Different countries have different leagues. There are many different leagues in the United States of America because of different reasons; one reason is that the country is too big just to have one league, even small countries have different leagues all over their countries, and another reason is that there should be some particular leagues that have great standards so that all the good ones play there and get discovered and while there is that particular leagues some leagues should also exist for the others who wants to play but cannot afford to play in larger leagues.
One of the best high school leagues in the United States of America is the Nike Hoop Summit. Many of the NBA players today played in the Nike Hoop Summit while they were still studying. And many of these NBA players stopped studying as soon as they were recruited to the NBA during the Nike Hoop Summit.
What is it?
Nike Hoop Summit is a basketball all-star game which is sponsored by Nike. It is held once a year, usually between March to May. The Nike Hoop Summit features the USA Basketball Men’s Junior Select Team against a World Select Team of international players.
During the Summit, the players would show their best and give all that they’ve got to attract NBA scouts or Colleges. And the best of the best players would not go home a loser because usually the best of the best in the Nike Hoop Summit is recruited to the NBA, or even colleges.
When did it begin and Where did it happen?
The inaugural Nike Hoop Summit was played in Springfield, Massachusetts in the year 1995. Since then, the event has been played in Charlotte, North Caroline in 1996, Lake Buena Vista in the year 1997, in San Antonio, Texas in 1998, Tampa, Florida in 1999, and Indianapolis, Indiana in 2000.
The Nike Hoop Summit temporarily ended in 2000, but it was not for long because it started again in the year 2004 in San Antonio, Texas, then in Memphis, Tennessee in the years 2005 to 2007, in Portland, Oregon since 2008 until 2010.
How to Play it?
The FIBA games rules are followed by the Nike Hoop Summit. Some of these rules are: four 10 minute quarters and a 15 minute break between the second and the third quarters, and one two minute break between the first and the second quarters and the third and the fourth quarters, still the 24 shot clock is used, back court violation is still 8 seconds and player foul limit is only five.
Who are the Nike Hoop Summit players in the NBA?
If a player showed his skills in the Nike Hoop Summit, for sure he’ll be recruited by the NBA. Some of the NBA players today actually played and got discovered in the said league. Some of the USA players are: Kevin Garnett, Baron Davis, Jerryd Bayless , Jermaine O’neal, Ron Artest, Mike Bibby, Rashard Lewis, J.R Smith and Josh Smith. For the World Team, some of them are: Dirk Nowitzki, Toni Parker, Igor Racocevic, Nicolas Batum, Serge Ibaka, and Patty Mills.