden plotted and executed their plan to team up at Ohio State. In 1991, Chris Webber and Jalen Rose made good on their plan to team up at Michigan, joining Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson to form the famed Fab Five.

The most recent package deal was in 2014 when No. 1 overall player Jahlil Okafor and No. 1 point guard Tyus Jones pulled off their plan to meet up at Duke. The two even announced their chose live on national TV at the same time.

RELATED: Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young are 2017’s newest package deal

Duke knocked off Wisconsin in April to claim the national title; Okafor dominated in the game’s final minutes and Jones was named Most Outstanding Player.

“You definitely look at what Tyus and Jahlil were able to do with their package deal,” said Giles, the No. 1 overall player in the ESPN 100. “That’s the story we all want to have and it just made it more real to see it. I feel like their whole situation opened a lot of players’ eyes. I definitely hear a lot more about package deals now.”

The execution of said package deals, however, takes “a lot of planning and sacrifice,” according to Jones.

“In the recruitment process you almost always do what’s best for you,” said Jones, who was drafted No. 24 by the Cleveland Cavaliers then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft. “But when you’re a package you have to do what’s right for both of you. You have to go somewhere where you both can flourish. The biggest part of it, if you’re serious, is to get your families involved. That makes it real.”

Jones’ mother, Debbie Jones, said their two families were “constantly in contact” throughout the process.

“It was a lot more in the last few months,” Debbie said. “We were taking visits together, having conference calls and laying out the likes and dislikes constantly. I think that’s the best way because you can really see if you’re looking for the same things. That’s very important. And timing is everything.”

Giles’ and Tatum’s families are already in talks, it’s the timing that may be an issue.

Tatum committed to Duke on July 12, eliminating the element of surprise if Giles chooses to stick with the initial plan.

“It’s definitely still a possibility,” Giles said of teaming up with Tatum. “My man Jay had to do what he had to do because he felt the time was right. I understood. I’m definitely looking at the other schools on my list just as hard though. We’ll see what happens. We’re best friends so I literally talk or text with him a few times a day.”

Dennis Smith Jr., the No. 1 point guard in the ESPN 100, said that constant player-to-player communication is the most important part in the execution of a package deal.

“I think package deals get more serious when players are talking about it amongst themselves all the time,” said Smith, who has also been in talks with Tatum and Giles about teaming up. “When you’re constantly talking to the same two guys about playing together and see what other guys have done in the past by teaming up in college it makes it way more serious.”

Trent and Carter, both rising juniors, initially made their pact to join forces in college over an ice bath while running with the USA U16 National team.

Young and Porter have even set up their list of potential colleges based on who wants them both.

“We let the coaches know,” Young said. “We’re like brothers. We know each other’s tendencies on the court. It’s the perfect match.”

Still, Tyus Jones said, in the end, package deals are all about the right fit in more ways than one.

“You just have to be committed to the plan,” Jones said. “And it’s got to be beneficial to the both of you. Ideally, you want a situation where both of you are needed, where you can produce and where the coaches really and truly believe that you guys’ chemistry will help the team win.”

The perfect package indeed.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Throughout the summer, USA TODAY High School Sports has published a series called “60 for ’16” highlighting 60 members of the Class of 2016 who we will be watching in the coming 12 months. The final 20 athletes will be presented in order from No. 20 to No. 1 over four weeks. The athletes were selected by the USA TODAY HSS staff. 

To see previous entries, click here

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Dennis Smith Jr.
School: Trinity Christian School (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Sport: Boys Basketball
Position: Point Guard

Try as you might, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who follows elite high school basketball players to believe that this time two years ago Dennis Smith Jr. was an unranked point guard trying to figure out a way to parlay a vicious poster dunk, which was featured on the Sportscenter Top 10, into scholarship offers.

A stark contrast from who he is today: The No. 1 point guard and No. 4 overall player in the ESPN 100 with more than 125,000 followers on Twitter and Instagram who gets held up after most games by the long line of fans wanting to snap a pic with him.

“It honestly still trips me out,” Smith said. “I just play; I don’t get caught up in everything else.”

Smith turned heads nationally in late December 2013 at the High School OT Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.). There he averaged 28 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against elite players like Hammond’s (Columbia, S.C.) Seventh Woods, Justin Jackson, now a rising sophomore at North Carolina, and Orangeville Prep (Can.) center Thon Maker, who, at the time, was the No. 1 player in Smith’s class.

