Basketball Spotlight hosted its annual Memorial Day Classic this past weekend in Neptune, NJ.  This has become one of the premier events on the circuit for the top young teams in the Northeast.  Hoops Elite Academy had Elite Week alumni in both the 7th and 8th grade divisions.

8th Grade Division:

Expressions Elite approached this weekend looking to make a statement as one of the best 8th grade teams in the Northeast, as this marked the first time the team attended a Basketball Spotlight event with the addition of top young prospects Jermaine Samuels and Azar Swain.  Expressions Elite started off the weekend with a hard fought comeback win over the Brooklyn Badgers.  Elite Week alumnus Kimani Lawrence had a number of high level plays in this contest, including a highlight reel dunk in traffic.  Expressions Elite dropped their next contest to eventual 8th grade champion New Heights on Saturday evening.  With a chance to advance out of pool play, Expressions dropped a overtime thriller by 2 against Team Final on Sunday.  Elite Week alumni Charles Mitchell and Charlie Mitchell made contributions off the bench over the weekend.

7th Grade Division:

Team DEMI featured a pair of Elite Week alumni is scoring guard Ghared Boyce and the high basketball IQ Kani Glover.  After dropping their first contest to a supremely talented New Rens squad, Team DEMI was able to regroup to earn a victor over NWK to finish second in Pool O.  With that win Team DEMI advanced to the quarterfinals, eventually losing to Pool P winner Team Final.

Expressions Elite 7th grade made a nice run at the MDC this past weekend.  Expressions Elite went 1-1 in pool play after losing to New Jersey Playaz in their first game, and defeating Team Rebels in their second contest to finish second in Pool R.  Elite Week alumnus Anthony Kelley ran with the Expressions Elite squad this weekend, providing athleticism and toughness at the guard spot.  Advancing to the quarterfinals out of pool play, Expressions Elite lost to a talented Milbank Flyers team who was the Pool Q winner in championship play on Sunday.