Philly Girls High School Live 2025
Women’s basketball is physical!
Philly Girls HS Live 2025: Year Two Is in the Books
Year two of Philly Girls HS Live wrapped up earlier this month, and it’s safe to say we took another step forward. When we launched this event, there were plenty of questions about whether it could succeed, especially with so many live period options already available for girls' hoops. We had a lot of doubters, and some folks were skeptical.
Despite the noise, we stuck with the idea that Philly needed something local, consistent, and built with care. This year showed that the foundation is solid and that the interest from programs and college coaches is real. We more than doubled the teams from year one, and we had many more coaches in attendance.
Solid Competition and Strong Turnout
From June 12 to 14 at Jefferson University, we welcomed back familiar teams and brought in some new faces. Catholic League staples like Archbishop Carroll, Wood, and O’Hara showed up as expected, along with Imhotep, solid District 1 teams like Upper Dublin and Pennsbury, and strong programs from New Jersey, Delaware, and the DMV.
A few matchups that stood out:
Carroll vs. Imhotep. Competitive and physical, as expected.
Wood vs. Paul VI. Two well-coached teams going at it.
Upper Dublin vs. O’Hara. Clean execution and a good look at some under-the-radar players.
Paul VI vs. St. John’s College. High energy on both ends and arguably the game of the weekend.
Across all three days, the level of play was consistent. Games started on time, teams competed, and college coaches were in the gym taking notes and making connections.
Keeping It Simple
This event was never about trying to be the biggest. We just wanted to create a space that was organized, competitive, and focused on giving girls a real shot to be seen. Our goal has always been to create a reliable, focused environment where the basketball speaks for itself. That is what we are continuing to build.
Thanks to the programs, coaches, players, families, and staff who supported us again this year. We will make the adjustments we need, keep building something solid, and start preparing for what is next. Year three is already in motion.
Shoutout to the Media Team
Big thank you to all the people behind the lens who helped bring this event to life. From start to finish, they captured the energy, emotion, and moments that mattered.
Blake Loatman — locked in all weekend and delivered some of our best on‑court shots
David Anyanwu — from the Philly Girls HS Live team, kept things running smoothly behind the camera and delivered consistent, crisp photos
Athletically Challenged — showed up with highlights that went beyond the final buzzer
@jxm3__ — brought a creative edge and fresh perspective, adding personality to the coverage through her lens
We appreciate the time, hustle, and pride you all put into your work. None of it goes unnoticed, and I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you! Check them all out and give them a follow.
The Bluecoats are coming!
The NBA G League was established in 2001 and has experienced much growth since its inception. The league consists of players from all walks of life who come together with the common goal of getting better every day. Some guys need this time and opportunity to grow as men and professionals. They need the ability to learn on the fly and continue to develop their games freely. That’s hard to do when you’re on an NBA roster and not getting meaningful minutes in the rotation.
On December 27th, 2024, the Windy City Bulls came into town to face the Delaware Blue Coats for the league’s season opener. I arrived about an hour before the game tip-offed. I wanted to make sure I got in early to acclimate myself to the environment. I always like to watch players warm up before games. Sometimes, you can get a good feel for the headspace that a player is in during their warmups. Is their shot falling? If it’s not, what body language are they displaying? Are they working on a move that they want to pull off in-game? There are a lot of tells that you can pick up on, and it helps me pay attention to certain things when I’m trying to visually tell a story.
The game got off to a great start as both teams came out and ran sets to feel each other out. It was a seesaw affair all game long, but the Blue Coats controlled the pace of play for most of the game. The Bulls made their runs and got within striking distance quite a few times. E.J. Liddell (#32) of the Bulls was a real defensive standout. He blocked quite a few shots and altered the trajectory of many jumpers. He quietly put up 29 points to go along with his four rebounds and three blocked shots. Jordan Hall was dropping dimes all night, and he finished with a game-high eight assists. As a team, they couldn’t find a consistent offensive rhythm for most of the night.
