Here is an article w/ mention of AAMU signee Mike Davis. The Alabama Nike Lasers of Huntsville won a prestigious national NIKE tournament this past weekend, defeating a powerhouse from Tallahassee, the Houston Hoops and a team from Brooklyn.
http://theinsidershoops.theinsiders.com/2/43075.htmlLasers Blaze To 17 and Under Championship
By Michael Kruse, special to this site.
Date: Apr 7, 2002
HAMPTON, Va. - Mike Ford arrived here in Southeastern Virginia under-recruited and relatively unknown. He left with a championship and an MVP trophy - and a chance at plenty more options for college.
The 6-7 SF from Huntsville (AL) Johnson scored 16 points in leading the Alabama Lasers to a 79-74 win over Riverside Church in the 17-and-under championship at the Boo Williams Invitational.
"He's going to prep school next year," Alabama coach William "Wig" Pearson said after the victory. "We had him one, but we might try to send him somewhere else now. I don't know."
But he does know this: Ford could hack it just about anywhere in the prep school ranks. He's only 17 years old - he doesn't turn 18 until October - and he's very thin. But he can handle the ball fairly well, shoot it from the perimeter and sneak into the paint for a key rebound here and there.
"He just needs to get stronger," Pearson explained, "and he needs a year to get older. But he's got game. He's a high-major player. No doubt about it."
That remains to be seen. But there's no doubt about the Lasers' worthiness as champs. They played the weekend without their best player - Tuscaloosa (AL) Hillcrest super soph D.J. White - but got solid contributions from a balanced roster.
On Sunday afternoon against the Church, Huntsville (AL) Butler sophomore SG Courtney Beasley scored 15 points in the second half en route to a team-high 22, and <b>Huntsville (AL) Johnson senior PG Mike Davis added 20.
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The Lasers erased 40-34 halftime deficit to notch the upset.
For coach Kenny Pretlow's Hawks, Brooklyn (NY) Robeson PG Gary Ervin led the way with 22 points (the senior is going to prep school next year), while Brooklyn (NY) Grady WG (also probably going to prep after originally signing with Hofstra last November) pitched in 14 in spite of struggling all game long with his usually reliable outside shot. He managed only two threes.
Gary Forbes, a junior SF from Brooklyn (NY) Bannuker, had 10. Teaneck (NJ) High junior SF Willie Irish went for eight. Ditto for Milford (CT) Academy junior SF Kelvin "Peedy" Nelson.
Alabama's<b> Davis</b>, Riverside's Ervin and South Carolina Raven Ra'Sean Dickey joined Ford on the all-tournament team.
Michael Kruse writes for Basketball America and BasketballAmerica.com.
AAMU damn near came close to signing Mike Ford, but AAU games got him more exposure and now he is going to prep school so he can get larger schools to see him.
another article about semi game.....
Alabama Lasers 85, Houston Hoops 65: Point Will Gant led the Lasers with 16 points as their run to the title game rolled right on through the heavily favored guys from the Houston Hoops.
The Lasers, deeper than most of the teams at the event, got up early in the first half and were able to keep the pressure on the entire game. Part of the problem for the Hoops was the fact that its star, Ndi Ebi, never really got into the game. Shot selection from the guards wasn't real good and Ebi didn't receive anywhere near the number of touches he deserves.
Tack Minor's jaunts to the bucket weren't going down at all. Daniel Gibson finished with 22 for the Hoops.
Gant and guard<b> Mike Davis, an Alabama A&M commitment </b> , have propelled the Lasers for the entire tournament.
Mike Davis is going to be the most exciting player to ever play at AAMU... anybody can quote me on that.
