PA Playaz winning in Las Vegas

By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Area boys basketball team, the PA Playaz, is lighting things up this summer on the travel tournament circuit.
This year’s AAU Mid-Atlantic Division I champion, the Playaz are an AAU team comprised mostly of athletes from Bucks County. Most of the players hail from Council Rock North and Neshaminy High Schools including ‘skins sophomore scoring sensation Ryan Arcidiacono and Indian forward Arron Goodman.
In May, the Playaz captured the Division I championship by defeating Chester.
The team’s latest win came yesterday (July 22) in Las Vegas in the Adidas Super 64 Tournament when it outpaced Oregon, 56-35. Arcidiacono led the Playaz with 16 points and Owen Rice—of CR North—chipped in with 11. Goodman came through with 14 rebounds and Dwight Williams—of Neshaminy—pitched in with six steals.
“This is an extremely talented group of players,” stated head coach Gene Rice, who doubles as a Yardley businessman when he’s not coaching hoops. “There’s never been a group of Bucks County kids playing together that are this good.”
Also suiting up for the Playaz this summer are Billy McAllister, Matt McCloskey and Dan Schmidt. All three play for the Rock during the varsity season. McCloskey and Schmidt serve as the team’s defensive leaders.
Also contributing to the effort this summer are Dan Brown of CB South and Brandon Gilpatrick of Malvern Prep School. Both are big contributors on offense.
After capturing the division title, the Playaz went on a tear taking first place in the Carrierdome Classic in Syracuse, winning the Coaches Versus Cancer Tournament at Temple University then taking the Team Philly Championship.
Memorial Day weekend, they took the top prize in the Bob Givens Tournament of Champions held at Duke University. At the Spring Fling tourney held at Rutgers University, the team finished in the Final Four in a 32-team field. The Playaz also finished in the top four at the Providence College Jam Fest, a tournament comprised of 54 teams.
Last week, the Playaz won the West Virginia Invitational outright before heading to Las Vegas. Back in March, the team won Philly's Finest March Madness Invitational at Girard College, defeating Hoop Heaven, 75-67, in overtime in the championship. Arcidiacono paced the Playaz with 33 points. Tyler Katz contributed five points in overtime. Goodman blocked six shots.