Program Preview: New Orleans Basketball Club 17u
Program Director: Theron Foucha
Affiliation: Powerade (Powerade Platform)
Head Coach: Shaun Dumas
Assistant Coaches: Derek Alleman and Brandon Russ
Twitter: @nolabbclub
Roster:
5’10 G Devonta Harris (Crescent City)
5’11 G Ferontay Banks (Comeaux)
6’0 G Jacoby Carter (Jehovah-Jireh) 2017
6’2 G Terrence Smith (Crescent City)
6’2 G Jonathan Cisse (St. Thomas More)
6’3 G Donald Johnson III (Jehovah-Jireh)
6’6 F Jalen Perkins (Walker)
6’6 F Azahren Earnest (Southern Lab) 2017
6’7 F Kevin Charles (Crescent City)
Notes:
Fresh on the grassroots hoop scene is the Powerade Platform, the first grassroots circuit that isn’t sponsored by a shoe brand (Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour). To go along with that, Powerade immediately reached out to get a team with Louisiana flavor, and thus New Orleans Basketball Club (NOBC) was founded. Although this is only their first season together, the 17u squad has been playing very well, and is one of the top teams in the state for their age. Things might not have started off great, but the team has really been clicking once the live period started, going 6-2 over the two weekends of the circuit. This team has a really good mixture of talent, has players with the ability to score at all three levels. Both the coaching staff and players are working hard to get college opportunities for the two seniors on this team in Jacoby Carter and Azahren Earnest, and the way things are going those two won’t be around for much longer. As far as juniors go, they have multiple players that are going to get a chance at the next level, including some D1 players. Jonathan Cisse already has a D1 offer to Stephen F. Austin, and I can only see that offer sheet expanding as the season goes on. This is only the beginning of a program with a bright future.
Schedule:
March 30-April 1 Peach Jam IceBreaker (Augusta, GA)
April 21-23 Powerade Platform Session 1 (Washington, DC)
April 28-30 Powerade Platform Session 2 (Indianapolis, IN)
May 19-21 Bob Gibbons Tournament (Atlanta, GA)
May 26-28 Powerade Platform Session 3 (Nashville, TN)
July 12-16 Powerade Platform Final (Charlotte, NC)
July 19-23 Las Vegas Live (Las Vegas, NV)