Smith won a state title as a sophomore, dominated as a junior and finished what was likely his most dominant summer on the AAU circuit with Team Loaded (N.C.) last month.

No, player turned in more consistent “wow” plays than Smith against, arguably, the stiffest competition of any AAU circuit. He capped off his dominant summer winning MVP of the Big Shots Tournament, claiming the 1-on-1 title at the Steph Curry Elite Camp and winning MVP of the adidas Uprising Showcase.

“I just try and come out and make my teammates better and dominate in every aspect of the game,” Smith said. “I like playing against the best players; I feel like that makes me take my game to another level.”

He recently cut his list of colleges to six: Kentucky, Duke, Louisville, N.C. State, Wake Forest and North Carolina, and, no matter where he ends up, you can expect that school’s backcourt to receive an immediate upgrade no matter who’s already there.

“I’ve got a lot of great schools and a lot of great coaches on my list,” Smith said. “I just want to go somewhere that I can win, learn and get better constantly.”

From no-name player to probable one-and-done in college?

Mission accomplished on the latter.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

John Lucas (Photo: H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports)

In a lifetime in basketball, John Lucas has always been blunt and not afraid to share his opinions.

The former NBA player and coach who has excelled in working with players with addiction issues runs camps and clinics for a number of age levels around the country. His “lab” — as he called it on Twitter — on Tuesday had 66 players, although Lucas noted that some would get “weeded out” because they could not handle the physical demands or be able to follow directions.

Then Lucas hit on his advice for AAU players:

Lucas touched on some other topics, including the quality of the Class of 2022 among Texas basketball players, before he added another on AAU and more:

Throughout the summer, USA TODAY High School Sports has published a series called “60 for ’16” highlighting 60 members of the Class of 2016 who we will be watching in the coming 12 months. The final 20 athletes will be presented in order from No. 20 to No. 1 over four weeks. The athletes were selected by the USA TODAY HSS staff. 

To see previous entries, click here

ATHLETE PROFILE:

Name: Josh Jackson

School: Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)

Sport: Boys basketball

Position: Small forward

Often times great players are considered great because of their propensity to get buckets on the offensive end, especially on the high school level. Jackson, however, manages to dominate on both ends of the floor.

“And that’s what sets him apart,” ESPN recruiting analyst Reggie Rankin said. “Most guys dominate one end, but he’s working on both ends. He absolutely plays to exhaustion and that’s what you have to do in order to be a great two-way player; that’s what he is.”

Last season at Prolific Prep, Jackson, who is ranked No. 3 overall in the ESPN 100, averaged 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists per game. As one of only four high school players picked for the USA U19 National team, which captured gold last month in Greece, he averaged 12 points and seven rebounds a game and dominated the Under Armoour AAU circuit all summer.

RELATED: Josh Jackson uses summer to continue to develop elite skills

How?

The short answer is his elite athleticism, but Rankin expanded on why “elite” is only scratching the surface of Jackson’s athletic abilities.

“His athleticism is just tremendous,” Rankin said. “Some guys have high school-level athleticism, some have college-level athleticism; Josh has NBA-level athleticism, today. That’s not normal… In a good way.”

When you warrant that type of description what is normal is to feel very self-assured and confident about your abilities.

RELATED: Josh Jackson goes off for 50 at Big Strick Classic

While we can’t reveal winners just yet, we can say that Jackson has received a lot of votes for Biggest Trash Talker in the 2015 USA Today HSS Players’ Choice AAU awards and superlatives, where elite players pick winners in a variety of different categories.

Winners will be announced Aug. 18.

“That’s just Josh. Oh, he talks now,” said Harry Giles III, the No. 1 overall player in the ESPN 100 and Jackson’s teammate on the U19 National team. “That’s a part of the game though. It’s all in good fun though and all over the course of the game. I love that about him; love his game!”

College coaches apparently do, too.

His list of college suitors reads like the NCAA Top 10 poll with everyone from Duke to Arizona to Kentucky, among many others, all giving chase.