It was a different story for the Blue Coats. They got off to a very hot start and kept that momentum up for the rest of the game. Led by Jeff Dowtin Jr’s 34 points on 14-20 from the field. Jeff poked and prodded the defense all night and consistently got to his spots on the floor. Big man Isiah Mobley chipped in with a double-double! He scored 14 points and grabbed 11 boards. Philly’s own Justin Edwards finished with 15, and Marcus Bagley added 20. The team did well defensively and finished with nine steals and nine blocked shots. The defense sparked a lot of positive plays for the Blue Coats, and they delivered on offense when it counted the most. The final score was 116 to 97, and I’m looking forward to watching these guys again.
SJU Takes down Nova!
Walking into Hagan arena, you could feel the atmosphere heating up. The student section was full of college kids in hard hats and jam packed an hour before tip off. The Hawks haven’t beaten Villanova at home since 2011 and they were due for a win! From the opening tip off, both teams looked to get right to it! It was a game of runs and it came down to who wanted it more! The Hawks and Wildcats started off the first half pretty evenly. They traded buckets early on, probing and prodding. From one of the Wildcats first possessions they tried to set the tone of the game when Wooga Popular tried to jam it over the Hawks big man, Justice Ajogbor.
SJU settled into a groove towards the end of the first half and closed it with a big bucket from sophomore guard, Xzavier Brown to put the Hawks up 37 to 36. The Hawks came out on fire in the 2nd half with great ball pressure and forced the Wildcats into some costly turnovers. The Hawks jumped out to a 15 - 0 run and the crowd went crazy! The Hawks fed off the Hawk Hill faithful all night long. Villanova didn’t go down without a fight as they went on a run of their own and cut into the Hawks big lead. Wooga Popular hit a 3 to cut the Hawks lead to 57 to 56. In The end, SJU had an answer for everything the Wildcats threw at them and would not be denied! The Hawks win with a final score of 76 to 83.
Player Spotlight /// Mikel Brown Jr /// Team Loaded
To put it plainly, Mikel Brown Jr of Team Loaded and formerly Overtime Elite and now DME Academy is one of the most dynamic guards in the country. Too often, evaluators and scouts assign tags and buzz words to kids who haven’t really made the consistent impact to attach such expectations to them. Not only does Mikel live up to them, he far and away exceeds them! The C/O 25 guard currently holds offers from some of the top programs in the country which include Villanova, Kentucky, Arizona, Florida and Kansas to name a few. Coming into the Adidas 3 Stripes Select Basketball Championship session, he was fresh off a stellar performance with Team USA’s U18 squad as well as Adidas athlete and NBA Superstar Donovan Mitchell’s inaugural “SPIDA ELITE CAMP.”
I came into Rock Hill wanting to see if the hype was real. I never come in with any preconceived notions about players and nor do I come in with expectations. I always start with a blank canvas and just report on what I have observed out there. I made it a point to watch several of his games to see how he faired and I was blown away by his performance. I rarely attach the pro label to kids but Mikel just plays at a level that was above everyone else’s on the court. He’s got the “IT” factor and it’s very easy to see. I don’t think there’s a true one to one comp of him. He’s his own prototype whose game is evolving and expanding far beyond his years.
He’s 6’3 with a wiry frame and he’s deceptively athletic. Watched him on more than one occasion during the week, take on a bigger defender and either lay him up or sneak a dunk on them. He routinely got to his spots on the floor at will and despite being a main scoring option for Team Loaded, there really wasn’t anything defensively, that teams did to make him truly uncomfortable. He was often doubled and tripled team and still made the correct reads to get his team buckets. You can’t leave him open for jump shots either. Hand down, man down was a common theme for Mikel. I watched him pull up for 3 with ease and knock them down consistently when the defense fell asleep. He really demorizaled quite a few of his defenders and entire teams out there.
