Seventh Woods to play in Under Armour game; decision not far off
Seventh Woods will showcase his skills on a national level this weekend.
The Hammond senior was selected to play in the Under Armour Elite 24 basketball game Saturday in Brooklyn, N.Y. The game will be played outdoors underneath the Brooklyn Bridge and be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
“I’m excited for him,” Hammond coach Mark McClam said. “To be recognized as one of the 24 players is a great honor and accomplishment for him.”
It’s the first time Woods has been selected to play in the 10th annual showcase of some of the country’s top high school prospects, but he took part in the slam dunk contest for the event in 2013. He scored a 40 out of 40 on his alley-oop between the legs dunk and made it to the second round of the contest, won by future North Carolina Tar Heel Theo Pinson.
The 6-foot-2 guard has been on the national radar since he was 14, and one of his highlight-reel dunks appeared on SportsCenter’s top plays in 2013. 247Sports ranks Woods as the No. 1 ranked prospect in the state, and ESPN.com has him as the No. 31 overall prospect for the Class of 2016.
Woods, the 2013-14 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year, averaged 16.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 steals last season in helping the Skyhawks to the SCISA Class 3A championships. He also had a strong summer playing for the South Carolina Wolves AAU team and was invited to a tryout for Team USA 19-under basketball team.
McClam said Woods has been more assertive and was asked to score more during the summer.
“He has gotten a lot stronger and still growing. He finally turned 17 and still is young for his class,” McClam said. “He still has some growing to do but is handling everything well.”
Woods is undecided on his college choice, but McClam said his point guard is winding down his recruiting process and “will have a decision sooner rather than later.” South Carolina and North Carolina appear to be the front runners, along with Florida.
The Hammond coach said he will narrow his choices down to four and then begin taking official visits. The earliest Woods could sign with a school is during the fall signing period from Nov. 11-18.
Woods is one of two South Carolina players selected for the game. Mullins’ Jalek Felton will play in the event for the second straight year. Felton, the nephew of Dallas Mavericks guard Raymond Felton, is the ninth-ranked prospect for the Class of 2016, according to ESPN.com and committed to play at North Carolina.
The game features five the top 10 players ranked in ESPN’s Top 100 for the Class of 2016 and DeAndre Ayton, who is ranked No. 1 for Class of 2017.
UNDER ARMOUR ELITE 24 ROSTERS
TEAM EZ PASS: DeAndre Ayton, San Diego – No. 1 in ESPN’s Class of 2017; Justin Jackson, Henderson, Nev. – No. 29 in ESPN’s Class of 2016. Committed to UNLV; Troy Brown, Las Vegas – No. 6 ESPN’s Class of 2017; Frank Jackson, Highland, Utah – No. 20 in ESPN’s Class of 2016; Hamidou Diallo, Queens, N.Y. – No. 30 in ESPN’s Class of 2017; Terrance Ferguson, Dallas – No. 14 on ESPN’s Class of 2016. Committed to Alabama; Trevon Duval, Newark, N.J. – No. 13 on ESPN’s Class of 2017; Josh Jackson, Napa, Calif. – No. 3 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Thon Maker, Orangeville, Ontario – No. 9 for Class of 2016 by 247Sports; TJ Leaf, El Cajon, Calif. – No. 9 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Seventh Woods, Columbia – No. 31 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Dewan Huell, Miami – No. 18 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; COACHES: Jeff McInnis; Keith Gatlin; Kenny Pretlow; Emmanuel Mudiay
TEAM DOO BE DOO: Udoka Azubuike, Jacksonville, Fla. – No. 19 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Jalek Felton, Mullins – No. 9 on ESPN’s Class of 2017. Committed to North Carolina;Mario Kegler, Oak Hill (Va.) Academy – No. 35 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Kobi Simmons, Alpharetta, Ga. – No. 6 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Rawle Alkins, Brooklyn, N.Y - No. 22 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Shamorie Ponds, Brooklyn, N.Y. – No. 66 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Markelle Fultz, Hyattsville, Md. – No. 21 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Billy Preston, Dallas – No. 20 on ESPN’s Class of 2017; Wenyen Gabriel, Manchester, N.H. – No. 83 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; M.J. Walker, Jonesboro, Ga. – No. 29 on ESPN’s Class of 2017; Bam Adebayo, High Point, N.C. – No. 8 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; Jarrett Allen, Austin, Texas – No. 17 on ESPN’s Class of 2016; COACHES: L.J. Goolsby; T.J. Ford; Bud Pollard; Brandon Jennings