MARLBORO COUNTY — For the past three years, one youth basketball program has turned Marlboro County into a proving ground for champions. The Star Alert 13U AAU team, founded and sponsored by Frank and Denise, owner of Stockyard Bar & Grill, has become a force that tournaments across the Southeast have learned to fear.
What started as a local dream has evolved into a full‑blown dynasty — 28 championships in just three years — a level of dominance rarely seen at any age group.
The roster — Aiden Hayes, Kyler Pruitt, Anthony McCollum, Jasiah Evans, Jaylon Iiles, Jaquez McRae, Kaiden Plato, Jacob Blue, and Kadarius Drake — has grown together, battled together, and won together. Every player brings a unique skill set, but their chemistry is what makes them unstoppable. They don’t just play basketball. They play Star Alert basketball: Fast, fearless and fundamentally sound.
This month, Star Alert received a prestigious invitation to the Golden Ticket Tournament, an event reserved for programs that have proven they belong among the best. They didn’t just show up, they showed out.
The boys played with swagger, discipline, and heart, battling through tough brackets and clutch moments. When the dust settled, they were holding yet another trophy, adding to their already legendary résumé. And then came the moment that changed everything: Their performance at the Golden Ticket Tournament earned them something programs dream about, an invitation to the AAU Nationals in Florida, with every expense covered.
It’s a testament to their dominance, their reputation, and the respect they’ve earned across the AAU landscape.
For a team from a small county, this is monumental. For these boys, it’s the next step in a journey that feels destined for greatness.
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