To some, a small group of young men from a small community in Louisiana winning a national championship of any sort would be unthinkable. Yet, when the final horn sounded at the Milk House in Orlando, Florida, the unthinkable became reality.

On August 1, 2010, Groundup Darkside, a basketball team comprised of players from Abbeville and the surrounding area, defeated its finals opponent 77-68 to capture the 2010 AAU Division II 17 and Under National Championship. The team’s victory was a culmination of a tough season, one in which the team played in a tournament virtually every weekend for the past several months. These tournaments took place all over the state of Louisiana. Some games took place out of state. After winning a number of games and tournament championships, the team earned a bid to play in the AAU National Championship Tournament. The last week of July, the team headed to Orlando Florida, to play in a tournament featuring more than sixty of the best teams from across the country. A daunting challenge lay ahead.

Overcoming challenges is what this team was all about.

Groundup, whose general manager is Wayne Brown and is coached by Jordan Webster and Brandon Whittington, did not lose a single game on its way to the finals, beating teams from places such as Connecticut, North Carolina, Illinois and even Louisiana on its way to the title. The team did this with no sponsorship and with very little of the resources that many of the AAU basketball clubs from larger cities and states across the country are able to use.

The victories compiled by this team were a reflection of the mentality they played with all season long. The team played tough, disciplined defense and remained focussed regardless of the circumstances. This focus was essential for two victories in particular, one which saw the team win by one in the last game of pool play. The very next game was also a nail biter in which Groundup won by two points.

This team’s success is an example of the great things that can be accomplished when a group of people commit to a common goal and work together to achieve that goal without losing focus of the desired destination.

The team wishes to thank the Solomon family for helping to provide transportation, Credit Merchandise for providing t-shirts, Herod’s Village for unlimited use of the gym for practices and to all the parents for trusting Wayne Brown, Jordan Webster, and Brandon Whittington to coach their sons.

Groundup Darkside AAU National Champions: It’s now a reality.

From the coaches of Groundup Darkside