Nationally ranked Ferrari Challenged in Rematch

[BBALL REF]

MWSB v Ferrari at Bulls Academy Rematch

Want to make note about a game I saw recently at the Bulls Academy, as it was what AAU basketball should be.
In an all out slugfest, Ty Slaughter’s Ferrari team was again pushed to the limit by a Mike White School of Basketball team in a rematch of an October 18th, 50-44 Ferrari victory. Giving away between 3 and 9 inches at each position, Mike White’s group of talented frosh jumped out to a 10-4 lead, attacking the rim and challenging Ferrari’s dominance inside. After a quick time out, Ferrari settled down and tied the game at 12 by going to their strength inside. Trading baskets for the rest of the half, Ferrari held a 23-21 halftime lead.
It was in the 2nd half that Ferrari staked their claim to blow the game wide open, pushing their halftime lead to 11, before Mike White called time out and settled his troops. In the first game, it was the sharpshooting guards of Mike White that challenged Ferrari. But an adjustment by Ty Slaughter who put his larger forwards on the 5’9” guards had slowed the attack. In typical Mike White fashion, they settled into their flex offense and pushed it right at the giants of Ferrari, with all points coming off the bounce. Number 5, 33, 4 and 3 of Mike White were fearless despite the superior size of their nationally ranked opponents, making it a 2 point games with 1:23 left. 2 tough calls by the referees stopped Mike White and put the Ferrari big men at the line, where they converted their free throws to seal the 48-44 victory.
24 and 20 of Ferrari are monsters inside. Look for them at Whitney Young next year where Coach Slaughter will surely bring them up right away. Don’t think they are used to being challenged the way Mike White’s 33 and 5 banged away, despite their lack of size. Mike White’s guards showed their mettle, pushing the ball against the pressure, taking what Ferrari gave them inside. What was most impressive, was that these teams played their best after long days. I am told the Ferrari team had played several games at another tournament, while the Mike White team was playing in their 6th game of the day. And yet, these kids battled each other for 40 minutes of some of the best JV basketball I have seen. Challenging every shot, pushing the ball to the rim, without trash talking, no cheap fouls, no one lost their cool, no arguing with referees, just playing at a level that shows the promise of greatness to come. Neither team backed down and kept battling. Hats off to the Ferrari team, and a big hats off the Mike White and his system.
Finally, where AAU is mostly about recruiting the best talent and playing in tournament after tournament for exposure sake, it was a pleasure to see a team that is teaching-focused compete with a nationally ranked team. So many of the “travel” teams are about learning plays or winning tournaments, when the goal of the Mike White program is to learn the game and play at the next level. Not everyone is blessed with 6”6” size in 8th grade and a program like Mike White is a place where a 5’9” player can work and learn to play. To date, Mike White School of Basketball has 4 division one prospects at the Varsity level, while having a total of over 35 young men and women play at the varsity and JV level. Just look at Mt Carmel, De LaSalle, Brother Rice, Seton, Lemont and St Laurence for his guys.