Rising Kings 16U Win Varsity Division Theory 9 Invitational Spring Jam

When the varsity schedules were released for the 2023 Spring Jam no one thought the 16U Rising Kings team would even make it anywhere near the championship game. Teams Like The Rising Kings Varsity, H2N, or NY Elite were the favorites to win the whole division. Coach Moe had other plans for his 16U boys as the came out in the seeding game with fast pace and tempo led bu Nowah Hargrow 19 points securing a 49-29 win over Inwood Allstars to take over the winners bracket. In week 2 the two Varsity and 16U teams faced off for 1st place of the winner bracket. 16U came out with a quick blitz over the varsity squad but Prince Kamate's defense and Jamauri Pena's 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assist performance led the varsity boys to a come back 58-57 win sending the 16U down to the losers bracket. Once Wylik Coleman's 20 points led NY Elite to a 67-63 win over Barbies H2N squad, the Under Dawgs were the next opponent for the 16U Rising Kings after surprisingly knocking out H2N with a 31 points and 7 rebound outing from Ramsey Lewis. The Under Dawgs cinderella story finally came to a halt with a 80-42 thrashing from the kings. Kemar Martins 24 points, Noah Hargrows 19 points and Kion Danso 12 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assist triple double was just too much for the Under Dawgs to contain. To advance to the championship the 16U Kings had to go through NY Elite and did just that, giving us a rematch of week 2 Rising Kings Varsity vs 16U. This game went a little different with the varsity boys coming out with a blitz. 16U was able to with stand it, turned things around and prevailed with the win.

Kion Danso earned MVP honors with a 17 points, 11 assist, and 8 rebounds performance in the championship game.