Harold Hicks continued to build his career totals, becoming the second Heat player to score 3800 points. They came late in a close loss to Strawberry Mansion at the Philly Classic on Aug.17. Harold's 3500th point came late in his team's narrow Semi-final loss to Mass. Select at the Hoop Group Jam-Fest in Providence RI. He played a big role (14 Pts, 5 assists and 3 steals) in Philly's big win versus Rhode Island Breakers in the Quarter-Final victory 82-78. His 3000th point came in the his team's hard fought MYBL play-off win, 60-59 versus  Next Level. He was selected a 2008 M.Y.B.L. All star, as his team fell to the Fire in the finals 86-82.  In the game Hicks topped 2000 points, he was outstanding, scoring 32 points on 14-16 shooting from the field and making six assists in a 92-73 win at Norristown. He scored 88 points and dealt 28 assists in seven games, helping the Heat 16-Under win the Silver Division of the Wildcat National.  in Rockford Ill. His career total is 3504 points in 288 games. He is the second highest scorer in Heat history and tops among active players. Hicks averages almost six assists per-game. 

      After becomming the 21st player in team history to reach the one K point plateau, Cedrick Powell continues to improve. C.P. 3 a Strawberry Mansion senior, scored his big points as his 17-Under team made it all the way to the Semi-Final of the Providence Hoop-Jam. Powell has  moved up three age groups in a little over a year! When his team needed them most, he hit a three point shot to tie a playoff game in the Point Breeze League with under a minute left. The Heat (6-2) won in overtime. Ced now has 1689 points in his Heat career.      

         Courtland Gilliam is the Heat's newest 1000 point club member but he's making that mileston a distant memory, as he keeps winning games.  He is big reason the Heat are in the Semi-Finals at the Point Breeze League. His Undefeated 14 Under squad defeated the Rockets 49-45. "Redz" dropped 23 points along with six assists, five rebounds and two steals.  Gilliam, who is really a point guard, gets most of his points when his teamates (favorite recivers; Cedrick Powell [ 1689 Pts.] Javez Reynolds [1682 Pts] and Terrance Loach) are double teamed. Courtland is the 22nd Heat player to reach 1000 points. 

        Shooting guard Javez Reynolds is a key player on the Point Breeze team, where he hit a clutch drive in overtime to get the Heat to the Semi-Final, He also helped the 15 and Under team win the title in the H. Hollow League.  "Vez", who is competing in his fifth Heat season, tallied 49 points, often on important possessions. Another highlight was his play in the Best of Philly" Classic title game. He was also strong in the Point Breeze League. Reynolds has 1682 career points, 11th on the All-Time scoring roster

      Khalief Trawick (Now starring at Arcadia U.)  ended a very successful career, as he left the Heat, for college at Arcadia University. He became the 11th Philly Heat player to score 1600 points, when he hit the game winning shot as the Heat topped the Stars 66-65 in over-time in the New Sigma League. at Ben Franklin High.  He fired for a career high 40 against the D.C. Assault at the Capitol Events National Invitational Semi-Final (An 81-75 win) in Washington D.C. when he went over the 1000 point mark. Trawick reached the milestone in 56 games (18+ PPG). Only Dionte Christmas (42 Games, 24+ PPG) got there faster.  Khaloef now has 1601 career points.            

        Wing Forward D. J. Newbill topped 1700 points in style, as he was MVP  of his latest title (#16) at the Basketball Hall of Fame, he has a career total of 1754 points. He was also MVP on his undefeated team won the Metro Baltimore Basketball League. Newbill drained 54 points in three MYBL playoff games to run his career total to 1664 points in 125 Heat (Record 98-23, Seven Titles) contests. D.J. Helped the Heat win title #7, when he drained a winning shot at the buzzer in the Chip game. He is especially tough to stop, because of his size (6'2") and his ability to shoot from outside. If you choose to double him on defense, to stop his scoring, he unselfishly dominates the game with assists.  

      Marque' Griffin became the 7th player to surpass 2000 Career Points. After "G-Force" latest title (#16) at the Basketball Hall of Fame, he has a career total of 2131 points. His historic points came in the finsal minute of another Heat buzzer beating win at Belfield. He led his 16 and Under team to three titles (MVP at Foster, Happy Hollow and Northlight CC) and two runner-up (Keystone Blazer Classic and Hoop Magic Va.). He was outstanding in the "Best of Philly" Classic, with 54 points and lock down defense. He also was strong at the Panther Classic in Canada, scoring 91 points in five games to help the 14-Under to the Consolation Championship against High School Varsity teams. Griffin also was a leader in assists, steals and rebounds across the border. He was the MVP of the New Sigma League, where his team was undefeated champs. Griffin's 14 and Under team had a 72-15 record, with five titles.   

       Everyone on the Philly Heat roster, came up big in one or more games, as the Philly Heat, made the semi-final (Top 12 out of 96 teams) in the Providence RI Jam Feat, hosted by the Hoop Group. Their biggest win (82-78) came versus the Rhode Island Breakers, who are often New England's top ranked team.

