The 2019 Hoops Showdown
For the past five years, The Hoops Showdown Brand has been providing basketball junkies like myself with quality grassroots basketball. Founder Johnny Rodriguez and his team have turned their brand from an idea into a platform where some of the best High School ballers in the New York metro area come to earn their stripes. This year was no different as the Hoops Showdown High School event was broken up into two action-packed days. The first day was dedicated to the Underclassmen, including an 8th-grade showcase, and about a week later the upperclassmen got their chance to shine. The small gymnasium in the Bronx River Houses Cornerstone Center was packed for both events, and I mean standing room only kind of packed. If you didn’t get there early it was a struggle to catch the action and to add the cherry on top of the proverbial sundae, Mic Larry and Cha-Ching were the MC’s who called the games. Can’t go wrong with that recipe!
The underclassmen games were action packed from tip-off until the final buzzer sounded. Up and coming studs like Cardinal Hayes’ CJ Riley and IMG Academy’s Dior Johnson showed exactly why they were the next up in the hierarchy of elite ballers. You could never count out Coach Rose and his Milbank squad. Even when his players aren’t well known he always finds a way to get the most out of them.
The 8th Grade showcase was a great way to get these young hoopers acclimated to facing NYC elite competition. These young men start to build relationships with other ballers in their age group and start to develop those bonds that will transcend basketball. I didn’t expect much out of the young 8th graders but to be honest, the game was actually very competitive. Maybe they felt inspired by hearing Cha-Ching calling their game or maybe these kids are seizing their moment to shine. I was really impressed by one kid in particular named Jarrett Dingle. The 14 year old starter at Academy Charter School is about 6 ft tall and probably the tallest kid on his team. Dingle did a little bit of everything. He can handle the basketball, shoots well and was a lock down defender. He even caught a dunk which is unheard of in an 8th grade game. His future is bright. We will have to keep our eyes on him and watch how he developes throughout the years to come.
The upperclassmen game was absolutely crazy! The Bronx River gym had to be at a capacity level and everywhere you looked there were basketball personalities, influencers and media outlets scattered in the small gym. Bronx 12 News was there covering the event and it quickly became a trending topic on all social media platforms. As the crowd gathered you could almost cut the tension with a knife. Then the players started to make their way to the court. These weren’t just any players off the street either. Hoops Showdown has been known to bring out some heavy hitters. Many of the players who were suited up were either being looked at or had already signed to attend major division 1 programs.
The absolute best moment of Hoops Showdown was watching Jaylen “JuJu” Murray go head to head with Dior Johnson. The two young gunners went at it with JuJu coming out the clear winner in their head to head dual. They went back and forth for some time, scoring on each other with the entire gymnasium following their every move. JuJu got the best of the hyped up matchup draining well contested 3’s and letting Dior know how he felt about it. This is what NYC basketball is all about! Each of these guys wanted to be the best and give the crowd a great show. Period. The crowd was behind JuJu and he seemed to back up his trash talking with bucket after bucket. While Dior had a team-high 31 Points, JuJu had 41 Points and the was crowned the Hoops Showdown MVP. This rivalry will be revisited someday, but for now JuJu has earned bragging rights.
Hoops Showdown X All Things Hoops Standouts:
Jalen Gaffney. The senior from the Westtown in Chester, Pennsylvania is war ready. A tough-nosed player who takes a lot pride in his game. The crafty point guard is headed to UConn and is considered to be one of the best floor generals in the country. He knows how to pick his spots and gets his teammates involved by any means. He will be a player to watch in the next few years as he develops physically.
Dashawn Davis. Davis is headed to Seton Hall in the fall. He is an all-around threat who can score in bunches. He can score from the perimeter but thrives in the open floor on transition opportunities. He can defend exceptionally well as will be an asset to the Pirates if he hones in on his defensive ability.
Dior Johnson. Only in the 9th grade, Johnson holds about 15 division 1 offers. He is truly a special talent that will have a starring role at a major collegiate program in the future, if he chooses to go that route. Johnson originally transferred to IMG Academy from Saugerties Senior after averaging 31.1 points, 3.5 steals, 3.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds as an eighth grader. He now attends Findlay Prep where he may have the opportunity to jump straight to the NBA if the rules change up again. Stay tuned because this kid has what it takes.
Joe Toussaint. Joe is just a flat out winner. He is the heart and soul of his Cardinal Hayes (NY) team. During his time there he led them to their first CHSAA city championship on the AA level since 1990. He also was the MVP of the entire league this past season. Toussaint is headed to the University of Iowa where he will make an immediate impact not only because of his skills on the court but because of his leadership qualities.
Jaylen “JuJu” Murray. The Class of ‘21 standout Murray is on his way to being one of the most elite guards in the region. The shifty PG from the Bronx, NY can run a team and has the natural ability and instincts to excel on the court against anybody. Cardinal Hayes (Ny) will look to him for his leadership. He has a big heart and shows that he wants to compete for every trip down the court. Won MVP of the Hoops Showdown by scoring 41 on Dior Johnson. He worked for every single bucket and was well deserving of the award. He will be the best PG in New York City by the time his High School career is wrapped up.
Zach Freemantle. The big man from Bergen Catholic is a threat on the inside at all times. At 6’9 he dominates his opponents at the high school level but will need to increase his level of physicality if he wants to be successful at the next level. He is solid from the perimeter and I’m anticipating him to work on his shot for success at the next level. He’s headed to Xavier in the fall and needs to physically get stronger to have success in the Big East Conference.
Posh Alexander. Posh is an electric point guard from Our Savior Lutheran (NY). Uber-athletic, there are very few point guards who possess his natural ability and feel for the game. Coming off of a broken arm Posh seems to be still laboring a bit but he is striving to get back to form. This summer will be huge for Posh as he aims to lock down a few offers and gain more interest from schools.
Zion Cruz. Class of ‘22 Cruz is a complete stud on the court. With extraordinary athleticism Cruz makes the game look easy out there. He has a great feel for the game and works hard on every play. He’s a defenders nightmare in transition and can simply jump over anybody trying to stop him. The Hudson Catholic (NJ) Guard has to work on his jumper and I believe every school in the country will want him. By the time he is a senior, he will have many options. Stamp it!
Nate Tabor. Nate is probably the most complete player that I had the opportunity to watch at Hoops Showdown. He has a high motor and the aggression needed to succeed at the next level. A St. John’s Red Storm commit, Tabor will be looked to instantly make a mark. He has a great basketball IQ and will hustle until the final buzzer sounds. At 6’7 200 lb, Tabor has good size to play on the wing at the collegiate level and I can’t wait to watch him compete in the Big East.
Alejandro Vasquez. The Class of 2019 Guard from The Patrick School (NJ) is a fierce competitor. He has a great feel for the game and knows how to pick his spots. He’s worked on his jumper and is scary when he gets hot. He needs to work on his ball handling and ability to get to the rim with contact. He’s a solid 6’4 180 lb guard who can take advantage of smaller defenders if he puts his mind to it and not settling for the jump shot.
I want to thank Johnny Rodriguez and the entire Hoops Showdown staff for showing All Things Hoops so much love. I also want to acknowledge Johnny’s brother Chris Rodriguez aka CR5 who passed away not too long ago. He was a huge part of the Hoops Showdown family and is deeply missed by those who knew him. May his soul live on and guide his loved ones in the right direction always. Forever CR5 ?