“If not the best, at least the oldest”: Fans mock 5-star recruit Damari Smith’s 'best 8th-grade team'

Damari Smith's Team Loaded 2029, a youth basketball team based in Virginia, is affiliated with the Team Loaded AAU program.

On Dec. 26, mooremediaprods' Instagram handle made a post featuring a photo of Damari Smith as the cover with the caption:

“Is Team Loaded 2029 the best 8th grade team in the nation?”

The following slide shares clips of the gameplay from their matches. The reactions to the post were sardonic in nature.

“If not the best. Atleast the oldest,” a fan wrote.

Some comments lightly poke fun at how the team members look older than the other middle schoolers.

“This man king been in 8th since I been in 8th grade,” a comment read.

“You can say the oldest team in the nation 😂,” a fan said.

Another fan said, “Birth certificate please”

Some comments offered an understanding of why Team Loaded 2029 might not be the best eighth-grade team in the nation. A fan explained:

“A lot of these comments are saying these kids are 15 or about to turn 16. If that’s true then no, this team isn’t that good at all. They have games that they are only winning by 5-15 points. Players are 1-2 years older and you are only 7 buckets better? Really bad on age level team. If it’s fake then this team is really good and finds ways to win. Idk man 🤷🏾‍♂️”

“When you are older than the competition you should be better. This is obvious,” said another.

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There appears to be a discourse about the possible ages and reclassification of the Team Loaded 2029 players. There is no concrete information about that. Regardless, the team’s performances are remarkable.

Damari Smith and King Bacot’s performances with Team Loaded 2029

Damari Smith, a 5-foot-11 pointing guard/shooting guard, belongs to the Class of 2029. He attends John Marshall. His standout performances as an eighth grader have earned him attention. He led Team Loaded 2028 to a 3-0 record at Made Hoops East Winter Circuit with his scoring ability and leadership.

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Damari Smith’s teammate, King Bacot, also has been in the spotlight for his skills as an eighth grader. He is following in the steps of his brother, Armando Bacot Jr, who plays for the Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League.

In his junior season, Bacot averaged a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. His skills reflect the immense potential he holds as a future prospectus.

About the author

Nishant is a Delhi-based journalist at Sportskeeda specializing in High School Sports. He graduated in Mathematical Sciences and is pursuing a Masters in Operational Research at Delhi University.

With his educational background and over four years of experience, Nishant likes to be precise with information. He is passionate about cricket, football, basketball, and chess, often writing about events and game analysis.

His favorite team is the Michigan Wolverines, and he thoroughly enjoyed their unbeaten season and championship win, especially when it culminated in Jim Harbaugh fulfilling his promise of getting a tattoo.

When he is not working or watching sports, Nishant likes to play football and write poetry. Wrapping everything in humor with relatable memes and defending his heart out on the football field is why he gets up every day.

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Edited by Akshay Saraswat