Michael's had five core players from last year's New Jersey 14U AAU championship squad re-class (making them 8th graders again), including outstanding guard Ray Cortes. This has resulted in a squad that possesses experience, size, and strength—a winning combination. The other starters include 6'5" wing DeAndre Daniels and 5'11" point guard Andre Allen. Ray is the star of the team. A gifted scorer who can also handle the ball, he's looked unstoppable at times this season with his ability to create his own shot or find open teammates. Although he comes from a very competitive family, there's no question that basketball is his first love. He says his favorite player when he was growing up was Dwyane Wade because of his smooth style of play and competitiveness. DeAndre is another talented young player on the team. A hard-working defender who gets most of his points off the bench, he's got a good touch around the basket and is a solid outside shooter. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he's looking to follow in the footsteps of former University of Maryland standout Kevin Durant. Andre is the youngest player on the team but certainly not the least experienced. A smart player who sees the court well and makes the right decisions under pressure, he leads by example and always plays with confidence.