Team Africa Surprises at the Adidas Nations
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36 BASKETBALL TIMES Team Africa surprises at the adidas Nations Carl Berman International Game Our favorite international basketball All-International Team America) – Angola shot a lot and had a few off games, event that takes place in the United States, Most Outstanding International but he was impressive and showed his scoring ability the adidas Nations, was played at the Player – Ndir, (Senegal, Team Africa). when he was on. He finished the event as the fourth- Next Level Sports Complex in Garden The smooth-shooting lefty had his best leading scorer (16.0 ppg), was second in steals and had Grove, Calif., with the championships at game in leading his team to third place a 28-point game. Long Beach City College, broadcast live with a 23-point performance in which Lucas Gabriel Vezaro, 6-1 (Brazil, Latin America) – on the CBS Sports Network. he connected on three 3-pointers. Ndir The combo guard is a streak shooter who also scored 28 Some of the country’s top-ranked can score from mid and long range as points in one game. He scored at a 14.0 clip and was able high school players from the 2014 and well as on penetration. He was third in to draw fouls, getting to the foul line 34 times in his five 2015 classes participated, including Jahlil scoring (16.4 ppg) and shot 41.7 percent games, connecting on 79.4 percent of his free throws. Okafor (Chicago Whitney Young), Trey on 3-pointers. Jonah Bolden, 6-8 (Australia) – The lanky Bolden Lyles (Indianapolis Tech), Kevon Looney Michael Nzei, 6-8 (Nigeria, Team was the most impressive Australian, averaging 13.0 ppg (Milwaukee Hamilton), D’Angelo Africa, Our Savior New American) – The and 7.0 rebounds before an ankle injury forced him to sit Russell (Montverde, Fla., Academy), power forward was the best rebounder out his final two games. Justise Winslow (Houston St. John’s), at the event (10.6 rpg) and had twice as Arvin Tolentino, 6-5 (Philippines) – Playing on a Tyler Dorsey (Pasadena, Calif., St. John many offensive boards (6.4) as any other relatively weak team, Tolentino still showed he has the player. He shows very quick jumping ability to score, leading the event with 17.8 ppg over his Bosco) and Malik Newman (Jackson, Sidy Ndir Miss., Callaway). The championship ability and had several quick dunks, one four games. He also made 50 percent of his 3-pointers. game featured 19 players in the top 100 over 7-0 Myles Turner that was the best Carl Berman is a Managing Partner of NetScouts of the 2014 class. individual play of the event. The 2014 recruit will now Basketball. Information on NetScouts Basketball and The world’s elite 18-and-under players trained and be on most teams’ recruiting lists. their International Recruiting Service can be found at competed in the pestigious annual program on teams Mikhail Kulagin, 6-2 (Russia, Triumph) – The www.netscoutsbasketball.com. from Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Russia and Latin combo-guard showed a America, as well as four USA teams. solid shooting stroke while Fifty-five college counselors representing many of averaging 15.4 ppg and the top returning players for the 2013-14 season also three 3-point baskets per participated in scrimmages in front of many NBA scouts game. Kulagin had the and front-office personnel. Some of the players who game of the event against stood out in the scrimmages included Russ Smith of the Philippines, in which he Louisville; Wayne Selden, Perry Ellis and Joel Embiid scored 22 points, grabbed of Kansas; Alec Brown of Green Bay; LeBryan Nash of 15 rebounds, dished nine Oklahoma State; and Jahii Carson of Arizona State. assists and came up with In the championship game, the USA 2014 Blue Team four steals. won the 2013 adidas Nations title with a hard-fought 81- Diatte, 6-7 (Senegal, 77 victory over the Okafor-led USA 2014 Red. North Team Africa) – Diatte was Carolina-bound Theo Pinson was active for the winners active and consistent in with 15 points and seven rebounds. Reid Travis added leading his team to third 14 points, Russell had 11 points and eight rebounds and place. He was the second- the 6-foot-10 Lyles added 10 points and eight rebounds. leading scorer for the Okafor scored 14 points and pulled down eight Africans at 13.4 ppg, was rebounds for the Red team, but it wasn’t enough. Stanley tough on the boards and Johnson added 17 points and 11 rebounds but made just 6 showed some shooting of 18 shots. The 6-8 Looney was impressive throughout ability away from the the event, adding 13 points, five rebounds and another hoop. three blocked shots. The Blue team was down by six at Ngouma, 6-2 (Algeria/ the half but turned the game around with a 31-16 third Congo, Team Africa) – quarter. The point guard showed Team Africa was the surprise of the event, taking poise and scoring ability third place with a convincing 69-56 win over USA 2015 for Team Africa. He saved Red. The Africans won the battle of the boards by a 48- his best for the third-place 38 margin and hit 9 of 18 on 3-pointers. Sidy Ndir, who’s game in which he scored 6-3, led Africa with 23 points on mid-to-long distance 18 points on 8-for-12 shots and penetration. Point guard Nehdi Ngouma had shooting, including 2-for- his best game of the event, with 18 points on 8-for-12 3 from long distance, shooting, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. combined with seven Papa Sadia Diatte, who’s 6-7, finished with 16 points, rebounds, four assists and six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. three steals. He led the NetScouts Basketball’s All-USA Team – (MVP) event with three steals per Looney (7.2 rpg, 4.0 bpg, 1.8 spg, .612 FG); Russell game. (13.6 ppg); Lyles (16.6, 9.4), Okafor (13.7, 9.2) and Braian Angola Rodas, Travis. 6-6 (Colombia, Latin .