[Video: From Bronxite John Orozco’s fifth place performance at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan last year.]

Lots of hoops action to get caught up on, but first a few words about John Orozco, the pint-sized Bronx acrobat who is positioning himself to be one of the breakout stars of the 2012 Olympic Games in London this summer. In today’s Wall Street Journal, Aimee Berg wrote an outstanding profile of Orozco (“Gymnast’s Unlikely Bronx Tale”) and his journey to the top ranks of United States gymnastics.

Berg starts the piece off with rich details about Orozco’s early athletic feats: hanging on a basketball rim at 1, jumping off a roof into his father’s arms at 18 months, crazy skills in martial arts and dance. His talent was recognized early and he began training at an elite gymnastics center in Chappaqua, a 45-minute drive from his home in Clason Point.

As a Puerto Rican who attended Holy Family (J.Lo’s alma mater) for high school, Orozco was constantly teased about his chosen sport. It didn’t matter. He kept improving and won the junior all-around title at 14. He suffered a torn Achilles in 2010, but rebounded big-time last year. Orozco took bronze at the U.S. Nationals and finished a stunning fifth in Japan (just micro-points from earning a medal, see video above). A month ago, he won an event in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, Orozco will once again have a chance to shine, competing against the best in the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. But Orozco, who now carries the nickname “SNinja” (for secret-weapon ninja) told Berg he’s not nervous.

High School Playoffs Back in Full Swing
After the week off, the PSAL playoffs are back in business. We’ll get you caught up on all the latest action:

Boys AA Division
The JFK boys were unceremoniously bounced from AA tournament last night, falling hard, 63-50, to Brooklyn’s South Shore, one of the city’s best teams.

In a battle of two of the Bronx’s best, Wings Academy pulled of another nail-biter against Eagle Academy, 45-44, to move onto the quarterfinals. Wings is now the only Bronx team in the AA Elite 8. They play Cardozo on Sunday at St. John’s University at 3 p.m.

Boys A Division
We are now in the round of 16 and four Bronx teams are still in the field: DeWitt Clinton, Stevenson, Mott Haven and Evander Childs. Evander plays at home tonight against Banneker with an Elite 8 birth at stake … Clinton beat Stuyvesant 53-50 last night to get into the Sweet 16 … Top-seeded Mott Haven plays Stevenson on March 6.

Girls AA
Two Bronx teams — JFK and Truman — are competing in the AA tournament, which kicked off this week. JFK pounded Grand Street Campus to earn a quarterfinal match-up against McKee. Truman plays Boys & Girls tonight at home.

Girls A
Already into the Elite 8, Wings Academy is only team still repping the Boogie Down. Wings plays Bayside on March 6 for birth in the Final Four.