"We Got Next" was the first slogan for the newly formed Woman's National Basketball Association (WNBA) in 1997. The slogan represented the demand and responsibility for not just female basketball players, but for all female athletes period. Since the initial launch of the WNBA, more fans and supporters have climbed on board. Now there are 12 competitive teams in the WNBA with future plans on increasing. Elite Hoops Basketball has recently added more female players to the program. Michelle Manfredi, EHB Girls Director, has quickly formed several new girls basketball camps and events. This summer, EHB will have 7 NIKE Girls Basketball Camps. While the WNBA is kicking off another successful season, we will make sure we match their success. "We have NOW", new slogan for the WEHB.

Elite Hoops own Michelle Manfredi will be hosting the 2013 NIKE Girls Basketball Camps. Outside of Manfredi's great work with Elite Hoops, her resume speaks volumes. Manfredi has D1 experience as a player and coach from Niagara University. As Niagara's all time leader in minutes and games played, she helped develop players at the university on and off the court. Also, Manfredi has professional experience playing in Germany plus individual workouts with the WNBA LA Sparks. If you think you can keep up, come to one of the NIKE Girls Basketball Camps this summer.

The 2013 summer will be loaded with different opportunities for girls between the ages of 8-14. The NIKE Girls Basketball Camp will start in Alabama at Vestavia Hills High School in Birmingham, May 28-31. Metro Atlanta will host 4 different all girls camp at Greater Atlanta Christian, Blessed Trinity High School, St. Francis High School, and Sandy Springs United Methodist Church. Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, TN will host 1 girls camp in July. Lastly, California University of Pennsylvania will be the hometown location for Michelle Manfredi. This will be Elite Hoops first camp in Pennsylvania. To register for one of the NIKE Girls Basketball Camps, please click the your preferred location below.

Vestavia Hills High School- Birmingham, AL click HERE

Blessed Trinity High School- Roswell, GA click HERE

Greater Atlanta Christian School- Norcross, GA click HERE

St. Francis High School- Alpharetta, GA click HERE

Christ Presbyterian Academy- Nashville, TN click HERE

Sandy Springs United Methodist Church- Sandy Springs, GA click HERE

California Univeristy of Pennsylvannia- California, PA click HERE

I was somewhat puzzled when thinking about this blog but with Mother's Day approaching I figured this would be a great subject to write about.  We had our first round of staff interviews the other night and one of the questions I asked was... "Who do you look up to most?"  I had a lot of great answers and I had quite a few that said their mom.  When I was asked that same question, my immediate response was "my mom." 

Along with today's playset, I would like to share one of my personal basketball terms named looper. The definition of a looper is someone that can weave in and out of traffic on the basketball court. Any open area to recieve the basketball, a looper will find that spot. Another commonly used basketball term that is similar to a looper is a slasher. Dwayne Wade, James Harden, and Manu Ginobili are some of the best loopers or slashers in the NBA. With or without the basketball, each of them can slip between any crack of the defense and find a way to score.

If the game of basketball had a mascot, it would be a pine tree. Why you ask? The history of basketball proves that pine wood played a major role in the development of the great sport. In the beginning, pine wood was commonly used for basketball courts and bleachers. The phrase "ride the pine" for players that did not get a chance to play, originated from the pine wood made benches. Now different wood and materials are used for courts and seating, but Elite Hoops decided to keep the pine wood tradition alive. This summer, the 4th annual NIKE Basketball Camp will be in Cumming, Ga at Piney Grove Middle School. The coincidentally named middle school has sold out each of the previous 3 summers. Camp will have a combination of old school work ethic with a new school style.

Elite Hoops own Michelle Manfredi will be hosting the Peachtree City NIKE Basketball Camp in July. Outside of Manfredi's great work with Elite Hoops, her resume speaks volumes. Manfredi has D1 experience as a player and coach from Niagara University. As Niagara's all time leader in minutes and games played, she helped develop players at the university on and off the court. Also, Manfredi has professional experience playing in Germany plus  individual workouts with the WNBA LA Sparks. If you think you can keep up, come to Piney Grove Middle School this summer.

