Saturday’s gameplay lived up to the hype at the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions. With the games becoming more competitive and important, the stars emerged from the pack and proved elite.

Here are the storylines from Saturday’s game action.

16U GAMES STEAL THE SHOW

While all the age groups at #Gibbons have a surplus of talent, no group was more entertaining to watch than the 16U bracket on Saturday. A pair of 16U games stole the show during the afternoon’s slate of games.

The exciting afternoon began with E1T1 mounted an improbable comeback in the last minute of the game to take down a feisty Team Corey Brewer squad. Led by the emergence of freshman rim-bender Silvio De Sousa, E1T1 was able to keep its championship hopes alive.

De Sousa will be a new name to most hoop-heads. The 2018 Montverde Academy (FL) big man is a native of Angola and has been in the states for three months and he made a huge first impression on the national stage. He will be a national name to keep an eye on in the future.

Despite the loss, Corey Brewer’s dynamic backcourt was exceptional. The 2017 duo of Tray Hollowell and Grayson Murphy set the tone for the Under Armour-based team. Hollowell, a native of Kentucky, rattled in five 3s on his way to 21 points. He claims an offer from Oklahoma State and will be one to remember for the Commonwealth. Murphy, a crafty combo guard, was vital to Corey’s Brewer’s success in the game. The feisty guard has a nose for the ball, hit shots, and is fearless on the court.

Another intense battle took place between New Orleans Elite and Southern Stampede. With big shots and big plays made throughout the game, it is only fitting that this one came down to the wire. However, the Stampede emerged on top 92-90.

2017 wing Greg James hit a 3 to tie the game with 30 seconds remaining. The next possession, he sunk the two free throws to give the Stampede the victory with less than two seconds remaining. 2017 guard Colin Sexton was fantastic, as he finished with a game-high 27 points.

In the losing effort, Kevin Normand scored 25 points. The stout forward was constantly a ball-hawk. He has a knack for finding the ball and getting easy buckets. Sophomore forward Devin Gilmore also showed he is one of the South’s best secrets. 

REIGNING SUPREME

Don’t tell the River City Reign that Gibbon’s has a host of shoe-sponsored circuit squads. They don’t care who they play, they produce each game. 

Led by 2016 guard Maliek White and 2016 big man Jermaine Matthews, the Reign have proved they are one of the top teams in this year’s field. White and Matthews make quite the combo in the pick-and-roll. White is a downhill attacker off the dribble, and Matthews moves very well for his size and has great hands. 

The Reign is competitive in the 16U bracket, too. Zach Jacobs, a 2017 stretch 4 man, put in 25 points in the morning session in a variety of ways. Jacobs has a nice skill level for a 4 man. His ability to extend the defense and hit shots will make him an intriguing prospect for low-major and mid-major programs.

For low level coaches, the River City Reign is a must-see program in July.

OTHER STANDOUTS

Javien Williams, 2016 SG, Birmingham Storm 17U: The word may finally be out on Javien Williams. The gym was buzzing Saturday morning with his performance. The 6-foot-3 scorer started the first half slow, but he exploded for 18 points in the second half to finish with 26 points. The slithery slasher made a living towards the basket and finished very well.

Chuma Okeke, 2017 SF, Georgia Stars 16U: Okeke recently landed his first scholarship offer and he’s on his way to many more. The 6-foot-5 forward is going to be highly sought after because of his versatility on both ends of the floor. He can guard the 1-4, as well as play inside and outside on offense. He is a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

Brandon Newton, 2017 C, Elite Level Hoops 16U: One of the most intriguing prospects of Saturday’s action was 7-foot-2 big man Brandon Newton. He still has some things to do in his development, but his value as a shot-blocker and rim-protector cannot be explained. It is positive to see his coordination at this point in his career. Newton needs to get stronger, but it’s easy to see why he is on college’s radars. Liberty has offered and a host of high-majors are taking a peak.

Dexter Dennis, 2017 SF, Elfrid Payton Elite 16U: Be prepared to start hearing about Dennis. The 6-foot-4 wing has only been playing organized basketball for a few years and his upside is out of the roof. Dennis is very bouncy, as he showed he wasn’t afraid to dunk on people throughout the day. He will be a prospect to keep tabs on for the future.

Tyler Polley, 2017 SF, E1T1 16U: Buy stock in what Polley can become in the future. While he is skinny and needs to add some weight, the 6-foot-7 wing is skilled and is a more than capable shooter. He has great length and size that will translate at the next level. His lone offer is from UAB, but that will change with time. 

Tre Swilling, 2017 CG, New Orleans Elite 16U: Vocal leaders are hard to come by from young kids. Nevertheless, Swilling is not afraid to voice his opinion and communicate with his teammates. The 6-foot-2 combo guard is a leader for his team while he is playing and on the bench. On the court, he plays with great pace and is a dangerous shooter from deep.