90 aspiring and current professional athletes participated in the Coast2Coast Las Vegas Showcase at the Tarkanian Basketball Academy on August 12-13. By any measure this Showcase was among the very best in the country. Coast2Coast Basketball LLC continues to set the standard by delivering a high-quality experience!
High level of talent? Check. Great coaching staff with pro resumes? Check. Highly competitive, well-organized games? Check. Real exposure as evidenced by dozens of pro coaches, team reps, scouts and agents in attendance? Check. Competent officiating, carefully scheduled, well-run with attention to detail? Check.
With coaches, agents and spectators packing the bleachers and all available seating the Showcase began with team practices which organizes the talent and creates a more realistic basketball environment. Opening round games saw high levels of intensity. As teams vied for a spot in the semi-finals/finals to take place Day Two. All teams are guaranteed three games in a bracketed tournament format so even those that didn’t prevail had a lot to look forward to on the second day of the Showcase.
The semi-finals did not disappoint as both games went down to the final seconds. “Team Germany” defeated “Team Romania”. Germany advanced to the final behind the strong play of 6’1 Guard Deverel Biggs, 6’8 Post, Mason Harrell, 6’6 Forward, Thomas Faustka, and 6’5 Wing Brandon Alston. Romania was paced by long-time pro, 6’8 Point-Forward, Kevin Galloway, 6’3 PG, Quincy Smith and 6’3 Guard, Dominque Collier. “Team Slovakia” held off a spirited challenge from “Team Ireland”. Slovakia received great contributions from 6’3 PG Matt Butler, 6’2 Guard Jemale Brown and 6’5 Wing Chika Ubah. Ireland’s efforts were lead by 6’6 Forward, Aaren Smith and 6’3 Wing Lavonte Sanders.
Standouts in the Third Place game were 6’6 Forward, Zack Rollins, 6’3 Guard Keenen Lowe and 6’7 Derrick Dandridge for Romania and 6’3 Guard Vic Bermudez and 6’4 Guard Jeremiah Tisdale for Ireland.
The title game was a physical struggle as Slovakia jumped to a quick 8-0 start before Germany got on track and closed the gap to 2 at the half. The game hung in the balance with Germany missing a chance to tie or take the lead with under 20 seconds to play. 6’5 Wing David Miakanda shined for Germany while Showcase MVP, 6’0 PG Stanley Williams made a number of impact plays to help carry Slovakia to the Showcase Championship.
Special thanks to our coaching staff whose expertise, passion for coaching and competitive spirit make Coast2Coast the best in the business. Staff list for Las Vegas 2021 were as follows:
Jordan Brady (Former Head Coach Hong Kong, NBA G-League), Bret Burchard (Long time coach in Phoenix Suns organization), Ty Ellis (Former Head Coach Stockton Kings NBA G-League), Damian Dantzler (Head Coach Finland), Dragan Petricevic (Head Coach Romania), Greg Gibson (Head Coach Finland) Matt Jones (Former Head Coach Albania), Harley Borish (NBA G-League), George Nessman (NCAA D1 Coach, Co-Owner Coast2Coast LLC)
Look for the Showcase Top 20 to be announced o
n the Coast2Coast Website and through social media in coming days!
Next Coast2Coast Event will be in Cherokee, NC in September.