For the second year in a row, the adidas Uprising Summer Championships were held at LakePoint Sporting Community in Emerson, GA. The
3 Stripes did not disappoint. Upon arriving at the venue, there were sporting events going on all over the property: sand volleyball, baseball, and obviously basketball on all 12 courts in the gym. The exterior doors were adorned with adidas basketball player action shots in the latest adidas gear. Candace Parker, Mariah Jefferson, Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, and Chelsea Gray greeted the players, fans, coaches, and families as they entered the venue.
Draped from the ceiling were enormous banners with the player representatives as well, helping the tournament participants actively dream about being
NEXT. The giant adidas Uprising flags were along the back wall. The staff rocked all of the latest gear with the casual and performance kicks to match while greeting the teams, coaches, and college coaches as they entered the gym. The adidas Uprising movement was alive in the building!
From the season kick off at the Phoenix Gauntlet, to the adidas USA Select Italy trip, to the adidas All-American Camp in Portland, to the Gauntlet Finale in Frisco, to the WNBA Select6 weekend, and finally the Uprising Summer Championships in Georgia, the adidas team executed a well organized season of events to give a platform to these athletes. Involving professional athletes like Chiney Ogwumike and Dame Lillard, who shared some of their experiences and wisdom, and with Candace Parker and Chelsea Gray delivering special welcome messages for the WNBA Select6 weekend, adidas made next level transition and beyond a tangible reality for these young talented players.
Lastly, the Uprising Summer Championships app was a final detailed touch to keep everyone updated with game times, court assignments, box scores, and brackets so everyone was up to date (real time) on what was going on during the last portion of the July evaluation period.
THE FINISH FOR FRANEY
By: Jason Key
PLATINUM BRACKET
Texas Elite PRIME showed up to Emerson, GA determined to bring the championship home to legendary college & summer league coach
Bill Franey following his recent battle with health issues. Franey had pushed and prodded this team throughout the summer, consistently wanting more on the defensive end. Well, Franey, you got your wish!!
Led by
Tatum Veitenheimer’s on-ball defense (and 11 points and 4 assists) against previously unstoppable 2020
Haley Van Lith (considered by some the top 2020 prospect in the country) of Northwest Blazers Orange, Texas Elite PRIME walked away with the 17u Platinum Gauntlet Championship. Van Lith was held to 1/15 from the field in a virtuoso defensive performance from Texas Elite Prime.
Cate Reese led Texas Elite Prime with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Supplemented by
Amaya Brown (early intensity on defensive end set the tone for the pace; couple of nice full court assists
), Bryn Gerlich (four assists; played multiple positions
), Jasmine Smith (started the game off with a layup followed by a three; finished with 10 points
), Megan Abrams (timely drives to the rim with break down ability
), Quincy Noble (clutch at the free throw line; was 100% this game
), and
Mia Heide (controlled the glass on both ends and timely blocked shots
) – Texas Elite PRIME jumped out quickly and never stepped off the gas taking a 37-16 halftime lead. Despite moments in the 2
nd half from 2021
Talia van Oalhoffen (12 points, six rebounds
), the Blazers were never able to cut the lead to single digits, finally succumbing to Texas Elite Prime by the final of 56-36.
The Texas Elite PRIME players and coaches
Joey Simmons and
Shane Laflin kept the promise to their coach, friend, and mentor,
Bill Franey. They delivered an undefeated adidas Gauntlet season (15-0) and on the way brought home the Gauntlet Finale and adidas Summer Championship titles for 2017. They “FINISHED FOR FRANEY”!
GOLD BRACKET
Texas Elite Premier was on a mission to repeat as champions of the 17u Gold Gauntlet division from the beginning of the summer season. Led by 2019
Zya Nugent’s 20 points, supplemented by 2019 national super recruit
Lauren Fields with 13 points, and add in an all around performance of 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists from 2019
Mikayla Hutchison - Texas Elite Premier defeated Western PA Bruins 2019, 60-47.
The inside presence and rebounding of 2019
Gabby McBride, 2019
Whitney Cox, and 2018
Anna Moss proved to be too much for the rest of the field as the tournament wore on. The depth and skill of 2019’s
Adryana Quezada and
Madison Miller filled out the most complete roster in the division. Coach
Cary Noble’s squad went BACK-TO-BACK with this consecutive Gold Bracket Championship!
WPA Bruins 2019 were led in the final with 13 points from
Madalyn Moore, 11 points and 5 rebounds from
Maria Cerro, and 10 points from
Hannah Lindemuth.
FUTURE SO BRIGHT
The game is in good hands with these young players. They showed consistent performances and production the adidas circuit and everywhere they went. They are garnering recruiting attention and a multitude of respective offers.
Class of 2019
PG Elizabeth Gibbs – Lady Rebels
G/F Aijha Blackwell – Team St Louis
G Rokia Doumbia (hearing possible re-classification here) - Banshees
F Ramani Parker – Fresno Lady Heat
G/F Jancinta Buckley – NW Blazers
F/P Akunna Konkwo - PSPA
G Leilani Augmon – Peninsula Elite
G Dajinae McCarty – Lady Jets (Texas Elite)
G Maddie Plank – Hudson Valley
G Lauren Fields – Texas Elite
F Gabby McBride – Texas Elite
G/F McKenna Warnock – WI Flight
G Chloe Webb - EBO
F Autumn Watts - CBC
P/F Kennedy Brown – KS United
W Marquesha Davis – Banshees
G Teisha Hyman – Hoopers NY
G/F Gabby Gregory – Banshees
G Jada Moss – Peninsula Elite
Hailey Cavinder – AZ Elite
Hannah Cavinder – AZ Elite
Cassie Schiltz – WI Flight Elite
Class of 2020
G Coriah Beck – Banshees
G/W Sasha Goforth – Banshees
W/F Alexandra Zelaya – AZ Elite
PG Jana Van Gyntenbeek - CBC
PG Hailey Van Lith – NW Blazers
F Destiny Salary – Banshees
G Wyvette Mayberry – Banshees
G Paige Allen – Della Lamb
G Endya Buford – Team Brandon Wright
F Calista Clarke – CBC
F Jewell Hart – Della Lamb
G Meilani McBee – NW Blazers
G Jayda Noble – NW Blazers
Class of 2021
G/F Talia Van Oelhoffen – NW Blazers
G/W Callie Genke – WI Flight
Class of 2022
F Timea Gardiner - NWBA
Bracket Results
Gauntlet Platinum
Final 4:
Texas Elite PRIME vs Wisconsin Flight Elite
Team Brandon Wright 2018 vs
NW Blazers Orange
Final:
Texas Elite PRIME (56) – NW Blazers Orange (36)
Gauntlet Gold
Final 4:
Texas Elite PREMIER vs Banshees Purple
Banshees Premier 16U vs
Western PA Bruins 2019
Final:
Texas Elite PREMIER (60) – Western PA Bruins 2019 (47)
17U Silver (National)
Texas Lone Star Blue (51) – Cincinnati Angels (48)
17U Silver (American)
Team Oklahoma Red (31) – Mo Columbia Sparks (19)
16U Silver
Gauchos 15U (51) – Cincinnati Angels Basketball Club (47)
15U Silver
WI Flight Elite 9th (West) (45) – WI Flight Elite 8
th (35)