LAS VEGAS — A group of Native American boys basketball players from the Dakotas recently made a strong impression at a national tournament.

The J Sizzles Adidas Gold 16U team, which consists of Native American boys basketball players from South Dakota and North Dakota, won the platinum division at the Las Vegas Big Time on July 18-21.

“I got a lot of positive comments about the boys, with how fun they are to watch and they all contribute in one way or another,” Davis said. “It’s not just one person that’s controlling the game.”

The squad consisted of South Dakota high school boys basketball players Marvin Richard III (Pine Ridge) and Damien Clown (Cheyenne-Eagle Butte). It also featured North Dakota high school boys basketball players Artie Carlow (Bismarck), Eli Eaglestaff (Mandan), Kenneth Eaglestaff (Bismarck), Lawrence Marshall (New Town), Makiya Berryhill (Bismarck) and Te’Darrion Slack (Bismarck). Darian Eaglestaff, an incoming eighth-grader at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte, rounded out the all-Dakota roster. 

“Being able to take the boys to something like that and giving them the opportunity to see the world, and not only basketball, but just being able to go see other things was a great opportunity for them,” Davis said.

Eagle Butte’s Lance Eaglestaff, who is Kenneth and Darian’s father, organized the team of Native hoopers. J Sizzles is an AAU-basketball program sponsored by Adidas and Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs. It plays on the Adidas 3SSB, which is one of the premier AAU basketball circuits in the country. 

“My whole point of putting this whole team together is that all these kids can play and it’s just showcasing, getting out to the country,” Lance Eaglestaff said.  

The collection of Native American basketball players played at other national tournaments, finishing 4-0 in Texas, 3-1 in Alabama and 3-2 in South Carolina this summer. 

Pine Ridge's Marvin Richard III (2) brings the ball up the court as Bismarck, North Dakota's Kenneth Eaglestaff (1) runs in front of him at the Las Vegas Big Time tournament. (Courtesy photo)
  

In Las Vegas, the J Sizzles 16U team played an exhibition game against City Rocks, a Nike-sponsored team from California and the Dakota boys won by 10, said Eaglestaff. 

“They are a big city team and it was good just to showcase our talents,” Eaglestaff said. “We have kids in the Dakotas that are just as athletic and just as good as anyone else in the country.” 

For Davis, who is Lance’s stepdaughter, the Vegas tournament was her second time coaching the team. She coached them earlier in the summer and admitted “I was honestly really nervous because I didn’t know how the boys would respond to just me,” she said.  

“But I think they did great, and as far as listening to me and respecting me, I really didn't have any issues, which I was super grateful for. So that kind of boosted my confidence for sure for Vegas.”

In Vegas, the players continue to buy into Davis and her coaching style. 

“It was a super fun experience and just having that group of boys I think was helpful because they are super respectful, and they understand the game,” Davis said. 

At the tournament, Davis and Eaglestaff both said the team relied on team ball, defense and rebounding. The players also adjusted their roles, compared to their high school teams. 

“It was a whole team thing,” Eaglestaff said. “These kids didn’t care who shot the ball or didn't care who went to the basket. They all worked with each other. For me, that was the highlight of it. It wasn’t just one player. It was the whole team, the coaching, listening to Ashley, moving the ball, playing defense together. Rebounding was huge because we were really outsized. Some of these kids are pretty big and so we all had to adjust.” 

Due to their size, Davis stressed playing man-to-man defense and said that it ignited their offensive attack. 

“I kept telling them it starts defensively,” Davis said. “We have to get stops and finish a play with a rebound. Rebounding was a little difficult at times, due to the fact that we were smaller. Offensively, it’s not really a struggle to score. Because we have threats offensively, but as far as style, I really stressed on them being able to get stops and contain the ball.”

Davis, who played college basketball at Black Hills State University, is currently going to physical therapy school at the University of North Dakota. She will graduate next year and said “once I get settled into PT I will eventually find my way back into coaching, whether that is high school ball or AAU. I do want to get back into it. It’s definitely something I enjoy and I would love to do it on the side of being a physical therapist.”

And her coaching résumé will include leading a group of Native American boys basketball players to a tourney title in Las Vegas. 

“We know our kids can play,” Davis said. “But we don’t really get the opportunity to bring them to places like that, and to play against that level and be in that circuit. So I think this just kind of not only opens our boys' eyes up, but the Native community in general because a lot of people are going to see what we did.”