SUWANEE, GA – Basketball is a team sport that is at times lost by individual accomplishments. So much so, players have a tendency to forget this is a team sport where rebounding, diving for lose balls and accepting your role is just as important as being the teams leading scorer.

After watching some of the teams from the Nike Memorial Day Classic at Suwanee Sports Academy. Players from the Class of 2015 from New York to Houston and every where in between showed why their team had a solid run in the tournament.

Here are few teams who showed what team work meant:

Houston Hoops DJ

This Texas-based team recently just joined the organization a few weeks before coming to Atlanta and the union proved successful. Hoops showed it was on a mission to get the Nike Peach Jam bid, which it earned while it finished second.

JoJo Anderson, from Yates, was solid in the open floor. He made the right decisions and knocked down the open shots throughout the tournament. Anderson was also a catalyst in the team’s comeback against the NY Lightning in the quarterfinal.  He averaged 10 points a game.

Nate Nahimy, from Cy Fair, is a player that showed the poise of a veteran. He was the Ying to Anderson’s Yang for the Hoops. Nahimy was never really rushed against teams who put on pressure. He just played within himself throughout the tournament. His biggest contribution came when the Hoops beat Stackhouse Elite in the semifinal. The 5-foot-11 knocked down a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds to play for the win. Nahimy’s role on the team was to be the glue guy.

Paul Thomas II, from Summer Creek, has an upside worth watching. The 6-foot-8 center showed good instincts inside and rebounded well out of his area. He is versatile enough to hit the short jumper and runs the floor well. Thomas averaged 13 points per game.

New York Lightning

Basketball in the Big Apple has been rumored to be on the decline because of the lack of passion and commitment to the game. Well, during the Nike MDC the Lightning dispelled those thoughts immediately with their performance. They advanced to a hard fought quarterfinal game before losing to the Houston Hoops DJ squad.

Traci Carter, from Life Center Academy, is a prototypical point guard from the Gotham City who knows how to get to the basket. He finishes well and absorbs contact like a sponge. He helped provide the direction and orchestrated the flow of the game for the Lightning. Carter averaged 19.4 points a game.

Dimencio Vaughn, from Thurgood Marshall Academy, had a role that is normally not defined on any teams program but everyone needs one: just go do what you do. This is exactly what the 6-foot-6 forward did the entire tournament. He switched on small guys, knocked down some three pointers, chased down long rebounds on both ends of the floor and really showed a desire to get anything done by any means possible. Vaughn’s relentless motor helped him average 13 points per game.

Jermaine Bishop, from Holly Cross, kept teams honest with his perimeter shooting. He knocked down 3-pointer after 3-pointer and had defenders trying to get to with limited success. Bishop, however, was not just limited to shooting he helped handle the pressure while also being able to provide some defensive assistance at critical times. He finished scoring 10 points a game.

Abdul Razak (Redemption Village) is the energy component on the team. This 6-foot-9 forward is relentless on the glass, on defense and in the open floor. He is so active and does not really take any possessions off unless there is a substitution. One stat not kept were rebounds but it would be easy to say he was in double figures.

3T All-Stars

The first thought by people saw this team is: where are they from? It’s a simple answer: Georgia. After playing its third game of the weekend, it was easy to see this is a team college coaches need to check out.

Tope Arikwe (pictured), from Covenant Christian, is a grown man – Period! This 6-foot-7 does not play any games around the basket or off the floor. His demeanor is stoic but gets results. He is strong, a relentless rebounder and slammed home several shots like he was upset at the rim.

Martins Igbann, from Covenant Christian, is an athletic space-eater. The 6-foot-9 center has a high-motor and hands like a vice grip that getting a ball from him will not happen. He is a back to the basket player with a good chance at being special on the offensive end. Defensively, Igbann is a solid shot blocker and excellent rebounder. His stock will only continue to rise come July.

Eric Turner, from Gainesville, FL, is a silky smooth 6-foot-4 guard. He can score from all three-levels on the floor and knocks down the jumper with range. Plays under control and handles pressure well.

Anthony Rice, from Covenant Christian, has developed into a bone-fide floor general. His leadership skills and ability to run the team, while setting the tempo, was key to the team’s victory over Nike Team LA. As Rice continues to develop he will be a player worthy of leading a team.

Stackhouse Elite

Moving to play 16U was a great idea. This Gwinnett-based club coached by NBA player Jerry Stackhouse has shown it can compete an age group up but all their players are just turning 16 and they showed out.

They play with great chemistry. The most notable players in the spring have been Brandon Ingram and TJ Howard. Both have made their mark early but their teammates have left their own impression.

Ahmed Carver, from North Gwinnett, is a shooter who has shown growth throughout the spring. He is filling it up and getting it done on both ends of the floor. Carver, who is listed as a member of 2014, just turned 16-years old. There are some good things ahead for this one.

Kameron Calhoun, from North Gwinnett, finished out the spring with an impressive showing. He played relentless on the defensive end containing and shutting down a number of players. As Calhoun continues to grow this is a prospect that doesn’t need to have his heart check because he plays with it on his shoulders in every game.