Team looks for national championship

The Team St. Louis 12-and-under boys basketball will be looking for a national championship at the AAU competition next month in Virginia Beach, VA. The goal might not be too far fetched.

The same boys won the Division 2 nationals last year in the 11-and-under bracket. But, they know the competition will be tougher this year. That's because they are competing in the Division 1 tournament, which brings together teams with more skills.

Coach Rick Wilson said the Division 1 championships will be decided in a 9-day tournament.

Wilson put together his Team St. Louis four years ago. Starting in the 9-and-under division, the team has competed in the nationals each year. The first year, competing in Division 1, his team finished 6th.

The next year, in 10-and-under, Team St. Louis finished 15th in Division 1.

Then, last year, was the championship year in 11-and-under in Division 2. That finished guaranteed them a place in this year's 12-and-under Division 1 meet.

But, Team St. Louis made doubly sure by winning the Ozark AAU regional tournament in April. That capped a year when the team has gone 65-9.

Many of this year's team members have been with Team St. Louis for three or four years. Most of them picked last year's national title as their best basketball experience. And they are looking forward to this year's trip.

However, these kids are used to traveling to meets. In the four years that Coach Wilson has had the team, the boys have played 21 different states. Their record is 287-49.

Jordan Wilson

One of the original players on Team St. Louis is Wilson's son, 12-year-old Jordan. Asked about his father as coach, Jordan said, "He's hard on everybody…but in a good way."

Like most of his teammates, Jordan started playing basketball early. He said his first experience was at age 5 at the Mathews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club.

Jordan is a 6th grader at the City Academy School. He said he's pretty much focused on basketball as his sport. He plays either the point or shooting guard position.

But, he's been active in musicals at school. "I've performed in lots of them," he said. The current production he's working on is "The Wiz," a modern version of "Wizard of Oz."

Bradley Beal

Eleven-year-old Bradley Beal said he was recruited by Coach Wilson for the 10-and-under team three years ago. He's a 6th grader at Chaminade College Prep School. The 5-foot-4-inch small forward also competes on select teams in both football and baseball.

Like many of the kids, he hopes to be a professional basketball player some day.

Alex Doss

Twelve-year-old Alex Doss also would like to be an NBA player. However, the point guard said he has a Plan B if the professional basketball career doesn't work.

"I'd like to be an engineer. I have an interest in building things," he said. He is a 6th grader at Wedgwood Elementary School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Doss said his basketball strengths include "handling the ball and passing." He admits he needs to work on his outside shooting. "I get most of my points driving to the basket and getting fouled and going to the free-throw line," he said.

Coach Wilson admits most of his players are short. That means, they need to make up for the lack of height with a fast breaking offense and a variety of pressing defenses.

Gerald Jones

Twelve-year-old Gerald Jones has a offensive strategy when he plays against taller players. "You either have to go around them or go straight at them," he said. By getting closer to a bigger player, he can oftentimes use a quick jump to get free for a shot.

Gerald plays forward and guard for Team St. Louis. He said he started playing basketball at age 3 at the YMCA. Later he played at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club.

He said Team St. Louis' best defense is a "half-court zone." He said that defense includes two players out front, then two others behind with the fifth player under the basket, running the baseline.

 

Alonzo Chappelle Jr.

Twelve-year-old Alonzo Chappelle Jr. has been with Team St. Louis since the beginning four years ago. The power forward is a 6th grader at Grannemann Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District.

He also said his team isn't bothered by lack of height. "We have to play hard and box out on rebounds," he said. And he said shorter players oftentimes are faster down the court.

Dorian Hobbs

Twelve-year-old Dorian Hobbs Jr. is in his third year with Team St. Louis. He is a 6th grader at Parkway Northeast Middle School in west St. Louis County.

He also plays football and track in school. And, he plays in a steel drum musical group. He gets some traveling in there also. The drummers played at Branson, Mo., in mid-May.

Other members of the tournament team are Shaquille Boga, Jared Booker, Dominique Walker and Rakim Randle. Coach Wilson has two assistant coaches, Jamarr Hoskin and Troy Griffin.