Rakeem Christmas

2010 Best of the Summer Mixtape

Words. Austin Burton

All over the country, high school basketball players are headed back to the classroom (or will be soon) following another summer of AAU tournaments, elite skills camps, and national showcase games. The crew at YAY AREA’S FINEST put together a comprehensive highlight of this year’s best rising seniors and the work they put in on the summer circuit.

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Stars of the Elite Youth Basketball League

Words. Jack Jensen

This past weekend, the final regular session of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League commenced in Los Angeles. With over 40 teams from across the country converging in L.A., the event was definitely loaded with top-tier talent and competition.

Among the competitors in attendance was a pair of Kentucky commits and consensus top-3 overall prospects Mike Gilchrist and Marquis Teague. While Gilchrist’s Team Final squad looked to have more firepower on paper — a team that also featured five-star recruit Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse commit Trevor Cooney and a pair of future D-1 guys in Tyrone Johnson and Aaron Brown — Teague’s Spiece Indy Heat team managed to match their counterpart’s record with a 4-1 showing. MORE >

Trevor Cooney: Catching Up With The Nation’s Best Shooter

Words. Trevor Kapp

Trevor Cooney knows the Andy Rautins comparisons are inevitable. They’re about the same size, have in the gym range and are highly valued by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. But the Wilmington, Del., native isn’t settling for a pre-determined fate. While he admits the Rautins comparisons are flattering, the high school junior has his own goals. We caught up with him this weekend at the Boo Williams Invitational following a tough loss to E1T1 Elite (featuring Austin Rivers) to discuss his AAU team, his Syracuse future and some of his other interests. MORE >

Rakeem Christmas’ List Of 8 Becomes A List Of 5

Words. Aron Phillips

Arguably the nation’s best defensive player, Rakeem Christmas, is ready to begin the basketball season at the Academy of the New Church. And as one of the top prospects in the country, you know more than a few coaches will be watching. Right before his first game last week, Christmas cut his list of schools from eight to five: Florida International University, University of Florida, Georgetown University, University of Oklahoma and University of Texas. MORE >

A Recap Of The Best Basketball Weekend Of The Summer

Words. Aron Phillips

Last week I wasn’t kidding when I said that this past weekend was the best basketball weekend of the summer. Featuring two of the best events of the year - Boost Mobile Elite 24 and Nike Tournament of Champions - NYC’s asphalt was full of hoops. And it all started Friday night up at Rucker Park. MORE >

Practicing With The Kids From Elite 24

Words. Aron Phillips

Yesterday afternoon I went up to The Sports Club/LA to watch the kids from the Boost Mobile Elite 24 train and practice before tonight’s game. With 24 of the best high school players in the country, competition sets in when you’re playing in front of the media. MORE >