The 2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camp at Piney Grove Middle School in Cumming, Georgia will be held June 17-21, 2013. To sign up and register, please select the link below.

NIKE Basketball Camp Piney Grove click HERE

The Peach State! For those that do not reside in Georgia, and/or is unfamiliar with the state, yes the peach represents the people of Georgia very well. The soft and juicy outside texture of a peach speaks for all kind hearted southerners. Do not be fooled, when you get down to the hard center of a peach you realize that the people are the same. Being mentally and physically tough in Georgia is very important, and those qualities attracted us to the appropriately named Peachtree City. Since 2010, Kedron Fieldhouse in Peachtree City has been one of the NIKE Basketball Camp locations. This summer, we invite the entire Peach State to test your inner peach.

Elite Hoops own Michelle Manfredi will be hosting the Peachtree City NIKE Basketball Camp in July. Outside of Manfredi's great work with Elite Hoops, her resume speaks volumes. Manfredi has D1 experience as a player and coach from Niagara University. As Niagara's all time leader in minutes and games played, she helped develop players at the university on and off the court. Also, Manfredi has professional experience playing in Germany plus  individual workouts with the WNBA LA Sparks. If you think you can keep up, come to Peachtree City's camp this summer.

The 2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camp at Kedron Fieldhouse in Peachtree City will be held July 15-19, 2013. To sign up and register, please selete the link below.

Kedron Fieldhouse NIKE Camp click HERE

3 man weave is one of the most commonly used basketball terms and practice routines. I mean no disrespect to my fellow basketball minds, but for my newly acquired basketball minds let me explain. 3 players will each make a pass then follow their pass. Doing 3 man weave in practice helps the players communicate with each other, pass efficiently, and can also be a conditioning drill. 3 man weave in the game is slightly different. Some coaches use 3 man weave as a strategy to take time off the clock, create mismatches for the defense, or simply confuse the opposing team.

Today's playset is called "Dribble Weave". Dribble weave is the same action as 3 man weave, except you dribble into the exchange instead of passing. The play starts with P1 at the top of the key, P2/P3 on each wing, and P4/P5 on side of each block. P1 dribble handoff to P3. Once P3 recieves the ball will dribble handoff to P2 on the other wing. This forms the 3 man weave look. After P3 dribble handoff to P2, P4 will set a flare screen for P3. P2 then makes the pass back to P3. At this time, P1 will cut the corner, P5 will flash to the high post, and P2 will slide to the open wing. P1/P2/P5 have now created space for P3/P4 to operate. Now P4 will set a screen for P3 to come off. After the screen, P4 will pop out for a open jumper. P3 has the option to pass to P4 for the pick and pop, make a pass to the cutting P5, penetrate and kick to P2, or finish the play with a score.

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On Saturday mornings, South Carolina shuts everything down and focuses on one main event...COLLEGE FOOTBALL. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks own the eyes of many viewers and fans nationally, but especially South Carolina. This summer, Elite Hoops and South Carolina will team up to bring excitement Monday-Friday! The 2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camps will begin touring South Carolina at Myrtle Beach High School and Greenville High School. The last stop will be at Academic Magnet High School, which was a great camp location last summer in North Charleston.

The NBA is the highest level of basketball played in the world. The "best" players, coaches, facilities, and of course playsets are apart of the association. Most playsets in the NBA are designed to misdirect the defense at the beginning, and finishing in a completely different way. For youth, high school, and college basketball the playsets tend to be simpler. Today's we will be make thing a bit more complicated for players and the defenders.

The name of this playset is "NBA 2 ACTION", which is designed for the shooting guard. The play starts with P1 and the ball at the top of the key, P2/P3 on each wing, and P4/P5 on each block. P1 dribbles to P3 side, then P3 will simultaneously cut the opposite side, and P2 will replace P1 position. Now P2 and P4 will set a double screen for P1 to come off. P2 will roll towards the basket and P4 will pop out to the wing. P1 must pay attention for a quick score for P2 or P4. On the back side, P3 and P5 will set a double screen for P2 to come off for an open shot. If shot is not available, P5 will set a ball screen for P2, and P3/P4/P1 will clear the side.

