This is like a show, he said. He is a top-50 national prospect according to the 247Sports Composite and the nations No. Several heralded European 16-year-olds also have been signed in Izan Almansa from Spain, Alexandre Sarr from France, Nathan Missia-Dio from Belgium and Tudor Somacescu from Romania. Gortman joins OTE after a prolific junior year at Keenan High School in Columbia, South Carolina, where he averaged 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game. Some people told us they might be the best players in the entire class, Williams says. A talented playmaker who sees the floor well and creates opportunities for teammates, Griggs averaged 22.9 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game as a high school player. Weiner, now 29, comes from a different generation. OTE recruits high school students who want to leap to the NBA and holds a series of games while preparing them for the step up. They arrived home at 6 p.m., having been out all day. Learn More Latest Shorts More How you even stop this @CamWilder #shorts #basketball #overtime #rodwave The Rod Wave Elite x OTE experiment is going CRAZY well #shorts #basketball #overtime #rodwave Or a new Gatorade flavor? The name Overtime Elite I mean, not even every N.B.A. 16-year-old Belgian international Nathan Missia-Dio became the second European player signed to OTE in as many days when he signed on the dotted line to play for Kevin Ollie. In July, Williams became the first high school athlete to sign with a major sports management firm. Representing Covington, Georgia and Newton High School, TJ has quietly built an accomplished resume as a standout student-athlete, where his relentlessness and drive have put him in a position to enhance his game in the OTE environment. Instead, Thompson won the next 2 points, the last by magically parrying what appeared to be a sure winner with a flip of his paddle. A 4-star prospect and the No. Theyd say things like, It seems weird that my kid played in the 9p.m. game on Friday, and now he has a 9 a.m. game on Saturday, Williams says. Overtime Elite is set to launch its second season and is taking things to a new level with more talent, new franchises and a new look designed for our fan-first approach. He also had grass-roots basketball connections. finally allowed its athletes to be remunerated for the use of their names, images and likenesses. 19 small forward in the class of 2022 according to 247Sports, hes known as a versatile defender whos just as comfortable knocking down pull-up jumpers as he is getting to the basket. Ten of the program's . There were those that didn't end up being stars but still managed to carve out solid careers such as Al Harrington, Darius Miles, Tyson Chandler and Kwame Brown(yes he was a solid NBA role player). experience, which appeared to be optimized for the convenience of recruiters, not the physical and emotional health of the players. An Exhibit 10 contract can be converted to a two-way deal before the regular season begins. Detroit Pistons NBA Summer League takeaways: Ausar Thompson is ready Brandon Miller was the only top 5 pick that went to college prior to being drafted. The Thompsons signed at the end of May. 9 point guard for 2022. Actually, it was a content business. Inside look at Overtime Elite, a league changing path to NBA - Los Posting up in the foul lane wasnt going to refine those skills. Jean Montero signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the New York Knicks, allowing him to participate in their training camp and for them to control his G League rights. The idea of creating an alternate pathway to the N.B.A. Jazian always brings it and thats why so many have taken notice of him., Position: Power forwardHeight: 6-foot-9Home town: Murcia, SpainPrevious team: Real Madrid Cadete AHigh school class: N/ADate signed: 5 Aug. 2021. Thats called the N.C.A.A.. His game is just a slight bit different from his brother's. One afternoon in September, a rented black van pulled up at Core4, a basketball facility in northeast Atlanta. With the score 19-18, and Thompson 2 points from winning, Lewis ranged far to his right and sent a resounding slam across the table. The main knock on Amen Thompson has been his shooting, but that is something that can be worked on. Players are taught how to give news conferences and use social media. But no legit pathway existed for players who wanted to stay stateside and still play basketball before becoming eligible for the draft. In March, we witnessed thecreation of Overtime Elite, a first-of-its-kind initiative meant to provide 16- to 18-year-old boys a new path to pro basketball. Well be following these kids.. This will get me there faster and make me more ready once I'm there. 