KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee basketball player Jordan McRae’s impressive showing at last weekend’s Kevin Durant Skills Academy led to an exciting phone call for McRae Monday night. The rising senior guard was informed that he is among an elite group of players selected to participate in the 2013 LeBron James Skills Academy.
This year’s event takes place Friday through Monday in Las Vegas; McRae departs Friday morning. Participants are selected on an invitation-only basis.
“It’s an honor to be picked,” McRae said. “It feels good to be recognized for my hard work and get another chance to work with an NBA superstar. The chance to learn from the two best guards in the world is a privilege and a blessing.”
The Skills Academy features the nation’s top-80 high school players as well as the top-20 college standouts taking part in four days of intense skill-development work and competition in front of hundreds of media members and scouts from nearly every NBA team.
A complete list of 2013 participants has yet to be published to the event’s official website.
McRae is the first Vol to take part in the LeBron James Skills Academy since guard Scotty Hopson in 2010. Interestingly, Hopson has an opportunity to potentially join James – a four-time NBA MVP and two-time world champion – on next season’s Miami Heat roster. Last week, Hopson finalized a deal to play on the Heat’s NBA Summer League Team.
For the most up-to-date information about the Tennessee basketball program, visit UTsports.com/basketball and follow @Vol_Hoops on Twitter.
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)