Dekalb County School District Department Of Athletics Presnts

NIKE/BMASP(Bright Minds Afterschool Program Inc.)

December 26th -29th 2012

Boys High School Basketball

Day 1 Schedule:

10:00am ** Alcovy VS **Crisp Co.

11:30am *** Jonesboro VS # Greenforest Christian Academy

1:00pm Butler VS # Chamblee

2:30pm **** Bartow VS **** Whitefield Academy

4:00pm **** Wenonah VS ** Greater Atlanta Christian

5:30pm * Miami Norland VS Tucker

8:00pm **** Meridian VS # Norcross

7:00pm **** Columbia VS Auburn

**** 2012 State Champs

*** 2012 FInal Four

** 2012 Elite 8

* 2012 2nd Round State

# 2012 First Round State

TRY OUTS! TRY OUTS! TRY OUTS!

Try outs will take place:

1/6/2013 & 1/13/2013

6:00pm-9:00pm

All Age Groups

Location:

Samson Athletic Facility (New Birth)

6400 Woodrow Rd

Lithonia, GA 30038

Welcome to

Atlanta Knicks/Southern Stampede

Basketball!

Aljami Durham: CEO/Founder/Coach/Recruiter

Nate Mason: President/Co-Founder/Recruiter

STAMPEDE & KNICK NEWS!

ALERT! ALERT!ALERT!ALERT!ALERT!

NIKE Stampede Skills and Drills will start

January 27th, 2013

This session will be open to all players ages:

9yrs-17yrs Old

Location:

Berkmar High School

405 Pleasant Hill Rd. NW

Lilburn Ga. 30047

Time:

4pm-6pm

*Please be on time

Up Coming Season Player News!

Tim Rowe Class 2014

Tim Rowe is just a junior but he plays a big roll on this explosize Berkmar team. If you've been watching him play you can see how much he's added to his game from last season.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - UAB's men's basketball team picked up its fifth verbal commitment of the 2012=13 signing class when Decatur, Ga., big man Tosin Mehinti pledged to sign with the Blazers. Mehinti, who said he is 6-foot-9 and recently tipped the scales at 217 pounds, chose UAB over Mississippi State, Georgia and Temple. He is rated as a three-star recruit on scout.com.

"Compared to the other schools that were recruiting me, I felt that UAB was the best fit for me," said Mehinti, who plans to sign during the November early signing period. "When I came on my visit, I felt very comfortable with the players. UAB is the place for me."

Congraulations to Tosin Mehinti for committing to UAB! We are proud of him and know he will continue to prosper.

Ahmed Hill Class 2014

ESPN Analyst

Updated 08/08/2012

With his game there isn't one particular item that jumps off the page. Rather, it's a culmination of a number of factors. Let's start with his basketball IQ. Hill has innate feel and sees the floor well. It comes as no surprise that he's an accomplished passer and will be a multiposition guy who plays well with other guys and doesn't have to dominate the ball. Like his quickness, finishing ability in transition and overall approach to the game. Doesn't have to score to make his presence felt.

Bottom Line:

This is a major talent. Georgia kicks out Top Five caliber talent as a state nationally and Hill, though he's gaining in national stature is somewhat of an under the radar prospect after two years of high school. Expect his advances to come quickly and that he distinguish himself as a high-major, first tier player.

Tahj Shamsid-Deen chooses

Auburn University!

Tahj Shamsid-Deen, a 5'10" point guard from Decatur, Georgia, committed to the Auburn Tigers Thursday. Shamsid-Deen is the Tigers' first commitment for the 2013 class. Shamsid-Deen is ranked the 46th-best point guard in the 2013 class according to ESPN.com. He had offers from Connecticut, Butler, Richmond, Auburn and Northwestern. He also had interest from Kentucky, Tennessee and several other Division I schools. The 3-star point guard averaged 15 points and ten rebounds as a junior last year at Columbia High School. He has helped Columbia win back-to-back-to-back AAA state championships. He has been named the Georgia state tournament M.V.P. the past two years. Shamsid-Deen also holds the Georgia all-time assists record. Future150.com says of Shamsid-Deen, "Shamsid-Deen has a nice lefty stroke, especially for his lack of size. He thrives in transition and can get to the basket or make things happen for others, something all people are looking for in a PG. He has a great mid-range game, complemented by a nice floater to avoid blocked shots." "Tahj won his middle school championship and has won three state titles," Tahj's father Vince Shamsid-Deen told AuburnSports.com. "So he's never lost, that had to be taken into consideration when coming to Auburn. We trust the coaches as far as putting the right personnel on the floor." The Tigers are not only getting a quick point guard, they are also getting a terrific student. Shamsid-Deen is an honor student with a 3.9 grade point average. He got a 1580 on his SAT.

