http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2012-03-05/anthony-davis-kentucky-wildcats-sporting-news-player-of-the-year-march-madness

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Here are highlights of the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF5rebxE0mA

Here are other links to the game:

http://fivestarbasketball.com/articles/08-12-2011-first-annual-franchise-classic-memorial-hs-game

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/high_school/basketball/franchise_classic_notebook_whitehead_3wx9veNQ4FRp61fGWxAUPJ

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/08/12/big-apple-finally-gets-a-new-all-star-game/

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/08/14/chris-walker-says-ohio-state-is-favorite/

http://www.zagsblog.com/2011/08/14/anderson-calhoun-lead-team-nyc-over-team-usa/

http://www.nbebasketball.com/w3/2011-0814/franchise-classic-notebook-uk-ohio-state-greg-mcclinton-has-varied-list-jevon-thomas-update/

http://www.wildcatworld.com/?p=14453

http://www.ihigh.com/allmetrosports/article_73825.html

http://www.slamonline.com/online/college-hs/high-school/2011/08/1st-annual-franchise-classic-saturday-august-12-nyc/

http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1249855

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/marc_raimondi/whitehead_mccullough_headline_first_RR4KiwQXrzNMBqHCzgNqAN

http://uasentinel.com/2011/08/the-future-of-college-hoops-and-the-nba-is-at-the-franchise-classic/

Share on Facebook

at Col. Young Park on 145th Street and Lenox Avenue.  This game is a memorial to the legendary streetball player John “Franchise” Strickland, featuring some of the top high school players from around the country, as Team USA,  against the top players from the NYC Tri-state area as Team NYC.  Most of the players are in the top 25 players rankings in their respective classes.  This game is free entry and open to the public.  There will be free giveaways for fans. This game is sponsored by Inside Streetball and the Tri-State tournament.

What: 1st Annual “Franchise Classic”

When:  game:  Saturday, August 13, 2011 @ 8 PM   workout:  Friday, August, 12, 12:30 PM

Location:  Col. Young Park, 145th Street and Lenox Avenue, Manhattan, New York

Players invited: 

Team USA:  Ricardo Ledo, Archie Goodwin, Jarnell Stokes, Shaq Goodwin, Martavious Newby, Malik Price Martin, Christopher Walker & Greg McClinton and others, plus,

Coach Rah Wiggins

Team NYC:  Omar Calhoun, Kyle Anderson, Miles Davis, Kareem Canty, Malik Nickels, Daniel Dingle, Savon Goodwin, Derek Woods, Daijuan Walker, Mike Lee, Jevon Thomas, Kamar Murphy, Kereuwem Okoro and Akil Carr, and others, plus

Coach Mousey

Share on Facebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9qd1lPf5oU

Share on Facebook

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_q2dfA7_4

Share on Facebook

The game of basketball has taken P.J. Torres well beyond his New Rochelle roots.

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound off guard has been a fixture on some of New York City’s regal basketball real estate. The competition at Rucker Park, “The Cage” on West Fourth Street, Dyckman basketball courts (where NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earned his stripes as a teenager), and “Baby Rucker Park” at 145th street has all helped Torres augment his toughness.

Plying his trade before jam-packed parks in the Mecca of basketball, Torres has polished his patented behind-the-back move in transition on these courts, a 25-minute train ride from his home.

Torres has levitated above the hostile crowds and crammed home dunks, helping New Rochelle basketbal earnl respect and visibility beyond Westchester County.

Torres, who averaged 20.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while leading New Rochelle to a berth in the Class AA/Section 1 semi-final his senior year, will take his game beyond Westchester and the bright lights of the famed New York City streetball venues next season.

Torres penned with Duquesne University in Pittsburgh two months ago. He was sold on the Ron Everhart’s program the moment he stepped foot off the plane following his visit.

“It felt like I was already part of the team when I played in open gym games with the team,” said Torres of his campus visit.

“With the way they were communicating with me, I felt like I was at home. We ran back and forth, scrimmaged, and played hard against each other. It was just pure basketball.”

Torres, who bolstered his stock when he scored 35 points, tore down 14 rebounds, dished out six assists, and collected four steals en route to a signature victory over St. Raymond’s, was also excited about the challenge.