17 player in the state of Arizona for in the class of 2022 according to 247Sports. Every time Zion dunked, wed get three different views on our server, Weiner says. Leonard Hamilton, the head coach of the Florida State basketball team, had been courting six or seven of the players who ended up signing with Overtime Elite. Hes a good-looking kid, Williams says. Players can also choose a scholarship option and maintain college eligibility. There was a lot going on, Lewis would tell me later. Boardroom is a media network that covers the business of sports, entertainment. He gets to his spots on the court with ease and has a wicked pull-up jumper in the halfcourt. Can Overtime Elite Prove It's More Than the Hype House of Highlights Lewis had scored a single basket. The Overtime website, which does a $10 million business selling hoodies, iridescent basketballs, jewelry and other merchandise, has added Overtime Elite apparel. That means no state titles or prom dates, no strolls on leafy campuses, no March Madness or Final Four. They also allow Overtime to use their names, images and likenesses, the same assets that college athletes have just earned the right to monetize for themselves, though the Overtime Elite players are permitted to strike their own deals with sponsors in noncompetitive categories. Overtime Elite Looks to Future Growth With Clark-Designed Production Whenever Porter ran into an executive from another media company, he got the same question: How much live sports are you showing? The answer was invariably confounding: Overtime Elite wasnt showing any live sports at all. During those years, quite a few players took advantage of that opportunity with notable names such as Moses Malone, Darryl Dawkins, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady. Smith averaged 18.4 points per game and 14.5 rebounds per game per 40 minutes. He too has his choice of colleges should he choose to go that route. If their contracts are restructured so that theyre playing basketball unpaid but selling Overtime Elite the same name, image and likeness rights that college players now control, the N.C.A.A. Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Devin Booker and more than two dozen other current pros have joined Anthony in signing on. He was part of the YNG Dreamerz team that reached the OTE final, averaging 14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists. Introducing a transformative sports league that offers a year-round development program combining world-class coaching, cutting-edge sports science and performance technology. aspirations. 2023 NBA Draft Combine: Amen and Ausar Thompson could go from Overtime It got easier from there.. Overtime Elite - a private school, basketball league and media Two other OTE players found different types of contracts with NBA teams Jaylen Martin and Jazian Gortman. In July, he signed a contract with Overtime Elite, a fledgling league for teenagers with N.B.A. He said he signed a two-year, "seven figure" contract with OTE and "will see from there." Vertical Academy rallied. Sitting on the training table in one of the spacious locker rooms, he couldnt hide a smile. When they show up in the N.B.A., they dont even know how to write a check.. Montero became the first international prospect to sign with Overtime Elite and then became the scoring champion for OTEs inaugural season. He is more of a throwback big man. Orlandos Matt Bewley is the No. With the selections of Overtime Elite guards and twin brothers Amen Thompson by the Houston Rockets with . Amen and Ausar Thompson became the first Overtime Elite players drafted in the NBA when they went back-to-back on draft night. As Porter and Weiner immersed themselves in the world of teenage basketball, they found themselves bewildered by the process through which the most talented adolescents became N.B.A. He's got the ability to knock down tough shots and is a high-level shot creator. (There is a marketplace, says Aaron Ryan, a former N.B.A. "It's to play in the NBA. Those are things that can't be taught and that's why he is the early favorite to be drafted No. Position: Shooting guardHeight : 6-foot-6Home town: Fort Lauderdale, FloridaPrevious team: Pine Crest School (Florida)High school class: 2022Date signed: 25 May 2021. After the 2022 NBA Draft ended, teams quickly moved to sign the best players available making three former Overtime Elite players in high demand across the league. Position: Shooting guardHeight: 6-foot-4Home town: Covington, GeorgiaPrevious team: Newton High School (Georgia)High school class: 2022Date signed: 4 Sept. 2021. This will get me there faster and make me more ready once Im there. He knows how to get up in the air, particularly on the defensive end of the floor, but fans will want to keep an eye on his evolution as a ball-handler. Amen and Ausar are the types of players that every coach wants, not only in terms of their ability on the court, but because of their commitment to get better. Elite basketball players find paths to NBA besides NCAA A veteran of USA Basketball Mens Junior National Team minicamp earlier this year, hes in the running to play for the Stars and Stripes in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in August. The way he saw it, he and his peers were trying to get to the N.B.A. Others consider the idea of not studying for exams one of Overtime Elites significant benefits. 