Thursday, February 28, 2013

March Madness

Posted by Anonymous | Thursday, February 28, 2013 | Category: , , , , , , | 0 comments

It's that time of year again... March is here. It happens every year, and there does not seem to be a cure for it, this condition is called March Madness. For all of those basketball junkies out there, who just can't get enough of high school and college hoops, this is the best time of year.

Where did March Madness originate and why? March Madness began in Illinois in 1908, as what just started as an annual invitational tournament. By the 1930's it grew to be a statewide event with more than 900 teams competing. The remaining 16 teams in the tournament known as the "sweet sixteen" would draw sell out crowds. This was before the time that college and pro games were on television. 

The term "March Madness" was given to this tournament by an assistant secretary (Henry V. Porter) for the Illinois High School Association after seeing this event. He was so impressed by it that he wrote an essay to commemorate the tournament. The press loved this term and they continued to use it. The tournament was officially called March Madness by the 1940's and 1950's.

Today March Madness is an annual event for both high school and college basketball. March Madness now includes the Elite Eight and Final Four. This year's Final Four for Georgia High School includes 3 Elite Hoops Trained Teams (St. Francis Boys and Girls, and Greater Atlanta Christian Boys) Sit back, grab your favorite snack, and enjoy the talented young men and women who love to play this game... March Madness is HERE!!!

Henry Porter's Poem: Basketball Ides of March

The gym lights gleam like a beacon beam
And a million motors hum
In a good will flight on a Friday night;
For basketball beckons, "Come!"

A sharp-shooting mite is king tonight.
The Madness of March is running.
The winged feet fly, the ball sails high
And field goal hunters are gunning.

The colors clash as silk suits flash
And race on a shimmering floor.
Repressions die, and partisans vie
In a goal acclaiming roar.

On a Championship Trail toward a holy grail,
All fans are birds of a feather.
It's fiesta night and cares lie light
When the air is full of leather.

Since time began, the instincts of man
Prove cave and current men kin.
On tournament night the sage and the wight
Are relatives under the skin.

It's festival time, sans reason or rhyme with nation-wide appeal.
In a cyclone of hate, our ship of state Rides high on an even keel.
With war nerves tense, the final defense
Is the courage, strength and will

In a million lives where freedom thrives
And liberty lingers still.
Now eagles fly and heroes die
Beneath some foreign arch
Let their sons tread where hate is dead
In a happy Madness of March.

Michelle Manfredi
Elite Hoops Basketball
#ReleaseYourPotential

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

2013 NIKE Girls Basketball Camp: BLESSED TRINITY

Posted by Anonymous | Tuesday, February 26, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments


Elite Hoops and NIKE Sports Camps will be hosting the 5th Annual NIKE Girls Summer Basketball Camp in Roswell, Georgia at Blessed Trinity High School (BT). The girls camps will run from June 3-7, 2013, Monday-Thursday 9a-3p and Friday from 9a-12p. The NIKE camps at Blessed Trinity High School are a convenient location for anyone in North Fulton, Roswell, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Kennesaw, or Marietta. The ages for the camp are 8-14 and there are a limited number of spots available. 

Directing this years girls camp will be our own Michelle Manfredi and Blessed Trinity Girls Head Coach Tamara Chavis. Coach Chavis has been very successful during her time at Blessed Trinity. In seven seasons, Chavis has led her team to a Regional Championship, Sweet 16, and for the first time in school history an Elite 8 appearance. Chavis also received two Coach of the Year honors.