“They weren’t guaranteeing anything, they weren’t saying I would get immediate playing time, which was cool. The players basically told me they don’t do what a lot of these other schools do by telling you you’re going to play right away to lure you in. For me, that’s what caught my attention. That just shows me that when I get there, I’m going to have to fight for it and push. Nothing is going to be handed to me and I want it that way.”

Torres, who plays for the Bronx-based Gauchos on the AAU circuit, first garnered Everhart’s attention during the annual Peach Jam tournament in South Carolina.

Leaking out in transition and finishing above the rim, permeating the teeth of the defense on forays to the basket, and dropping mid-range jumpers that he extended beyond the arc, Torres turned heads. Everhart knew he could invest four years in a high-motor recruit of Torres’ caliber.

Duquesne, Hofstra, Canisius, and Rhode Island expressed considerable interest from the beginning.

“Rhode Island offered me (a scholarship) in the summer, but they kind of faded away,” explained Torres.

“I guess they had someone commit, or whatever the case may be.”
Baylor came into the scene following Torres’ aforementioned 35-point eruption, when he got the better of St. Rays’ heavily-hyped prospect Daniel Dingle. Torres again emerged as a buzz saw in an eyeball-to-eyeball battle with West Virginia-bound guard Jabarie Hinds of Mount Vernon. Torres poured in 37 points, albeit the Huguenots lost a tight barnburner.

Baylor’s interest in Torres was inconsistent. As New Rochelle made their way to the playoffs, College of Charleston began to pursue him.

In March, a time when most coveted players had their future hardwood homes chosen, Torres whittled down his list to Duquesne and College of Charleston. He flirted with the idea of doing a post-graduate year at a nearby Prep School, thinking he could draw more interest with another year under his belt.

As a late bloomer on the recruiting market, Torres did not want to rush his decision. He thought about refining and polishing aspects of his game like his pull up jumper, foot speed, and packing on more muscle.
Then, Torres received some valuable advice from a familiar face of New Rochelle basketball.

Geoff McDermott, the current professional who played at Providence College and re-wrote the program record books with the Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Rice (the tandem helped spearhead New Rochelle to championships in football and basketball during the 2004-2005 season), told him to jump at the right opportunity.

McDermott’s words proved prophetic.

“Prep school was an option because I thought I could get some better looks from colleges,” said Torres.

“Geoff basically told me, ‘if you find a school that you’re comfortable with, you’ve got to make the move.’ I realized, you can’t hold back because a scholarship could always open up for another player. When I visited Duquesne I realized ‘I belong here.’ Geoff turned out to be right.”

From gyms throughout Westchester to Rockland County, to famed asphalt courts in the hoops hotbed of Harlem, Torres’ game has been on display. Next stop, Duquesne.

Though he’ll be far away in Pittsburgh, Torres will likely feel right at home on the hardwood.

Share on Facebook

There was just one thing left to do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Y-mhvsBkg

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

1st game 5 pm  Teams 5 (TNP) vs. 6 (Money, Inc.)

2nd game 6:15 pm  Teams 7 (Piff Unit) vs. 8 (Grey Goose)
3rd game 7:30 pm  Teams 9 (Play ‘da Game) vs. 10 (X – MEN) (Team Certified declined invitation)

Saturday June 4th:

1st game-2 pm  Teams 11(Franchise/Gold’s Gym) vs. 12 (Rodney Park)
2nd game-3:15 pm  Team 1(Silver’s All-Stars) vs.  winner of 5-6
3rd game-4:30 pm   Team 2 (Team 914) vs. winner of 7-8
4th game-5:45 pm   Team 3 (Bingo’s All-Stars) vs. winner of 9-10
5th game-7 pm        Team 4 (Harlem 4 Life) vs. winner of 11-12

Sunday June 5th:

1st game-2:30 pm  winner of Team 1- winner of 5-6 vs. winner of Team 2- winner of 7-8
2nd game-4:30 pm  winner of Team 3- winner of 9-10 vs. winner of Team 4- winner of 11-12

6 pm SLAM DUNK CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!

3rd game(chip)-7 pm

Share on Facebook