When I walked in the door to pick up my press credentials at 8:15AM it was standing room only in the college coaches section. A rough count gave easily 200 D-1's crammed in to Bishop Gorman HS on Las Vegas West Side to watch all the talent. And they were coming and going throughout the day. The Texas D-1 Ambassadors were represented in the Super Pools by Team Hardge.
Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Hardge 74 Salt Lake City Prospects (UT) 64
Despite an obvious disparity in athleticism, Texas D-1 was not able to shake a hard playing, hot shooting Salt Lake Prospects group until the last few minutes of the game. 2011 WG Jonathan Perry of Fork Union (VA) by way of Kerrville, TX led the way for the D-1 Ambassadors with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Scoring was extremely well balanced as 2011 W Jalen Washington of Pflugerville Hendrickson dropped 12 points, and 2011 PG Josiah Monroe of Bastrop notched 10 as well as hauling in 6 boards. 2011 W Allantae Faust of Harker Heights keyed the game winning run with a big three pointer and timely rebounds. He finished with 7.
2011 Jonathan Perry
2011 Jalen Washington
Belmont Shores Gold (CA) 73 Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Hardge 68
A close game slipped away in the final seconds as Belmont Shores Gold hung on for a tight win. 2011 W Max Yon of San Antonio Reagan led the way for the D-1 Ambassadors with 18 points, including a monster tip dunk and two above the rim blocks. With the Tulane staff sitting under the goal, Yon showed his off the charts athleticism to the coaches in attendance.
2011 PG Josiah Monroe may be the smallest player on the court in stature, but he played the biggest. Monroe had 17 points and should have shot 10 additional free throws as he penetrated and went fearlessly to the rim. In the loosely officiated game, the calls simply didn't come. 2011 G Dylan Cox of Cedar Park had 8 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds & 3 blocks in the losing effort. Texas D-1 struggled to score at times and sorely missed dynamic guard Deon Mitchell who missed the entire day with severe migraine headaches.
2011 PG Josiah Monroe
2011 W Max Yon
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At the Adidas Super 64 Tournament on the other side of town the Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Josephs went 1-1 on the opening day.
Illinois Old School 67 Texas D-1 Ambassadors 55
Texas D-1 came out flat and struggled to but the ball in the hoop. Scoring was balanced as 2011 P Clark Lammert of San Antonio Churchill had 12 and 2011 W Kyle Rutledge of San Antonio Clark also had 12 in the loss.
Texas D-1 Ambassadors 59 Inland Empire All Stars (CA) 56
2011 W Kyle Rutledge was devastating on the front of the press and had a solid effort on the boards as he notched a double double with 16 points and 10 plus rebounds. Team Josephs is severely restricted in the latter part of the summer as 2012 P 6'9" Connor Lammert has to sit with a slight fracture in his back.
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In the Las Vegas Swoosh Showcase, the Texas D-1 Ambassadors-Team Morse 15U crushed Canada's Drive Premier 61-33. Leading by only 6 at the half, the D-1 Ambassadors put on a 2nd half show.
