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Team Breakdown Puts Florida Hoops On The Map

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By NICK WILLIAMS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2008

Team Breakdown is the best AAU club in Florida and one of the top teams in the nation. After winning numerous tournaments around the country, Reebok began sponsoring the club in 2004. In July, the team won the AAU 17-Under Junior Boys National championship

The team consists of Kenny Boynton, the No.1 ranked prep senior in Florida, Pine Crest junior guard Brandon Knight, the 2007 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A Player of the Year and No. 1-ranked junior in the state, and Oldsmar Christian senior guard and three-star recruit Chris Perez.

"This past summer, we were the No. 1 team in the nation," said Perez, who also won a national title with Breakdown's 16U team last year. "It was fun playing with future McDonald's All-Americans and on the big stage. When we walk in a gym in our black and pink (uniforms), everybody looks at us. When you're the No. 1 team in the nation, people want a piece of you."

Boynton Sr. said several AAU coaches have pleaded he send his son, Kenny, to their team, promising opportunities to play in high exposure showcases for a big-name sponsored club, eventually increasing his recruiting possibilities. The Boyntons remained loyal.

"We didn't have the name recognition other teams had," said founder and coach Kenny Gillion. "Every top team tried to get him, but he started off with us. He started with me in seventh grade. (Coaches) say that, but it all depends on the situation. You might play on a big name team and not get any playing time."

Breakdown plays in all of the premier summer tournaments, from Las Vegas, to New York to Orlando - up to 100 games each summer. It's a grind but the exposure is far more players can receive by strictly playing high school basketball.

"These gyms are jammed packed," said Kenny Boynton Sr., Kenny Boynton's father. "[College] coaches go to these AAU tournaments to watch the best of the best play. I think it's better now because coaches know what they're getting. [Players] get a chance to travel and play against the other guys they've heard about. "

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