The Best In The Winter Slam Hosted by Warriors Elite Sports Announces Teams for the 2012 Winter Tournament

#22 RYTES Warriors - Holt, #6 14U Defenders Select and #9 Gulf Coast Blue Chips Headline 2012 field

 

HOUSTON, Texas December 20, 2011 - The Best In The Winter Slam® Hosted by Warriors Elite Sports today announced the 80+ teams that will battle in the greater Houston area to be the Best In The Winter Slam. Some of the best teams in greater Houston such as RYTES Warriors, Defenders Select, Houston Elite, Gulf Coast Blue Chips and A Level Eagles will have a chance to square off against Top notch Texas talent like the Hoop Dawgs and SA Hoyas, Louisiana's best, NOLA Revolution and ATR but D-Gibbs, Katy Rebel girls and Gulf Coast Pistons always field talented teams that play hard for 28 minutes.

"The 2012 field exemplifies Warriors Elite Sports The Best In The Winter Slam's commitment to bringing the best in the southwest region to the city of Houston," Warriors Elite Sports president, Lamar Holt said. "With legendary youth programs, led by some of the region's most notable and proven coaches, as well as dedicated parents coming to Houston in 2012, we are looking forward to another exciting, competitive weekend of Basketball in Space City."

Notables to watch

10U ATR (La): ATR won the 9U division last year in the The Best In the Winter Slam®,  and they are expected to defend their championship against the likes of BU Allstarz, Houston Eite and RYTES Warriors Felix.

12U RYTES Warriors - Holt: Coach Lamar Holt led these Warriors to a 22nd place finish at AAU Nationals and in 2010 finished 2nd losing to Team Raney in the championship game. As the host team, the Warriors won their 5th grade division in a nail biter against #1 team in the nation.

13U Houston Elite: coach Rick Nelson will try to bring the Houston Elite a The Best In The Winter Slam title. Houston Elite finished 22nd after losing to West Coast Select in a championship bracket(AAU) game in Virginia this past Summer.

14U Defenders Select: The number 6th team in the nation will return to the Best In The Winter Slam after a controversial finish last year. Coach Don Bradley and the Defenders Select will be looking to win the Best In The Winter Slam this year.

The 2012 The Best In The Winter Slam® is fast approaching. Teams are still requesting to play in the tournament and will be announced at a later date. Hotel packages are now on sale. Visit rytesbasketball.net or call  1-281-531-7300 for hotel information. Teams still wishing to play in the tournament contact Coach Lamar Holt at 281.924.8869.

In all, over 80+ youth teams representing 8 states have competed in the The Best In The Winter Slam, with Winter Slam participants going on to be ranked nationally in AAU and student athletes performing well at basketball camps throughout the nation.

About Warriors Elite Sports

Warriors Elite Sports (WES) is a sports marketing, events and player and coaching development agency. WES produces and manages huge regional events, including the Spring Bling Event, the Summer Superfest and the inaugural Spring Superfest, as well as provides coach camps for youth programs and one on one training for student athletes who are wishing to improve their skills and basketball IQ.

Spring Bling	Committed Teams
9U Teams	RYTES Warriors - Lawrence RYTES Warriors - Hollis	BU Allstarz SPO Ballers	Aldine Hawks
10U Teams	RYTES - Felix ATR (La) Waco Wildcats Houston Elite	BU Allstarz Aldine Hawks Soilders Gulf Coast Blue Chips	Total Package SPO Ballers Shooters (Dallas)
11U Teams	Defender Select Black SA 210 Devils BU All Starz	Defender Select Gold Houston Flyers SA Hoyas	Team Texas Total Package LMBA Sharks
12U Teams	RYTES Warriors - Holt RYTES Warriors - OC RYTES Warriors - Wheeler RYTES Warriors - Dykes NOLA Waco Wildcats Showcase (Dallas) Westside Warriors The Rookies NOLA Revolution	* Houston Premeir Teams Sneed Houston Force Houston Force Next Level Raiders Shooters (Dallas) Pearland Bulldogs Alternate Champions (SA)	D-Gibbs Black GCBC ATR CyFair Heat Wolves (Dallas) Texas Hawks (Beaumont) Running Rebels (Woodlands) Total Package Aldine Hawks * East Side Apache (San Antonio) * Team Beast
13U Teams	RYTES Warriors - Clifton Alternate Champions A Level Eagles A A level Eagles B Houston Elite Defenders Select	Rising Stars (Austin) LMBA Sharks Gym Time Hoops (OK) Str8 Ballers Texas Express D-Gibbs	Pearland Bulldogs Gulf Coast Pistons DSG CyFair Thunder Houston Premeir Woodland Blazers
14U Teams	Defenders Select NOLA Rookies - Granger Rookies - Chauncey Texas Express	TKO Select Alternate Champions Houston Defenders Next Level Raiders GCBC - Toney	DSG Hoop Dawgs Rock Starz * Tarheels Elite (Dallas)
6th Grade Girls Teams	Shooters (Dallas) Katy Rebels	BU Allstarz	Westside Warriors
8th Grade Girls Teams	Shooters (Dallas) Katy Rebels * Port Arthur Heat	BU Allstarz * Houston Premeir	Westside Warriors IBF (SA)

