The 2017 NY2LA Association kicks off in Dallas for the Lone Star Invitational. Part of league play and an open division with many top prospects and programs from down south, the Lone Star Invitational will be an exciting three days of basketball. Here are the 15 quality games to watch on opening night…

SEE ALSO
2017 NY2LA SPORTS LONE STAR INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
2017 NY2LA SPORTS LONE STAR INVITATIONAL TOP PROSPECT PREVIEW

OPEN DIVISION OPENING NIGHT GAMES OF INTEREST
(Note – Not an Exclusive List)

Nike Pro Skills 16U EYBL vs. Team Stackz Elite – Fieldhouse USA
Playing up a level, Nike Pro Skills’ 16U EYBL squad will play in the 17U Division. Featuring UTSA commit Darian Gibson and point guard Bryce Cook, Pro Skills features a ton of must-see sophomore prospects. Welcoming them on opening night is Team Stackz Elite out of Texas, featuring 6-foot-9 center Kirby Aldridge and numerous quality Lone Star State players. 

Dallas Showtyme Elite vs. Oklahoma Magic – Fieldhouse USA
As always, Dallas Showtyme features some strong hidden gyms. 6-foot-6 point guard Jordan Phillips holds a couple Division 1 offers. Power forward Grayson Carter has offers from Oklahoma State, LSU, Iowa State, Texas, Texas A&M, and more. Those two lead what is perhaps the favorite in the Open Division. They’ll get a test from a stingy Oklahoma Magic squad. Teams looking for late additions to their 2017 classes will want to check out the Magic as well as guard Lafayette Dorsey.

Lone Star Elite vs. Florida Triple Threat – Fieldhouse USA
Lone Star Elite features a terrific frontcourt trio. 6-foot-7 forward Marek Nelson and 6-foot-8 forward Vincent Lee are two of the hottest prospects in Texas. They’ll take on Florida Triple Threat, who features a number of unsigned seniors looking for homes next season. 6-foot-6 guard Malcolm Nicholas is an intriguing prospect to know for Triple Threat. 

RM5 16U EYBL vs. LA Roundballers – Fieldhouse USA
RM5 features a number of touted class of 2019 prospects. Led by shooting guard Avery Anderson III, who has early offers from TCU and SMU and Tre Williams, RM5 is one of the top contenders in the open division. They’ll get a stiff test on opening night, however. The LA Roundballers are loaded at the guard spot, including Malik Cooper and Latreavin Black. 

Houston Hoopstars vs. Texas Impact 4:13 Elite – Fieldhouse USA
Another high quality open division matchups tips between two quality programs from Texas.  Houston Hoopstars boast the likes of 2018 F Rhys Quick, 2018 C Efe Odigie, and G Kobe Wilson.  Texas Impact 4:13 Elite counters with 2018 PG Xavier Bryant, 2018 SF Jaylen Walker, and 2019 Samuell Williamson, amongst others.  This one is one to watch tonight.

NY2LA BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION 17U OPENING NIGHT GAMES OF NOTE
(Note – Not an Exclusive List)

Team Blaze Select vs. Wisconsin Swing – Fieldhouse USA
A loaded matchup sets the tone on Friday. Team Blaze features top 100 prospect Musa Jallow, who’s currently attraction high major attention from all over the country. Don’t sleep on his teammates either, who helped Team Blaze make a deep run in last year’s NY2LA Summer Jam and are some of the best kept secrets in the Midwest. Another top threat in the North Division, the Wisconsin Swing have a three-headed monster in the backcourt in Nick Klug, Mason Steffen, and Mitch Listau, who are all attracting Division 1 attention. 

Yanders Law vs. Grand Rapids Storm – Fieldhouse USA
Arguably the top scoring guard in the NY2LA Association, Monty Johal leads Yanders Law into an intriguing opening night matchup. His running mate Jordan Walton has also been known to put on a show, forming a dangerous backcourt. Grand Rapids Storm counters with 6-foot-10 forward Blake Verbeek, one of the top sleepers in the league. 

Jets-Ramey United vs. Wisconsin Shooters – Fieldhouse USA
Two South Division title contenders square off on opening night. Featuring arguably the top frontcourt in the NY2LA Association, the Wisconsin Shooters will be a handful with Derek Sabin and Grant Basile – two legitimate Division 1 prospects – leading the charge. They’ll be tested by a terrific backcourt on Friday. Jets-Ramey United has three solid guards in Malachi Smith, Kevin Caldwell, and Jalen Hodge. 

Martin Bros. vs. Blue Chip Nation – Fieldhouse USA
Martin Bros. of the South Division meets Blue Chip Nation of the West Division. Martin Bros. features a strong trio in Jason Taylor, Matt Mims, and Luke Vaske, just a few members of a deep and talented squad. Blue Chip Nation counters with a number of intriguing prospects from Arizona, including 6-foot-7 forward Carter Coray and class of 2019 Adrian Chandler, who will give it a go against the big boys this weekend.

AUSA Platinum vs. Minnesota Comets Elite – Fieldhouse USA
Another big North Division matchup, this one will feature a must-see battle in the post. Unsigned senior Sebit Reath is a skilled, high-upside 6-foot-9 forward that will be drawing numerous college scouts to Dallas. He’ll face off with 6-foot-11 center Joe Hedstrom, who holds a handful of Division 1 offers going into the spring. Two of the deepest teams in the NY2LA Association, this could emerge as the game of the night. 

Mac Irvin Fire vs. Ricky Davis Texas Legacy – Fieldhouse USA
Two new additions to the NY2LA Association, Mac Irvin Fire and Ricky Davis Texas Legacy certainly upgrade the athleticism on hand this weekend. A breakout performer already this spring, Xavier Pinson has been putting together big performances at a high rate for Mac Irvin. He’ll be met by another explosive guard in Yosani Clay of Texas Legacy. Look for these two to put on a show Friday night. 

Kessel Heat Black vs. Omaha Elite – Fieldhouse USA
A sleeper in the North Division, Kessel Heat Black has perhaps some of the biggest upside prospects in the NY2LA Association. Their 1-2 punch of Quinlan Bennett and Jalen Shaw, complimented by sharpshooter Ryan Kutsor makes Kessel Heat very dangerous. Omaha Elite will answer with a strong trio of their own. Aguek Arop, Nate Mohr, and Tyrell Carroll are capable of doing big things in the loaded North Division as well. 

Playground Elite vs. Minnesota Select – Fieldhouse USA
Playground Elite has a couple guards that should attract some attention in 6’4” off-guard Marlon Ruffin and combo guard Quincy Anderson. The backcourt matchup should be fierce Friday night as Minnesota Select also boasts an exciting duo of Christian Dickson and Beijan Newbern and a wing prospect building looks in 6-foot-6 forward Nick Fulford.
 
Inland Elite vs. REACH Legends – Fieldhouse USA
The bigs for Inland Elite Travell Washington (6-10) and Legend Stamps (6-9), are talented and will have a lot of eyes on them Friday night. They pose a challenge for REACH Legends, which rising 6-foot-7 star Quinn Blair will be ready to take on. D’Juan Seales and a quick backcourt will try to speed the game up for REACH to counter the size Inland imposes.

Stay tuned to NY2LASPORTS.COM for complete coverage of the 2017 Lone Star Invitational all weekend long…