USA Select Basketball completes 2008 European Exhibition Tour

Charlotte based USA Select Basketball (www.USAselectbasketball.com) just completed it’s 8th European Exhibition Tour the week. The organization, headed by Charlottean Sean Kilmartin, is a professional basketball marketing group designed to help American players find contracts on European teams. USA Select has several “try out” camps around the country and then selects it’s travel team . The team plays a series of exhibition show case games against top teams in Europe in an effort to get the US players exposure leading to professional contracts.

Historically these players have come from large programs like Duke, NC State, U Conn, Wake Forest to mid majors like Appalachian Sate , Davidson,Xavier, Temple, St. Joe’s and Cleveland State. Smaller schools like Barton, Winston-Salem State and Limestone college. This year, Coach Kilmartin was accompanied by his oldest son (still a senior at Charlotte Catholic High School), Ryan Kilmartin for the first 5 days of the European Tour.

Training camp was held in Pineville at the Belle Johnston Center and local restaurants Showmars and City Tavern fed the team.

This year, the team played an incredible total of 17 matches in 20 days covering nearly 20,000 miles. Playing in a different city nearly every night, the group had the opportunity to play several televised games in front of packed gyms, playing in locations like London, Glasgow, Helsinki and more. One event lead them to play in Plymouth England and visited the famous Mayflower steps (where the ship of the same name set off for the New World.) In an unfortunate coincidence, the team played in Kauhajoki, Finland just a few days before the recent tragedy.

Although an exhaustive schedule, the tour allowed for great exposure for the players who hailed from schools as varied as Appalachian State University, Hawaii Pacific, St. Bonaventure , Flager College, University of New Orleans, St. Augustine’s, Limestone College, Barton College and Cleveland State University.

Coach Kilmartin has been doing this for over ten years and has helped placed players all over the world with professional contracts. Over the years, USA Select has played top teams in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Hungry, Finland, Ireland and others.

This years group landed an abundance tryouts and offers for players.

Scotland U16 are crowned European champions in Division C
by Eurobasket News – Jul 2, 2008

Scotland U16 – Wales U16 102:39 Scottish U16 Team improved on the 2006 European championship result this year. They thumped Welsh U16 side to claim the Gold medals of the 2008 edition of the event. Wales could not put up a worthy fight in the Final yesterday. Scottish players were dominant right from the start and never loosened the grip throughout the action. Alasdair Fraser came up with yet another extra class performance leading Scotland to a stunning victory.

Scotland U16 – Wales U16 102:39

Scottish U16 Team improved on the 2006 European championship result this year. They thumped Welsh U16 side to claim the Gold medals of the 2008 edition of the event. Wales could not put up a worthy fight in the Final yesterday. Scottish players were dominant right from the start and never loosened the grip throughout the action. Alasdair Fraser came up with yet another extra class performance leading Scotland to a stunning victory. He tallied 38 points and 9 boards to almost outscore Wales singlehandedly. His four points early in the game put Scottish side 6:0 up. Alasdair Fraser dropped 16 points in the first frame and Scotland enjoyed a 33:9 lead. Scottish side opened the second period on a 12:0 run to pile up a 32-point cushion. Finally Wales managed to answer with some decent stuff as Daniel Pulman and Adams dropped back-to-back trebles. But it was just a brief display of skills from Wales as they trailed by 38 points at the interval. The teams traded baskets in the third period with Scotland still mounting their advantage. The scoreboard read 77:30 at the end of the third stanza and Wales were done for the day. Scottish team breezed to an overall victory at the end finalizing an overwhelming success for Scottish U16 side. Lee Reilly provided 17 points for Scotland. Jonathan Bunyan had 12 points and 8 assists for the winners. Daniel Pulman and Alex Kilmartin answered with 8 points apiece for Wales. Jared Adams secured 7 points in defeat.

Scotland U16: Alasdair Fraser 38, Lee Reilly 17, Jonathan Bunyan 12
Wales U16: Alex Kilmartin 8 ,Daniel Pulman 8

ALEX KILMARTIN LEADS WALES NATIONAL TEAM TO SILVER MEDAL

Charlotte Catholic Basketball player, Alex Kilmartin, was the only American competing in the European 16 Under basketball Championships in Gibraltar. The event was held in Gibraltar (near the tip of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea) and had the national teams from 8 countries competing in their group (Group C). Alex, the son of Sean and Jane Kilmartin (like his brother last year,Ryan Kilmartin) was eligible to play for the national team for Wales (United Kingdom) as his mother is from Wales.

