Under Armour Basketball announced it’s bringing the Elite 24 the nation’s premier high school basketball event back to New York for the first time since 2009. The 8th annual game will be played outside under the Brooklyn Bridge at the historic Tobacco Warehouse on August 24 at 7PM EST and will be televised live on ESPNU.
After sponsoring the event for the past seven years, the brand officially added the Elite 24 to its portfolio of high school games including the Under Armour All-America Game (Football), Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Classic and Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.
Since its inception in 2006, the Elite 24 has represented next generation basketball players and shattered the status quo of high school all-star games. In the process, it’s created an indelible mark on the game and introduced the nation to some of today’s best players including three number 1 overall NBA Draft picks, twenty-three NBA Lottery Draft picks and thirty-seven NBA first-round Draft picks.
Seventy-six Elite 24 alumni are currently playing in the NBA.
“The Elite 24 is a platform created to celebrate the heart and soul of basketball. It's a showcase of the game's rising talent, and we play outside to enhance that gritty, freelancing style that players and fans both love to be part of,” said Kris Stone, Elite 24 Founder and Director of Sports Marketing, Basketball, Under Armour. “This game brings together the next generation of future NBA stars, giving them the opportunity to battle it out for bragging rights and show the nation that they have what it takes to be great.”
The first ever game was played at the famed Rucker Park in Harlem, NY. The convergence of New York streetball energy with the passion and hunger of the nation’s best high school underclassmen created a memorable experience for the participants and basketball fans everywhere.
In its short, but illustrious history, many of today’s best NBA and college players have graced the game’s outdoor courts of Rucker Park from 2006-2009 and Venice Beach, California from 2010 2012. Prominent alumni include three of the last four number 1 NBA Draft picks John Wall (Washington Wizards, 2010), Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2011) and Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers, 2013). Other notable alumni include NBA All-Star Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), 2010 Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans and current NBA players Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Jared Sullinger (Boston Celtics), Harrison Barnes (Golden State Warriors), Austin Rivers (New Orleans Pelicans) and Under Armour Basketball athlete Will Barton (Portland Trail Blazers).
Under Armour athlete Brandon Jennings burst onto the national scene in the 2007 game when he set the single game assist record with 23. Four years after playing in the Elite 24, Under Armour athlete Kemba Walker went on to win the 2011 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player Award as he lead the UCONN Huskies to the National Championship.
“If you love the game of the basketball, this is the game you want to play in. You will compete against the best of the best in the mecca of basketball, New York City, in a high-energy environment that is unlike any other in the world,” said Jennings.
The 2013 rosters will be announced via Twitter @UABasketball starting on August 2. Each day a new addition will be announced until the final rosters are revealed.
Partners of this year’s game include EA Sports, the official gaming partner of the Under Armour Elite 24 and Champs Sports, the game’s official onsite retailer.
