ENG United Raptors Receive College Offers (June 2022)

Posted on June 30, 2022 by webmaster

After a strong Spring 2022 showing from our 16U & 17U Raptors, college coaches at every level are taking notice. As a result, some ENG United Raptors have received offers to play college basketball, while several others are heating up with interest. Austin Wilkerson (2023) and Keshaun Pace (2023) are the first players to lock in offers to fill roster spots at the next level.

Keshaun Pace, an All-Region player at Carrollton High School (Carrollton, GA), has received his first college basketball offer from Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA. After several strong performances during the month of June, Reinhardt's head coach Justin Newton extended Keshaun an offer to continue his basketball career at the college level. The Reinhardt Eagles compete in the Mid-South Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Austin Wilkerson, an All-State player who has scored over 1000 points so far at Unity Christian School (Rome, GA), has received several offers to continue his basketball career at the college level. Schools who have offered Wilkerson include:

Reinhardt University (Georgia)
Crown College (Minnesota)
Central Christian College (Missouri)
Manhattan Christian College (Kansas)
Wren College (South Carolina)

As we enter the July "Live Periods," we have a great number of college coaches from every level of the NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, NCCAA, and USCAA committed to evaluate our 16U and 17U players. We are confident that there will be more college offer announcements to report in the coming weeks/months at ENG United. Stay Tuned!!!

2022 PrepHoops Live Kansas City

Posted on April 29, 2022 by webmaster

On April 22-24 ENG United Raptors 16U & 17U teams traveled to Kansas City, MO for the 2022 PrepHoops Live showcase. Thanks to high level performances from both teams, ENG captured the attention of national sports media and college coaches.

The KCMO event featured over 320 teams from 13 states, with our teams facing competition from Kansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Illinois, and Arkansas. Both ENG United Raptors squads began the tournament with 2-0 records, but as travel fatigue and unexpected injuries became a factor, the 17U boys finished 3-1, while the 16U group ended the weekend 2-2.

While all of our players had stellar moments throughout the weekend, five (5) ENG United players were named "Top Performers" for the weekend showcase. Those players who earned this designation include:

Jakenes Heard - 17U/2023
Austin Wilkerson - 17U/2023
Quentin Rakestraw - 16U/2024
Jeremias Heard - 16U/2024
Jayden Hames - 16U/2024

But, these five players could not have gained media attention without their teammates, whose high level contributions all weekend helped the ENG United Raptors program leave its mark on Kansas City.

17U/2023: Nick Majors, Ethan Sams, Kyan Bullock, JayQuan Nelson, and Ahmed Hussein (of Minnesota)
16U/2024: Jace Freeman, Gabe Mason, Charles Kimani, and Christian McAboy

We'd also like to thank all of the ENG United parents and extended families whose support for our players and coaches throughout the long distance trip was tantamount to the success we experienced in KC.

The next tournament for our 16U and 17U teams will be the RYZE Showcase II, May 7-8, 2022 in Emerson, Georgia at Lakepoint Champions Center.

Congrats To Our All-Region Honorees

Posted on February 24, 2022 by webmaster

ENG United Raptors would like to acknowledge those players who earned Georgia High School Association (GHSA) All-Region honors with their respective boys varsity basketball teams this 2021-22 winter season.

These five (5) ENG United Raptors worked extremely hard to earn their All-Region recognition:

Jeremias Heard (2024): 1st Team All-Region (Model High, Rome, GA)
Jakenes Heard (2023): 1st Team All-Region (Model High, Rome, GA)
Nicholas Majors (2023): 2nd Team All-Region (Druid Hills High, Atlanta, GA)
Cameron Keith (2023): All-Region Honorable Mention (Rome High, Rome, GA)
KeShaun Pace (2023): All-Region Honorable Mention (Carrollton High, Carrollton, GA)

Jeremias Heard Earns 1st Team All Region Honors

Posted on February 17, 2022 by webmaster

The ENG United Raptors family would like to congratulate 2024 center Jeremias Heard on earning 1st Team All-Region honors in Georgia High School Association Region 7AA for the 2021-22 winter season.

