Talk about a memorable finish to a hectic summer for some basketball-playing central Pennsylvania youngsters, many of whom may wind up benefiting from the experience for the remainder of their lives.
Yet for the players who made up the U-16 PA Pump N Run outfit that last weekend capped its AAU season by finishing second at the adidas Super 64 tournament in Las Vegas, opening the eyes of the dozens and dozens of college hoops coaches parked courtside throughout the five-day event is what could prove profitable.
Coached by Joe Proctor — Proctor, a mathematics teacher at York's New Hope Academy Charter School, spends his winters on the bench at Harrisburg High School — Pump N Run won its first eight games in Vegas before falling 63-56 to Compton (Cal.) Magic Select in the championship game.
“It was a great ride,” Proctor said of the Pump N Run club that’s part of suburban Harrisburg’s Advanced Hoops AAU program.
And for Proctor’s nine-man group of eight rising juniors and one rising sophomore — Jahaad Proctor, Dejour Williams and Steve Olson of Harrisburg; Joe Marshall and Nehemiah “Bud” Mack of Susquehanna Twp.; Jaki Bowman of Steel-High; Jahaire Wilson of York; Ty Gibson of Reading and Omar Little of suburban Williamsport’s Loyalsock Twp. — the Vegas experience was a thrilling yet exhausting ride.
Actually, the entire season was.
Even before heading for the desert, Pump N Run reached three tournament championship games, winning the Big Shots event in early June at Millersville University. Yet another finals appearance came last weekend … in Vegas.
“We had a pretty good successful summer,” Joe Proctor said of his talented club, which posted a 27-6 record during its AAU campaign.
One that ended on a mighty lofty note.
Sweeping through all three games in pool play, Pump N Run disposed of Houston’s Rookies 2015 (79-34), California-based OJBA (95-39) and Eastern Washington Elite White (62-55) to earn a spot in the 92-team event’s championship bracket.
Proctor buried seven treys en route to a team-high 28 points and Gibson collected 15 in Pump N Run’s opening victory, while Marshall (22 points, 10-plus boards) and Wilson (11 points, 10-plus boards) popped double-doubles in a lopsided win over OJBA also highlighted by 21 from Little and 13 from Proctor.
Mack led the way in the final game of pool play, scoring 19 points to go with a shared 23 from Proctor and Little.
Safely into the main draw, Pump N Run opened with an 81-47 thumping of Full Package (Ill.) as Proctor pocketed 17 points. What followed then was a 60-38 win over Gateway of St. Louis that featured 21 points from Proctor, a double-double from Wilson (10 points, 15 boards) and 11 assists from Mack.
Proctor poured in 32 points, while Marshall (12 points, 12 rebounds) and Mack (10 points, 10 assists) banked double-doubles as Pump N Run continued its sparkling play by ousting well-regarded Dream Vision (Cal.) 60-56 in the round of 16.
Another impressive victory followed in the quarters as Pump N Run spotted Mid Kansas a 19-4 lead before rallying for 62-57 triumph spiced by Proctor’s 34 points, the hard-working Wilson’s double-double (11 points, 16 rebounds) and a slick outing from Williams (10 points, eight assists).
One more victory came in the semis, where Pump N Run ensured its berth in the title game by defeating Wisconsin Playground Warriors 64-57. Mack rang up 19 points, while Wilson carded yet another double-double (10 points, 14 rebounds) and Proctor checked in with 10.
Marshall was the only Pump N Run player to reach double figures in the championship game, but his dozen would not be enough against a southern California side that also came in with plenty of luster.
“Like I told our players before we got [to Vegas], our purpose was to win,” Joe Proctor said. “We went out there and played good.”
In front of the guys who matter.
The 6-2 Proctor has added offers from Boston University and Drexel — Radford, Pennsylvania and Holy Cross already had offered — while Northeastern and Loyola (Md.) are starting to show plenty of interest in the all-state guard.
Williams has interest from Lafayette, Bucknell, Mount St. Mary’s and Loyola. Marshall and Wilson are headed to Radford’s prospect camp. Mack is beginning to pique the interest of schools such as Mount St. Mary’s and Norfolk State. Radford and Holy Cross also are interested in Gibson.
“It was, it was [a wonderful experience],” Joe Proctor said of the exposure and potential sponsorships that made the hectic schedule worthwhile. “We might have lost the battle, but we kind of won the war.
“As I tell these guys, the gratification will come if you can get into college and give yourself a chance to be successful in life. We’re trying to teach life lessons through basketball and that’s what happens.”
MICHAEL BULLOCK:mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n