Karolina Diamond AAU Basketball: Complete Domination

The Burlington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated was chartered on November 20, 2011.  Since its inception, its chapter members have strived towards being the very best chapter in the entire Fraternity.  We have vowed to bridge the generational gap between graduate chapters and undergraduate chapters.  We have been extremely busy in the greater Burlington area as we have hosted political, social and academic events to impact the community.  One of the chapter’s biggest and most important initiatives, however, is the Karolina Diamonds Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated has a rich tradition of producing outstanding student-athletes.  Some even continue their respective journeys to the professional ranks.  Inevitably, members of the Karolina Diamonds will someday become members of Kappa Alpha Psi and some of them will reach the highest level of professional basketball.  But, as impressive as that will be, we are even more proud of the upstanding citizens that each of them represent. 

 The Karolina Diamonds are a 14 and Under AAU team comprised of rising ninth grade student-athletes from North and South Carolina.  The team was founded by Burlington Alumni Polemarch, Kevin Graves.  Steven Rush, also a Burlington Alumni member and former standout basketball player at North Carolina A&T State University, is a coach as well.  The team has played together for two years and during that time, it has amassed a remarkable record.  The Diamonds have played 73 games on the “National Level,” which is the highest level of AAU basketball in the nation.  They have won 65 games and only lost eight times, by a total of 36 points combined.  [1]    

In July 2012, Graves and Rush took the Diamonds to the National 14 and Under Basketball Championships at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.  During the course of the competition, droves of high major basketball coaches attended.  Some of the attendees represent a “who’s who” of college basketball, including: Coach John Calipari, Coach Rick Pitino and Coach Bill Self, to name a few.  The Diamonds, adorned in black, red and white uniforms, with black and red custom basketball sneakers took to the biggest basketball stage in the nation.  Their uniforms displayed an image of a “diamond” on the shorts and “Diamonds” is written across the chest of the jerseys.

 

The Diamonds started out the tournament, just as they had every other tournament.  They pressured, swarmed, and outplayed teams.  While in Orlando, they won eight games.  Not only did they win the games, but they won by an average margin of victory of over twenty points—that’s domination.  They defeated The Brevard Bulls (FL.) 72-52; The Houston Phenoms (TX) 64-34; Team Lima (OH) 52-36; The Arkansas View Elite (AR) 65-47; Southern Illinois Tigers (IL.) 73-48; Team Texas (TX) 65-49; Team Penny Hardaway [2] (TN) 72-61; DC Assault [3] (DC) 56-39.  The Diamonds advanced to the final game against the Dunk Dog Elite (LA).  The game was televised on ESPN3 and the gymnasium was filled with over 3,000 onlookers.  The seats were filled with college coaches, parents, high school coaches, other AAU teams and other collegiate representatives.  The Diamonds ultimately lost the game by a score of 58-55.

The Diamonds are one of the chapter’s main community service programs.  The brothers of the chapter have supported the Diamonds both financially and otherwise.  However, the lion’s share of the success and credit for the initiative has to go to Kevin Graves and Steve Rush.  These brothers have taught the Diamonds basketball skills and the importance of competitive spirit, as well as non-basketball related values.  They have preached the worth of proper dress etiquette, and the significance in being politically, financially and culturally aware.  Graves and Rush helped teach the Diamonds the importance of education and how their talent can ultimately help them reach financial security by not owing the government for student loans.  They have been encouraged to visit college campuses and have been coached on the nuances of creative writing and SAT preparation.  The Diamonds know that no matter how good they are collectively as a team, or individually, there will come a day when their basketball days are done.  These young men have represented their families, themselves, Burlington Alumni and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated very well.

We will leave you with the Diamonds’ mantra: The Diamonds strive to be the hardest working, mentally toughest, smartest, most unselfish, defensive minded, attack oriented, nastiest team in AAU basketball with no excuses, no complaints and absolutely no shortcuts!

If you are interested in following the Diamonds, or making a tax-deductible contribution, please visit www.karolinadiamonds.bbnow.org.

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[1] Out of their eight losses, they are averaging losing by just over four points per contest.  Meanwhile, of their 65 wins, they have won by an average of over 20 points per contest.

[2] The Diamonds Defeated Team Penny in the Elite Eight.  Ironically, that game matched brother and former NBA great, Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway’s team against the Diamonds.

[3] The Diamonds defeated the DC Assault in the Final Four and the game was televised on ESPN3.