Rock City Classic: It Just May Be The Land Of Opportunity For 11U Holt!

More than 10 months away from the battle for the championship game in Detroit, was when "We Believe" showed that it was possible to go the distance on a national stage.

The RYTES Warriors 11U will appear in the Rock City Classic against Team Impact (1:30pm) at the Park Courts in Little Rock, Arkansas. Then they will battle Kansas City IBTB at 3:20 later on in the afternoon. The teams that are playing in this tournament will attract a lot of people. These young players are eager continue to write a  tradition of winning and hardwork and get back to where things left off last year.

And who can argue? The majority of the boys on this team were in gym this offseason and playing football, even before their tears were dry after their championship-game loss to Team Ramey, someone, somewhere was declaring these Warriors to the be the favorites to get back to AAU Nationals that was a year away.

Although AAU Nationals has been built upon the effectively promoted premise that everyone has a chance, recent history has established a bottle-neck of elite programs that makes any road to a championship one that must be traveled -- carefully, skillfully and with luck.

The price of being among the elite is that entire seasons can now be defined on the basis of one moment in a game. So as the trip next July begins, everyone including the FAB EIGHT, should understand that no amount of promise allows for any promises. Spots at AAU Nationals, no matter how logical they may seem in advance, should be marked in pencil until well after the hot days of Summer basketball.

Years from now, the youngest Warrior will be able to recite the these boys on this team: Eden, Shawn, Jalen, Noah, Big Mac, Jamal, C.J. and Jhamon.

But quick -- who were on the original team to get to the championship game last year?

If the original FAB EIGHT had not focused on getting better, embracing new players, working hard in the offseason and believeing in everyone that touches the court with them, these Warriors might just be at home on a Saturday in July.

This tournament has the Usual Suspects in it....Arkansas Magic, Tulsa Bulldogs, Memphis War Eagles and Team Ramey. And a host of other great talented teams.

The 11U Warriors Holt are working on getting better. We all heard it before. "If you put in the work here and off the court...we gonna be alright; " We have to be tough, not just physically tough, but mentally tough!"; "You have to trust each and everyone that's here right now..."

Well coach, we believe and good luck!