The Team Power Basketball Academy is in their first year of operation, and they have become a major player in the club basketball business almost overnight. Sporting almost 20 different teams at different age groups, Team Power has started off the spring season with a bang, and this weekend the program saw it's very talented Arizona Power Black 16U group fall to the Utah Pump N' Run (UT) in the championship game of this year's Double Pump Spring Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Also runner-up finishers of the 16 & Under Division in last weekend's Double Pump Hoop Fest in Los Angeles, CA, the 16 & under group from Team Power looked to have the championship of this weekend's Spring Classic after a stellar shooting performance from Chaparral High School's 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Kenzo Nudo and talented Corona Del Sol transfer, 6-foot-6 sophomore wing Dane Kuiper. Nudo would keep the Power close all game long, while Kuiper would tie the game with a three-pointer from the corner with just :05 seconds remaining. But just before the final buzzer sounded, a member of the Utah Pump N' Run squad would fire a three-pointer from the wing, while fading out of bounds - only to see the basketball go through the net as time expired, giving Utah the victory.
The game would be extremely exciting from start to finish, as members of the Team Power organization filled the stands throughout the contest, and created a regular season high school game atmosphere. It was enjoyable to watch as Arizona products would make their presence felt in front of college coaches and media in attendance.
Superb middle school talent, 5-foot-8 8th grader Markus Howard, would put on a show in the game - scoring from almost everywhere on the floor and looking like a top-rated prospect in any class. The younger brother of Perry HS star guard Jordan Howard, Markus looks to be the best Howard of all and skilled well beyond his years.
This Team Power group encompassed 2015 prospects and a stellar 8th grader in Howard, and also a top-rated 7th grader in Marvin Bagley Jr. Bagley joined the team for this weekend's event. According to club supporter Tim Benson, Bagley will now be with this group of talented prospects throughout the summer months as well.
During the April evaluation period, the Team Power 16's reached the tournament's final game on both weekend's - coming up just short as runners-up on both attempts. This group proved just how talented they are and also showed that the future looks very bright for many of these young men.
Congratulations to each of the members of this year's team and the Power program on their terrific play throughout the April evaluation period, led by Chaparral HS 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Brandon Hoffer, 6-foot-4 sophomore Kenzo Nudo and 6-foot-4 sophomore forward Ryan Bayster, AZ College Prep 8th grader Markus Howard, Basha HS 6-foot sophomore Cole Kepler, Empire HS 6-foot-6 sophomore post Deion James, North Canyon HS 5-foot-10 freshman guard Kenneth Arrick, Cienega HS 6-foot-4 sophomore guard/forward Terrence Johnson, Corona Del Sol HS 6-foot-6 sophomore guard/forward Dane Kuiper, Sahuaro HS 6-foot-4 sophomore guard Nate Renfro and 6-foot-4 sophomore forward Jordan Lane.
