Hamilton Heights basketball coach Zach Ferrell, left, and rising junior Abdulahakim Ado at a recent interview session.
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy announced Tuesday that 2016 post, Abdulhakim Ado, has been selected to participate in the Nike Global Challenge in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 13-16.
The Global Challenge will highlight the top under-19 players from across the world in an eight-team, three-day competition. Former participants include Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Tyreke Evans.
The event will feature four regional teams from the United States, as well as the International elite from Brazil, Canada, China, and Africa.
Ado was one of ten players selected to represent the continent of Africa.
The 6-foot-10 Ado, a rising junior, exploded on the national scene this summer as he participated on the Nike Summer Circuit with the Georgia Stars, and played at the Adidas Super 64 with the Atlanta Celtics. He also recently participated in the Adidas Nations tournament in Los Angeles, CA, and will play in the Reebok All Star Tournament in New York City, Aug. 10-12.
Ado went from an mostly unknown player to be ranked as the nation’s No. 7 prospect and the top 2016 post player, according to 247Sports of CBS Sports. He is also nationally ranked by Rivals.com and ESPN.
He has received scholarship offers from Louisville, Memphis, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Penn State, and Arizona State. Others schools showing interest in Ado include Connecticut, Texas, and Florida.
Hamilton Heights also announced that two Lady Hawks, rising freshmen Jazmine Massengill
and Elizabeth Balogun have received scholarship offers from Western Kentucky University. Former Lady Hawks, Ruta Savikaite, plays at Western University.
Hamilton Heights has also recently scheduled games with nationally recognized powers Oak Hill (Va.), Arlington County Day (Fla.), Huntington Prep (W.V.), and Hargrave Military Academy (N.C.).
They have been invited to participate in six prestigious national tournaments, including the Huntington Prep Classic, and the Charlotte Hoops Classic which has hosted teams that included Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiib, the No. 3 pick overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the most recent NBA draft.
Locally, the Hawks will compete against Brainerd and McCallie, and participate in the 2014 Best of Preps Tournament in December.
(E-mail Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @larryfleming44)