“He’s just a special player,” Rankin said. “He’s got the type of motor that outlasts other players over the course of the game. He never stops, he just keeps on coming. That kind of player you just can’t stop.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Chef of the Week

In sports the term “cookin” is reserved for a player who goes on a scoring spree or gets hot during a game and makes big plays on the offensive end.

This week’s “Chef of the Week” award goes to Rawle Alkins for his dominant performance in the adidas Nations championship game.

Alkins scored 18 of his 26 points in the second half to lead Team Rose past Team Wall, 113-93.

Alkins has been consistently dominant all AAU season and that consistency is the mark of a true chef.

Poster of the Week

This week’s Poster of the Week winner is Miles Bridges for completely embarrassing a defender on the one-handed poster he created recently at The 8 Tournament in Las Vegas.

Bridges, who was running with the Mac Irvin Fire (Ill.), caught the ball, seemingly alone in transition, took a slow dribble and saw a defender hustling to the lane to try for the block.

Bad idea.

Bridges seemed to slow up even more to wait for the defender, rose up and destroyed him with a vicious right-handed cock-back dunk.

Pandemonium ensued.

Even Kentucky head coach John Calipari couldn’t contain his excitement.

This you must see.

Oh No They Didn’t!

This award is reserved for the player who turned in a mind-boggling performance or play that left the crowd in a state of shock and amazement.

This week’s “Oh No They Didn’t” winner is We Will (Mass.) guard Jake Wisniewski for draining the three-quarter court buzzer beating game winner at the HG Jam Fest.

With just 2.4 seconds left in regulation and his team trailing by one, Wisniewski darted back to the baseline to receive the inbounds pass; that’s when he took one dribble, two steps and launched the prayer.

Swish.

This you must see to believe.

Watch below.

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Harry Giles III (left) and Jayson Tatum (right) took home hardware in this year’s Players’ Choice awards. (Photo: EYBL)

The votes are in; the players have spoken.

After more than four months traveling around and, in some cases, out of the country for AAU events, showcases, skills camps and tournaments we polled more than 30 elite players in the rising senior and junior classes, who were instructed not to choose themselves, then tallied their votes to come up with winners in different categories; everything from Best Dunker to Most Likely No. 1 NBA Draft pick.

RELATED: 2014 AAU Awards/Superlatives

Here’s who the players decided deserved the hardware.

BEST DUNKER: Terrance Ferguson, Prime U Academy (Dallas), AAU – MWA Elite (Dallas), SG, 2016

BIGGEST TRASH TALKER: Josh Jackson, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), AAU – 1 Nation (Mich.), SF, 2016

BEST BACK-TO-THE-BASKET GAME: DeAndre Ayton, Balboa City (San Diego), AAU – Supreme Court (Calif.), C, 2017

BEST FACE-UP GAME: Harry Giles III, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), AAU – Team CP3 (N.C.), F, 2016

BEST PASSER: Lonzo Ball, Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.), AAU – QJZ (Calif.), PG, 2016

DEADLIEST SNIPER: Kyle Guy, Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), AAU – Indiana Elite, SG, 2016

BEST SHOT SWATTER: Thon Maker, Athlete First (Can.), AAU – Canada Elite, C, 2016

BEST KILLER INSTINCT: Rawle Alkins, High School – TBD, AAU – NY RENS, G, 2016

BIGGEST SLEEPER: Jalen Johnson, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), AAU – Team Wall (N.C.), SF, 2016

BEST HANDLES: Trevon Duval, St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), AAU – WE-R1 (Del.), PG, 2017

MOST LIKELY TO DECIDE ON A COLLEGE LATE: Dennis Smith Jr., Trinity Christian School (Fayetteville, N.C.), AAU – Team Loaded (N.C.), PG, 2016

MOST LIKELY TO DECIDE ON A COLLEGE EARLY: Frank Jackson, Lone Peak (Alpine, Utah), AAU – Utah Prospects, G, 2016

MOST LIKEY NO. 1 NBA DRAFT PICK: Harry Giles III, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Team CP3 (N.C.), F, 2016

MOST LIKELY TO BREAK A RIM: Edrice Adebayo, High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), AAU – Team Loaded (N.C.), F, 2016

BIGGEST WOW FACTOR: Dennis Smith Jr., Trinity Christian School (Fayetteville, N.C.), AAU – Team Loaded (N.C.), PG, 2016

