For the second consecutive year, Nike is taking 12 of the top players from its Elite Youth Basketball League to the Bahamas to suit up against the Bahamian National Team on Saturday.
The game will run concurrent with the Under Armour Elite 24 in Brooklyn, N.Y., effectively keeping its top players out of the event.
The Nike event boasts four of the top 10 players in the ESPN 100, including Nike Peach Jam champion Trae Young and No. 2 overall player Wendell Carter Jr. The roster includes Gary Trent Jr., who went on the trip last year, and Billy Preston, who played in the Elite 24 last summer. Also scheduled to make the trip: Moamed Bamba, Brian Bowen, Troy Brown, Matt Coleman, Quade Green, Brandon McCoy, Mitchell Robinson, Collin Sexton, Lonnie Walker and P.J. Washington.
Sexton is coming off a dominant summer and has skyrocketed in the recruiting rankings.
Before heading off to paradise the group toured the White House, which Bamba, from Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.), was especially excited about.
Bamba was hoping to get a chance to point out the similarities between his and the President’s last names to the man himself.
“His name is Obama and mine is Bamba!” said Bamba, who is ranked No. 3 overall. “When we were in Chile for USA Basketball U18’s all the fans over there were saying ‘Bamba for President’ because our names sounded alike, so I’m sure he’d get a kick out of that.”
Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY
