Click here to read Julian Newman's new blog featured in USA Today

Jalen Brown is a previous all star at the NEO Youth Elite showcase. Our evaluators said that Jalen is a super athlete. He can get to the basket with ease and uses a combination of floaters, pull ups, and underhand scoops to finish.  One of his best attributes is his ability to rebound on the defensive end. He has some serious hops and proved to be a Top 20 All-Star this weekend.

What is your name? Jalen Brown 
Where are you from? Shaker Heights, Ohio
What grade are you in? 7th Grade
What AAU program do you play for? Another Level
Who are your sport heroes and why? LeBron James is my sports hero because he is from Ohio and made it to the NBA and is a great player
How much time do you spend training and practicing? I take 3 to 4 days a week to practice.
Can you tell me about 1 or 2 things you do in training? I work on my shooting and ball handling.
Tell me about your favorite NEO Youth Elite Moment. My favorite moment of NEO Youth Elite was being selected an all star.
What are you looking forward to during the February NEO Youth Elite Ohio Showcase? I am looking forward to being an all star again but also being the MVP!

Class of 2021 Bryant Szabo plays for Hard Work Basketball Blue Team. Bryant is an athletic defensive player who can defend the ball. He is a slasher. We can't wait to watch Bryant at the NEO Youth Elite February Showcase!

What is your name? Bryant Szabo
Where are you from? Cleveland, Ohio
What grade are you in? 8th
What AAU program do you play for? Hard Work Basketball Blue 
Who is your favorite basketball player and why? My favorite basketball player is Russell Westbrook. I like his play style and how he is a team leader and shows a lot of passion for the sport. 
Tell me about an exciting game that you played in.  An exciting game I played in was in the beginning of my school basketball season and it was our first game of the season and my team was down by one point with about 9 seconds left and my brother passed me the ball in the back court and i dribbled down the court with like 5 seconds left and dribbled past my guy and shot a floater off the back board to win the game.
How much time do you spend training and practicing? I spend a few hours a day in the gym.
What words of encouragement do you have to share with younger athletes?  My words of encouragement for younger athletes are never give up.  keep pushing yourself push yourself pass your limits don't give up. If you put your mind to it anything is possible just put in the work and effort and you can get what you want.
What are you looking forward the most for the NEO Youth Elite showcase? I am looking forward to the competition at NEO.

Class of 2021 Jaden Sanders will be in the building at the NEO Youth Elite February Showcase. He is from New York, New York and is looking forward to playing against good competition.  We look forward to seeing him February 25 & 26. 

​What is your name? Jaden Sanders 
Where are you from? New York, New York
What grade are you in? 8th 
What AAU program do you play for? None yet
Who are your sport heroes and why? Kyrie Irving because he can create his own shots and has crafty handles 
How much time do you spend training and practicing? 1 hr at practice 1 hr at work out gym 
Can you tell me about 1 or 2 things you do in training to improve your game? Better shot choices and reading the defense 
What are you looking forward to at the NEO Youth Elite Showcase? I am looking forward to play against great competition and showing what I can do.

Class of 2021 Rob Szabo will be attending the NEO Youth Elite Showcase this February. Rob has game. He can shoot the ball well. He is also good at rebounding the ball.  Rob has been working on his game and is in the gym everyday. We look forward to seeing him play at this event.

What is your name? Robert Szabo
What City/State are you from? Cleveland, Ohio 
What grade are you in? 8th Grade 
What AAU program are you with? Hard Work Basketball Blue 
When did you first get interested with basketball? When I first got interested into basketball was when I was about six years old my dad signed me up to play for the YMCA and that's where it all started.
Tell me about an exciting game you played in? What happened? One exciting game I played was for my school and they in bounded the ball to me and I shot it from haft court and made a buzzer beater 
How much time do you spend training a day? I spend a couple hours a day in the gym.
What words of encouragement do you have to share with younger athletes? If you want to be great you have to put the time and hard work into it 
What are you looking forward most to the NEO Youth Elite Showcase? I am excited to go to this Neo camp because I get to show my talent off and play with some of the best athletes.

Chris Mills is from the class of 2021. We look forward to seeing him play at our February showcase. 

W​hat is your name? Chris Mills
What grade are you in? 8th grade
What AAU program do you play for? None right now.
Who are your sport heroes and why? Kyrie Irving and Allen Iverson. Kyrie because I like the way he plays and how clutch he is and Iverson because I feel like we have the same attitude and we both grew up the same way.
How much time do you spend training and practicing? When I could reach a gym I would say 5 or more hours if I'm by myself but if I'm with somebody I'd usually go to the gym open and till it close.
Can you tell me about 1 or 2 things you do in training to improve your game?I work on dribbling the most because I'm a short point guard or I shoot because that's a important part of my game.
Tell me about your favorite NEO Youth Elite Moment. It's when Kyree Walker put on a show for the crowd.
What are you looking forward to during the February NEO Youth Elite Ohio Showcase? To get better and make my family happy.

We look forward in seeing class of 2023 Tye Curry from Oshawa, Ontario Canada at our showcase in February. This kid seems like he has a great attitude and is working hard. Can't wait to watch him play!

​What is your name? 
Tye Curry
Where are you from? City/State: 
Oshawa, Ontario Canada
What grade are you in? 
​6
What AAU program do you play for?
Toronto City Elite
When did you first get interested in basketball? 
My mom worked for NBL which is pro league in Canada and i was abke to go in locker rooms while she took care of players i got to sit courtside to most game and i believe thats were my love for this game started.
Tell me about an exciting game that you played in.
I was playing in the ABS All Star game i got 38 points and got MVP the best was hitting a hail mary shot from 3 to bring the game in overtime.
How much time do you spend training and practicing?
I practice with my team 6 hours a week and with a skills trainor for about the same amount so 12 hours a week.
What words of encouragement do you have to share with younger athletes?  
Get in the gym and train if you want to get better! I've seen what hard work has done for me. As my trainer always tells me be a hunter not a farmer.
What are you looking forward the most at NEO Youth Elite?
Great competition, meeting new friends and playing ball.

Class of 2021 CamRon Gaston is from Toledo, Ohio. He just registered for his first appearance at the NEO Youth Elite Ohio Showcase in February.  We are looking forward to seeing CamRon ball out at our event!

What is your name? CamRon Gaston
City: Toledo, Ohio
What grade are you in? 8th
What AAU program do you play for? Maumee Bay Turks
When did you first get interested in basketball? I became interested in basketball in 1st grade. I started playing at the park.
Tell me about an exciting game that you played in. What happened? When I was in 7th grade I was in AAU tournament and it was the championship game I had 20 points and hit the game winning shot!
How much time do you spend training and practicing? I spend 2-3 hours a day working on my game
What words of encouragement do you have to share with younger athletes?  To never give up
What are you looking forward the most at NEO Youth Elite? To have fun and play basketball