Alabama Lasers Ready to Make Their Mark in Nashville

Ron Bailey, Publisher

May 24, 2007 – Alabama Lasers Head Coach Joel Lewis knows his team better be prepared every time they take the floor when the Memorial Day Classic gets underway this Saturday in Nashville.

Top teams like Boo Williams, Mean Streets, and the Georgia Stars, will grace the courts at Nashville’s Ensworth High School to test their skills against the best of the best. The best ballers from the class of 2008 and below will carry the torch for their respective AAU squads in hopes of coming away with the tourney championship.

“This tourney is special because it is the first big Nike event of the summer and it’s a precursor to the Peach Jam where they’ll be coaches watching these kids perform,” said Lewis.

Head Coach Joel Lewis (left, with guard Eric Nix) will lead his Alabama Lasers into Nashville's Memorial Day Classic. (McDowell)

The Lasers, a Huntsville, AL based traveling team, feature some of the best basketball talent from both north and central Alabama. Josh Langford, a 6’6 forward from Johnson High, 6’2 Frankie Sullivan of R.C. Hatch and 5’10 Eric Nix from Ider High are three of the returnees from last summer’s team that held it’s own, despite being undersized in every match up.

“Yeah, we’re kinda small this year, but we’ve added some more athleticism, ball handling and scoring to our line up, so we should be pretty formidable.”, noted Lewis.

In addition to Sullivan, who led his R.C. Hatch team to another 2A state championship, the Lasers will have the services of Madison Academy’s Kerron Johnson to run the point and Austin High’s Verkeno Mann as a sniper on the wing.

Lasers trio (from left to right) Zane Campbell, Royce Hamilton and Verkeno Mann. (McDowell)

Johnson led his Mustangs to their second consecutive 3A state title as a sophomore; garnishing finals MVP honors and making the all-tournament team in the process. Mann, a proficient deep shooter, was the regional MVP in helping lead Austin High of Decatur to an upset of top-seeded Sparkman and a birth in the 6A final four.

“This Classic will help us gauge where our team is and what needs to be worked on in getting ready for the Peach Jam later in the summer,” stated Lewis.

Sparkman’s Aubrey Bethea, a 6’6 post player, will provide much-needed size and depth upfront for the smallish Lasers. 6’4 Royce Hamilton from Sunshine High is another shooter/slasher Lewis has added to his squad for scoring, athleticism and defense.

“Last year’s tourney taught me to play harder, especially on the defensive end and to lock my man down a lot better,” hinted sophomore Langford.

The Lasers will have to lock down top-ranked ballers like Louisiana Selects’ 6’10 do-it-all Greg Monroe and Boo Williams’ forward bouncy forward Ed Davis. Monroe is the top ranked player in the class, while Davis is ranked fifth.

That’s not to say the Lasers don’t have talented hoopsters themselves.

Lewis can boast one of the south’s best combo guards in Sullivan, an athletic slasher with a nice handle and an improving jumper. Schools like Auburn, Mississippi State, UAB and Memphis, have all inquired about him. Sullivan is also a winner.

Audey Bethea is up and coming. (McDowell)

Bethea comes from a winning program as well and is improving his post moves and his ability to finish at the cup. He is also very strong and athletic, so schools like Auburn have begun to take notice.

“We intend to go and compete and we intend to play well,” expounded Lewis.