Mikel is a dynamic playmaker, shot creator, willing defender and passer. He made some passes that a lesser player and PG just couldn’t make. He has eyes in the back of his head and he sees the game a few steps ahead of everyone else. His basketball IQ is off of the charts and he continued to make winning plays. If you’re open and he trusts you, he will find you. There was one game where some hero ball came into play. His team was down and they needed buckets to stay in the game. He relied on it a little too much down the stretch but based on what was happening on the court, you can understand why he did it. His teams shot just wasn’t falling and he took it upon himself to try and bring them back. Depending on who you are and what you want out of a player, that can be a positive or a negative. What I do know is that he’s an absolute dynamo out there on that floor and you’ll be seeing him at the next level very soon!
The sky is the limit for Mikel Brown Jr!
/// - 3 Stripes Select Basketball - Palmetto Road Championship - ///
The slogan “The Road Ends At The Rock” was prominently featured all over The Rock Hill Sports and Event Center in South Carolina. It’s a fitting theme that sets the stage for Adidas’s AAU championship finale. Rock Hill, SC is a beautiful city that blends its past and present together, seamlessly. The Sports and Event center is one of the most impressive facilities in the country and is a fitting location to house such a massive event. Walking through the front door of the facility and seeing 8 full courts of action going all at once was energizing. This is a true hoop junkie’s dream. I spent 6 days watching Adidas’s 3 Stripes Select Basketball circuit featuring some of the best teams and players in the country.
Coming into this session, I had a plan. I took about a week to look into the teams and players that I wanted to check out the most. Over the 6 days I was in SC, most games started at 8:30 am and the last game would usually tip off at 9pm. Rock Hill Sports and Event Center has 8 full courts and a separate dug in arena. That’s 9 games going on at pretty much all times and that is a lot of basketball to take in. If this isn’t something that you’re used to, it can be incredibly overwhelming. There are people everywhere and a bevy of college coaches and scouts from every part of the country. There’s seating for coaches and there was even a craft services area filled with food and friendly staff. Adidas really pulled out all of the stops for this and it showed in every way imaginable.
I tried to keep a reasonable amount of games on my schedule per day. I wanted to really be able to lock in and focus on the teams and players that I wanted to see the most. The talent pool is extremely deep and it was not an easy decision. Sometimes the best games would overlap one another and I found myself hopping from court to court, taking pictures and observing everything. When you’re into hoops, this is a beautiful problem to have.
In order to truly get a feel for a player and his/her team, it’s prudent that you watch them for multiple games against various teams. You can really learn a lot about a player and his/her attitude based on a number of factors. One of the biggest things I look at is body language. How are they when their shot isn’t falling? What’s your body language look like when a team is getting the best of you in an individual matchup? Are you making the necessary mental adjustments? Are you hanging your head in frustration or are you showing that nothing they’re doing is flustering you? This is just a small fraction of what I look at when it comes to evaluating talent. Coaches and scouts from all over the country are looking at the same things and even more.
There were college coaches from every major program in the country in attendance. Dan Hurley, Kelvin Sampson, John Calipari, Mark Pope and so many more adorned the sidelines and rafters for these games. Journalist and media from all walks of life adorned every inch of the arena. At any given time and on any given court, there was someone watching, evaluating and potentially changing the trajectory of their program and the lives of players based on what they see out there. That’s a lot of pressure for some of these kids to endure and for some it can be too much. For others, they simply thrive off of it and excel when the lights are at their brightest. Kaden Magwood and Nate Ament from Team Loaded VA fit that bill. With every eye on his team, Kaden stepped up and hit big bucket after big bucket. Nate played great defense and hit key buckets to give Team Loaded the win. With every eye seemingly in the gym on their team, they stepped up big time and didn’t let the pressure of the moment get to them. Kaden and Nate are a formidable one, two punch for Loaded and they gave quite a few teams matchup problems.