3 behind Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. Once considered a "bust" Wiggins proved his ability to be an elite two-way player during Golden State's playoff run in 2022. Jai Smith, a three-star prospect and one of the nations 30 best power forwards as evaluated by 247Sports, is the latest player to sign with Overtime Elite. It took time to adjust. Lewis needed time, too. Were a family, he insists. If an Overtime . The minimum salaries paid are said to range north of $100,000 a year. the youngest professional basketball player in U.S. history. Yat rose up the ranks as a member of the high school class of 2022 before reclassifying to 2021 a year ago. Verticals players attend classes at Lake Norman Christian, but they compete as an independent team. Position: Point guard/shooting guardHeight: 6-foot-2Home town: North Little Rock, ArkansasPrevious team: Link Year Prep (Missouri)High school class: 2023Date signed: 2 Sept. 2021. Hes joining us with the right kind of chip on his shoulder, focused on continual development and proving he belongs amongst the elite., Position: Small forwardHeight: 6-foot-6Home town: Tallahassee, FloridaPrevious team: Florida State University SchoolHigh school class: 2022Date signed: 4 Sept. 2021. He is active in the paint and able to finish strong at the basket off passes. How Will Rockets Use 'Athletic Weapon' Amen Thompson? When you mature as a kid, you mature as a player. He previously played under former NBA point guard Mike Bibby at Shadow Mountain High School and Hillcrest Prep High School. While still a member of the Donda. The cameras and smartphones roamed among them, capturing bits of dialogue and game play. Ive been talking to them for three months already. By then, he had amassed 3.3 million Instagram followers. Sam Dunn is the Managing Editor of Boardroom. Thanks to significant financial backing and the hires of NCAA national championship-winning coach Kevin Ollie and several former NBA executives, OTE has signed fellow five-star recruits Jalen Lewis, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Matt Bewley, Ryan Bewley and Jazian Gortman, while also landing a projected top-20 pick in 2022 in Dominican guard Jean Montero. This story covers Overtime Elites inaugural 2021-22 season. In the end, money turned out to be secondary. Jalen Lewis, 16, scoring in OTE Arena in Atlanta. Jonathan Givony is an NBA Draft expert and . Jalen Lewis comes in, and hes recognized on the national level, the U.S.A. Basketball level. These remarkable young men have the vision, character, and strength to make history as the first high school juniors to enter basketballs professional ranks. What is Overtime Elite? League offers high school - NFL | NBA Joining OTE is a major step for Jahzares long-term projection, as he maximizes the expertise of OTEs elite coaching and high-performance staffs, who are committed to bringing out the best in his game., Position: Power forwardHeight: 6-foot-9Home town: Dumont, New JerseyPrevious team: Bridgton AcademyHigh school class: 2022Date signed: 2 Sept. 2021. When you buy products through Boardroom's links, we may earn an affiliate commission. season progressed, they developed into cult favorites. They werent the only ones. It all sounded like a reasonable facsimile of high school, except for the parts of high school you actually remember years later. A 5-star recruit out of the Bay Area, Jalen Lewis is coming off a sophomore season at Oaklands Bishop ODowd High School that saw him average over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He can call me, he says. games. With that in mind, those others arent doing too badly., Rodney Rice, a guard from DeMatha Catholic, in the Washington suburbs, who recently committed to play at Virginia Tech, was one of Overtime Elites initial targets. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama go through the European professional route and then declare for the draft when ready. In 2017, LaVar Ball, the father of two N.B.A. He was hit as he shot, and the force of the contact sent him sliding backward past midcourt. Boardroom takes a closer look at the biggest companies & investments in Magics ledger. After earning All-NBA honors, hes now officially a supermax man Boardroom looks at the details of the Celtics historic Jaylen Brown contract. Can NBA draft prospects at Overtime Elite disrupt college basketball? He brings special experience to Overtime Elite given that hes already played professionally in Frances top-tier LNB Espoirs for 11-time league champions Limoges CSP. In 2010, working under Michelle Rhee, the chancellor of the District of Columbias public schools, Riddlesprigger deconstructed and then rebuilt a low-performing elementary school. Jalen Haralson, Kanon Catchings leave IHSAA basketball for - IndyStar Players receive a minimum salary of $100,000 annually, a signing bonus, and shares in Overtime's larger business. to consider skipping college. We are ecstatic to have him join the OTE family., Position: Point guard/shooting guardHeight : 6-foot-6Home town: Fort Lauderdale, FloridaPrevious team: Pine Crest School (Florida)High school class: 2022Date signed: 25 May 2021. Theyve been telling me they have NBA facilities, trainers, and nutritionists from NBA teams., Position: Point guardHeight: 6-foot-2Home town: Missouri City, TexasPrevious team: Hightower High School (Texas)High