Each player attending the camp will receive a NIKE camp Tshirt, NIKE notebook, NIKE camp certificate and a hand-written coaches evaluation. All Elite Hoops NIKE summer camps keep a player to coach ratio of at least 8 to 1. For more information, visit www.elitehoopsbasketball.com or call 1-800-NIKE-CAMP


To register for this camp click HERE



Monday, February 25, 2013

2013 NIKE Girls Basketball Camp: GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN

Posted by Anonymous | Monday, February 25, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments



This year will be the inaugural NIKE/Elite Hoops Girls Basketball Camp at Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) in Norcross, GA will run June 10-14, 2013. The camp will be directed by Michelle Manfredi and the Elite Hoops staff as well as GAC Head Varsity Girls Coach Cal Boyd. This camp will focus on individual skill improvement with our morning stations and afternoon 3 on 3 league. Each camper will also play in one 5 on 5 game and participate in our Individual Improvement contests each day. All Elite Hoops Nike basketball camps maintain a player to coach ratio of 8:1. Camp will be held in the Long Forum as well as the Bradford Gymnasium. The 1 year old, 80,000 square foot Long Forum features two full courts, two large video screens and seats 3,400.

In the fall of 2012, Elite Hoops and GAC Varsity Girls Team worked together for 6 weeks before the start of the 2012-2013 season. Each week the girls used different training and basketball preparation such as, Living By Numbers and NBA Pro Series. This summer, Michelle Manfredi and Coach Cal Boyd will bring the same basketball attitude during the week of camp.

Camp is limited to the first 64 who register and is for ages 8-14 (entering grades 3rd-9th). Camp fee is $265 per player. Each player will receive a NIKE camp Tshirt, NIKE yearbook, NIKE camp certificate, and a hand written evaluation from the coaching staff. Last year's camp sold out, so make sure toregister early.

GAC is located right off of I-85 and just north of I-285. It is a convenient location for anyone in Lilburn, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker, Norcross, Duluth or anywhere throughout Gwinnett county. For directions or amap to GAC, click HERE.


Camp times are Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm and Friday 9am-12pm. Camp concludes Friday with an awards ceremony around 11:45am.Lunch will not be provided, but a concession stand will be available with pizza, snacks and drinks.

For more information or to Register click HERE or call 1-800-NIKE-CAMP

Thursday, February 21, 2013

2013 NIKE Boys Basketball Camp: GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN

Posted by Anonymous | Thursday, February 21, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments



The 5th annual NIKE/Elite Hoops Boys Basketball Camp at Greater Atlanta Christian School (GAC) in Norcross, GA will run June 3-7, 2013 and also July 29-August 2, 2013. The camp will be directed by Lee Miller and the Elite Hoops staff as well as GAC Head Varsity Boys Coach Eddie Martin. This camp will focus on individual skill improvement with our morning stations and afternoon 3 on 3 league. Each camper will also play in one 5 on 5 game and participate in our Individual Improvement contests each day. All Elite Hoops Nike basketball camps maintain a player to coach ratio of 8:1. Camp will be held in the Long Forum as well as the Bradford Gymnasium. The 1 year old, 80,000 square foot Long Forum features two full courts, two large video screens and seats 3,400.

Since 2009, NIKE, Elite Hoops, and GAC have collaborated to sell out every camp each summer. Coach Eddie Martin does an outstanding job incorporating the same principals and hard work mentality that he uses with GAC Varsity Boys Team.

Camp is limited to the first 100 who register and is for ages 8-14 (entering grades 3rd-9th). Camp fee is $265 per player. Each player will receive a NIKE camp Tshirt, NIKE yearbook, NIKE camp certificate, and a hand written evaluation from the coaching staff. Last year's camp sold out, so make sure to register early.

GAC is located right off of I-85 and just north of I-285. It is a convenient location for anyone in Lilburn, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Tucker, Norcross, Duluth or anywhere throughout Gwinnett county. For directions or amap to GAC, click HERE.

Camp times are Monday-Thursday 9am-3pm and Friday 9am-12pm. Camp concludes Friday with an awards ceremony around 11:45am.Lunch will not be provided, but a concession stand will be available with pizza, snacks and drinks.

For more information or to Register click HERE 

Below is our 2013 NIKE Basketball Camp Promo Video Below

Friday, February 15, 2013

Elite Hoops Basketball Playset: 1-4 FLAT ATTACK

Posted by Anonymous | Friday, February 15, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments

Do you know what all basketball teams have in common? All basketball teams have is that ONE player the team trusts to be the best player. I'm not saying a team only has one player like this, or the one player is the whole team. My simple definition of this factor is the one player you trust with the ball, ultimately helping the team become better. Best of all...helping OTHERS to become ONE.

