The VYPE Slam Jam Recap

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The VYPE Slam Jam Recap

The VYPE Slam Jam went off at the Legends Sports Complex over the weekend as 26 teams battled for bragging rights in Houston. While it is early in the Select Season, several teams launched their seasons at the VYPE Event and the play was sharp and intense. It was a good weekend for the Houston Hawks program and Torron Mingo.

In the 11U Bracket, it was the Houston Hawks that were in mid-season form, knocking off their competition with relative ease. Texas Showcase was just getting started and has a nice balance of guard play and big-men. D-Gib Hoops will also be a player in the city as program had a nice showing, along with Westside Force.

The Hawks also took command of the 12U bracket over the weekend in a highly-competitive age group. The Houston Phenoms were pitted against the Hawks in the championship game, while the Imperial Hoops, Houston Phenoms, Spring City Ballers, Hyper Fuse and Westside Force were also in every game.

Ten teams did battle in 13U Division, which will be a battle all season. The Hyper Fuse won the Ballers Bracket, while Houston Premier won the Legends Bracket. Hyper Fuse won with solid big-man play as Houston Premier did it with the press and their run game.

Some of the more intriguing teams in the bracket included the new-and-improved CUTtheNETS squad under head coach Lance Craft. Their new Huntsville contingent has made them very competitive, while the Runnin' Rebels under the direction of Keith Grady will be salty come mid-season. It was their first tournament of the season.

The Kings are a nice mix of 6th and 7th graders led by Barry King, while the Angleton Knights put a scare into everyone going 2-1 for the tourney under Johnny Rowe. The Woodlands Storm and CUTtheNETS-Murray are also just getting started but were competitive.

The eighth-grade division was also a grudge match between six programs. The Houston Hawks took championship honors, while the Houston Premier crew under Bill Arend challenged for the title. The BC Flight, Fort Bend Blazers and Hyper Fuse have some nice, athletic pieces that are just coming together.

A special thanks goes out to Barcelona Sporting Goods for sponsoring our Half-Court Shoot Out in which seven players made half-court shots to win $100 gift certificates. They include Myke Rucker (Houston Premier), CJ Busic (Houston Premier), Jayden Moore (Texas Showcase), Dakota Thompson (Fort Bend Blazers), Sam Powers (CUTtheNETS), Kendric Davis (Hawks) and D'Andre Dues (Hyper Fuse).

Also thanks to Legends, the coaches and parents for making this one-day tournament a success.