Only in his sophomore year at Model High School in Rome, GA, Jeremias is a formidable presence in the paint, leading the Blue Devils in both blocks and rebounds per game this season. Heard also placed himself among the Top 3 in scoring for the varsity squad.

At 6'8" 250lbs, Jeremias Heard has established himself as one of Georgia's top 2024 prospects. His stock is guaranteed to rise during the upcoming 2022 travel basketball season with the ENG United Raptors 16U (2024) team, under the direction of head coach Shaine Freeman and assistant coaches Chris Rakestraw and Burbee Heard.

"Jeremias is, in my opinion, the best true big man in Georgia's 2024 graduating class. Ignoring his obvious size, his nose for the ball and shot blocking talent, coupled with his court vision, are what makes this kid special. I don't know very many bigs his age and size who can run the floor, block shots, rebound, and pass like a point guard the way this kid does. There are no other 16-year-olds in Georgia like him! To cap it off, he's a high academic student-athlete. This kid's stock will skyrocket this travel season," says Coach Shaine Freeman.

ENG United 15U Battles Game Elite 16U | RYZE Spring League

Posted on April 22, 2021 by webmaster

On Wednesday, April 21st, ENG United 15U faced one of Georgia's top Adidas 3SSB Circuit teams, Game Elite 16U, in the RYZE Hoops Spring League (16U Division). From start to finish, the game was a battle!

Due to a slow start by ENG United, Game Elite got out to an early 16 - 3 lead, showing why they are a respected name in Georgia grassroots basketball. But, thanks to a team defensive adjustment, and an offensive injection by Vernell Jones - who scored 5 unanswered points - ENG United was able to slow Game Elite's fast start to a manageable pace. But, due to a late first-half run, Game Elite was still able to go into halftime with a 12 point lead (34-22).

But, in the second half, the resilience of ENG United proved to be difficult for Game Elite's 16U players to continue their dominant run. ENG started the half with smothering defensive intensity on the perimeter by Jace Freeman, Marquan Murray, and Vernell Jones, coupled with shot blocking rim protection by Jeremias and Jakenes Heard, Gabriel Mason, and Jordan Brabham. As a result, the team was able to cause a number of Game Elite turnovers, which led to several unanswered buckets by ENG United.

As the game wound down to the final 3:00, ENG was able to take a 39-38 lead, forcing a late-game timeout by Game Elite. After a few missed shots by ENG United, Game Elite was able to take back the lead on a big three-pointer with just over 2:00 left on the clock. In the end, ENG United was unable to take back the lead, and ultimately came up short with the final score being 45-41.

ENG United's next tournament will be the Prep Hoops Circuit, Session 1: A-Town Showdown, April 30 - May 2nd in Atlanta.

ENG United 15U Wins By 32 In Ryze Hoops Spring League Opener

Posted on March 18, 2021 by webmaster

In preparation for the 2021 national travel basketball circuit, ENG United 15U (2024) boys kicked off the season Wednesday night with a 69-37 win over the Cartersville Canes 2023 team in the RYZE Hoops Spring League 16U division.

Wednesday's game at LakePoint Sports also marked the first game ever played by an ENG United team. Thanks to smothering team defense, and solid offensive execution, ENG United got out to an early lead against the Canes and never looked back. Led by the scoring efforts of Charles Kimani (25pts), Jace Freeman (13pts), Gabriel Mason (11pts), and Marquan Murray (10pts), ENG's season opener was a decisive team win.

The team's next RYZE Hoops Spring League game will take place on Wednesday, March 24th @ 8:15pm versus North GA 16U at LakePoint Sports Complex, Court 1. The game will be streamed live online via the Playsight app.

ABOUT RYZE HOOPS: RYZE Hoops is a new basketball platform based out of LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Georgia, just outside of northwest Atlanta. RYZE Hoops includes basketball tournaments, leagues, camps and a training program. RYZE Hoops also offers national media coverage and live streaming of it's grassroots basketball events. You can follow RYZE Hoops on social media (@RYZEHoops).