Midwest Regional Tourney Breakdown: Who to Watch For

Next Saturday at 9:00AM, Ultimate Hoops' First Regional Tournament tips off at the Target Center Life Time Fitness in Minneapolis. Ultimate Hoops League Coordinators Pat Keller, Mario Jez, T.J. Rickert, Mike Harrington and Jimmy Neilly share with us who to keep your eye on:

Number 1 Seed - Balln' - Warrenville, IL
Player to Watch: Quentin Vaughn - This guy doesn't seem to get much recognition from the media, but clearly he is the heart and soul of the Balln' franchise. One of the most versatile players in UH, you can find him playing any one of the five positions on the floor. He also always draws the opposition's leading scorer on the defensive end. Vaughan is averaging 12.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest this season. He has been a catalyst in Balln's 18-game win streak. A four-season UH veteran he is the backbone of one of the top franchises in Ultimate Hoops. - PK

Number 2 Seed - The Truth - Shelby Township, MI
Player to Watch: Justin Cushingberry - Cushingberry is a three-time MVP in the incredibly competitive Shelby league. He is both an inside and outside threat - play him tight and he will blow by you, sag off him and he will launch from deep. Cushingberry is deceptively strong and has unbelievable hops. He will bang on you if your not careful. - MH

Number 3 Seed - The Rockets - Bloomington South, MN
Player to Watch: Dan Nguyen - For a team that relies so heavily on ball screens and the three point shot on offense, Nguyen is perfect point guard.  Everyone will talk about Neal Anderson's shooting with this team - as they should - but Nguyen is just as good from deep (35-64 this season, 55%), averages 8.7 assists per game, and his quickness and court awareness opens up shots for the rest of the deadly Rockets. - JN

Number 4 Seed - Manhart's Real Estate - Omaha, NE
Player to Watch: Eric Depue - This guy hustles like no other. His ability to score at will in the post allows for players like Brian Jakubowski to spot up and drain the three. Eric can shoot the three but prefers to dunk. The guy plays above the rim. On defense he alters every shot in the lane and when he goes for a rebound, get out of the way - teammate or not he will run you over. - TR

Number 5 Seed - Titans - Bloomington South ,MN
Player to Watch: Paul Okelo - Grant Hargett is the star of the Titans, but Paul Okelo is the backbone.  For every second of a 44-minute Titans game, you will see Okelo dash from baseline to baseline, sideline to sideline, and everything in between with unyielding hustle.  He primarily thrives on the defensive end, as he averages 2.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game - for his career. - JN

Number 6 Seed - Young Money Brick Squad - Bloomingdale, IL
Player to Watch: Jarvis Griffin - He can shoot, he can drive, he can dunk, and he can play defense! He is the definition of an all-around player from Chicago getting his playing time in Ultimate Hoops to prepare for his Pro-League experience in Germany. Jarvis helped Young Money Brick Squad to 21 straight wins in Bloomingdale and he has recorded 16.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks in his career for Ultimate Hoops. He is a great competitor that brings his "A-game" each week. - MJ

Number 7 Seed - UH Classics - Bloomington South, MN
Player to Watch: Ken Maxey - Granted, he has to show up.  Maxey's coaching commitments this season have forced him to miss four of the Classics' seven games.  But when he's there, the 6'9, 260-pound beast completely dominates the paint on both sides of the ball.  Averaging 32 points and three blocks per game, Maxey will give The Truth plenty to think about in the first round. - JN

Number 8 Seed - The Celtics - Fridley, MN
Player to Watch: Alex Skaja - On a team full of scorers, Skaja has one role, and he plays it to perfection: Defense. If the ultimate underdog Celtics are to surprise in this tournament, they won't be able to rely on out-scoring their opponents as they do in Fridley. Instead, they will have follow Skaja's defensive examples - getting a hand up, hustling back, boxing out and drawing a charge. Skaja is one of the best at all these things. - JN