The Nike Hoop Summit has traditionally been one of the better all-star-type games played every year. For whatever reason, perhaps because it is the USA select team versus the world select team, this game tends to be more competitive and well-played than games like the McDonald's All-American or Jordan Brand Classic games.
Tonight's game feature two incoming Kentucky players, both big guys — Karl-Anthony Towns Jr. and Trey Lyles. As far as schools having players in the game, Duke currently leads with three, Kansas and Kentucky have two. Florida also has a player in the game, as does Indiana.
Here are the rosters, courtesy of the Nike Hoop Summit website:
USA Roster
PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT / WEIGHT | DATE OF BIRTH | HIGH SCHOOL / COLLEGE | HOMETOWN |
Cliff Alexander | F | 6-9 / 230 | November 16, 1995 | Curie Metropolitan H.S. / Kansas* | Chicago, IL |
Joel Berry II | G | 6-1 / 185 | April 1, 1995 | Lake Highland Prep School / North Carolina* | Apopka, FL |
James Blackmon, Jr. | G | 6-2 / 175 | April 24, 1995 | Marian H.S. / Indiana* | Fort Wayne, IN |
Stanley Johnson | F | 6-7 / 226 | May 29, 1996 | Mater Dei H.S. / Arizona* | Fullerton, CA |
Tyus Jones | G | 6-0 / 171 | May 10, 1996 | Apple Valley H.S. / Duke* | Apple Valley, MN |
Jahlil Okafor | C | 6-10 / 260 | December 15, 1995 | Whitney Young H.S. / Duke* | Chicago, IL |
Kelly Oubre | F | 6-7 / 190 | December 9, 1995 | Findlay Prep (NV) / Kansas* | Fort Bend, TX |
Theo Pinson | F | 6-6 / 185 | November 5, 1995 | Wesleyan Christian Academy / North Carolina* | Greensboro, NC |
Myles Turner | C | 6-11 / 240 | March 24, 1996 | Trinity H.S. / Undecided | Bedford, TX |
Justise Winslow | F | 6-6 / 210 | March 26, 1996 | St. John’s School / Duke* | Houston, TX |
Reid Travis | C | 6-7 / 215 | November 25, 1995 | DeLaSalle H.S. / Stanford* | Minneapolis, MN |
World Roster
PLAYER NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT | COUNTRY | CURRENT TEAM |
James Metecan Birsen | F | 6-9 | Turkey | Fenerbache Ülker |
Clint Capela | C | 6-9 | Switzerland | ES Chalon-sur-Saone |
Brandone Francis | G | 6-5 | Dominican Republic | Arlington Country Day School, Fla. / Florida* |
Damien Inglis | F | 6-9 | France | Chorale de Roanne Basket |
Nikoa Jokic | F | 6-10 | Serbia | KK Mega Vizura |
Trey Lyles | C | 6-9 | Canada | Arsenal Technical H.S., Ind. / Kentucky* |
Emmanuel Mudiay | G | 6-5 | Democratic Republic of Congo | Prime Prep Academy, Texas / Southern Methodist* |
Jamal Murray | G | 6-6 | Canada | Athlete Institute |
Gao Shang | G | 6-6 | China | Guangdong Southern Tigers |
Karl Towns, Jr. | C | 6-11 | Dominican Republic | St. Joseph H.S., N.J. / Kentucky* |
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk | G | 6-5 | Ukraine | SK Cherkasy Monkeys |
This game is generally worth paying close attention to because it tends to be competitive and has some intensity to it. I really like the World team in this game, and it will be particularly interesting to see the two Kentucky big men play together, as they were opponents in the McDonald's All-American game.