The tryout process required 4 separate trips to London over the previous school year to make the National Team. The Charlotte native helped the 16 U team to its’ highest ever international finish with a Silver medal, falling to Scotland in the Championship game. The event was the FIBA (Federation of International Basketball Associations) certified European Championships. FIBA is the organizing body that controls all organized international basketball including the World Championships and the Olympics. Alex, whose mother was a former Miss Wales and represented the UK in the Miss Universe pageant, had a very big impact in the event. He was second in the entire event in both 3 point shots attempted and 3 point shots made. he was also 7th in field goal percentage. During the final pool play game against Monaco, (to get Wales into the playoffs) Alex had 13 points in the 3rd quarter to propel Wales to a 6 point lead going into the final period.

Against highly respected former Soviet state Moldova , Alex contributed 10 points during a 15-3 run to turn the game in favor of Wales. For the event, the Charlotte Catholic and Charlotte Royal (AAU Club) player ended with nearly 10 points per game and 4 rebounds and lead his team to their highest ever international finish. He was named to the second team all tournament.

Flyers grounded by USA Select all star team

Bristol Academy Flyers 85 -Team USA Select 109

Thursday 13 September was an historic day for Basketball in Bristol. For the first time ever the city boasts a professional basketball team, The Bristol Academy Flyers.

The Flyers took to the court in this there first game of the new 2007/08 season in front of a packed Filton College WISE arena with over 500 spectators in the purpose built College Campus. With pre match entertainment provided by Filton Colleges SWADA dancers and a light and music show entrance of the team, the night was set for an entertaining and enthralling battle.

Prior to the game there was a one minute silence in memory of Matthew Bromley a Flyer who was killed in a car accident two years ago. Matt’s family were special guests at the game and were presented with a gift from Flyers Captain Gareth Till, with Till himself having returned this season after a battle with Cancer.

The first quarter started with flurry of points as the two teams went toe to toe in an exciting encounter, Dunks from Flyers US import Ryan Williams and Filton College star Greg`Streete were matched at the other end of the floor by the 7′ 1″ Adam Simons and 6″ 6″ Chucky Frierson who showed great ability leading the USA Select team.

Great contributions were made from the whole Flyers team as they held there own with a very strong US team. Another young Filton College Student Tyrone Treasure made a huge impact on the game with tenacious defence and great athletic ability at the offensive end. The first quarter saw the US team take a slender lead into the interval 26 points to 22.

The second quarter started well for the Flyers with more fantastic play from the man they call Smokey, Ryan Williams. The US import from Oklahoma was showing why his signing has made Bristol a force to be reckoned with in the league this year. The two teams entertained the crowd with tough defence and great fast break basketball. Streete and Treasure in particular caught the crowd’s eye with fantastic skill and composure from such young guys.

Treasure however after an attempted Dunk on a USA player was hit hard in mid air causing him to fall heavily and knock himself unconscious. Streete made the two free throws but sadly Treasure would play no further part in the game and in fact was taken to hospital with concussion for observations.

The half finished with a flurry of points from both teams with Big Tom Hutchinson for the Flyers and The USA’s Adam Simons battling on every possession. Half time saw the teams go into the locker room with the USA select leading 56 points to 50.

The second half saw the Flyers fighting to keep pace with the US team and this was becoming more and more difficult as the team of young talented US players began to hit big shots. Flyers again inspired by Streete and Williams never gave in and made in roads to the Select teams lead.

Polish Star Arich Mokawski made a great first impression on the Bristol crowd and with Till back to top form the team looked to be in great shape.

In the fourth quarter the USA select team demonstrated why these young players will pick up Professional contracts in Europe. A clinical display in finishing baskets gave the Flyers little hope of getting back into the game. Flyers however played some fantastic basketball a blocked shot by Aaron Simpson lead to a great score on the fast break with 5 clinical passes leading to a Matt Anaults lay up.

The game finished with the USA select winning by 24 points but Flyers were certainly looking as if they have some much more to give during this season.

Flyers showed glimpses of what they are capable of and with this there first season in the top flight they have a lot to be proud of and have a great opportunity to do well on the National Stage.

“This has been a great experience for my players, the crowd was fantastic tonight, the Arena is superb and the hospitality has been second to none. The game was a great spectacle with some fantastic basketball I believe this Bristol team will do well this year they have some great players” Sean Kilmartin, Head Coach and Director of USA Select.

“ I think tonight has been a resounding success with a great turn out and some fantastic basketball, we have brought together a great team this year and hopefully all going well we will do well in the league. With support like this it would be hard not to. I am proud of the team today and would like to thank the 500 plus people who turned up to support us. I hope to see them all again during this exciting season” Danny James, Flyers, Director of Basketball.

Game Stats:
Flyers top scores: Ryan Williams 31 points, Greg Streete 22 points.

©SportUK.tv Full story at http://www.sportuk.tv/pages/misc/basketball.html

Team USA Select Basketball has made it to YouTube!