[Bernini]

Illinois High School Basketball

5/28

Are Anthony Johnson and Vander Blue are the best 16U backcourt in the country? It’s hard to find many doubters after this weekend. “When we are the same page there isn’t a better backcourt. We are unstoppable together,” said Johnson, a 6-3 combo guard from Chicago Whitney Young who, along with the Wisconsin-committed Blue (6-3 G Madison, Wisconsin Memorial) led the Warriors to a championship win at the Nike Memorial Day Classic this past weekend. “That is the best backcourt in the country. When those two guys are on the same page its game over,” said Warriors 16u Coach Jason Kentworth. Blue chimed in saying, “I believe so. When me and him are on the same page I don’t see anybody that can touch us- it’s not even a game.”
Blue played in his first tournament with the Warriors this past weekend and was very pleased, “I wasn’t real sure. I had seen them play a couple tournaments, and I like their style and I knew it was a good team. They seemed a lot better when I am actually on the court with them running through stuff. It’s special because I haven’t got a tournament championship yet this year in AAU. And this is the first tournament with them and I got one. So I will be around more often.” Blue told Illinoishsbasketball.com he is running with 16U Warriors in July, “Oh yeah without a doubt” he said with a reaffirming head nod.
While much of the pub goes to the best backcourt tandem in the country in Johnson and Blue, as well as 6-3 wing Brandon Spearman and 6-5 forward D’wayne Evans, and deservedly so, the 16U Warriors role players deserve recognition too. Julius “Juice” Brown, Antonio Johnson, Don McaVoy, and Rayvonte “Trey” Rice all came up big at the MDC.
“D’wayne (Evans) and Brandon (Spearman) and them always make big plays. Me and AJ bring all the attention, but without them we wouldn’t get the wins because they do all the little things.”