The Sampson County “All Stars” AAU boys 15 and under basketball team is preparing to travel to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Division III state basketball tournament this weekend, May 15-17, in Greensboro.

The “All Stars” 15U team has participated in three tournaments thus far this season, finishing second in the “Bladen Blast” in Elizabethtown, in March and second in the “Best of the Best Tournament” in Wilmington, last month.

The team’s first game in the state tournament will be Saturday versus the Metrolina Havoc from Charlotte.

All Stars head coach Dwight Miller said “The Havoc have a lot of national level experience; they will be a very tough opening round opponent for our team”. The tournament will continue through Sunday. Teams that place in the state tournament are eligible to play in the AAU Division III national championship July 23-26th in Hampton Roads, Va.

Miller further stated, “Our goal is to finish well in Greensboro and qualify for National Championship Tournament; there we will be able to compete against some of the best teams from all over the country”.

The “All Stars” 15U team is made up of players from Clinton High School, Midway High School, Sampson Middle School, Union Middle School and Harrells Christian Academy. For more information on the Sampson County All Stars Basketball program visit www.SCallstars.org