BIGGEST MATCHUP PROBLEM: Jayson Tatum, Chaminade College Prep (St. Louis.), AAU – St. Louis Eagles, F, 2016

MOST LIKELY TO LIVE ON THE SPORTSCENTER TOP 10: Michael Porter Jr., Father Tolton Catholic (Columbia, Mo.), AAU – Mokan Elite (Kan.), SF, 2017

TOUGHEST DEFENSIVE ASSIGNMENT: Udoka Azubuike, Potter’s House (Jacksonville, Fla.), AAU – GA Stars, C, 2016

TOP BUCKET-GETTER: Gary Trent Jr., Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.), AAU – Howard Pulley Panthers (Minn.), SG, 2017

NEXT UP: Marvin Bagley III, Corona Del Sol (Phoenix), WACG (Ariz.), F, 2018

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

When AAU squad We All Can Go took to The League finals in Dallas, it wasn’t particularly surprising to see the team emerge with the tournament title. After all, WACG sports two of the nations top underclass prospects in big man Marvin Bagley III and Tyger Campbell. Yet it wasn’t Bagley or Campbell who stole the spotlight at the event, it was one of their previously less-heralded teammates who is sure to land square in the spotlight now.

Meet Jai Smith, a Syracuse native and member of the Class of 2021. The sixth grader was recently named the MVP of the 6th grade AAU Nationals tournament, and is already showcasing more athleticism than some of the most celebrated prep dunkers like NBA Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and current star Seventh Woods did at the same stage.

While Smith’s 6-foot-3 frame steals much of his attention due to his age, his vision and ball handling in traffic is equally notable for a player his age and stature. He’s a remarkable prospect who can clearly make a difference in the half court game or on the break.

No one knows what the future holds for Smith, but it sure seems bright if he can maintain his health and continue progressing at pace, no small feat considering how far he has already come.

Tyus Jones said there’s no substitute for hard word. (Photo: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports)

For an unranked high school basketball player, hearing Tyus Jones say, “Trust the process” could very well prompt an immediate eye-roll reaction.

Jones was the No. 1 point guard in the 2014 class, he went to Duke, he was named Most Outstanding Player in Duke’s national championship win over Wisconsin in April and two months later he got drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and eventually ended up with his hometown Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

“It was really like a dream scenario,” Jones said. “I couldn’t have imagined it going any better.”

Still, Jones vividly remembers the part of his story that’s often glossed over; when he was taking his lumps back in the early days when his name was just beginning to ring out nationally.

RELATED: Harry Giles III is Oak Hill bound

“It took a lot of hard work and mental toughness,” Jones said. “That’s the part that I think people miss. They only see the good, but I had to work to accomplish everything that I’ve accomplished. And my work’s only beginning.”

Jones didn’t have the same path as most elite high school players; he didn’t attend a showcase camp every weekend in the summer in between running with his AAU team the Howard Pulley Panthers.

“I really only played AAU and played with USA Basketball,” Jones said. “I didn’t want to wear my body out playing too much all summer. I focused on skill work and the weight room. I simplified it.”

During his junior year at Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.), Jones suffered from extreme back spasms that sidelined him for a month. In that time, Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft who also plays with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reclassified from 2014 to 2013, subsequently moving Jones into the No. 1 overall spot in the ESPN 100 rankings.

“I felt so much pressure because I was hurt and I wasn’t playing as well,” Jones said. “I ended up dropping to No. 3, which, of course, is still good; I just had to get over the mental aspect of it and get back in the lab and work. That’s how I handled everything. That’s gotta be the process, so if you’re unranked and want to be ranked you’ve gotta put in even more work and not get discouraged.”

Jones followed the back injury up by leading the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League in scoring, steals and assists in his final AAU season.

“Trusting the process might sound cliché,” Jones said. “But it’s the best way to get the results that you want. It’s 100 percent true.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

 Throughout the summer, USA TODAY High School Sports has published a series called “60 for ’16” highlighting 60 members of the Class of 2016 who we will be watching in the coming 12 months. The final 20 athletes will be presented in order from No. 20 to No. 1 over four weeks. The athletes were selected by the USA TODAY HSS staff. 

