GALLOWAY, N.J. – The Jersey Shore Warriors Gold 17U lived up to their name this summer last weekend. For the sixth time in seven tournaments, the Warriors were golden, capturing the Live In AC championship.

Thanks to the scoring antics of Michigan-bound point guard Eli Brooks’ 23 points the Pennsylvania squad defeated D.C. Blue Devils at Stockton University’s Sports Center. The three-day event, run by Elevate Hoops, tipped late Wednesday afternoon with a slew of high-major coaches viewing during the final live period of the summer. Like last weekend’s Summer Hoop Fest in Ardsley, N.Y., this event is gaining momentum and has become the premier showcase during the third live period on the East Coast.

Guard Myles Lewis (St.Stephen’s and St. Agnes, Alexandria, Va.) of the Blue Devils poured in 22 points in a losing effort.

“Sweet 16”

The action wasn’t contained to the 17U bracket.

We R 1 (Del.) ran away with the 16U championship, beating Team Final Blue (Pa.), 84-71, Friday at the Sports Center. Eric Dixon, a 6-7 lefty from Abington (Pa.), fired in a game-high 16 points in the win. Team Final received 14 points apiece from Maurice Murray of Timber Creek (Sicklerville, N.J.) and Mickael Jones of Roman Catholic (Philadelphia). The Delaware team led, 40-35, at halftime and dusted their opponents at the onset of the second stanza.

Dixon’s offensive side features a soft shooting touch and his bouncy moves create separation for open looks. Meanwhile, 6-6 rising junior Murray is a righty catch-and-shoot wing and the 6-7 Jones (from the Class of 2019) plays on the perimeter and is one of the rising stars in the ultra-competitive Philadelphia Catholic League.

One of the top 16U players, Ajiri Johnson, is a special talent headed to PCL rival Bonner Prendergast (Drexel Hill, Pa.). The rising 6-9 junior from Nigeria played the previous two seasons at Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy had 14 points, 10 rebounds and 6 blocks in the title game. Johnson has fluid release and great timing to block or alter shots at the defensive end. He said Temple and Maryland in hot pursuit.

Johnson has not returned home in two years but his supportive family is pulling for him. “My family told me to stay here and finish what I came here to accomplish,” Johnson said.

Finally, in the 15U final, Philly Pride nipped Baltimore United Gold, 59-57. The Pride drubbed Maryland 3D Red, 60-35, in the semifinals. The 15U tournament was played at nearby Atlantic City High.

Half Dozen and Then Some

Though the championship games were chock full of special talent, here are six more (plus a few throw ins) that turned heads and destined for the college game:

Joey Belli, 5-11, Wayne (N.J.) PAL Wolfpack U17, 2018: Belli is a smallish, lithe point guard, who will distribute, attack the rim and drain threes. Right now the Wayne Hills High product is a solid D3 talent (there’s plenty of time to improve his stock), who is deceptively changes direction with quickness and uses dribble-drive instincts to make a difference. However, must work on moves to the left to elevate his game. Belli’s teammate, rising 6-8 senior Thomas Binelli of Bergen Catholic (Oradell), showed his long-range, clutch shooting throughout games, but won one at the buzzer from beyond 25 feet against the New Jersey Cyclones.

Travis Elmore, 6-5, L&L Running Rebels (Pa.) 17U, 2018: Elmore is a ‘tweener (guard/forward), who plays with backcourt skills and the physicality of a frontliner. He’s a classic D2 or D3 talent with a clean release and works well in a screen and roll. Defense is suspect, but can be cleaned up. He attends Pocono Mountain West (Pocono Summit, Pa.)

Efstratios Kialogerias, 6-10, New York Ionians 17U, 2017: According to the coach Zacharias Ktamoulis, Kialogerias (Knox School, St. James, N.Y.) is ticketed for junior college. Wherever he lands, the true post-up man is a wide body with nice touch and above-average rebounding skills. There’s more from the Ionians, who lost seven players before the live period to junior national teams in Latvia, Colombia, Greece, Egypt and Lithuania. At 6-5, senior Ilias Kalogeropoulos (Knox School) is a shooter with interest from schools in the MAAC, NEC, Patriot and Ivies. Keep an eye on 6-5 rising junior Harry Warnock of Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) is swingman with quickness to penetrate a defense, three-ball range and good anticipation on defense.

Ryan Legler, 6-1, South Jersey Jazz 17U, 2017: If this one sound familiar, it should, Ryan is the son of former NBA (and La Salle) 3-point specialist, Tim Legler. Ryan has his dad’s 3-point range and showed he is a rhythm shooter. Against eventual 17U champion Jersey Shore, he sank five 3s in the first half to rally the Jazz. Once a defensive adjustment was made, Legler failed to score in the second half. The consensus among courtside analysts is D2 or D3 for the Wildwood (N.J.) Catholic product. He might find a home at a D1 program as a preferred walk-on or during the late signing period. Keep checking in this high school season.

Seth Maxwell, 6-10, JB Hoops (Pa.) 17U, 2017: He was one of the most intriguing players here. First, there’s the length (and lots of it) and then the raw potential. He can alter shots and hold his own on defense in the pivot. Maxwell has a nice, soft jump-hook and a face-up game but must develop a consistent mid-range shot to up his repertoire. He might be a stretch for D1 (needs work with a redshirt year likely), but a year at prep school would by more time. He attends Abington Heights (Clarks Summit, Pa.) near Scranton. Worth monitoring this season. Also, 6-9 rising senior post Timothy Perry of Cherry Hill (N.J.) East (his dad played at Temple and in the NBA) and 6-5 wing Anthony Mack of Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) skilled players with upside.