Coaches and Scouts from all over, were here to watch Team Loaded VA 17U take on Team Tradition 17U. The entire court was full, all the way around and came to a standing room.
The defending 17 U Champion, Utah Prospects immediately put teams on notice. Lead by C/O 26 guard Ikenna Alozie and Jalen Holland. The Prospects have the perfect mix of size, shooting and athleticism that really gave a lot of teams trouble. Augustine Ekwe, Chamberlin Burgess and Fawaz “Taco” Ifaola all played their roles extremely well. They were without the services of 25 star, Isiah Harwell. He was present and rooting his team on as he recovered from an injury. It really didn’t seem to matter that he wasn’t on the court because the Prospects did everything they needed to do as a unit and became back to back 17 U Champions! John Southwick also played a major role in this team’s success. He hit a bevy of back breaking threes that put the nail in the coffin in multiple games. Utah took out the teams with bigger names, really gelled and did all of the little things to come out on top! They are the epitome of what building a winning culture and great team is all about!
Indiana Elite was another team that was in the running for the 17 U title. They made the final and took on the Utah Prospects. Indiana is exactly what you think a team from Indiana would be. They play fundamentally sound basketball and rarely made mistakes out on the floor. Their big man, Malachi Moreno is their rock but Braylon Mullins, Trent Sissley and Mark Zackery really make this team go. These young fellas have bright futures ahead of them.
I touched a bit on Team Loaded at the top with Kaden Magwood and Nate Ament but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Team Loaded truly lives up to their moniker. They came to Rock Hill with 6 separate teams representing VA,NC and DC. Their 15’s 16’s and 17’s are stacked with talent from top to bottom and feature some of the top players in the country. Nate and Kaden who play for Loaded’s 17 VA squad, are also accompanied by Latrell Allmond who’s a stud in his own right. Their 17’s from NC are headlined by Mikel Brown and Jordan Tillery who give opposing defenses nightmares. From top to bottom on every level, Loaded brings it!
There were so many other players and teams that I wanted to be able to sit and truly dive in on. With such a finite amount of time and understanding that I’m only one person, I just sat and watched some really good basketball and just enjoyed the show when I could. Players like Koa Peat of Compton Magic and Darryn Peterson of Phenom United all had great performances along the way. If you made it this far, thank you for your time and attention! I’ll be dropping off a parting photo gallery of other players and teams below this sign out. I will be debuting a player spotlight blog featuring Mikel Brown Jr of Team Loaded later this week. Mikel is truly remarkable and I couldn’t think of a better player to kick this feature off with. So that’s it for this look back at my time at the Adidas 3 Stripes Select Basketball Championship! Big shout out to Adidas for giving me media access to such a spectacular event! Until next time my friends!
- Bruce Loatman -
Ronin Zero Media Co.
2024 Boys Philly HS Live Period
Coaches are looking for guys who can come in and fill a need! Are you coachable? Are you a hard worker? Are you going to hustle back on defense? What are you doing to have an impact on the game when your shot is not falling? How are you handling bad officiating? Are you boxing out on every rebound? Are you making the right reads? There are so many things you can do that impact the game without scoring. This is the stuff that coaches are talking about on these sidelines.
The live period is one of the most exciting times in all of high school sports! The AAU hoops circuit plays a massive part in the college recruitment game but some would say that showcasing what you can do with your high school team is more important to the process. It’s a bit of a different game and it allows for some players to get exposure that they might not normally get from playing AAU. Let’s face it, AAU is a different beast and sometimes it doesn’t always serve guys in a way that it should or could. It’s a big business that expands beyond just the players. There’s something inherently pure about the live period here in Philly. Getting together with your guys, starting preparations for the upcoming season and gearing up for a run at a state title and it starts right here!
