Each and every Summer since 2006, the very best prep HS players get together for a hoops showcase known as the Elite 24 Game. Well it’s that time once again as the 7th annual game and accompanying dunk contest will take place the weekend of August 24th and 25th and will once again be broadcast on ESPNU.
The event will once again take place on the outdoor courts at Venice Beach in Los Angeles after several years at the famed Rucker Park in New York. The one main difference this year is that the primary sponsor has changed from Boost Mobile to Under Armour with the dunk contest airing on Friday, August 24th @ 7 PM on ESPNU and the actual Under Armour Game airing live on Saturday, August 25th also @ 7 PM.
Last year’s event was dominated by a number of 2012-2013 incoming college freshmen like Shabazz Muhammed and Kyle Anderson(UCLA), Nerlens Noel(Kentucky), Justin Anderson(Virginia), along with one of this year’s top HS seniors, Seton Hall bound Aquille Carr. If you remember, the start of last year’s game was delayed after Michigan recruit Mitch McGary shattered the backboard in warm-ups.
The outdoor event has served as a showcase for a number of future collegiate and NBA stars as Elite 24 alumni include Kevin Love, John Wall, Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, Austin Rivers and Kyrie Irving. The top prep players across the nation are chosen for the annual event based on their performance during AAU tournaments and national summer camps by ESPN high school basketball experts.
While the entire 24 man roster and coaches won’t be chosen for another week or so, the first 12 players have been selected…
First 12 players selected for the 2012 Under Armour Elite 24 Game:
Nate Britt, PG, DC Assault(Washington DC), #22 in 2013, Committed to UNC
Aquille Carr, PG, Baltimore’s Finest(Baltimore, MD), #78 in 2013, Committed to Seton Hall
Isaac Hamilton, SG, Dream Vision(Bellflower, CA), #14 in 2013, Uncommitted
Aaron Harrison, SG, Houston Defenders(Houston, TX), #8 in 2013, Uncommitted
Andrew Harrison, PG, Houston Defenders(Houston, TX), #3 in 2013, Uncommitted
Kuran Iverson, SF, New York Lightning(Windsor, CT), #80 in 2013, Undecided
Rondae Jefferson, SF, Team Final(Chester, PA), #23 in 2013, Uncommitted
Jermaine Lawrence, PF, NYC Rens(Sprinfield Gardens, NY), #25 in 2013, Uncommitted
Marcus Lee, PF, California Supreme(Antioch, CA), #27 in 2013, Uncommitted
Julius Randle, PF, Texas Titans(Plano, TX), #2 in 2013, Uncommitted
Wayne Selden, SG, BABC(Tilton, NH), #20 in 2013, Uncommitted
Andrew Wiggins, SF, CIA Bounce(Toronto, Can), #1 in 2014, Uncommitted
Check out Shaquille Johnson winning the 2011 Elite 24 Dunk Contest:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine,?in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