Columbia point guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen has been a household name in Georgia for years. It seems like he's never lost a game at Columbia and he's also won a lot of games over the years playing with the Southern Stampede/Atlanta Knicks. The term "winner" is thrown around a lot when people describe Shamsid-Deen and that reputation led to him having plenty of options when it came to deciding on a college.

Recently, the 5'9 floor general trimmed his list down to Auburn, Butler, and Richmond and took official visits to each school. On Thursday morning, he finally decided that Auburn would be the place where he plays college basketball. "He just felt more comfortable with Auburn," said Southerh Stampede coach Al Durham. In the end, it turned out to be a really close call between Auburn and Richmond. "He was really torn between them and Richmond," Durham said. "Both coaching staffs are great guys, but it was really his decision and he just felt happier at Auburn. Nothing against Richmond, but it was just so close." Shamsid-Deen becomes Auburn's first commitment in the 2013 class. A small, but quick floor general, Shamsid-Deen will bring some toughness and leadership to the Auburn program. Despite being on the small side for an SEC guard, he loves to get in the lane and finish through contact as well as dish out assists to his teammates.

Dan McDonald

Rivals.com (GAVarsity.com, UGASports.com)

Twitter: @DMcDonaldHoops

After a tough decision Tahj has chosen to attend Auburn University. We are very proud of him and know he will be very successful.

Congratulations!

Marcus Stroman 2014 has Verbally Committed to

The University of South Carolina

NBA Players Camp

CJ Turman

CJ Turman

Congratulations

Southern Stampede 17u

#4 Team In The Country

Tahj Shamsid-Deen 2013

Southern Stampede Orlando!

2012 ESPN Showcase Gold Champions!

2012 AAU Nationals Final Four

Southern Stampede 17u #4 Team In the Country

Southern Stampede 16u

2012 Peach Jam Sweet 16 Runner - Up

Jakeenan Gant

Ahmed Hill

Elijah Staley

Jakeenan Gant Peach Jam

CJ Turman

Atlanta Knicks 13u

AAU Georgia State Champions 2012

Team in Memphis

Connor Heyward 2017

Christian Nelson 2017

Aljami Durham 2017

Jay Estime 2017

Zack Cooks 2017

Get Up!

Atlanta Knicks Orange 13u

2012 AAU Georgia State Final Four

The first skill development event of the summer will focus on the nation’s best underclassmen in St. Louis from June 7-10, at the NIKE Elite 100, known previously as the NIKE Hoop Jamboree. Featuring many of the best instructors and elite high school coaches in the country, this event helps build a foundation of the knowledge of the game for years to come. The goal for the NIKE Elite 100 is to give the best players the opportunity to develop their skills and to grow their game to heights never imagined.

Congratulations To The Southern Stampede Players that will be participating In the Nike Elite 100

Marcus Stroman

Ahmed Hill

Elijah Staley

Jakeenan Gant

Nate Mason

2012 Knoxvegas Heat Champions

NATE MASON

Knoxvegas Championship! Leads Stampede

http://courtcred.com/content/entry/mason_leads_southern_stampede_to_championship/

TAHJ HAS A POINT TO PROVE!

http://courtcred.com/content/entry/tahj_shamsid_deen_has_a_point_to_prove/

Tosin Mehinti for 2!

Kiair Crouch taking it to the hoop!

Jarryd Coleman, a sophomore shooting guard for Greenwood HS boys varsity basketball team, turned some heads during a tournament this past weekend. Coleman plays AAU basketball with one of the top Nike AAU teams in the Southeast, the 16u Southern Stampede.

He played well this past weekend with his team at the Icebreaker Tournament in North Augusta, SC. Coleman was among many college-level talent players from all over the Southeast. Coleman knocked down six three-pointers in the first half of his game. The 6-foot-2 guard is physically sound is a deadly threat to any team from the outside.

Southern Stampede 16u

For years, Mike Stokes and Matt Scott, the coaches of the Southern Stampede 16 & Under AAU basketball team, have shared the goal of competing in the Spring and Summer's premiere basketball tournament: The EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, hosted by Nike at North Augusta's Riverview Park. And Stokes' team, whose core is playing together for the sixth consecutive AAU season, is poised to achieve that goal this July.

