Kevon Looney
Day 2 of the adidas Nations started with morning match-ups between the USA teams against the international teams. The USA won all the games.
USA 2015 Blue got over a slow start to top Australia 78-63. 6’8 Carlton Bragg led the balanced scoring for the USA with 12 points. 6’8 Jonah Bolden was impressive in defeat for Australia with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting and ten rebounds. The Aussies shot only 2-of-21 on three-pointers. Russia was no match for USA 2014 Blue in the 67-48 American win. Monteverde Academy’s D’Angelo Russell led the USA with 14 points while 7’0 Myles Turner added 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. 7’2 Andrey Desyatnikov had a decent game with 12 points to lead Russia.
Malik Newman
The USA 2015 Red squad had a tough time with Lain America before ending with a 64-58 win. Malik Newman continued to impress, scoring 15 points and hitting 3-of-5 three-pointers. 6’10 Henry Ellenson added 13 points and nine rebounds. 6’6 Braian Rodas was all over the court for Latin America scoring 27 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Rodas shot 9-of-21 but was 0-of-8 from distance.
Africa looks like the best international team here. They gave the USA 2014 Red team a scare before losing 74-68. Africa’s 6’8 Michael Nezi had impressed us all week with his quick jumping ability and general skill level. He pulled down nine offensive rebounds in this game, totaling 14 rebounds and 16 points. Smooth shooting guard Sidy Ndir added 13 for Africa. 6’11 Jalil Okafor had a double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds for the USA. He was helped by 6’8 Kevon Looney who added ten points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
There were two one-sided games in the evening session. The USA 2014 Blue beat Latin America 92-58 with six players scoring in double figures, led by D’Angelo Russell and Sahqquan Aaron’s 13 points. Th USA 2014 Red team outgunned a vastly over-matched team from the Philippines 113-56. Craig Victor and Trevon Bluiett scored 17 points each while Justice Winslow added 16. Okafor (6 points, 11 rebounds) and Looney (8 points, 7 rebounds) only played 16 and 15 minutes respectively. Arvin Tolentino, the best Philippine player, led his team with 17 points and seven boards.
Craig Victor
In an international match-up Australia was no match for Africa as the Africans won going away 78-51. Michael Nezi outdid himself in this game, shooting a perfect 10-of-10 from the field on the way to 23 points and nine rebounds. The African backcourt of Sidy Nadi (19) and Nehdi Ngouma (14) combined for 33 points. 6’5 Jack McVeigh led Australia ith 13 points. Malik Newman made up for an off-game by hitting the deciding three-pointer to give USA 2015 Red a late lead on the way to a 60-56 win over Russia. Newman only shot 2-of-10. Chase Jeter led the Americans with ten points. 6’7 Stanislav Ilnitskiy led Russia with 18 points and six rebounds.
Myles Turner
Louisville’s Russ Smith impressed in the counselor games scoring 45 points in his two games. Wayne Selden (Kansas) continued to look good with two double-figure games. Smith’s teammate Chris Jones scored 23 points, hitting three three-pointers in one contest. Jahii Carson (Arizona State) looked good in both his games averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 assists. 7’1 Alec Brown of Green Bay has been playing well, scoring 18 and 14 points and averaging six rebounds.
Thanks to adidas for the photos and their hospitality.
These kids are under 18 heading to college, right?
Slap Dog Hoops (SDH)
Yes, that’s correct.
Carl Berman