On Tap: Rumble in the Bronx

The action will heat up (and there will finally be air conditioning) this weekend at the Rumble in the Bronx and Scout.com will provide updates. Tournament director Jim Hart has assembled another quality field - led by Tyreke Evans, Samardo Samuels and plenty of nationally ranked rising seniors as well.

The ninth annual Rumble in the Bronx will get going this weekend at Fordham University.

It’s widely regarded as the best team event in the month of June – and this year will be no exception with the presence of rising seniors Corey Stokes, Johnny Flynn (Syracuse), Anthony McClain, Cory Fisher (Villanova), Cory Chandler (Rutgers), Matthew Bryan-Amaning (Washington) and Teeng Akol and a pair of the nation’s top rising juniors in Tyreke Evans, Samardo Samuels.

Another late addition is George Goode Jr., who will join Howard Pulley for the tournament. Goode normally plays with KC Rocktown and is the No. 51 player in the Class of 2007.

``We have expanded it to 48 teams in the under-17 division,” said tournament director Jim Hart, who runs the event along with Chris Oden. “In addition to the normal slate of local teams, we’ve got some of the best teams from around the country coming. We expect it to once again be a great event.”

Some of the top local entries include the Metro Hawks, Gauchos, Albany City Rocks, Long Island Lightning, New Heights, GC Ballers, New York Panthers, Ravens and Team Final. The field also includes BABC, H-Squad, Louisiana Select, Miami Tropics, Playd Hard Play Smart, Howard Pulley, South Florida Heat and the pair of squads from the Lone Star State – Texas Showtime and Texas Top Prospects.

In addition to a strong 17-and-under field, the event will also feature some of the top under-16 and under-15 squads in the area.

The tournament will begin Friday and conclude Sunday. A year ago, it was Lazar Hayward taking home MVP honors as he led the GC Ballers to the title in the 17-and-under division while the Albany City Rocks duo of Jimmer Fredette and Mike Goodman shared MVP honors in the under-16 bracket. One big change this year for Hart and the tournament is that Rose Hill Gym has installed air conditioning.

Check Scout.com for updates on Rumble in the Bronx this weekend