1. Team Polo 0-0 (Santario Mitchell)
What's Up: Mitchell clearly did his homework, as his draft class is loaded with talent. Even if Santario is having an off night, Team Polo has a pair of scoring threats in Jovan Brooks and Marcus Jiles that will be more than willing to pick up the slack. Deyonna Flowers and Jiara Love will control the paint with their world-class shot blocking ability. Hopefully referees will not mistake Love and Flowers' gravity defying glass-pins for goal-tending.
Whats's Down: Over-confidence. Humility is the exact opposite word that comes to mind when I think about this team's leadership. With Brooks and Mitchell at the helm, don't expect this team to win any sportsmanship awards.
The Supporting Cast: Julian Gregory and Roldy Michel will need to be the unsung heroes of this team if they are to compete for a title.
2. Ra and Friends 0-0 (Khensura Love-El)
What's Up: Khensura Love-El is the complete package. He is highly skilled at all facets of the game and is going to keep himself in contention for KPL MVP honors. Love El's first-round draft pick, Sam Nicholson, compliments Ra's game very well. Nicholson has above-average athleticism and will use it well on both the offensive and defensive end to help make Ra and Friends an elite team. Don't sleep on Shalissa Patterson's or Tayshawn Richmond's game or you will get embarrassed.
What's Down: Lionel Uzoho is suspended for the first two days of the season for Conduct Detrimental to the League. Uzoho's draft stock slipped considerably because of this. That said, if Love-El can keep Uzoho in line, he may turn out to be the steal of the draft. If not, Love-El may have to consider trading Lionel to give him a fresh start elsewhere.
The Supporting Cast: T-Rich (Tayshawn Richmond) has been battling big brother Dontae for the rights to call themselves the best hooper in the family. If Tayshawn can put together a solid season, he may be able to wear that crown.
3. Thunder 0-0 (Quentis Owney)
What's Up: Latrell Atwood slipping all the way to #3 may have been the surprise of this year's draft. This good fortune may have gift-wrapped a 3rd period title for QO's squad. Kayshawn Woods and Darell Irons are absolutely beasts in the post and Sterling Willie has proven to be a true student of the game. Willie stays up until 12:00 A.M. studying films of all the greats. Look for him to impart this Wisdom on the less than enthusiastic Najah Binbek and Monique Parkerson.
What's Down: After Atwood violated The Conduct Detrimental to the League Policy during Friday's Peer Health Exchange, he received a harsh 1-game suspension. Hopefully Owney can convince Atwood to write a formal email of appeal to the league Commissioner's Office by Sunday 7:00 P.M. in efforts to get the suspension reduced. Otherwise, The Thunder could be searching for answers on Monday without their starting PG.
Supporting Cast: Wanye Jackson plays with an aggressive style which allows him to clean up on the offensive glass.
4. The Ballers 0-0 (DJ Langston)
What's Up: Langston was able to snag the fundamentally-sound Gary Barker with the first pick in this year's draft. Barker's resume speaks volumes about him as a player, as he led his grammar school team in all statistical categories. Kyra Kemp's status as one of the league's top dunkers remind all avid basketball fans of her namesake, former NBA All-Star Sean Kemp (No relation). Chawna Langworthy and Leslie Garrett round out Langston's impressive group of female team leaders.
What's Down: This team has the potential to be the top team in the league depending on how soon Thomas Foster is able to get off the disabled list. The KPL rumor mills have been swirling about the extent of Foster's injury. Some say it could end Foster's season while others believe he we will be back by the middle of next week. Langston decided to roll the dice and use a 4th round pick to land the once thought to be lottery pick (prior to injury). I have to think that Team Ballers' training staff is working tirelessly to get Foster back on the court sooner, rather than later.
5. The Wizards 0-0 (Steven Dean)
What's Up: Thought to be the third best team in a loaded period 3 (has 3 teams in the league's top five), The Wizards are at their best when they are attacking the rim. Chloe Watts, Omega Dyson, and Davia Montgomery are the best passers in the league, and will use their unselfishness to get Dean and Joshua Larry easy buckets. Parisian transfer Raymond Amankwah will add an international flavor to this year's league and looks to Euro-Step other teams into submission.
What's Down: Biggest scoring threats Larry and Dean are facing ill-timed suspensions, 1 and 3 games respectively. While Larry's suspension may be reduced, pending a formal letter of appeal to Commissioner Maley, Dean is going to have to serve the entirety of his 3-gamer. This may get The Wizards off to a slow start, but look for them to quickly regroup upon Dean's return to the line-up.
Supporting Cast: Lawrence Northern and Jacarie Martin are both former recipients of the KPL sixth man of the year awards.
6. Team Unnamed 0-0 (Darien Hollins)
What's Up: Hollins was voted pre season all defensive team by the Associated Press and received 85% of the vote in a player's poll recently conducted by Sports Illustrated asking "Which KPL player will be best able to get in the heads of their opponents?" Point-Forward Benjamin Moore will slash his way to league scoring title. He simply has a knack for putting the ball in the hole. Raheem Nesbeth is gong to battle it out all season with Raymond Anwankwah for the best soccer/basketball player in the KPL.
What's Down: Hollins, who believes in always looking to make his team better, will most likely be involved in every trade rumor heard on the Score and written about in the papers. The uncertainty that this provides to his teammates may potentially ruin their chemistry. Hollins, like his mentor White Sox GM Kenny Williams, is willing to take that risk if it benefits his team in the long run.
Supporting Cast: Kayla Smith may be the only person in the league that can hold Brittney French under 20 points.
7. The Warriors 0-0 (Kolahjo Okanlawon)
What's Up: Ronald Confer has proven himself to be a P.E. warrior, showing tremendous versatility in every unit this year. The Basketball Unit is going to be no exception. Malachi Ferrell and Elijah Stallings attempted to sit out the league, but with so many quality journalists writing for the blog, Stallings and Ferrell now get the opportunity to prove themselves on a domain other than the baseball diamond. Taquoya Williamson has potential to earn First-Team All KPL Team honors at the Small-Forward spot.
What's Down: Mr. Okanlawon is suspended for two games for Conduct Detrimental to the League.
Supporting Cast: Keyona Washington and Deandre Washington, other-wise known as Washington-squared, are dynamite together on the pick-and-roll.
8. 5-Star Kings (Greg Stepney)
What's Up: Willie Jiles is the cream of the crop and has one of the best spin moves on this side of 51st street. Stepney also has Marcus Garrett and Wesley Govis to go to in late-game situations. Stepney's Princeton-Style offense is going to make this team virtually un-guardable. The question is, can the 5-Star Kings guard anyone themselves?
What's Down: In order to compensate for all the times that Demetrius Thomas has threatened to sue or bribe Mr. Maley, the commissioner is instituting a rule which will fine any league participant 5 Bronco Bucks for either offense. Hopefully Mr. Thomas has some deep pockets.
Supporting Cast: I believe I mentioned all players on the team, therefore this blog post is over now.
******* All misspelling and grammatical errors were intentional in order to improve your overall proofreading skills, a necessity for ACT preparation. You're welcome. ********
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