Adidas Uprising Showcase Recap

By David Cordova

A lot of kids that love the game of basketball want to play in the biggest games on the biggest of stages. They all want to play in an event in which there is a large crowd cheering them on. What better place can that happen at than New York City, the aforementioned mecca of basketball.

This week, while the Adidas Uprising All-American Camp had their camp in Brookville, NY on the campus of LIU Post, some of their players played in a showcase at the world-famous Rucker Park, an outdoor court that has seen a lot of history. This game may have been a prelude to the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game as a lot of the top seniors in the country and the camp were on the court to do battle on the hallowed grounds of the Rucker.

The Grey team won the game, 103-97, over the Black Team. Rawle Alkins, of Christ the King in the Middle Village section of Queens and one of two hometown stars in the event, put on a great show for the fans with 24 points and 8 assists. On the other side, Shamorie Ponds of Thomas Jefferson, of the East New York section of Brooklyn, had 22 points and had a huge array of razzle-dazzle moves that brought the crowd to its feet.

Another great future of the showcase was the fact that the game took place during the live period, which is a time in which Division I college coaches are allowed to come and view the players in person. It is the first event ever in which college coaches were allowed by the NCAA to view an outdoor event during the live period.

Schools that were present included Indiana, Texas, Arizona State, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Creighton, St. John’s, Georgia, Oregon, UNLV, Alabama and Arizona to name a few. It was a great event in which players were able to showcase their abilities on one of the world’s greatest courts. This was an experience that many of these players will remember for the rest of their lives.

Outstanding Players from the Adidas Uprising Showcase:

Payton Pritchard, West Linn (OR) – Pritchard is a guard who knows how to get to the basket and has great ball handling skills. He holds offers from DePaul, California, Louisville, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Baylor, UNLV, Washington, Indiana, Butler, Vilanova, UCLA, Iowa, Oregon, Oregon State, Virginia, Tulsa, Florida State, Xavier and Wisconsin.

Rawle Alkins – Alkins is a guard that is very explosive, is able to get to the rim easily with his athleticism and also displays a good jump shot. He holds offers from North Carolina, UNLV, Auburn, VCU, South Florida, Wake Forest, Georgetown, Texas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Miami, Indiana, N.C. State, East Carolina, Seton Hall, Maryland, Fordham, George Mason, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Hofstra, Florida State, Louisville, Providence, Kansas, St. John’s and Florida.

Mustapha Heron, Sacred Heart (CT) – Heron is a guard who can rebound and also run the floor. He always takes it to the basket and is also a potent scorer. He holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, Maryland, Mississippi State, St. John’s, SMU, Kansas, Miami, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Vanderbilt.

Kyle Guy, Lawrence Central (IN) – Guy is an explosive guard who attacks the basket. He always looks to score and has plenty of athleticism. He will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall of 2016.

Edrice Adebayo, Northside (NC) – Adebayo is a forward who is powerful in the paint. He does everything he can to dominate on both ends of the floor. He also has good ball handling skills for his size. He holds offers from Virginia, Louisville, Arizona State, St. John’s, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Kansas, South Carolina, Iowa State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Oklahoma State, East Carolina, Wake Forest and Memphis.

James Banks, St. Francis (GA) – Banks is a forward who is a monster in the paint. He is also a powerful finisher when going to the rim. He hols offers from Xavier, Syracuse, Tulsa, Georgetown, Purdue, USC, North Carolina State, Georgia, Auburn and Georgia Southern.

Shamorie Ponds, Thomas Jefferson (NY) – Ponds is a guard who looks to score, but is also a player who sets teammates up for baskets. He is also a dangerous long-range shooter. He holds offers from Georgia Tech, Xavier, Rhode Island, Creighton, Seton Hall, Minnesota, St. John’s, Oklahoma, Fordham, Cal State-Bakersfield, USC, Iona, Miami, South Florida and Temple.

Kobe Simmons, St. Francis (GA) – Simmons has great ball handling skills and finds ways to get to the basket. He has plenty of finesse when having the ball in his hands. He holds offers from Kentucky, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, USC, North Carolina State, Providence, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arizona, Marquette, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Houston, Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Florida State, Samford, Vanderbilt, Oregon State, Charlotte, Memphis, Ohio State, Kansas, UConn, Texas and Missouri.

Zach Collins, Bishop Gorman (NV) – Collins is a mobile forward in the paint who also has great athleticism. He always slams it down with authority. He will be headed to Gonzaga University in the fall of 2016.

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