Battle of the magic city showcase 2023

Birmingham, Ala. — There are few youth hoops tournaments in the nation that generate the level of excitement and competition found at “Battle of the Magic City Showcase”. The creation of Blue Chips Sports’ owner and operator, Clyde Jackson, this year’s event hosted more than 300 total teams representing every region of the country. Astoundingly, over 200 of those teams were concentrated in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade divisions, creating one of the largest platforms in grassroots basketball for middle school-aged programs. Be sure to check back throughout the week to read all of our individual player insight and analysis from the event, but in the meantime, here are a handful of my favorite storylines that unfolded during the weekend…

The Magic Returns To Youth Hoops

It was Wednesday, March 11th, 2020. I had already started packing my suitcase and preparing my schedule for the weekend in Alabama when the NBA announced it would cancel the season. Shortly after, the trickle-down effect began, and the 2020 Battle of the Magic City Showcase was postponed and later canceled altogether in what would begin a trend for the year ahead. In short, having this event back in 2021 was good for youth basketball. The energy in the gym on Friday night was electric and it carried over until everyone had exited the building on Sunday. I won’t forget this trip anytime soon nor the players that emerged because of its return.

Hollowed Ground At Hoover Met Complex

Not only is the 11-court Finley Center the ideal facility for evaluating at a large-scale sporting event like Battle of the Magic City Showcase, but the adjacent Hoover Metropolitan Stadium also has a unique hoops connection that basketball fans should appreciate. Until 2012, the field was home to the Birmingham Barons minor league baseball organization, meaning that Michael Jordan spent a considerable amount of time in the vicinity during the mid-1990s as a member of the Barons team. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the opening daytime baseball game scene from the original Space Jam (1996) movie was filmed at this stadium as well.

Drive Nation Trending Upward In 2025 Ranks

The eighth-grade division at the Battle of the Magic City Showcase was absolutely loaded with talent, featuring more than 70 programs and dozens of nationally-touted prospects, broken down into pairings that included a number of super pools leading into bracket play. The only team left standing at the end of the weekend was Drive Nation (TX), who finished the event with an unbeaten record of 6-0, and claimed the platinum division championship in the process. After winning consecutive tournament titles leading up to their Magic City crown, the Texas-based squad is the nation’s hottest team in the Class of 2025 heading into the spring season on the travel circuit, and will undoubtedly have opposing clubs chasing them on the schedule.

D-Five Global Proves “Guest Play” Groups Can Win

Another Texas-based program, D-Five Global (TX), took home top honors in the seventh-grade division at the Battle of the Magic City Showcase featuring a roster comprised of prospects from several different states. The momentum of a concept that I’ve dubbed, “guest play” (“All-Star”-type teams that assemble their roster regardless of where players reside), has surged during the coronavirus pandemic and continues to be a popular trend in grassroots basketball. While these groups are not eligible for our national team rankings at Prep Hoops Next, it is fun to see players from across the country merge for a weekend, and put their individual talents on display as a collective unit. The fact that D-Five Global (TX) was able to capture a championship at an event of this caliber is extremely impressive and speaks to the selfless play of their roster throughout the weekend.

Indy Premiere Makes Statement In 6th Grade Division

Indy Premiere put the Class of 2027 on notice by sweeping the competition at the Battle of the Magic City Showcase in a dominant fashion. Too strong of a word? Likely not, considering that with the exception of their 50-46 victory against CP3 Basketball Academy (NC) in the title game, “IP Fam 1st” won all of their games by double figures and finished the tournament with six wins and no losses. Depending on your point of view, the weekend in Alabama either concluded the winter schedule, or opened the spring season on the youth hoops calendar. Regardless, there’s a lot more basketball to be played but the current sixth-grade class is off to a great start as a whole.

Stay tuned for more from Prep Hoops Next!

AAU BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS FOR THE TOP TEAMS IN THE UNITED STATES!

At Blue Chips Sports not only do we have some of the top teams in the country playing for us but we also provide AAU sanctioned tournaments to match. Our basketball tournaments are for boys and girls teams grades 1st – 12th grade and attract them from all over the United States. Our events are grade-based events and we use the AAU grade-based eligibility as our requirements for players.

Our youth basketball tournament’s goal is to provide a safe, competitive, and exciting environment for young players to showcase their talents. We do that in some of the top tournaments in the country like Battle of the Magic City Showcase and of course, the very popular Juneteenth Shootout Classic in Texas.

Blue Chips Sports is looking forward to a very exciting 2022 AAU Basketball Tournament spring summer and fall seasons. We are looking to build on our already stellar reputation as the AAU basketball tournament leader.

SOME TOP PLAYERS FROM BLUE CHIPS EVENTS!

2022 BLUE CHIPS SPORTS EVENTS

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS FROM BLUE CHIPS EVENTS!

OUR EVENTS ARE NATIONAL SPORTS ID VERIFIED!

At North Coast Blue Chips we pride ourselves on teaching our youth basketball players sportsmanship, fair play, and the importance of following the rules. With the help of National Sports ID, we provide a positive tournament experience with players’ age and grade verified so we know that all teams are in the correct divisions. 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE NATIONAL SPORTS ID VERIFIED?

• All players are age & grade verified.
• All teams receive an NSID verified roster.
• Tournament eligibility rules are enforced.
• No more player documents at events.

STEP 1 – REGISTER TEAM(s)

STEP 2 – VERIFY ROSTER(s)

Hotels

TEAMINN is our official housing partner.  All teams traveling to our events are required to book their hotel rooms with our sponsor hotels.  TEAMINN secures the best properties at the lowest group rates, guaranteed!