#Teams with # in front have been ranked by the Amateur Athletic Union of the USA, Inc.

* Teams recently added to committed list

Updated 10/14: RYTES Warriors Holding Basketball Evaluations This Month

Lace up the sneakers and sharpen that mid-range jumper: The RYTES Warriors is holding evaluations.

The Houston-based organization is conducting a evaluations tryouts in the memorial area this week.

"The evaluation process is an important part of outfitting our teams and a good way to make sure each student athlete is on a team where development can take place,” Warriors coach Lamar Holt said in a release.

The evaluations will offer players an opportunity to join the RYTES Warriors in December. The Warriors basketball evaluation is set for Oct. 14, Oct. 21  and Oct. 28 at Memorial Drive Christian Church. Times for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade is set for 6:30 - 7:30 pm and for 5th, 6th and 7th grade is 7:30 - 8:30 pm.

Evaluations will take place at Memorial Drive Christian Church, 11750 Memorial Drive, Houston, Tx (click for map)

For more information, please contact Lamar Holt at 281.924.8869 or email at aphoops@hotmail.com

The RYTES Warriors are entering into it's 5th season, marking a season that had the most multiple-team appearances to AAU Nationals across six grade divisions with three teams finishing in the Top 25 in 2011 within the state of Texas.

The 7th Annual Juneteenth Classic Presented by Gulf Coast Blue Chips

The RYTES Warriors 4th, 5th, 6th and high school boys will play in the Juneteenth Classic presented by Gulf Coast Blue Chips. The games will be played at League of America, Stallions Facility and Jones High School this weekend.

Click to see the 4U schedule

Click to see the 5th schedule

Click to see the 6th schedule Holt's 5th grade team is playing up

Click to see High school boys schedule

Good Luck Teams!

Update On Our Injured Warrior: Kenny Pleasant

 

Whenever Kenny Pleasant was in the gym, whatever he was doing, chances were he was enjoying himself.

Pleasant is a member of the 6th grade Warriors - Shaun's team. One of the tallest memebers on the team.

But for those who don't know Pleasant, he has been battling a form of cancer this basketball season.
Last week, Kenny completed his last chemo treatment and we at the RYTES foundation are excited about learning of the news. He is doing great and he is out hanging with his friends and family. He has a few more medical procedures and sometime around the end of the Summer, he can return back to sports.

Our prayers are with our injured Warrior and his family as his journey to recovery begins.

Two Teams Playing Down By The Pontchartrain and One In Space City This Weekend

Coach OC and his 5th grade team headed east this weekend to play in the in the ATR Top 10 tournament in Madisonville, La this weekend. You have to like the matchups of this team playing against New Orleans Revolution (11am) and ATR (8pm) today. This old school coach has his team prepared to show Lousiana that Texas has much talent.

Coach Anthony and his new 5th grade team also embarked on the trip to the "boot" and they have games against Hornets Elite (6pm) and ATR (1pm) today as well. Chemistry is building on this team so folks in the bayou need to watch out.

Coach Holt is taking his FAB 8 over to the Space City Classic and tournament hosted by Starting Five this weekend. Coach Holt feels that his 5th grade boys are ready to battle the 6th graders this weekend and from what we seen from his FAB8, they are ready to roll.

Good Luck to all teams....