Andrew Petcash, 6-3, PK Flash Elite (Pa.) 17U, 2017: He’s already drawing interest from Patriot League programs and others such as NJIT and Fairfield. The point guard from Pine-Richland (Gibsonia, Pa.) is a deft ball-handler and plays with a high IQ, meaning no rushed shots and solid man defense. Additionally there’s 6-5 rising senior Austin Butler of Latrobe (Pa.), who also has higher academic schools watching. He’s quick in transition and is a scorer. Finally, one of the unearthed gems is 6-3 Karlyn Gardner of West Mifflin (Pa.). As a junior, the athletic wing guard averaged 26 points per game and had mainly D2 interest but after this event, Flash coach Jim Lewandowski (who coaches with USA Basketball) thinks the stakes will be higher and the D1 ride will follow.

Duel in the Desert

Makai Ashford-Langford provided the leadership and had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 rebounds, leading Mass Rivals to a 93-78 victory over Garner Road (N.C.) Sunday night in the championship game of the adidas Summer Uprising 17U Championship at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas. The game was shown live on ESPNU.

Mass Rivals completed a perfect summer, taking all 21 games on the Three Stripes circuit. Coach Vince Pastore’s team featured 12 players, who mostly play at New England prep schools and creating unmatched depth.

Ashford-Langford, a 6-2 point guard from Cushing Academy (Ashburnham, Mass.) is an instinctive lead guard that poured on his scoring talents in the second half when Mass Rivals pulled away from the Raleigh based club. Ashford-Langford excels in transition and is long and athletic. He’s said that Connecticut, Providence and Louisville are his three finalists, with New England schools gaining the geographical edge to his home in Worcester, Mass. Louisville stays involved and will go “all-in” to land Ashford-Langford, but the Friars and Huskies appear to have the advantage for now.

Six-one Wabissa Bede of Cushing had 17 points, 6 rebounds and 5 dimes; Azar Swain of The Rivers School (Weston, Mass.) tossed in 16 points; and Tamenang Choh of Brooks School (North Andover, Mass.) added 12 points in the victory. Bede is a hard-working, major-major point guard, while Swain is a scoring guard who is committed to Yale and Choh is a 6-5 wing-forward with low majors involved.

The speedy backcourt of Jordan Ratliffe of Village Christian Academy (Fayetteville, N.C.) and Thomas Allen of Brewster Academy (N.H.) each scored 18 points to top Garner Road.

USA, USA, USA!!!

Markelle Fultz was named MVP of the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship following a 99-84 win over northern neighbor Canada in Saturday’s gold-medal contest in Valdivia, Chile. Fultz, who recently graduated from DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and is headed to the University of Washington, pumped in 23 points and cleared 5 rebounds as the Yanks broke away late in the second half.

“For me to get MVP means a lot to me, because there’s a lot of good players here, and it’s truly and honor,” Fultz said.

Holding a two-point lead (84-82) and 3:57 remaining in the final, the Americans (5-0) allowed Canada (4-1) only one more basket while it rallied to score 15 points to secure U18 Championship. Fultz’s contributions helped lead the USA 18 men to an eighth overall and fourth straight gold medal. The USA is now 53-2 all-time in men’s U18 competition.

“Canada played a really good game,” said USA U18 and University of Texas head coach Shaka Smart. “They shot the ball well from outside, particularly (Nickeil) Walker. I think our guys did a good job of keeping their composure. There were a couple times when we got up, and we let down a little bit. But then Canada made runs, our guys kept composure and made good plays.”

In the bronze medal game, Brazil (3-2) edged past Puerto Rico (2-3) 59-58. By virtue of finishing as one of the top four teams, the USA, Brazil, Canada and Puerto Rico all earned a berth into the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship (site and dates TBD).

Five U.S. players scored in double-digits overall, including Paul ‘P.J.’ Washington of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), who added 19 points; Michael Porter Jr. of Nathan Hale (Seattle), who scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds; Hamidou Diallo of Putnam (Conn.) Science Academy, who contributed 14 points; and Jarrett Allen of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School , who had 10 points and eight rebounds.”It feels amazing,” Washington said. “This is great to represent my country in this way, and I’m proud of all of the guys for winning this.”

Looking Ahead

Now that the live period is over, Dinos Trigonis, the West Coast grassroots guru from southern California, is reminding the nation, especially rising freshmen and sophomores, that elite camps are slated for September, October and November. These are must-attend events to raise stock and awareness as the high school (2016-17 season) and 2017 summer circuit unfolds.

The Pangos All-Frosh/Soph Camp regional dates:

Sept. 24-25 at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.; Oct. 1-2 at The MAC Sports Facility in Lewisville, Texas (in the Dallas Metroplex); Oct. 22-23 at The Park District in La Grange, Ill. (Chicagoland); Oct. 29-30 at RiverWinds Community Center in West Deptford, N.J. (across the river from Philadelphia); and Nov. 1-2 in Orlando, Fla.