Now in its sixth year, the Boost Mobile Elite 24 has established itself as a premiere high school basketball event where players not only battle for bragging rights and streetball nicknames, but use the event's platform as a springboard to the highest level of the game.
Kyrie Irving, the multi-dimensional point guard out of St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) who played 11 collegiate games for Duke University, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. Irving was the second consecutive alumnus of the Boost Mobile Elite 24 chosen No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft.
John Wall, the lightening-quick point guard from the University of Kentucky via Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), was chosen by the Washington Wizards with the top pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Irving showcased his unique skills during the 2009 Boost Mobile Elite 24 with a 16-point, 3-assist performance in 16 minutes. Wall participated in the 2008 game at Rucker Park, the historic outdoor court in Harlem. Rucker Park was the home of the Boost Mobile Elite 24 its first four years.
For the second consecutive year, the Boost Mobile Elite 24 will be held at the Venice Beach Courts in Southern California. The game is scheduled to tip-off Aug. 27 on ESPNU, with the Under Armour Slam Dunk Contest, also on ESPNU, preceding it Aug. 26.
The Boost Mobile Elite 24 has produced 16 lottery picks through its first five years of existence.
Cleveland also had the fourth pick of this year's NBA Draft and went with Tristan Thompson from the University of Texas. The 6-foot-9 forward, who played in two Boost Mobile Elite 24 games, is the highest drafted Canadian-born player ever. After a stint at St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), Thompson helped Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) win two consecutive ESPN RISE National High School Invitational titles.
Thompson's high school teammate at Findlay Prep, point guard Cory Joseph, was the final Boost Mobile Elite 24 alum taken in the first round of this year's draft at No. 29 overall by the San Antonio Spurs.
This year there were eight players taken in the first round of the NBA Draft who participated in the Boost Mobile Elite 24, a record for the event.
Other notables taken in the first round were Kentucky guard Brandon Knight, the two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year from Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), and Connecticut's Kemba Walker, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2011 NCAA Final Four. Knight (Detroit Pistons) and Walker (Charlotte Bobcats) were chosen back-to-back at No. 8 and No. 9.
Read below for a complete list of Boost Mobile Elite 24 participants that fulfilled life-long dreams of being drafted in the NBA.
History shows there's a good chance a handful of players wowing the Venice Boardwalk crowd later this summer will one day be a lottery pick.
ELITE 24 alumni drafted to the NBA
Draft No. -- Name (Elite 24), NBA Team (Year Drafted)*
No. 1 -- Kyrie Irving (2009), Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)
No. 1 -- John Wall (2008), Washington Wizards (2010)
No. 2 -- Michael Beasley (2006), Miami Heat (2008)
No. 3 -- Derrick Favors (2008), New Jersey Nets (2010)
No. 4 -- Tristan Thompson (2008-09), Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)
No. 4 -- Tyreke Evans (2006-07), Sacramento Kings (2009)
No. 5 -- Kevin Love (2006), Memphis Grizzlies (2008)
No. 8 -- Brandon Knight (2008), Detroit Pistons (2011)
No. 9 -- Kemba Walker (2007), Charlotte Bobcats (2011)
No. 9 -- DeMar DeRozan (2007), Toronto Raptors (2009)
No. 10 -- Brandon Jennings (2006-07), Milwaukee Bucks (2009)
No. 11 -- Cole Aldrich (2006), New Orleans Hornets (2010)
No. 11 -- Jerryd Bayless (2006), Indiana Pacers (2008)
No. 12 -- Xavier Henry (2007-08), Memphis Grizzlies (2010)
No. 13 -- Ed Davis (2007), Toronto Raptors (2010)
No. 14 -- Anthony Randolph (2006), Golden State Warriors (2008)
No. 16 -- Luke Babbitt (2007), Minnesota Timberwolves (2010)
No. 17 -- Jrue Holiday (2007), Philadelphia 76ers (2009)
No. 19 -- Tobias Harris (2009), Charlotte Bobcats (2011)
No. 19 -- J.J. Hickson (2006), Cleveland Cavaliers (2008)
No. 21 -- Nolan Smith (2006), Portland Trailblazers (2011)
No. 24 -- B.J. Mullens (2007), Dallas Mavericks (2009)
No. 26 -- Jordan Hamilton (2008), Dallas Mavericks (2011)
No. 28 -- Donte Greene (2006), Memphis Grizzlies (2008)
No. 29 -- Cory Joseph (2009), San Antonio Spurs (2011)
No. 33 -- Kyle Singler (2006), Detroit Pistons (2011)
No. 35 -- DeAndre Jordan (2006), L.A. Clippers (2008)
No. 37 -- Trey Thompkins (2007), L.A. Clippers (2011)
No. 39 -- Jeremy Tyler (2008), Charlotte Bobcats (2011)
No. 40 -- Lance Stephenson (2006-08), Indiana Pacers (2010)
No. 43 -- Devin Ebanks (2007-08), L.A. Lakers (2010)
No. 49 -- Josh Selby (2009), Memphis Grizzlies (2011)
*Players in bold drafted this year
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