Today's playset is called "1-4 FLAT ATTACK". Ball starts at the top of the key with the one player you trust with the ball. For example I will use P1. The other players will be lined up across the baseline creating a 1-4 flat look. P1 begins to attack the defense as P5 comes to set a screen for P1. After the screen, if P1 has a open lane to the basket then attack. If not, P1 comes off the sceen and P5 rolls to the basket. As P5 rolls, P4 will rotates up to the high post looking for the shot. If P4 does not have the shot, P4 passes to either side for another pick and roll.

Click image below to enlarge


Do not be fooled by the simplicity of this playset. Correct spacing and positing opens up the floor for attack. The player you decide to have the ball has the option to create for a shot or for others. All players must stay ready because the defense will help and that player will be open.


Brandon "The Creator for Creators" Chappell
Elite Hoops Basketball

Friday, February 8, 2013

Elite Hoops Basketball Playset: SIDELINE SPECIAL

Posted by Anonymous | Friday, February 8, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments

Special opportunities during a special time in a basketball game can end in a special way with a special play. Too much? Let me break down what I mean by the word "special" in basketball terms. Special simple means  taking advantage of that rare chance to surprise the opposing team with something different or "special". As I discussed in a previous blog, baseline and sideline out of bounds plays need to be used effectively and not lightly. Lets find out what happens when we give the other team a SPECIAL gift!

Today's playset is properly named "Sideline Special". The play starts when the team has the ball on the sideline. Make sure a good passer and decision maker is in-bounding the ball, and your most athletic player is on the receiving end. P2 takes the ball out and the rest of the players are in a box set. P1 and P4 are on the elbows, and P3 and P5 are on the block. P4 sets a cross screen for P1 to come off, then P3 sets a cross screen for P5 to come across. Immediately after P3 sets the first screen, P3 will quickly set a back screen for P4. P4 rolls off the back screen toward basket for an ally oop pass by P2. If the defense covers P4 properly, P2 will inbound the ball to P1 to avoid a 5 second call. After inbound pass, P2 will go set a screen for P3. P3 fakes to come off P2's screen then simultaneously P4 comes back up to set a back screen for P3. Now P1 can pass a second ally oop.

Click image below to enlarge


Remember, every player's timing must be perfect and patient. Rushing or reviling the play to soon will give the defense a chance to defend. When executed correctly, your team will get that "special" feeling!


Brandon "Go Up and Get It" Chappell
Elite Hoops Basketball

Friday, February 1, 2013

Elite Hoops Basketball Playset: FLY

Posted by Anonymous | Friday, February 1, 2013 | Category: | 0 comments

What do most basketball fans think about when the name Christian Laettner and Duke is mentioned? I doubt the answer would be the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, but instead his memorable last second buzzer beater against Kentucky would ring some bells. Sometimes to win a game you need extra time or maybe just enough time. Laettner needed just 2 seconds to make history!


Today's playset for a last second full court attack play is called "Fly". P3 will take the ball out at the opposite baseline. P1 and P2 will line up on each side of the elbow in the back court, with P2 starting on the ball side. P4 will be at center half court and P5 is on the free throw line in the front court. P2 will set a screen for P1 and both player will pop out wide. After screen, P4 will sprint up from half court to receive the pass from P3. Now P1 and P2 will both sprint down court looking to receive a pass from P4 (depends who is open). P4 passes to P1 then goes to the opposite wing and P2 continues to sprint to the corner. Now P5 will set an up screen for P1 to attack and then rolls to the basket. P1 attacks to create a shot for teammates or take shot.

Click image below to enlarge


This play typically takes 5 seconds to complete. You can interchange players in each player position so your most creative and productive player has the ball at the end. 3...2...1...SCORE!


Brandon "Ice in the Veins" Chappell
Elite Hoops Basketball