school class: 2022Date signed: 13 Aug. 2021. Smith said he'll be represented by agent Chris Gaston of Family First Sports. By teachers who dont know if our ball is stuffed or blown up. There are no limitations to what hell be able to do in his career and through Overtime Elite, hell have the resources in place to help him reach his dreams., Position: Power forwardHeight: 6-foot-6Place of origin: BelgiumPrevious team: Limoges CSP (France)High school class: N/ADate signed: 2 July 2021. Some portion of Overtimes 55 million followers had caught a glimpse of his artistry, which could only enhance his reputation. They need to be regarded highly enough by recruiting analysts that Overtimes followers will embrace them as the descendants of Zion. A ball-handler who already has legit professional playing experience, Romanian-born Tudor Somacescu arrives at OTE after spending last season at Chatsworth, Californias Sierra Canyon School, perhaps best known as the program that currently boasts LeBron Bronny James Jr. How do I drive him all over the Bay Area, so he gets the extra work he needs to get better? They had chosen topics and written speeches. Being at home, going to homecoming, maybe going to Cal or U.C.L.A. The salary was one variable, but Williams asked what he could do to give them a sense of other opportunities. G League Ignite vs. Overtime Elite: The NBA Draft development programs He fits the mold of the modern day big man. At 6-foot-7-inches, Thompson is a in the mold of a big guard who is able to see over the defense. werent improving those prospects by competing against markedly inferior talent. Tommy Sheppard, the general manager of the Washington Wizards, said that when he initially heard about the league, it struck him as somewhere between Amway and a Ponzi scheme. College coaches competing with Overtime Elite for talent use the rapid demise of the Junior Basketball Association as a cautionary tale; at least one of the Baller players who sacrificed his eligibility claims to have received only a $1,000 payment. This past season was their second in existence and they had an interesting way of doing things. Your login session has expired. rosters. Every alley-oop or windmill dunk was uploaded to its servers with the press of a button. This Overtime site uses cookies to track your activity. He would get the ball, roll to the hoop and score. I am excited to see his continued growth, and his game flourish under Coach Ollie and his staff., Position: Power forwardHeight: 6-foot-8Home town: Anchorage, AlaskaPrevious team: Norcross High School (Georgia)High school class: 2021Date signed: 31 Aug. 2021, Kok Yat stays BOOMING on people Bro just signed with our league OTE @tuloww pic.twitter.com/qehTLx0Uff. Then he scored 16 points in the third quarter, ending it with a fadeaway jumper from well beyond the 3-point arc. Then they split into six groups and started shooting. But in addition to his natural talent, the young man puts in the work and leads by example. But Porter and Weiner have something that those leagues do not: the 1.6 billion views their content gets every month. the N.C.A.A. But there are 6,000 kids playing Division I basketball every year, and only about 30 kids have a chance to end up in the N.B.A. For Overtime Elite, she hired facilitators versed in math, English, science and social studies. Two players this year to watch are twins Amen Thompson and Ausar Thomspon. The company sent three videographers to each of his games. The Thompson twins Amen, who was the No. Its not that young people arent sports fans, Weiner says. Jalen Lewis liked high school, and why not? This was where the Overtime Elite teams were practicing while their arena near downtown was being finished. rules stipulate that scouts can attend only a limited number of high school and A.A.U. Williams also appreciated that many parents were unsettled by the A.A.U. Once on the court, the players stretched. Amid the signs that the system was starting to unravel, Porter and Weiner saw an opportunity. Head coach Kevin Ollie with Overtime Elite players. When the Thompsons signed with Overtime Elite for its inaugural season in 2021, they and the other players agreed to contracts worth at least $100,000 each. They bumped fists. Jonathan Givony is an NBA Draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams. A three-time Ivy League chess champion at Penn, he was barely past graduation when he and Porter started Overtime. 4 combo guard and No. Many of those people asked to buy a piece of it. Inside Overtime Elite, the start-up that's disrupting the basketball Overtime Elite - Wikipedia Overtime Elite team, including 2023 projected top-10 NBA picks - ESPN Position: Small forward/power forwardHeight: 6-foot-8Home town: Washington, DCPrevious team: Bishop Walsh High School (Maryland)High school class: 2023Date signed: 31 Aug. 2021. That makeover involved extensive use of online learning in rotation with a traditional curriculum, a combination that hadnt often been used in the area. Position: Power forwardHeight: 6-foot-10Home town: Richmond, TexasPrevious team: George Bush High School (Texas)High school class: 2023Date signed: 23 Aug. 2021.