Philadelphia puts on one of the best live period events in all of the country! Philadelphia routinely pumps out basketball talent that goes on to play across the globe! The culture here is different and you have to bring your A game to make a name for yourself. One of the biggest things that I want young hoopers to understand is that they need to be able to star in their role. Sitting on sidelines and being able to talk to coaches and scouts about what they look for in a player, has been invaluable for me personally. I’m able to take this information and relay it to hoopers who might not get that one to one feedback. Talking high-level hoops with some of the best basketball minds around, is a very cathartic feeling for a hoop junky like myself.
Coaches come here with players in mind that they want to see but if you come out there and star in your role, you’ll be able to put yourself on a programs radar. I’ve seen it with my own eyes! “Do you know who that kid is?” Covering a lot of these kids across their careers have allowed me to drop some gems on coaches. It’s a great feeling for me to say “Yes that’s -insert player name -.” Names can absolutely be made during the live period. So it’s important that a player comes out and puts on the best performance he can possibly put on. It’s not just about putting the ball in the basket. Coaches are looking for guys who can come in and fill a need! Are you coachable? Are you a hard worker? Are you going to hustle back on defense? What are you doing to have an impact on the game when your shot is not falling? How are you handling bad officiating? Are you boxing out on every rebound? Are you making the right reads? There are so many things you can do that impact the game without scoring. This is the stuff that coaches are talking about on these sidelines.
So my advice to the hoopers out there is to just diversify your game. Show up to work every single day and be a good teammate. Don’t pout, be supportive of your guys. If you’re on the bench, engage the bench and bring energy! Be vocal and talk on defense. Show up in a way that helps your overall team success! You have to remember that it’s about WE out there and not ME! If you want coaches and scouts to pay attention to you, you have to do all of the little things well. Just because you haven’t heard from coach or a program, doesn’t mean that they don’t know who you are. It may not seem like they’re paying attention but I promise you they are. You also need to be proactive in how you present yourself. If you’re not a highly touted or hyped up kid, you need to be doing some leg work as well. You should be putting together highlights of you in action and emailing coaches and scouts. Use social media as a tool and show off a bit of your personality as well as your game. Sit with your high school coach and find out what he/she thinks are realistic destinations for you. Have your coach reach out on your behalf as well. Recruiting should be a collaborative effort for all involved.
The Inaugural Philly Girls HS LIVE!
Philadelphia has one of if not the best high school basketball scenes in all of America! The boys game tends to get all of the attention and press but the girls have always had a lot of heart and talent but never got the same media attention that they rightfully deserve. The NCAA live period attracts coaches far and wide but to my surprise, Philly has never had a live period tournament for girls. Jazz Williams who is the athletic directer at West Catholic Prep, aimed to change that! In March of 2024, Jazz reached out to me to discuss an idea he had. We met up in person to talk about putting on a girls live period event and giving it the proper media attention that it deserves.
Jazz and I have been friends for years and we’ve worked together in the past on some of his basketball events. I was ecstatic at the chance to be able to put my own personal touch on this event. I felt honored that he trusted me enough to want my help with this. Jazz along with Ruth Onyekwelu of Lincoln High School, did all of the heavy lifting and that allowed me to focus on putting together an outstanding media team. Each side presented its own unique challenges. Holding an event of this magnitude for the first time came with a lot of skepticism. There are so many creators who only care about names and what they can get out of a situation. I can’t begin to tell you how many photographers and videographers left me on read or feigned interest only to disappear when it came time to work.
Support has to be genuine and so many creators don’t genuinely love the game of basketball like I do. I was able to assemble a team of dedicated shooters who love the game. Starting with my son Blake and ending with Dave, Dre and Q! Each one of these guys really came out and put their creative stamp on this event and I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and hard work. The boys have a huge live event but the advantage we have is that we have a dedicated team of shooters, to spotlight these young women. We aim to make our instagram page @PhillygirlsHSLive a hub for the girls game, all year round. This is just the start of things to come and I couldn’t be more excited about the future of the women’s game! It’s long overdue and I’m glad to be able to play a small part in highlighting these women and getting them the exposure that they deserve!
