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A team of talented NBA prospects takes the floor, with length and athleticism all the way down to their twin 6'5" guards, Andrew and Aaron Harrison. They tower over their opponents, a team led by 5'11" PG Fred Van Vleet with few players that can play on the next level. But this isn't Wichita State versus Kentucky in 2014, it is PrymeTyme versus the Houston Defenders in 2011. Fred's team had one other player expected to go to D1 (Marcus Posley, ended up in JUCO), and no one over 6'4". In other words, Andrew Harrison was an inch taller than Fred's starting center.
If the result had come down to talent or athleticism, it would have been a blowout of epic proportions. There was a far greater talent and size discrepancy between those two teams than there is between Kentucky and us. But that didn't happen. Fred's team not only won, they dominated, with a 10 point halftime lead. Fred was the best player on the court and the tournament MVP (they ended up winning that game and the following title game by double digits). He had 22 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in the championship game.
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If you don't learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. Kentucky has all the talent a team could hope for, but ultimately playing good basketball is what wins games. Fred Van Vleet has already stared their superior athletes in the face and come out on top, and this time he'll have the help of Baker, Early and Marshall. Kentucky believes they are hot because they've won some games in a row and almost beat Florida, but I feel we are the hottest team in the nation.
If the result had come down to talent or athleticism, it would have been a blowout of epic proportions. There was a far greater talent and size discrepancy between those two teams than there is between Kentucky and us. But that didn't happen. Fred's team not only won, they dominated, with a 10 point halftime lead. Fred was the best player on the court and the tournament MVP (they ended up winning that game and the following title game by double digits). He had 22 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in the championship game.
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How did this team beat other squads with so many high profile players? Team basketball.
Despite taking the floor with a team that was all 6-foot-4 and under Pryme Tyme controlled most games from start to finish by playing team basketball and simply out working opponents. The Rockford group spread the floor led by Wichita State committed point guard Fred Van Vleet (Shocker coaches were present in the front row from start to finish of every single game) and picked teams apart with ball movement, crisp passing, sharp cuts, and the consistent playmaking of Van Vleet.
Despite taking the floor with a team that was all 6-foot-4 and under Pryme Tyme controlled most games from start to finish by playing team basketball and simply out working opponents. The Rockford group spread the floor led by Wichita State committed point guard Fred Van Vleet (Shocker coaches were present in the front row from start to finish of every single game) and picked teams apart with ball movement, crisp passing, sharp cuts, and the consistent playmaking of Van Vleet.
Fred Van Vleet hands down wins my award for 17U MVP. He controlled the game with not just scoring but decision making with passes for easy shots or not forcing tempo with the lead. Reminded me of Jordan Taylor once upon a time. When BSM was ahead late, he got the ball and it was over. Same deal here. But the entire team outworked everybody they played. They also did a wonderful job of slowing the game down and spreading the floor to take advantage of Van Vleet's skills when they got ahead. Top to bottom, coaching, effort, clutch play, star play, it was all there for PrymeTyme. They were the best team here and deserved the title with their high level of play.
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