To see previous entries, click here

ATHLETE PROFILE:

Name: Harry Giles III
School: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Sport: Boys Basketball
Position: Power Forward

Heading into his senior year, Giles is already the No. 1 player in the ESPN 100, but come June 2017 he’s most likely going to be the No. 1 overall player taken in the NBA Draft, according to his peers.

That kind of appointment by his teammates and opponents is all the perspective you need on why Giles came in at the No. 1 spot in our “60 for ’16.”

“He really wants to be the best,” Oak Hill coach Steve Smith said. “That’s probably the thing I love the most about him; his work ethic is just crazy.”

Giles will head to Oak Hill in a week to start school; a few weeks back he announced that he would transfer from Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) to the hoops powerhouse to closeout his high school career.

“Oak Hill is the program you dream about playing for when you’re coming up,” Giles said. “I’ve always wanted to play there. A lot of great players have come through there.”

RELATED: Giles transfers to Oak Hill

That’s an understatement, Smith has coached countless NBA All Stars and even an NBA MVP (Kevin Durant).

Still, none of the past greats were on the same level as Giles, at least according to the national rankings.

Giles, who stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 230 pounds, will be the first No. 1 overall player to play at Oak Hill during the Smith era, which spans more than 30 years.

“I’m just ready to get down there and work on nothing but books and ball,” Giles said. “That’s it. I am gonna work like I’ve never worked before. I want to win a national championship. That’s the main goal. I’m ready to put in work.”

He certainly did that last season at Wesleyan when he averaged 23 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks a game to lead the Trojans to a 30-5 record and a state independent schools 3A runner-up finish. As a result, Giles was the only underclassmen named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA first team.

Last month, Giles finished up a dominant summer on the AAU circuit with Team CP3 (N.C.), averaging 18 points and 12 rebounds a game on the prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League where he led his team to the Final Four of the Peach Jam, which most consider the top AAU event of the summer.

His blend of inside-outside dominance make him virtually unstoppable.

RELATED: Giles is Oak Hill’s first No. 1 player

Naturally, that kind of production has every major college program in the country banging on his front door, but Giles has it narrowed down to five: Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Wake Forest and Kansas.

While he’s got no clue where he’ll ultimately end up, Giles is sure about what type of situation he wants to end up in; which, ironically, will only make the decision harder.

“I just want to go somewhere that I can win and learn a lot,” Giles said. “Like I said, I’m all about getting better every day so that’s the most important part for me. But with the list of schools that I’ve got I can’t go wrong with any of them. It’ll be tough; it’s a good problem.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Marvin Bagley III is headed to Hillcrest. (Photo: Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports)

Harry Giles III is ranked No. 1 overall in the ESPN 100 and last week his peers voted him Most Likely No. 1 NBA Draft Pick.

That’s why, last month when he announced that he was transferring from Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) for his senior season, it was, quite naturally, the most high profile high school hoops change of address of the year.

TRANSFERS: Where will Trevon Duval and Rawle Alkins play this season?

Still, Giles wasn’t the only big time transfer.

We’ve managed to zero-in on the five hardwood relocators not named Harry Giles III that will make big impacts for the coming high school hoops season.

1. Marvin Bagley III, F, 2018

From: Corona del Sol (Phoenix)

To: Hillcrest (Phoenix)

What he brings: Bagley isn’t building the coveted “next big thing” buzz; he’s had that for a while now. Good luck trying to stop the 6-foot-11 combo forward; he’s got guard skills on the perimeter and he’s too athletic for most post players. Last season he led Corona del Sol (33-1) to its fourth state title, averaging 19.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 2.3 assists a game. Bagley, who recently won the Next Up award in the 2015 Players Choice Awards/Superlatives, is the consensus No. 1 overall player in the ESPN 25.

2. Edrice “Bam Bam” Adebayo, F, 2016

From: Northside (Pinetown, N.C.)

To: High Point Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)

What he brings: You’d be hard pressed to find a player that turned in more poster dunks than Adebayo did this summer. He was voted Most Likely to Break a Rim in the 2015 Players Choice Awards/Superlatives; seems dead-on for a guy nicknamed “Bam Bam.”

At, 6-foot-9, Adebayo overpowers the opposition in the paint and has a soft touch from 15 feet that keeps the defense honest. Last season at Northside, Adebayo, who is ranked No. 8 overall in the ESPN 100, averaged 32.2 points and 21 rebounds a game.