The 2024 Philadelphia All American Game
There is a wealth of talent in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. So much so, that a lot of talented kids may not get the shine that they deserve. The Philadelphia All American game was launched to give deserving kids who may be overlooked, a spotlight. Headlined by Rutgers commit and Jordan Brand athlete, Kiyomi McMiller. Kiyomi showcased an impressive performance on the basketball court. Her exceptional ball control, precise passing, and sharpshooting were instrumental in securing the victory for her team. Moreover, Kiyomi demonstrated remarkable court awareness and athleticism. She may be one of the most gifted players that I have ever seen in my life. She finished the game with 42 points and 12 assist.
The Iverson Roundball Classic... Was a terrible exercise in greed!
I want to make something abundantly clear. What the Iverson classic and its organizers did was disgusting. The lack of communication, and preferential indifference to folks that they didn’t deem to be important enough, is unacceptable. You don’t treat people like this and then expect folks to rock with what you’re doing.
Allen Iverson was a staple of Philadelphia sports. He gave his blood, sweat and tears to the city and did his best to represent us in the world. When his name is attached to something, you automatically think of greatness! Unfortunately, that hasn’t seemed to translate to his roundball classic.
I’ve been a professional photographer for close to 15 years now. I’ve experienced a gamut of things in my career. Nothing really prepared me for the unprofessionalism and disorganization of the Iverson classic. What was presented as a must see event, turned into a ridiculous display of greed, ineptitude and disrespect.
Communication by whoever runs the classic’s social media account was non existent from the jump. When they announced on February 7th, 2024 that the event would be in Hampton, VA. a bevy of media commented on the post. We all asked the same thing. “When will there be a media request link?” All of those questions went unanswered by his social media team.
After getting no response, I hit the website for the classic and saw a link for media credentials. I filled it out, it didn’t have any particular date attached to it. It looked like a standard application for credentials. Apparently it was for last years classic. I didn’t find that out until March 26th after seeing a post on the classics IG page saying that media passes were now open. I scrolled through the comments of past post and there were a ton of unanswered questions from photogs, video folks and writers alike.
I finally clicked the link, filled out the credential for my son and I. Most of you know that my son, Blake works events with me. He’s the reason I wanted to shoot this event in the first place. As I filled out the form, something immediately gave me pause for concern. The classic was REQUIRING media to purchase general admission ticket in order to cover the event. They also asked that ALL our footage be submitted to them by May 6th.
For those that aren’t aware of how this stuff works. This is NOT a standard practice for events of this nature. There is a give and take between media and events. You’re not usually asked to submit your footage to folks. When you’re given credentials for events, you’re being allowed to come into the building for free, in exchange for posting, blogging, photographing etc said event. It’s a beautiful balance and a win win for all parties involved.
The Iverson Classic made a conscious choice to charge media to get access to shoot this game. A choice that would ultimately be proven to be driven by greed. The alarm bells went off in my head but I said to myself, “This is for Blake so i’ll just take it on the chin.” It didn’t sit well in my spirit that they were charging media to be there. An even bigger red flag, you’re asking for footage that you didn’t pay for. It went against every principle I have in regards to how events are covered by media members.
The classic was to be held in Hampton VA, on May 4th. I put in for my credentials on March 26th and didn’t get an official acceptance, until April 20th. Which is 2 weeks prior to the event being held. Now, that’s not a ton of time to give people the chance to adequately secure accommodations and make travel arrangements. In my experience, most of these media passes are decided at least a month in advance. From the timeline above, in my opinion, things were running way behind a typical schedule.
On April 26th, I reached out to the classics email address that they provided to ask a few questions. There were things that weren’t mentioned in any of the communications that I had received from the classic. I asked them about the time media would be let in. I asked will there be a separate entrance for us, will we have pregame locker room access, or are we just reserved to the floor? I got a response on April 28th and it read “Good evening, please try to arrive at least one hour prior to the event. Access will be first come first serve with private areas as well as photography positions.”