As you can tell, the real objective of this playset is to put P2 in a final position to score. Yet, P1 in the beginning of the playset has a few options to score quick if possible. This is a great playset for coming out of a timeout or a even transition offense.

Brandon "Phil Jackson" Chappell
Elite Hoops Basketball

The Atlanta Metro area is extremely valuable and important to Elite Hoops. Since 2009, Elite Hoops have hosted over 20 camps in the metro area alone. The city of Marietta is located just north of Atlanta, and 2 camps will be held there this summer. The first location is Marietta High School, and last years camp sold out with 100 campers in attendance. Kell High School is the second location in Marietta this summer. This will be the augural NIKE camp for Kell HS. Last September, Elite Hoops held the first annual Elite Camp. Each facility has two full size gymnasium with state of the art features. It will be a great summer in Marietta!

Marietta camp will be directed by the girls director Michelle Manfredi, and co-directed by Marietta High School Varsity Boys Head Coach Matthew Lyons. Coach Lyons is no stranger to the city of Marietta. The University of West Georgia graduate has been the head coach at Marietta for 4 season now. Coach Lyons takes pride in developing players on and off the court. Kell camp will be directed by Lee Miller and assisted by Jermaine Sellers, Kell Varsity Boys Head Coach. This is Sellers first season as head coach yet he has already partnered with Elite Hoops with team training and clinics. Coach Sellers brings enthusiasm and passion to the game. Both Marietta locations will have great support and direction this summer.

The 2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camps in Marietta will begin June 24th-28h at Marietta High School. In July the second Marietta camp will start from July 15th-19th. Only limited spots remain. Register by clicking one of the following links below.

Marietta High School NIKE Camp click HERE

Kell High School NIKE Camp click HERE

It is no secret, North Carolina basketball automatically rings a bell. The University of North Carolina and Duke University, arguably two of the best college basketball programs, speaks volumes about the state. The success of the programs have easily influenced youth basketball in the community. This year will be Elite Hoop's 4th consecutive year in Charlotte. Each summer camp has been sold out months in advance. The history of North Carolina basketball and Elite Hoops is ringing bells in Charlotte.

The NIKE Boys Basketball Camp will be directed by Lee Miller and the Elite Hoops staff. Also former and current college basketball players in the area will help assist camp. The camp location will be at Carolina Courts in Indian Trails.

The NIKE Boys Basketball Camp in Charlotte, NC will begin August 5-9, 2013. Camp will start at 9am to 3pm Monday- Thursday, and Friday 9am to 12pm. To register for this camp please click the link below.

2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camp Charlotte click HERE

With time comes change.... Sometimes that means small changes while for others it is a drastic change.  In  this case, some big changes are being made to one of the top, if not the top conference (basketball) in the country.  The Big East will never be the same.  The Big East was established on May 31, 1979 with 7 schools as its founding members (Boston College, Georgetown, Connecticut, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John's, and Syracuse).  Villanova joined one year later.  The realignment of this conference has made extreme changes in that by 2014 only one of the original founding schools, Connecticut will be left in the league, unless it too leaves by then.

The current Big East Conference for basketball is made up of 15 teams:  Louisville, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Connecticut, Notre Dame, Villanova, Cincinnati, St. John's, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall, South Florida, and DePaul.

What are the new alignments of the Big East?  Where are they going?  Who will keep the Big East name?  To start, the 7 Catholic Universities of the Big East will be leaving to form their own conference:  St. John's, Seton Hall, Marquette, DePaul, Georgetown, Villanova, and Providence.  This new conference recently received the rights to retain the Big East name and continue to play the conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.  Butler and Xavier may join the new Big East as well as Creighton, Dayton, and St. Louis in 2014-15.

The cost of the Catholic 7 breaking away is very pricey, however they have the chance to make more money by leaving.  By leaving now they are able to sign a deal with Fox Sports which will give $3-4 million to each school just for basketball.  This new conference does not have football, which in turn keep them free of a lot of lawsuits that football brings on.

Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Notre Dame will head to the ACC.  A new 10-team conference (name yet to be decided) will be formed for 2013 with only one of the remaining Big East founders.  This conference will be composed of Connecticut, Memphis, Louisville, Rutgers, UCF, USF, Houston, Cincinnati,  SMU, and Temple. In 2014, Louisville and Rutgers will leave the 10-team conference and head to the ACC and Big Ten, while Tulane and ECU will be the new replacements, with Navy coming in for football in 2015.

Growing up, and being from Pittsburgh, I was a Big East junkie.  All of this change in the Big East has given me mixed opinions.  I do not think there will ever be anything like the Big East Tournament again.  I always used to say that the Big East Tournament was just as good as the NCAA Tournament. Usually the winner of the Big East didn't win the NCAA Tournament, (my reasoning was because the Big East Tourney would wear you down being that it was so intense).  Change can also be good.  The break will help the Catholic 7 keep their schools going.  Since these are non-football schools they struggled to stay alive in the Big East.  It will help them recruiting in being a basketball focused school.

Change is inevitable.  It is the only thing that stays constant in life.  It can be very exciting as well.  I look forward to see how this conference realignment plays out during the best time of the year... #MarchMadness


Michelle Manfredi
Girls Director
Elite Hoops Basketball
#ReleaseYourPotential

In 1974, a southern rock band by the name of Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote the song "Sweet Home Alabama", and in 2002 Reese Witherspoon played a southern bell  in the movie. Excitingly, NIKE and Elite Hoops are still singing and starting in "Sweet Home Alabama"! Over the past 5 years, Homewood High School has been Elite Hoops' sweet home of Alabama. Each year the Homewood basketball camp sells out. This year we are adding two new locations, Trussville and Vestavia Hills, as well as an addition camp at Homewood. The 2013 NIKE Basketball Camp season will start at Hewitt-Trussville High School. The following week Vestavia Hills High School will host the all girl camp, and Homewood will have camps in June and July.

Lee Miller and Michelle Manfredi will be directing camps in Alabama this summer. Also, each high school head coach will be assisting Elite Hoops. Miller will be at Hewitt-Trussville and Homewood High School. Hewitt-Trussville Varsity Boys Head Coach Zane Arnold, just finished his first season at the school. Arnold is extremely excited about reaching out to the community and fans that supports the program. Head Coach Tim Shepler of Homewood High School is no stranger to leading his teams to glory and co-directing NIKE camps. This will be his 5 consecutive year partnering with NIKE Basketball and Elite Hoops.

At the Vestavia Hills location, Manfredi will use the help of Vestavia Hills Varsity Boys Head Coach George Hatchett, and Homewood Varsity Girls Head Coach Jovanka Ward. Coach Hatchett's familiarity with the school and basketball program will make sure every camper receives the Vestavia Hills treatment. Coach Ward of Homewood understands Alabama basketball extremely well. Coaching all levels of basketball from Homewood Middle School to Alabama A&M University, Ward will happily lend us her expertise this summer.

To register for the Alabama NIKE Boys and Girls Basketball Camp, click on each locations link below.

Hewitt-Trussville High School NIKE Boys Camp click HERE

Vestavia Hills High School NIKE Girls Camp click HERE

Homewood High School NIKE Boys Camp 1 click HERE

Homewood High School NIKE Boys Camp 2 click HERE

Again ladies and gentlemen, i love this time of year! In March anything goes. Top ranked teams fight to stay on top with various team eyeing their backs. Lower rank teams are tired of being over looked and want to make a huge statement to shock the world! Honestly at this point, plays can only help you stay in the game and fight in battle. Heart and determination is the best play possible.

The play set for this week is simple....we will call it "HEART". Coaches, if you are waiting for me to break down where the point guard should start, or where players 4 and 5 need to set the screens, I'm sorry to disappoint. Today I am speaking on behalf of all the players that use these weekly play sets. Sure, I have won games with the right play at the right time. I hit my first buzzer beater off of a baseline in bound play with seconds remaining. The play to create a sense of urgency, hustle, and love for the game unfortunately has not been written yet. Players, coaches, trainers, fans, and family all have to go inside themselves and create that play and energy.

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Brandon "Lionheart" Chappell
Elite Hoops Basketball