After playing in their respective GBOA regional tournaments, many of GBOA’s top stars have turned up the heat this summer and delivered some of the best basketball of the season. Many GBOA players from East to West and North to South have been huge factors at several of the other top tournaments this summer.

Just last week at the Peach State Summer Showcase, GBOA South stars Eric Bledsoe, Ari Stewart and Richard Howell, turned heads and wowed crowds with their high-level play. Bledsoe, who plays for the Birmingham Ice helped his team win the tournament by running the point as efficiently as anyone in the tournament. The point guard is said to have been one of the top players at his position not only at the State games but on the whole summer hoops circuit.

Stewart and Howell, who play together for the Worldwide Renegades turned heads in Georgia, starting at the GBOA South tournament in Atlanta and then carrying the trend to the Peach State games. Stewart was said to be the “best looking prospect in the gym” by the scouts at Rivals and looks to shoot into the top of his class by the end of summer. Howell, a talented post has turned in multiple double digit scoring games and carried out consistently solid performances all summer.

GBOA was also represented at the Peach Jam, where stars including Marcus Jordan, Justin Cobbs, Gary Franklin and Taran Buie showcased their talents. Jordan’s impressive play included several 20 point games as well as a 30 point game. His solid showings are suggested to be enough to earn him a high-major scholarship offer by the end of the summer.

Cobbs and Franklin who played very well for GBOA West semi-finalist, California Supreme, have continued to be a dominating duo throughout the rest of the summer. Cobbs, a 6 foot point guard was instrumental in Cal’s deep run in several tournaments including the Peach Jam. Displaying all facets of his game, Cobbs increased his recruiting visibility and garnered the interest of several high-majors. Teammate, Gary Franklin wasn’t overshadowed by Cobbs’ play however. Franklin himself had several high scoring efforts including going off for 32 points against Howard Pulley that without a doubt did wonders for his recruiting as he proved he was able to score very quickly and in a variety of ways.

Youngster, Taran Buie who played in the GBOA East with Albany City Rocks, was another impressive GBOA player to fare well at the Peach Jam. Buie carried his Albany team to the final game and earned quite a bit of attention from those in attendance as Rivals reports, “Buie had the gym buzzing after his performance in the final game of pool play.”

Many of these GBOA stars will be heading to Chicago in August to compete for the overall crown at the GBOA Challenge of Champions. Winners and runner-ups from each of the four regional tournaments have earned an automatic bid to the championship tournament. While two wild card teams from each region will also make their way to the Windy City to compete in the only tournament of its kind that will result in the eventual crowning of the overall #1 grassroots team in the country.