      Philly fell behind 26-10 early, as it looked like another easy win for the Breakers. But the Heat refused to fold, closing the gap to 10 (40-30) at half time. Early in the second half, they were inspired by Carl Wallace's (19 points) Dunk around three Breakers, as the Heat went on a 40-29 tear to take their first lead 70-69. During this run, Terrell Clark (17 points), Bilal Kelly (16 points and 13 rebounds), Harold Hicls (14 points) and Dehaven Brown (13 points and six assists) all scored at key times.

     Now with the lead, Philly forced the Breakers out of their zone defense, and they went to work holding the lead. Jerline Harris (four assists in the second half) and Cedrick Powell (two important free throws and a key hoop) Kept the pressure on Rhode Island.

     More important than their wins, all the Philly Heat players, got exposure to college coaches and were put on recruit lists at many schools. They also have a Video of their win over the Breakers; Maxx Athlete taped the game (Click the headline over this story), it can be viewed on Grass Roots TV. You can be sure the college recruiters know where to find the Philly players!

The Philly Heat 16-Under defeated Dunbar 52-41 to win the Columbus Day Challenge at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield Mass. D/J. Newbill led the way with 20 points. Marque' Griffin, Makief Williams and Tyree Smith added nine points apiece Cedrick Powell nailed a three pointer and Rahquil Norton hit 3 free throws during the Heat's decisive 15-3 second half run.. Cardell Hellems and Newbill each grabbed 10 rebounds.

The highlight of the weekend occured in the first game, where a loss would eliminate the Heat from title hopes. With the playoff birth at stake, Newbill canned a three point shot at the buzzer, to gice Philly a 53-51 win over stunned Connecticut Kings Newbill took a length of the court pass from Williams with three seconds remaining. He had time to square up and nail the shot as a King defender did his best ti defend. The game winner dropped perfectly through the net as the buzzer sounded. Only moments before, the Heat were stunned as a Kings sharpshooter hit a three pointer, to take away a two point lead that they had earned, after coming from 15 points behind. Key players in the comeback were Williams, Griffin, Smith, Hellems and Norton. 

Click the HEADLINE ABOVE, to view the game winning shot 

The Philly Heat made a big move, when they got all the way to the Semi-Finals of the Hoop Group Fall Jam-Fest at Rutgers University. Not only were they playing some of the best teams in the Eastern USA and Canada, but they were playing 17-U. (Senior) competition for the first time.

Philly qualified for the Silver Playoff by defeating the Hunterdon (New Jersey) Devils 87-66. Danzel Yard topped the Heat with 18 points, followed by Khalief Trwick's 17 points. Jacob Wasco added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Harold Hicks was solid, dealing seven assists and scoring eight points. Brandon Wesley was very strong, as he scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Marcus Grimes helped open up a big lead, with 12 second half points. They opened up with a 88-77 loss to the New York Patriots, one of the top teams in New York.

The Heat then defeated the New Jersey Wizards 88-81 in the quarter-final play-offs. they trailed 44-34 at half time, but two 14-U. stars from last year changed the game's momentum after the intermission. Guard Marque' Griffin was everywhere, as he grabbed five steals in the first 12 minutes and forward Cardell Hellams controlled the paint, with seven boards. That helped everyone get untracked. As usual, Hicks led with eight assists. Trawick led the team with 21 points and Yard added 17 tallies. Wasco was a beast in the second stanza, as he scored at will (Two big dunks) and grabbed 10 rebounds. 

The win was costly in two ways. First, the team lost Grimes with a knee sprain and second, they had expended lots of reserve energy in their comeback win. They now faced the Reebok Las Vegas Champs, Grass Roots of Canada. Even though they fell 78-60, they had a very successful competition and should make a big move up in the rankings.

After the success at Rutgers, Philly returned  home to get a very satisfying title at the Whittier League, defeating Allegheny 53-51 to take the best of three championship series 2-1. The Heat had to wait a full year to finally get the title in their "home league", but that made this victory even sweeter.  Allegheny may not be ranked like many of the teams Philly played in the Hoop Group, but they played like them.

The top seeded Heat rolled into the title round as a first seed, as Allegheny improved all season and had to fight through the playoffs as a fifth seed. Allegheny came right after the powerful Heat in game one, defeating them 77-72, as "Woodie" (25 points and 13 assists), "Gillie" (19 points and 17 rebounds) and "T-Bird" (17 points and 14 rebounds) led the way. Trawick (16 points), Yard and D.J. Newbill (15 points each) led Philly.

With game two scheduled at Shuler Playground (A.K.A. Whittier), the Heat were in danger of losing "their league" to the neighboring rivals. With a large crowd on hand and all the pressure on the Heat, they came away with a 54-49 win to tie the series at one apiece. The biggest baskets belonged to Hicks, who hit two clutch three pointers, to stop Allegheny's rally attempt with  five minutes remaining. Trawick led with 19 points, but his two assists to Hicks (13 points) were keys. Yard added 12 points. "Woodie" scored 12 points and made nine assists, "Gillie"  had 16points and 11 rebounds) and "T-Bird" added 12 points and 10 boards.

Game three did not disappoint, as the Heat survived a big last ditch rally by Allegheny to gain the title. After Allegheny took their only lead of the game 48-47 with 35 seconds remaining, Yard calmly hit a pull-up banker from 14 feet, to give their Heat the lead for good. Newbill (14 points), Hicks (11 points), Trawick (13 points) and Jon "Juice" Williams all made made  big shots with the game on the line.