Best of the best hot after Dozier
P.J. Dozier and his Upward Stars team spent the spring at Suwanee Sports Academy, playing in nearly all of the major events there in April and May.
Dozier's last trip to the Grassroots Capital proved to be the most successful one. The Upward Stars won the battle of attrition at the Nike Memorial Day Classic and ended the holiday weekend with the championship for the second straight year.
The 6-foot-5 point guard from Spring Valley High School in Columbia, S.C. said he didn't want to end the spring without hoisting a championship trophy. Mission accomplished. Perhaps a trip to the prestigious adidas Nations camp in Miami helped fuel the flame.
Dozier said he returned to his team with added motivation and a few tricks up his sleeve to help the production with the Stars on the hardwood. Playing against the best of the best helped slow the game down at the Nike MDC.
"Knowing that every player that you play against in AAU and travel ball wasn't down there made it special. It was a select group of guys. You really wanted to show that you were there for a reason," Dozier said.
"The kids were there to learn. It wasn't just about throwing the ball out and playing five on five. It was about getting better. We were able to grab some things and bring it back here (to the travel season)."
The multi-dimensional guard was the HoopSeen.com MVP of the Nike MDC. He played both guard positions and played the spots comfortably well. Dozier has drawn some Nolan Smith comparisons.
Like Smith, Dozier is looking like a player that will eventually host some of the who's who of college basketball coaches during the recruiting process. North Carolina, NC State, South Carolina, Clemson, Ohio State, Kansas, Georgia, Mississippi State, Alabama, Xavier, Florida State and Indiana have all shown an interest in the potential McDonald's All-American.
"I'll be honest, I don't know who's offered and who's just interested," Dozier said.
Translation: Dozier is nowhere near the point of making a decision.
"I can honestly say I don't have any favorites right now. I'm just trying to see where I can find a role in...I'm just trying to learn the process; learn and enjoy it," Dozier said. "Gain knowledge is the main thing. I want to know what the colleges are looking for. Things like that.
Dozier said he leans on his sister, Asia, who was also a national recruit and now plays at South Carolina. He said he leans on big sis and asks for advice on how to handle the recruiting process.
The best advice? Take your time, he said.
"I want to go to a program where I can fit in with. I don't want to go somewhere that changes to me. I want to go somewhere that I can fit in without missing a beat," Dozier said. "The coaches are going to be big. I don't want basketball to stop at college, you know. So, the coaches are going to be big. Can they help me get to where I want go?"
Understand this: The coaches will be there to see Dozier and the Upward Stars in July at the Best of the South. Maybe he'll hold another championship at Suwanee Sports Academy again.