Now I want you to focus on what was said here. I was told that shooting positions would be first come first serve, which is pretty typical for when you’re sitting on the floor at events like this. So in my head, Im saying “ok cool I gotta get there early to secure the position I want on the floor.” After the 28th I received two more emails from them.
The first of the 2, was sent on April 29th. It was a reminder that I had been granted a media pass and for the first time, it indicated the time that the events on the 2nd and 4th start. It reiterated that a general admission ticket is REQUIRED for all media personnel. The 2nd email came on May 1st, reiterating what the previous email stated. This time it had a new wrinkle to it. In bold, it stated that on May 4th, media doors open at 5pm and general doors open at 6pm.
So on the 4th, I arrive at 4:45pm with Blake, we have our equipment in hand, ready to check in and get started. When we pull up to the Hampton Coliseum, it was about 12 people ahead of us in line to check in. I noticed a few people that had media passes but some of them had red lanyards and some of them had black lanyards. I didn't think much of it at the time. In my head, I’m just like oh they got red and black for his Sixers colors. That was until I heard someone with a red lanyard say something about VIP access.
Giving certain media outlets certain access isn’t uncommon at all. So at the time, no alarm bells were going off in my head. It typically means that they’d maybe get some interviews that other outlets wouldn’t. It could’ve been a friends and family thing. Quite frankly, in that moment I truly didn’t care. What struck a nerve was the Hampton Coliseum staff telling all of the media that had arrived early that we woudln’t be allowed in until 6pm. Now mind you, in an official communication from the classic, it stated that media would be allowed in at 5pm!
By this time there were at least 30 media members on site and we were all collectively dismayed at being told one thing, and once we got there it was something completely different. There were multiple conversations going on about this topic. To make matters worse, the staff at the coliseum became very belligerent once we started expressing our frustrations. One guy began yelling and telling us that we now had to leave the building and stand outside or none of us were getting in. We were told to form 2 lines outside. We all complied and after a few mins of being outside they then started bringing us back in to go through our bags.
Meanwhile, all the media that were still in the building, were not searched and they hopped in line. It was a bit of a chaotic scene. Media was in 2 lines while the general public was awaiting to enter at the very same time as us. Had I known that they weren’t letting us in until 6, I wouldn’t have come until 6. There was absolutely NO REASON for us to be there that early to just stand in line. It was a gross misuse of our time. The event organizers and the coliseum staff were on 2 different pages.
We finally were allowed in and we all proceeded to the floor to get our spots. I prefer to sit on the far end of the right side of the court. When I walked in, I went to sit down and was told by event staff that media couldn’t sit where I wanted to sit. Struck me as odd and she seemed like she didn’t know what she was talking about. So I kept it moving to the other basket. Sat down on the floor and started getting pics and vids of the players warming up. It looked to be about 40-50 media members in all. We all were getting setup and doing our thing. Most of us had already secured the spots we were shooting from.
The game started at 7pm and by about 6:55 we were asked to come off of the floor and to let the players come on for introductions. Out of nowhere, a staff member from the coliseum walked over to where all of media was sitting and said that we all had to come completely off of the baseline and to stand up behind a row of chairs behind the basket. Now mind you, every interaction with this staff has been a negative one. So In my head, I’m like great, another member on this staff trying to power trip. I ignored his barking orders because I paid my money to be here and the baselines are where media sit. A lot of other media members were so confused.
Some sat and had very perplexed looks on their faces. They couldn’t believe that we paid money to be here and to be treated like this. Eventually, everyone came and sat back down. None of us believed that this guy knew what he was talking about. The game had begun and we were all back in our spots, shooting. Within a few minutes of that, he came back again and stated that all members with a red lanyard were permitted on the baseline and everyone else had to stand up behind the basket and a row of seats. The looks of anger, frustration, and disbelief had hit a lot of faces again. That’s when we all realized that we had been bamboozled.