"Playing in the Peach Jam has been our goal since the Augusta Metros (the team's original name) days. And we have been telling the players for years that reaching that goal would take lots of hard work," assistant coach Matt Scott recently shared.

And the Stampede's players have certainly followed their coaches' instructions. Most of the players travel from well outside of the Augusta area to practice on Friday, Saturday (usually twice), and Sunday during the team's March preseason practice period. And all players work on their individual skills and strength and conditioning during the week to be prepared for the AAU season's marathon weekends of ultra-competitive game play.

But while the ultimate goal is well within reach, the Stampede will have to earn its way to the AAU circuit's most noteworthy tournament. The 16 & Under division's "Sweet Sixteen" field is chosen by Nike's "grassroots" organization based on the performance of the various Nike sponsored teams during the season's key EYBL events. The two in which the Stampede plan to compete include the March 27-29 EYBL event in Hampton, Virginia, and the May 11-13 event in Dallas, Texas. The team also plans to compete in tournaments in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The team's talented roster has caused some to project that the Stampede will be one of the nation's top five 16 & Under AAU teams. But the coaches and players look forward to proving themselves on the court. And they hope that the last leg of this six year journey, which began with the recent practices in Augusta, and which will continue during tournaments across the country, will end in a familiar place: the EYBL Finals at the Peach Jam, in North Augusta, South Carolina.

Congratulations Alumni:

Jarmal Reid

Oregon State

Torrian Brummit

Western Carolina

Chris Horton

Austin Peay

2011 Converse Invitational Basketball Classic

December 26th - December 30th

Columbia High School

2106 Columbia Dr., Decatur, Georgia 30032

Converse Classic Brings Excitement, Economic Boost To DeKalb

Written by Joshua Smith

Buzzer beaters at halftime and echoes of “oohs” and “ahhs” filled the stands as hundreds of fans packed out the Columbia High School gym for the Converse “Holiday Hoops” Invitational Classic in Decatur. Held for the first time in DeKalb County, the five-day tournament (Dec. 26-30) hosted 18 schools from throughout Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and even Alaska.“This is a great event because it brings together outstanding basketball talent and gives our Georgia athletes the opportunity to match their skills with some of the best players in the nation,” said Phil McCrary, tournament director and head coach of Columbia High’s boys basketball team. “A tournament like this brings a great amount of economy and unity to this community and this county.” The 26-year head coach, who was victorious on the fourth day of competition, says DeKalb hasn’t hosted a tournament since the 1990’s and it was long overdue. “We couldn’t get sponsorship and I was tired of taking our teams out of town, so I began to make connections,” said McCray. “After playing in Anchorage for their MLK Classic last year, Anchorage agreed to play in our tournament. “Next year, I hope to bring in a team from the Bahamas and I have hopes for some Germany teams, too.” DeKalb School Board member Jay Cunningham and DeKalb Commissioner Larry Johnson praised Columbia for hosting the event. “It brought a lot of people to our hotels and restaurants. It was a boost to our economy,” Cunningham said. Added Johnson: “I love it because it is something positive for our youths and the community as a whole.” The Columbia Eagles defeated the Tucker Tigers, 65-44. Coach McCray One of the victorious teams, the Miami Norland Vikings, who defeated the Crisp County Cougars 55-38, said they enjoyed Atlanta and even got the chance to go to the AMC Stonecrest 16 movie theatre, where they watched “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.” Converse tournament planner Aljami Durham says the invitational will remain in DeKalb County for many years to come.

Nate Mason EYBL Sweet 16

Tahj Shamsid-Deen EYBL Sweet 16

The Atlanta Knicks will feed into the NIKE Southern Stampede Elite group to participate in the Nike EYBL who's mission is to improve the game of basketball through phenomenal experiences at our events. We offer young players a place to receive superior skill instruction, honest evaluation and life-changing experiences. Our programs and events push kids to work hard and to challenge them to be better on and off the court.

A player’s potential is often identified at one of the many sponsored NIKE Basketball events. The Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), which will consist of three to four regular season events in Hampton, VA, Minneapolis MN., Dallas, TX and Los Angeles. The EYBL will continue to provide structure to the Travel Team circuit and allow teams to play for an ultimate goal each summer. The EYBL finals will be played at the most coveted tournament of the summer, the NIKE Peach Jam in North Augusta, SC.

For many underclassmen, their first elite camp experience begins at the annual NIKE Elite 100. Available to Freshmen and Sophomores, this camp provides skill development through superior instruction to be considered for the next level. The NIKE Positional Skills Academies, this year hosted by Amar’e Stoudemire, Kevin Durant and Deron Williams are three days of intense skill instruction alongside peers of the same position. Only the top 20 players at each position are invited nationally.

