At the AAU Nationals, the Rochester Area Players, or "Rap Stars" out of Rochester, NY, have long been a player on the 19U level. 

Following a tournament championship in 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky (and two second-place finishes in each of the last two years), the Rap Stars are aiming for a second tournament championship in July at the AAU national championships in Orlando, Florida.

"We've had a lot of success in July," coach James Shutz said.

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The team is led by 6-foot-2 shooter Zach Stenglein, who just completed a post-graduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire (following a Class A New York State Championship at Irondequoit High School); Stenglein is trying to improve his stock in front of college coaches. Six-five combo forward Naz Johnson played on Liverpool's New York State "A" Championship team for ex-Syracuse player Ryan Blackwell. And 6-1 point guard Nigel Scantlebury of Greece Athena High School joins Steinglein in the backcourt.

"The majority of them are fringe DI, DII players looking for a late deal," Shutz said. "Since 2015, we've had nine NCAA Division I players."

Vicious Guard Duo Leads Puerto Rican Squad

Puerto Rican team Pitirres International I, out of the San Juan area (Trujillo Alta) is an intriguing group. Led by coach Luis Ruiz, who was an assistant coach on Puerto Rico's sub-21 national team in 2005 featuring Jose Juan Barea (and sub-17 national team in 2009), Pitirres is led by point guard Neftaly Acevado, the MVP of the McDonald's in Puerto Rico, the island's most prestigious tournament. He's joined by 6-6 PF/C Felix Castro, who also made the all-tournament team at the McDonald's tournament, and backcourt mate Luiz Ortiz.

"Acevedo and Ortiz are small guards but great players," Ruiz said.

Ruiz brought this group to Orlando for the AAU Easter Classic last April at 17U. After finishing second at the Puerto Rican national tournament this year, they're back for more.

Intensity Looking To Improve On 3rd-Place Finish

Savannah, Georgia's Team Intensity, led by coach Benjamin Mitchell, returns to Orlando after finishing third at 17U last season. The core of that group — 6-1 combo guard Benjamin Mitchell, 6-8 post-player Juwan Davis, and 6-6 forward Donovan Lewis — are all looking at post-graduate years and are using this latest trip as a door to the college level.

"They've all been recruited by some Division I programs," said Mitchell, who added that his son Benjamin Mitchell and Lewis already have a few Division I offers after playing with Davis at Windsor Forest High School. "We're looking to do some huge things in this tournament."

'We Defy The Odds,' Says Cyclones' Coach

The Pinehurst, NC-based Sandhills Cyclones showed well in Orlando in 2017, finishing 10th in the 19U bracket. Coach Jayson Jones team promises to be back in the mix, retaining a core of that team.

Qua'Darrin Kelly, a 5-9 guard who recently graduated from Pinehurst High School in South Pines, will be in the mix. He's looking for a post-graduate situation. Also factoring in are 6-4 small forward Jamaan Bailey, II, who'll play at NAIA school St. Andrew's (NC) this fall, 6-1 Tyrell Allmond, who's attending Sandhills CC, and 6-foot Jayson Jones, who'll attend UNC-Charlotte. 

They're joined by 6-6 Matt Coe, who is attending UNC-Wilmington, and Knston Gillespie, also bound for Sandhills CC.

"We enjoy the top-level competition at nationals," said Jones. We love to compete. We're always one of the smaller teams on the circuit. But we defy the odds."

NYC Team Trying To Build On Recent Success

Brooklyn, NY-based Team New York, coached by James Simmons, is coming off of a win in at The Big Shots Tournament in New Jersey. With a largely 17-and-under group, they're playing up in Orlando.

Six-five power forward and rising senior Darnell Askew of Curtis High School on Staten Island leads Team New York. He produced a noteworthy performance at Big Shots and played alongside University of Rhode Island freshman guard Malk Martin for coach Dwayne Archbold at Curtis last year. Shooting guard Jordan Matos is a recent graduate of William E. Grady High School in Brooklyn. Point guard Jaquel Downing also attended Grady, and is looking for post-graduate options.

Simmons was an assistant coach at Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn from 2006-2012, which included three years of Lance Stephenson's tenure.

"Being that I coached at Lincoln, that might bring attention to the program," said Simmons, who's been doing Team New York since 2012, and whose team plays on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit.

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Brian Towey is a Queens, New York-based writer covering basketball and track and field. He can be reached at bc_towey@yahoo.com and @BcTowey.