The Iverson Classic and its organizers had every opportunity possible, to advise members of the media what they intended to do to us. At no point in any communication sent, did the organizers indicate that there would be separate media sections and that only certain media would permitted on the floor. They declined to advise us of this prior to showing up for this event. I came from Philadelphia, PA. Others had come from NY and further and we were all extremely upset with what was transpiring. The Iverson Classic made media pay for tickets for the right to shoot the game. They know damn well, that had they told to us what they intended to do in the beginning, that a lot of us wouldn’t have come. This was one of the most disgusting money grabs that I’ve ever seen in my 15 year career! We were expected to stand up and shoot a game for 2 and a half hours.
Some media wound up leaving immediately. Some left at halftime. The only reason I stayed was because I didn’t want this trip to be a waste. I didn’t want to ruin my son's experience. One thing I try to emphasize to my son is that you have to be able to adapt to challenging situations. Everything isn’t going to always be easy, so you’ve gotta be able to adapt to your environment. So we made lemonade out of the lemons we were handed. Despite our unprofessional treatment, we still maintained our professionalism and handled it with grace.
I want to make something abundantly clear. What the Iverson classic and its organizers did was disgusting. The lack of communication, and preferential indifference to folks that they didn’t deem to be important enough, is unacceptable. You don’t treat people like this and then expect folks to rock with what you’re doing. They lied and quite frankly stole from us. No one in their right mind is going to pay to stand up to shoot a game and then hand over what was shot, for free! Someone in his camp reached out to me and asked me to send him a picture. I refused and I advised him of our experience at the classic. He asked for my number and he said he wanted to speak to me directly. I have yet to be contacted.
The Iverson classic didn’t let folks know that certain players were no longer playing in the game. The way they went about everything was utterly absurd! This thing was ran as if it was put together by folks who had no idea what the hell they were doing. They lacked transparency, integrity, professionalism and behaved like you’d expect a scammer to behave. Going forward, I will never support anything with the name Allen Iverson attached to it, ever again!
I hate the fact that an organization’s poor planning and greed, have overshadowed what was otherwise a fun game to watch. If your goal is to put on the best show possible, you don’t do what the people of the Iverson Classic did. You want as many eyes and from the best positions possible, to showcase the talent that these young men possess. You want them to look as good as possible. Shame on them for only thinking of their pockets! They could’ve gone about this so differently than they did. They could’ve actually reviewed portfolios and only invited who they deemed to be the best of the best to cover the event. Instead, they chose the almighty dollar and that’s nasty work!
Hawks Win!
On March 2nd, 2024, the Hawks of Saint Joseph's University faced off against the Rams of Fordham University at Hagan Arena. The team spirit and unity among the Hawks was very evident as they stepped onto the court. Their pre-game warm-up routine showcased their strong chemistry. The music was blasting, heads were bobbing and you could feel the good vibes between their players. They felt light and carefree yet focused on the task at hand. Throughout the game, the team displayed an excellent balance of focus and ease, demonstrating their cohesiveness and determination as a unit. Coming together as a team is one of the hardest things to do in sports. This group of men, have the right mindset and temperament to go far.
Kasper Klaczek of SJU dominated throughout the night with an exceptional performance. He played a pivotal role in driving the Hawks to a quick lead early in the game. Klaczek delivered an impressive stat line of 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, highlighting his versatility. The Hawks displayed remarkable teamwork, by keeping the ball moving on every possession. They consistently found the open man and made the extra pass which lead to scores more often than not. Freshman stud, Xzayvier Brown kept the Hawks rolling in the second half. He picked his spots and got to the basket at will. Guards Lynn Greer III, Cameron Brown and Erik Reynolds II added to the balanced attack of the team with all 3 hitting critical buckets to keep the momentum on the Hawks side. They took care of business and got the win with a final score of 69 to 82!
