Forrest learning at AAU nationals

— After nine years of hosting Amateur Athletic Union national tournaments, Henry Forrest’s love of basketball has not changed.

“Working with the youth helps me stay young,” said Forrest, the tournament director for this week’s AAU Division I and Division II national tournaments. “I just love it and everything about it, from the kids playing to the college coaches who come to see them play.”

Eighty-one teams, including 14 from Arkansas, are entered in this year’s two tournaments. Each team will play three pool-play games today and Thursday at sites in Little Rock and Jacksonville. Bracket play begins Friday, and championship games will be played Sunday afternoon at Pulaski Academy in west Little Rock.

Forrest said the tournament is running more efficient every year because he takes time to evaluate what works and what does not after every national event.

“We’ve got the schedule down and we’ve learned how long each game will take,” Forrest said. “I like to think we’ve improved each year. Hopefully, we’ve got it down to where it runs smoothly from now on.” some of the nation’s best.

“We’ve been pretty successful so far,” said A’s Coach Gary Henderson, whose team is based in West Memphis. “Normally, we play a lot of tournaments where we’re playing out of our age group. ... The biggest thing about playing in the AAU nationals is to be seen by coaches, the notoriety of it and to teach the kids the proper way to go about playing basketball.

The national tournament is different from many invitational tournaments in that the teams entered have all had to qualify through AAU district tournaments.

For teams like the Division II Arkansas A’s, the tournament gives them a chance to see how they stack up against

“Everybody goes to the national tournament to win it, of course, but to get a topfive finish, we’d be satisfied with that.”

Henderson said the same group played in a Mid America Youth Basketball tournament two years ago in Wichita, Kan., and finished third.

“We’ve got a little bit of experience playing in a national tournament,” Henderson said. “Maybe that experience will help us this week.”

Games begin at 9 a.m. today. The top seed for this year’s Division I tournament is The City, a team based in New York. Defending champion Boston Amateur Basketball Club also returns.

Today’s games

DIVISION I

At Pulaski Academy

Kentucky Tigers vs. All-Ohio Red, 9 a.m. (G) Texas Titans vs. Arkansas Soldierz, 10:25 a.m. (A) Bayou Flames (LA) vs. Arkansas Blue Chips, 11:50 a.m. (C) Mobile Legacy vs. Tha View Patriots Elite, 1:15 p.m. (E) Texas Flight vs. Alabama Force, 2:40 p.m. (F) Evansville BB Club vs. Texas Titans, 4:05 p.m. (A) Houston Defenders vs. Arkansas Blue Chips, 5:30 p.m. (C) Tha View Patriots Elite vs. BABC (MA), 6:55 (E)

At Philander Smith

Team Penny (TN) vs. Southern Phenoms (MS), 9 a.m. (G) Team Illinois Hawks vs. Evansville BB Club, 10:25 a.m. (A) Team Thad (TN) vs. Houston Defenders, 11:50 a.m. (C) Tampa Bay Warriors vs. BABC (MA), 1:15 p.m. (E) South Florida Panthers vs. Mississippi Stars, 2:40 p.m. (F) Team Illinois Hawks vs. Arkansas Soldierz, 4:05 p.m. (A) Oklahoma Elite vs. Arkansas Celtics, 5:30 p.m. (B) Warner Robins Express (GA) vs. Arkansas Magic, 6:55 p.m. (H)

At Arkansas Baptist College

Memphis Sonics vs. Cats Basketball (MA), 9 a.m. (I) Arkansas Celtics vs. The City (NY), 10:25 a.m. (B) Team NOLA vs. Arkansas Magic, 11:50 a.m. (H) Oklahoma Phenoms vs. MB Nation, 4:05 p.m. (D)

At Stephens Community Center

Richmond Metro vs. Louisiana Leadership, 9 a.m. (I) Oklahoma Elite vs. Ohio Varsity Blue, 10:35 a.m. (B) Kansas Dynasty vs. Warner Robins Express, 11:50 a.m. (H) Unity Basketball (KS) vs. Da House, 4:05 p.m. (D)

At Southwest Community Center

Da House (LA) vs. Oklahoma Phenoms, 9 a.m. (D) All-Ohio Red vs. Southern Phenoms (MS), 4:05 p.m. (G) Bayou Flames (LA) vs. Team Thad (TN), 5:30 p.m. (C) Tampa Bay Warriors vs. Mobile Legacy, 6:55 p.m. (E)

At Pleasant Valley Church of Christ

Unity Basketball vs. MB Nation, 9 a.m. (D) Team Penny (TN) vs. Kentucky Tigers, 4:05 p.m. (G)

At Agape Church

Mississippi Stars vs. Texas Flight, 9 a.m. (F) Cats Basketball (MA) vs. Louisiana Leadership, 2:40 p.m. (I)

At Jacksonville Community Center

South Florida Panthers vs. Alabama Force, 9 a.m. (F) Richmond Metro vs. Memphis Sonics, 2:40 p.m. (I) The City (NY) vs. Ohio Varsity Blue, 5:30 p.m. (B) Team NOLA vs. Kansas Dynasty, 6:55 p.m. (H)

DIVISION II

At Arkansas Baptist College

Memphis Love vs. Indy Storm, 1:15 p.m. (Q) Team Celtics (SW) vs. Team Heat (AZ), 2:40 p.m. (S) Team 757 (VA) vs. Arkansas Mustangs, 5:30 p.m. (Q) Illinois Flyers vs. Arkansas Bulls, 6:55 p.m. (S)

At Stephens Community Center

All For One (FL) vs. Illinois Blue Ice, 1:15 p.m. (V) Dolton Bears vs. Renegades (MA), 2:40 p.m. (X) Arkansas Soldierz vs. Louisiana Dream Team, 5:30 p.m. (V) Arkansas Warriors vs. Fairfax Stars, 6:55 p.m. (X)

At Southwest Community Center

Arkansas Bruins vs. Louisiana Roundballers, 10:25 a.m. (P) Arkansas A’s vs. Tennessee Edge, 11:50 a.m. (R) Ohio Legacy vs. CCYA Tigers, 1:15 p.m. (R) All-Ohio White vs. East Bay Soldiers (PA), 2:40 p.m. (Y)

At Pleasant Valley Church of Christ

Memphis Hornets vs. Charleston Playmakers, 10:35 a.m. (P) Eayo Lions vs. Houston Defenders, 11:50 a.m. (T) Atlanta Select vs. Kansas City Flight, 1:15 p.m. (T) North Central Blaze (MA) vs. Brentwood Bandits (TN), 2:40 p.m. (Y)

At Agape Church

Arkansas Wings vs. Predators, 10:35 a.m. (U) Hokies Elite vs. Pal Magic, 11:50 a.m. (U) Team Dallas vs. Winston-Salem Mavericks, 1:15 p.m. (Z) Louisiana Roundballers vs. Charleston Playmakers, 4:05 p.m. (P)

At Jacksonville Community Center

The Ville vs. Springfield Flight, 10:35 a.m. (W) Attuckswolfpack (KY) vs. Magic City Mystics (AL), 11:50 a.m. (W) Tennessee Racers vs. Boston Spartans, 1:15 p.m. (Z) Memphis Hornets vs. Arkansas Bruins, 4:05 p.m. (P) Letter in parentheses denotes pool play.

Sports, Pages 19 on 07/11/2012

Upcoming Events