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“I can’t let someone come to my neighborhood and to my gym and beat me,” Lamin Fulton said Monday at Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School, 1736 S. 10th St.
To make their summer league opponents look as futile as their other foes, the senior guard and signee with New Jersey’s St. Peter’s College joined his Saints teammates for a spirited practice on their home court. The location will host this weekend’s Battle of Brotherly Love III, a tournament with squads from North, South and West Philadelphia and a unit comprised of stars from the surrounding counties.
A resident of the 1300 block of South 29th Street, Fulton will be one of five members of the two-time defending Class AAA state champions to hustle up and down the floor. He will lace up for the South Philly team along with sophomore John Davis and junior guard La’Quan Coaxum. The bunch captured last year’s trophy and will look to hold off challenges from the County team that won the inaugural gathering and that features forward Derrick Stewart, a deep North Philly group and a hungry West Philly pack including freshman guard Ja’Quan Newton.
“It’s all about bragging rights,” Arthur Russell said of the game’s creation.
The resident of 16th and Catharine streets will lead the local gang for the third-straight year. For six seasons, he has served as a varsity assistant at South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St.
The Lower Moyamensing site hosted the first battle, in which the County team toppled his troops. Community College of Philadelphia hosted last year, as his ballers conquered West Philly.
The third edition will feature a format change, as action will occur over two days instead of one lengthy afternoon.
“We are looking to encourage good sportsmanship,” organizer Jamil Abdul Malik, formerly of Fifth and Christian streets, said of the weekend’s ultimate purpose.
A counselor at the Youth Study Center, a Fairmount youth detention facility assisting 13- to 18-year-olds who have allegedly committed felony-type offenses, Malik cherishes chances to have teenagers establish solid friendships in positive settings. He is hoping his second year with the tournament will be an exciting experience fostering fair competition while displaying stellar talent.
“These games let the teams show who is the best,” he said.
To let them flaunt their gifts, Malik partnered with The Five Guys Political Action Committee, 1448 South St., which seeks to motivate young people and professionals to become involved in the political arena. Canvassing neighborhoods may be in their future, but this weekend the players will campaign only for cheers.
“My boys are going to win,” Upper Darby’s Stewart, a First-Team All-Catholic honoree and two-time participant, said.
“I don’t think so,” Fulton, this year’s Catholic League co-MVP and a three-time invitee, said. “My team is going to dominate.”
The South Philly personnel could prove Fulton quite the prognosticator. Eleven standouts will look to thwart the aspirations of their impressive counterparts and give their coach another trophy.
“I’m familiar with my teammates from playing with them on the [Philadelphia] Ball Hawks,” Fulton said of his Amateur Athletic Union team. “Because of that, we plan to let one another go out and win.”
Aside from balling with Davis, a first-team All-Catholic from the 400 block of Washington Avenue, Fulton will fraternize with plenty of players accustomed to triumphing. Four from Center City’s Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School, this year’s Class A state champions, will attack the rim.
Senior guard Warren Dogan, a Second-Team Public League Division E selection, will bring his ball-handling abilities. The resident of 20th and Morris streets will attend Bryn Mawr’s Harcum Junior College. Jeremiah Worthem, another Second-Team pick, will play guard and forward. The sophomore is a resident of 21st and McKean streets, as is Tyreek Riddick, a third-team honoree and Mansfield University signee, who offers another option at guard. Forward Muhammad Amin will seek to make 30th and Wharton streets proud before heading off to East Stroudsburg University.
A product of 15th and Reed streets, center Erik Copes, a First-Team Public League Division C choice, will represent West Oak Lane’s Imhotep Institute Charter High School, the three-time defending Public League champions and the winners of this year’s and 2009’s Class AA state titles. He will play for George Mason University. Third-team All-Catholic sophomore guard Shafeek Taylor, of 17th and McClellan streets, will represent Center City’s Roman Catholic High School.
Former Southern hoopsters Jamir Hanner and Deshon Minnis round out the roster. Forward Hanner, of 18th and Carpenter streets, attended NIA Prep in Newark, N.J., before moving on to Notre Dame Prep in Filchburg, Mass. He signed with West Virginia’s Marshall University. Minnis, of 16th and Catharine streets, converted a layup that put South Philly into last year’s title game. Undecided on a college, the guard completed his secondary career with Atlantic Christian High School in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
South Philly will face West Philly in Saturday’s 3 p.m. tilt. North Philly will match up against the County unit at 1 p.m. The winners will play at 6 p.m. Sunday, with the consolation game at 4 p.m. Tickets for all games are $10.
“I feel special to be a part of the weekend,” Newton, a Southwest Philadelphia resident, said.
The freshman, fresh off a fantastic postseason, will try to create options for his speedy mates.
“I am looking to work on shooting, dunking and having fun,” Davis said of his interests.
Malik will use the competition to springboard his mission to promote social growth. He foresees inviting more teams next year event and adding a girls’ tournament and a middle school version.
“The boys can show who runs this town while sharing some laughs and encouraging one another,” he said. “That way, they can show more than just basketball skills.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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