Twenty-three local players from Sandhills Machine, a youth national travel basketball program based in Southern Pines, have been selected by Team North Carolina to represent the State of North Carolina at the 2020 5th Annual U.S. Basketball Games (States vs States) to be played August 7 – 9 at LakePoint Champions Complex in Cartersville, GA.
Team NC nominated Coach Cash Sutton 14U and Coach Richard Mandell 16U to lead these players with exceptional talent.
The 14U team will consist of seven players that performed very well at the Middle School FAB 40 showcase and three are 2020 NC/SC AAU All-Star Game selectees.
Two are known for their lockdown defense; Shomarii Hailey and Jaylin Morgan, both defensive specialists, are becoming very comfortable with the ball in their hands.
Amaree Barber is a shifty point guard with the ability to get anywhere on the floor and scores at all three levels.
Derrick Benbow and Landen Pearson are both quality bigs capable of putting the ball on the floor and finishing coast to coast with unlimited motors.
Both Jaylen Sturdivant and Salah Sutton are known for filling the basket from deep. The quiet assassin three-point threat, Trent Hilburn, who didn’t attend the showcase can’t be forgotten.
The 16U team will showcase the defensive prowess of Christian Freeman; the three-point sharp shooting of Jackson Howard, Da’Veon Leggett, Thomas Mandell and Sam Stoltz along with the crafty ball-handling of Kamonte Williams and Za’Veon Leggett.
The 16U team also showcases a 2020 NC/SC AAU All-Star Game selectee. Darion Young, the lone 17U, is very capable of holding his own. He was last year’s standout player at tryouts.
“I feel honored to represent the state of North Carolina and being nominated places a stamp on how far our Sandhills Machine Basketball program has come in such a short time,” said Coach Cash Sutton, president of Sandhills Machine. “This will be a great experience for all the players. It’s an opportunity for them to learn and grow their skill sets while competing at a premier event. They’ll be able to play a different style of basketball at a certain level of comfort. A level that it will definitely put the fun back into basketball.”
You can follow Team NC’s progress on the Tourney Machine app.
Pictured left to right are 14U – Amaree Barber, Derrick Benbow, Edgar Escobedo, Shomarii Hailey, David Hiner, Garin Malosa, Paul McNeil, Jaylin Morgan, Trent Hilburn, Landen Pearson, Jaylen Sturdivant, Salah Sutton, 16U – Aaron Frederick, Christian Freeman, Jackson Howard, Da’Veon Leggett, Za’Veon Leggett, Thomas Mandell, Kyle Ray, Kamonte Williams, Same Stoltz, Syncere Carter, and 17U – Darion Young. Courtesy photo.
Contributed.
