2012 NIKE Global Challenge in DC 7/13-15

[Oh My!]

So, as part of the NIKE/USA Basketball events around town this weekend, leading up to Monday night's USA Olympic team vs. Brazil @ Verizon, Episcopal HS & the DC Armory are hosting the NIKE Global Challenge. It has not been advertised much that I have seen locally, nor in national media, but it is certain to showcase some of the best HS basketball players in the world. 8 teams (3 from USA, plus Puerto Rico, China, Brazil, Lithuania, and Canada). USA Rosters were just set last night. Today & tomorrow is Pool play for 2 divisions, and these games will all be played @ Episcopal in Alexandria (amazing new facility if you haven't been). The first game actually starts in 5 minutes.

Anyway, there are SEVERAL Hoya recruits playing in the event, and not just on the USA teams. Some of the names listed below are longshots, but all the recruit-niks on this board would still enjoy seeing them in action. There are also other recruits on rosters that have gotten Hoya attention, but here goes:

CANADA: Tyler Ennis, Andrew Wiggins
USA East: Kuran Iverson, Dakari Johnson, Beejay Anya, Troy Williams (I know, I know)
USA Midwest: Nick King, Jajuan Johnson, Rondae Jefferson
USA West: Kennedy Meeks, Nigel Williams-Goss

Game Schedule is:

Friday, July 13th (Episcopal High School)
10:00 am: Lithuania vs. Puerto Rico
12:00 pm: USA West vs. USA Midwest
2:00 pm: Brasil vs. Canada
4:00 pm: USA East vs. China
6:00 pm: USA Midwest vs. Lithuania
8:00 pm: Puerto Rico vs. USA West

Saturday, July 14th (Episcopal High School)
10:00: Brasil vs. China
12:00 pm: Canada vs. USA East
2:00 pm: Lithuania vs. USA West
4:00 pm: Puerto Rico vs. USA Midwest
6:00 pm: USA East vs. Brasil
8:00 pm: China vs. Canada

Sunday, July 15th (DC Armory)
10:00 am: 7th/8th Place Game
11:30 pm: 5th/6th Place Game
1:00 pm: 3rd/4th Place Game
2:30 pm: Championship Game

Admission is free, and I have been unable to find any TV coverage of the event listed online.

Guaranteed high level basketball!!

[HometownHoya]

I really hope I get to see Andrew Wiggen play before he gets sent off to Eros.

[IDenj]

I think you meant to say Euros.

And I too am interested to see how he does.

[SFHoya99]

Jul 13, 2012 11:38:26 GMT -5 IDenj said:

I think you meant to say Euros.

And I too am interested to see how he does.

No, he meant Eros. It's a nerdy joke, but a good one.

[IDenj]

Thanks tips.

[hoyajmw]

Just back from USA Midwest v. USA West game, won by Midwest by about 6. Incredible talent on display -- but the coach-watching in the stands kept distracting me . . . Pitino, Calipari, Calhoun, Roy Williams, Buzz Williams, Tubby Smith the ones I immediately recognized. Great environment to see a game of this caliber, given the place seats about 1000 (maybe) and was about half full at most. Didn't see anyone from GU's staff but they may have been there to see Meeks and I just didn't notice. (Meeks looked much better than the game I saw him in December -- soft hands, nice instincts and a few really superb passes into the lane and one sweet quick half court outlet, but game seemed too quick for him at times; losing about 30 pounds would help immensely, I think.)

[hoyajmw]

Went back to the late afternoon session -- JTIII arrived about 5pm and still there, I think staying to catch Meeks in 8pm game. Billy Donovan and Leonard Hamilton representing the sunshine state along baseline. Great event for anyone local tomorrow, though it does conflict in part with Kenner...

[IDenj]

Any updates?

[hoyajmw]

USA Midwest ended up beating Canada 101-86 for title sunday at dc armory. Other two US teams won the third and fifth place games too. The link posted to the event on the Kennedy Meeks thread (can't immediately repost due to device issues) has all the results and complete boxes for each game. The coach watching Saturday was spectacular -- Izzo, Crean, Dixon, Jay Wright, Sean Miller, Hubert Davis (now an
Asst at unc I hear), Howland spied in Saturday in adddition to those mentioned above. Despite the loss in the final, it sure looked to me like Wiggins is all that -- and more.