Nike Hoop Summit: Togetherness, Toughness and National Pride

The Nike Hoop Summit is a trip I look forward to making each year. It gives us at Between The Lines Sports an opportunity to evaluate some of the next stars of college basketball and the NBA, while seeing how they compete alongside and against other elite players from around the world.

This year, what stood out to me most was the togetherness on both sides.

During the practice sessions I attended, the players seemed close. They competed hard, were receptive to coaching and understood that they were representing something bigger than themselves. The names on the backs of their jerseys were important, but so were the countries they represented on the front.

That made the week enjoyable to watch and gave us another opportunity to evaluate these young men beyond the box score. The event concluded on April 11 at the Moda Center, where Team USA defeated the World Select Team, 102–100, in overtime.

The Value of the Practice Floor

One of the reasons I continue to attend USA Basketball events is the opportunity to see players in a different environment. Most of these prospects are accustomed to being among the best players on their respective teams. At the Hoop Summit, they’re surrounded by other players with similar talent and expectations.

That gives us a chance to see how they respond to coaching, compete in practice and contribute alongside other high-level players. Those are things we’ve paid attention to at USA Basketball events over the years, and they were just as important during this trip to Portland.

What I enjoyed was seeing how close the players appeared while still competing hard against one another. You could tell they appreciated being there, but they also understood the work that needed to be done.

Caleb Holt Was My Favorite

Caleb Holt was my favorite player during this year’s sessions, and he followed that up with an outstanding performance in the game.

He led Team USA with 24 points, eight rebounds and a men’s Hoop Summit record seven steals. He shot 9-for-18 from the field and connected on four three-pointers.

What stood out was the way he contributed in multiple areas. He scored the basketball, helped on the glass and created turnovers defensively. Against this level of competition, that kind of impact deserves recognition.

Other Noteworthy Performances

Miles Sadler had a big night for the World Team, finishing with 29 points and seven assists while shooting 10-for-18 from the field. He carried a significant responsibility offensively, although his 11 turnovers are also part of the evaluation.

Abdou Toure was productive on both ends, recording 19 points, six rebounds and five blocks. He shot 8-for-13 from the field and made two three-pointers. Miikka Muurinen added 10 points and eight rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.

For Team USA, Jason Crowe Jr. provided 16 points off the bench, Tyran Stokes contributed 15 and Jordan Smith Jr.added 13. Brandon McCoy Jr. made two free throws with less than a second remaining to send the game into overtime. Caleb Gaskins later knocked down a three-pointer to give the Americans a 99–97 lead in the extra period.

What I Took Away From Portland

The game gave us an exciting finish, but the time spent watching both teams prepare is what made the trip valuable.

I appreciated how hard the players competed, how coachable they were and the togetherness they showed throughout the sessions I attended. The talent was evident, but so was their understanding of what it meant to represent their countries.

For Between The Lines Sports, the week gave us another opportunity to evaluate these prospects as they prepare for the next steps in their basketball careers. We’ll continue following their development as they move toward college basketball and, for some, the NBA.

Until next time...