Smart, Texas Assault blow past Dream Vision

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – For the second July in a row, Texas Assault is leaving Las Vegas with championship hardware from the adidas Super 64.

Tournament MVP Marcus Smart outworked Dream Vision to the tune of 29 points, 19 rebounds and five assists as Texas Assault blew past its California-based counterpart for a 93-78 win Tuesday night at Rancho High School. The contest was televised nationally by CBS Sports Network.

"He is one of the best competitors in America," Texas Assault coach Rick Roberts said of Smart. "He has heart that you can't measure. As long as you have him on any team, you got a chance to win the game."

Assault won the under-16 bracket at the adidas Super 64 a year ago. Smart, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound rising senior guard at Marcus High School (Flower Mound, Texas), was also the MVP of that event.

"We wanted to prove we belonged," Texas Assault guard Phil Forte said. "We play as a team and we are unselfish. I think that's why we won."

The trophy didn't come easy as the nation's No. 1 player, Shabazz Muhammad, scored nine early points to help Dream Vision build a 34-22 lead – it's largest – with under seven minutes remaining in the first half. Muhammad played despite an ankle injury suffered in semifinal play.

Two big 3-pointers by 6-8 forward Nick Banyard helped Assault close the gap early in the second half. Smart knifed through the lane moments later for a bucket to give the Texas club a 51-50 lead with a little over 16 minutes remaining.

Smart and dead-eye distance shooter Forte continued to pour it on with key makes that put the game away long before the final buzzer.

The victory capped a perfect 9-0 run through the event that included five wins over the past two days. It also provided vindication for a team that felt slighted after being left out of the showcase "Super Pools" on Friday and Saturday.

"We felt we were disrespected," Roberts said. "We came in to prove to everybody who the best team in America is."

Play this week in Las Vegas should raise a healthy debate about Smart's standing among the nation's elite prospects. Ranked No. 24 in MaxPreps.com's Class of 2012 Top 100, nobody meant more to their team than the rough-and-tumble guard, who has helped Marcus achieve a 76-4 record over the past two seasons with a state title last March.

"I really don't care about that," Smart said. "I just want to go out and play ball. Those rankings are going to go up."

"I'm not surprised," Forte said of his Marcus and Texas Assault teammate. "Big-time games and he steps up like that."

Texas Assault beat breakout star Jordan Loveridge and Utah Pump-N-Run in the semifinals (66-57), while Dream Vision topped Indiana Elite (67-56).

Texas Assault's supporting cast

Smart's drive is hard to overlook, but Texas Assault got big boosts from a supporting cast that provided willing role play and key buckets when needed.

Legend has it that Forte connected on 23 of 30 3-point field goal attempts during one stretch of the tournament.

Banyard already had the reputation of a top-flight athlete, but his ability to knock it down from deep in Las Vegas had to open some eyes.

Holt Harmon, a 6-7, 230-pound forward from Plano West (Plano, Texas), converted around the bucket and added to Assault's penchant for the deep ball with some big 3s of his own.

Clarke Overlander of Argyle served as the glue guy and provided a major highlight in the final with a chase-down block on a dunk attempt by Muhammad.

Notes

The CBS Sports Network's broadcast crew included UCLA legend Don MacLean, Seattle hoops guru Francis Williams and retired Northland (Columbus, Ohio) coach J.T. "Satch" Sullinger, the father of Ohio State star Jared Sullinger. ... The development of Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) rising senior Winston Shepard has been impressive. Once viewed as a bouncy four man, he is making the transition to the wing and perimeter with some success. ... Recent FIBA Americas U16 Championship gold medalist Conner Frankamp earned MVP honors in the under-16 division of the Super 64 as KC Pump-N-Run knocked off the Indianapolis-based Eric Gordon All-Stars for the title. ... Diontae Jones collected MVP hardware in the under-15 division as the Las Vegas Prospects got past Minnesota Pump-N-Run.