3. Tyus Battle, SG, 2016

From: Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.)

To: St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.)

What he brings: Battle has the size (6-foot-6) to shoot over the top of the defense from the perimeter and the skill to knock down shots efficiently. What makes him a tough matchup is that he’s skilled and athletic enough to get into the lane at-will and finish with authority. Battle sat out most of his junior season with an ankle injury, but averaged 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game as a sophomore.

4. Matt Coleman, PG 2017

From: Maury (Virginia Beach, Va.)

To: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)

What he brings: Coleman is a heady point guard who has a propensity for making the right play at the right time. Last season he averaged 20 points and five assists and was the Atlantic Conference Player of the Year.

Pressure?

The last Oak Hill point guard (Missouri freshman Terrence Phillips) has led the Warriors to two-straight DICK’s High School Nationals title games.

Coleman is ranked No. 25 in the ESPN 60.

5. Markus Howard, G, 2016

From: Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)

To: Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)

What he brings: Howard adds a level of firepower rivaled by few, regardless of class. As a sophomore, Howard, who is ranked No. 26 in the ESPN 60, was the state of Arizona’s leading scorer at 32.5 points per game. As a freshman, he averaged 23 points a game. He was tied for fourth in scoring (20 points a game) in the prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League this summer.

Honorable Mention

Mook Harris, PG, 2019 to Montverde (Montverde, Fla.)

Omari Spellman, F, 2016 to St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Ct.)

Braxton Blackwell, SF, 2016 to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)

J.J. Smith, SG, 2017 to Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)

Mario Kegler, SF, 2016 to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Gary Trent Jr. was the most dominant player on the prestigious Nike EYBL this summer, leading the league averaging 22.1 points a game. That kind of production has a who’s who of college basketball heavyweights like Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan State, and many others, all giving intense chase. Trent, a rising junior shooting guard at Apple Valley (Apple Valley, Minn.), 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.

Hey, what’s up world! This is Gary Trent Jr. back at it with another blog; I haven’t done one in about a month or so, but I’m ready to update you on everything!

I closed my summer out in a big way last weekend in the Bahamas at the Nike event! Nike only invited 12 players so to be picked as one of those guys was an honor for me. I felt very fortunate. I played with Harry Giles, Michael Porter, Jayson Tatum, Wendell Carter and guys like that so the comp was crazy!

Man one of my many things I enjoyed on the trip was to be able to get worked out by former NBA player that made an impact on the game! I had the opportunity to be worked out and coached by Gary Payton!

It was a great trip all around!

One of the last events I played in this summer was adidas Nations in California and that was a lot of fun too! I got the chance to play on TV so that was a great experience. After that I was literally only home for a day before I had to fly out to New York to play in the Big Strick Classic. We played in front of a great crowd and against other great players.

I don’t start school until September 8 so I’ve got a little time to just wind down from a long summer and rest my body. I think I’m gonna rest for a week or two then get back at it preparing for a big season this year.

I think my high school team will be strong again this year; I think we’ll have the same success when we won states last year. We have all five starters coming back and I definitely know we have what it takes to get it done. I’m definitely excited about that.

RELATED: Gary Trent Jr. wins Top Bucket-Getter in the Players Choice Awards

As far as my recruitment, everything is going great!

Since my last blog I’ve picked up offers from Kentucky and Arizona.

I got the Kentucky offer at Nike Global; just talking to Coach Cal on the phone, then I got the Arizona offer right before adidas Nations. I was excited to get both offers.

I mean it’s Kentucky and everyone knows about the success Coach Cal has had with sending players to the NBA and getting them prepared for that next level. Same with Arizona; they always have a lot of success and it’s a great program.

I just soak it all up when I get new offers; it really, really drives me to get better. To me, when I get an offer it’s telling me that the coach believes in me and that’s big for me.

When I was out in California I took a visit to UCLA and I loved it. The coaches were cool, the campus was great and I just really had a fun time all around.

Y’all know I told you about my package deal with my boy Wendell (Carter) and it’s definitely still on. We speak all the time and it’s definitely something that we’re serious about. Our parents haven’t actually talked amongst each other about it, but they get along really well. It’s always good vibes. Some of the coaches already know that we want to play together and they’re all for it.

