During the weekend of May 3 and 4, the team, which competed in the 13-year-old age division of AAU boys basketball, took first place at the event.

The San Jose Swish competed against three teams, winning all three games, with scores of 68-41, 65-34 and 75-30.

Three of the team's players, guard Luke Kelly, center Xavier de La Rocha and guard Steven Montalvo, live in Willow Glen.

"I've been on this team for two years. We're a really good team," said Kelly.

De La Rocha, who's been on the team for one year, said, "We played great against some really good teams in Reno. But I think our coaches should get most of the credit. They're awesome."

Montalvo, who joined the San Jose Swish basketball team only weeks before the Reno tournament, added, "The tournament was really cool, and we had a great time. I'll definitely try out for the team again next year!"

The two coaches who took the San Jose Swish to Reno this year were Bob Talbott and Vince Charlton.

"We had one of the best teams I've seen since I started coaching for the AAU," said Charlton, who is also one of the assistant varsity basketball coaches at Bellarmine College Preparatory.

The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. In addition to its basketball teams, the AAU has a Junior Olympic Games and a youth scholarship, among other programs.

"I started coaching AAU basketball when my daughter joined the team. I liked the way the kids were encouraged to do their best and also told to have a good time playing," Charlton said.

Charlton has a long history of coaching different sports in the San Jose area.

"I've coached and been an athletic director for several years. I coached at St. Patrick and St. Andrew's schools and am now coaching football at Gunderson and Santa Theresa high schools. Coaching is a great way to be involved with kids, and I think sports helps them in both school and life later on," Charlton adds.

The San Jose Swish, as well as the other AAU teams, is admittedly very competitive, say the coaches.

"Our teams may not be for all kids. We expect them to work hard and play to their fullest potential. We have tryouts each year, and just because a kid made it onto the team the year before doesn't make them an automatic team member the next year," Charlton said.

The San Jose Swish will not be attending the national tournaments this year.

"Each year there are a lot of games sanctioned by the AAU. Each team decides which games they want to attend and whether or not they want to try for nationals.

"Since we don't do any kind of fundraising for the team trips, the parents pay a fee at the beginning of the year that covers all of the games. Then each family has to pay for travel and lodging," Charlton said. "We've competed in 13 games so far this year, and there are about eight more games left in the season. We didn't try to qualify for nationals this year because the team is still new. But we may try next year, depending on how the team looks."

At the end of the Reno tournament, the team held a free throw contest to see who would have the honor of taking home the trophy the team had won. At the end of the contest, it was Collin Chiverton who took home the prize.

For more information on the AAU, visit www.aausports.org or call 800.AAU. 4USA (800.228.4872).