Each player from the positional academy’s will attend the LeBron James Skills Academy with the 2009 and 2010 NBA Most Valuable Player to build upon their positional skills and incorporate into a team setting and win the championship crown on the final two days in front of hundreds of NCAA coaches, scouts and media.

And the summer doesn’t stop here. The top 20 players from LeBron are invited to play against the top youth players from all over the World at the NIKE Global Challenge in Portland, Oregon.

To end a player’s high school career, the Jordan Brand Classic is quickly becoming the most prestigious high school all-star game for graduating seniors. This game is played in Michael’s new home, Bobcat arena in Charlotte, NC. and is attended by some of the biggest sports and entertainment celebrities like Michael Jordan, CC Sabathia, Kanye West and Akon.

It’s not just about what’s happening on the court The Atlanta Knicks/Southern Stampede program strives to mentor players to be role models academically and socially. Many of the athletes who participate in these events excel in the classroom and in their communities. We believe the investment in young players today will only enhance the game and the community for tomorrow. This is met by a strong sponsorship with The Bright Minds Afterschool Program.

Nate Mason Class 2014

Nate Mason (2014, Atlanta Knicks)

Mason isn't the penetrate and kick player that his teammate is, but he is a smooth shooting combo guard with a feel for scoring.

(Peach Jam 16u Standout)

Kiair Crouch Class 2014

Kiair Crouch is the silent assasin of the team. He is the spark that gets the Knicks going. Probably the best defender on the team, he always ends up guarding the opponents best player. Great slasher and finisher. Gets to the rim easily amongst trees and finishes.

(Peach Jam 16u Standout)

Tahj Shamsid-Deen (2013, Atlanta Knicks)

Shamsid-Deen is small in stature but does he ever have a lot of game. The lefty has great command of the point guard position and moves easily between being a dynamic scorer and a clever distributor.

(Peach Jam 16u Stand Out)

Tahj Shamsid-Deen

Columbia H.S. Class of 2013

ESPN: Scout Grade 85

Shamsid-Deen is a lefty with a smooth stroke. He can hit the open three and runner in the lane as well. He competes and plays with confidence. Shamsid-Deen has a tight handle and does a good job of drive, drawing and kicking to open teammates when he draws a second defender. He can pressure the ball with his excellent lateral foot speed and quick hands as well. He also does a nice job of running the offense and keeping the team organized. Look for Tahj to lead Columbia to anoher state championship along with the help of his AAU running mates .

Al Durham Guard (Atlanta Knicks)- The slick lefty broke down defenders with his quickness and ability to change direction. He gets to the rim at will and I love the fact that he wants the ball in crucial situations. He has big time scoring ability.

(www.bballspotlight.com)

Christian Nelson Forward (Atlanta Knicks)- Nelson played big in their overtime loss to Cali Styles. He attacked the huge squad with Charles Barkley type of style. He had the face up jumper working and showed some versatility before severely injuring his ankle at the end of regulation. I love how this kid attacks slow but smoothly off the dribble.

(www.bballspotlight.com)

Zack Cooks-Guard Atlanta Knicks One of the top floor generals in the land proved his worth in front of the capacity crowd. He zipped through the defense while finishing or distributing the pill to teammates.

As mentioned before Cooks is an extension of the coach on the floor. This kid is gamer.

Atlanta Knicks point guards make a statement:

The value of a point guard cannot be measured in height. They are held to a standard taller than any seven-footer. Brookwood's Zachary Cook is trying to live up to all the responsibilities given to a floor general. Cook, who plays for the Bronco's seventh-grade team as a sixth-grader, puts on a show basketball fans will enjoy. He has the vision of Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, the jumper of New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul, and the quickness of the Boston Celtics' Rajon Rando. Cook watches all these players on nightly bases while watching games or highlights with his dad. "He has always been with me watching games either on television or when I played in men's leagues," Brookwood assistant coach Shaun Cook said. "We watch a lot film and I show him the fundamentals of the game." The elder Cook was a standout point guard at Alabama State University, a Division I school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Cook, a self-admitted sports fanatic, watches basketball games looking for ways to teaching his son how to compete and play at the most responsible position on the basketball team. The younger Cook watches intently for more intangibles to improve his game. Being a student of the game has paid off. It has helped him on the National AAU scene as the point guard of the 12-under Atlanta Knicks. Playing a competitive summer schedule only allows Cook to make the Gwinnett Basketball League his personal playground. League coaches are taking notice.