I’m planning to take a couple more visits, but I’ve gotta sit down with my dad and decide where I’m gonna go.

I talk to at least some of the coaches every day. It’s been cool getting to know them. Even if it’s just a coach texting me saying, “What’s up big time!” That always has me laughing.

A part of me is ready to get into the swing of things with school and just start strong in every way for my junior year.

Oh, I definitely want to tell you all to check out the movie Straight Outta Compton. I loved it, it was a great movie. I knew a lot about the story from my dad showing me their music and what they were about at a young age. It was like seeing the story all over again and it was definitely worth it.

As far as music, you can’t listen to anything but Drake.

He’s killin’ the game right now!

OK, y’all once again it’s your boy Gary Trent Jr. and that’s another blog in the books.

I’ll be back with a lot more next time.

Until then!

Follow Gary Trent Jr.:

Twitter: that_kid_gary

Instagram: that_kid_gary

John Lucas (Photo: H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports)

We rarely post a series of tweet this long — and this isn’t all of them — but former NBA star and coach John Lucas dropped some knowledge Sunday about parents, AAU coaches and the culture of young basketball players. You can follow Lucas here, but here is a sampling of the message.

Definitely something to think about.

Just over a year ago, Washington Wizards All-Star point guard John Wall announced the start of his new North Carolina based AAU program Team Wall.

RELATED: John Wall unveils new AAU team Team Wall

RELATED: Team Wall Holds Tryouts

Webb Wellman, of BallIsLife.com, followed the program all summer for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Team Wall and Tuesday he released the documentary of their quest in year one: Team Wall | The Launch.

“John Wall continues to do so much for the Hoop State,” Wellman said of Wall’s dedication to North Carolina. “We are extremely loyal here in N.C. and this project was an amazing opportunity to give people a glimpse into the Team Wall family. We hope people watch this and feel the impact of what doing things the right way can look like.”

USA Today chronicled Team Wall’s first year on the super-competitive adidas Gauntlet in the series Making of an AAU Team.

Kendrick Williams, Team Wall director, said the documentary “captures the true essence of our primary goal.”

RELATED: John Wall drops in on his AAU Team and offers key advice

RELATED: Team Wall coaches deliberate on final cuts

“And that’s helping kids, period,” Williams said. “I’m really proud of what we accomplished in such a short time. All 10 of our players on the 17-and-under team will sign with colleges; that’s amazing! In less than a year we’ve grown our program into the largest in the state with boys and girls divisions from third through eleventh grade; I can’t tell you how that makes me feel. We’re making them better young men and women first, and then we’re making better basketball players. That was how I coached John back in the day and that’s how he wants me to guide these young prospects today.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Despite concern from Kobe Bryant that LeBron James’ two sons are passing too much — and an offer to fix it — the offspring of King James seems to be doing just fine.

In their latest highlight tapes that Dad posted on Instagram, LeBron Jr. aka “Bronny” and Bryce were showing their moves during the Battle of Magic City in Birmingham, Ala.

In case you are wondering, LeBron Jr. is 12 — and had already attracted the attention of Ohio State coach Thad Matta at 9 — and Bryce is 9.

Tim Finke, the No. 1 sophomore in Illinois, added another highlight to his resume with this off-balance halfcourt buzzer beater during the Made Hoops Warmup in Arkansas.

Finke, who plays for the St. Louis Eagles program, attends Centennial (Champaign, Ill.) and is ranked as the No. 8 shooting guard and No. 33 player overall in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the Class of 2018.

Marvin Bagley III, the No. 1 sophomore in the nation, hasn’t been seen much on the court after having to sit out following his departure from Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) and subsequent transfer to Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.).

Bagley returned home to Phoenix to play in a tournament with Phoenix Phamily, the AAU program run by his father, and did not appear to have lost a step.

RELATED: USC offers Marvin Bagley and eighth-grade brother on same day

Here are highlights courtesy of our friends at D1Circuit.com:

Matur Maker was impressive at last weekend’s Under Armour Association AAU event in New York, swatting shots and showing some impressive court vision on the perimeter.

The 6-10, 200-pound forward, perhaps best known (for now) as Thon’s brother, is making a name for himself and holds offers from the likes of Arizona State and Indiana.

Check out his highlights below, courtesy of Courtside Films.