After national tournaments in Tuscaloosa and Dallas, the NLA National 7on7 Tournament will be held in Brooklyn for 2012.
This weekend, several of the top 7on7 teams from around the country will converge on the Aviator Sports Complex, to earn the crown won by the South Florida Express in 2010 and the 1925 All-Stars in 2011.
Founded by Kashann Simmons and Baron Flenory, the Big Apple will be host this year, and the Goon Squad, coached by Flenory and Simmons, is expected to be around until the very end.
A loaded squad, featuring elite 2014 prospects Tony Brown, Edward Paris and Brandon Simmons, the Goon Squad won the Pittsburgh regional earlier this spring, to ensure their trip to Brooklyn. With a secondary that has nearly 50 offers combine between the three Texas juniors-to-be, they are also joined by New Jersey native Nadir Barnwell, so you can expect the Goon Squad to make it difficult to pass on them.
Playmakers Silver is another team expected to contend and they’re headlined by Will Fuller, a Penn State commit, as well as four-star running back David Williams. Those two are joined by 2014 quarterback A.J. Long and receiver DuBois Ross, among others. Playmakers White is led by receiver Thaddeus Smith and defensive back Tyrone Johnson.
The Virginia Thoroughbred’s are stacked with arguably the most talented squad in the event. Quarterback Corwin Cutler, a Virginia commit, will have plenty of options, like running back Taquan Mizzell and 2014 star Jamil Kamara. Da’Shawn Hand, one of the premier players in the country in the 2014 class, is also expected to play tight end for the Thoroughbred’s.
Team New York will be the hometown squad and they are paced by linebackers Ebenezer Ogundeko and Ousmane Camara as well as running back’s Laray Smith and Augustus Edwards.
Flash Training is another team stacked with talent, like USC committed 2015 quarterback David Sills and cornerback Jahmere Irvin-Sills, an Auburn commit. Five-star defensive tackle Kenny Bigelow is expected to work out as a tight end. Running back Wendall Smallwood and cornerback Daikiel Shorts are others to watch.
The teams all scheduled to participate include: Michigan Elite Red, EMass Flyers, West Massachusetts Elite, K Fitness, Goon Squad, Michigan Elite Silver, Gridiron Academy, Delaware Elite, Phenom, Team Albany, Playmakers White, Team 412, Perfect Performance, CTC, NJ Speed, Flash Training, Thoroughbred’s, The City, Playmakers and Starz.
Saturday is pool play with the single elimination playoff scheduled for Sunday.