From the Sidelines
Queen City Middle School Showcase
13U Runner-Up
Charlotte Dragons
Talk about fun teams to watch, this Charlotte Dragons 13U was one of the more entertaining teams in the tournament. They finished 2-0 in pool play and beat a very good Team Tournament team from West Virginia in the semi-finals, only to lose a heartbreaker to Queen City Ballers by the score of 67-64. Now, let's take a closer look at some of the team's impact players.
6'1 '23 Cade Nicholson
Cade Nicholson was one of the more impressive players in the 13U division. We're talking about a highly skilled young player that simply has a nose for the ball and has an impeccable feel for the game. Simply put, this young man has game! Nicholson is fundamentally sound, has a high basketball IQ and plays with poise and maturity for a seventh grader, not to mention he can score from all three levels. He's a gifted offensive player and his game is advanced for his age/grade and he already sports excellent size. He tallied 17 points in the semi-final game and 22 points in the championship game. Nicholson was one of the top scorers for the entire weekend and showcase consistency in every outing.
5'7 '23 Jalen Toye-Ellis
Jalen Toye-Ellis is a tough, strong and athletic guard. He has excellent speed and quickness in the open court and has a knack for scoring. He's relentless in attacking the rim, but also demonstrated the ability to hit perimeter shots and timely 3-point shooting. We were also impressed with his hustle and ability to make things happen on both ends of the court. While he and teammate Cade Nicholson led the team in scoring, he was also a tough defender.
6'1 '23 Elijah Strong
Elijah Strong already has good size, strength and athleticism. He's a power player and utilizes his body extremely well in establishing position. Strong scored consistently throughout the tournament and competed for loose balls and rebounds. He has good natural basketball instincts and demonstrated a good all-around game.