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The Governor’s Problem has develop into a staple of vacation highschool basketball tournaments on the East Coast, with tons of of groups making the trek to the Jap Shore to compete within the well-known match. And a few of these groups occur to be among the many greatest squads within the nation, with future Division I basketball gamers up and down their rosters.
Inside the previous two years, a number of the prime gamers who’ve come by the Governor’s Problem haven’t solely made names for themselves within the higher echelon of the faculty basketball scene, however have additionally develop into NBA gamers as effectively, first spherical draft picks and cornerstones for the way forward for the franchises that chosen them.
With the Governor’s Problem proper across the nook, and presumably an entire new class of gamers who will make the leap to the NBA, here’s a take a look at a number of the match’s current alumni who’ve made names for themselves on basketball’s largest stage:
Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland
Among the best gamers to return out of Delaware in recent times, Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland can also be one of the crucial current Governor’s Problem alums to make it to the NBA. A Wilmington native who attended St. Georges Tech, Hyland got here to Salisbury and competed within the Governor’s Problem in again to again years in 2017-2018.
After a profitable two-year stint at VCU, the place Hyland was named the Atlantic 10’s Participant of the 12 months his sophomore season, he was chosen within the first spherical of the 2021 NBA Draft earlier this 12 months. Now a participant for the Denver Nuggets, Hyland has had a standout rookie 12 months in Denver, filling in and contributing for a Nuggets workforce that has struggled with accidents. His scoring capacity and shot creation have slot in effectively subsequent to Nuggets star and reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
Nic Claxton
Nic Claxton, a proficient and athletic middle for probably the greatest groups within the NBA, can also be a current Governor’s Problem alum. A local of Greenville, South Carolina, Claxton made the journey as much as Salisbury to compete within the Governor’s Problem along with his Legacy Constitution workforce when he was in highschool in 2015 and 2016. Since then, Claxton spent two years on the College of Georgia earlier than being drafted by the Brooklyn Nets with the primary choose within the second spherical of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Claxton is now a key contributor on probably the most star-studded workforce within the NBA, taking part in with All-Stars like Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. And Claxton has developed right into a promising function participant in Brooklyn, flashing his distinctive skillset as a giant man that might make him a significant a part of the Nets’ future, and preserve him within the NBA for a very long time.
Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley has gone from competing within the Governor’s Problem as a excessive schooler to taking part in on this planet’s most well-known basketball enviornment, all throughout the span of about 5 years.
Quickley, a Havre De Grace, Maryland, native, performed within the Governor’s Problem in 2016 when he was one of many highest ranked prospects in highschool basketball. After graduating from John Carroll Excessive Faculty, Quickley went on to spend two years on the College of Kentucky below legendary head coach John Calipari. Quickley blossomed as a participant throughout his sophomore 12 months at Kentucky, and was named the SEC Participant of the 12 months in 2020 earlier than making the leap to the NBA.
Quickley was drafted by the New York Knicks late within the first spherical of the 2020 NBA Draft, and he has develop into an prompt contributor and fan favourite in New York because the Knicks have returned to prominence since he was drafted. Whether or not or not it’s the Wicomico Youth & Civic Heart, Rupp Enviornment or Madison Sq. Backyard, Quickley has stood out on each basketball court docket he is stepped foot on.
Extra: Governor’s Challenge basketball tournament returns for its 40th year
Extra: Local players and matchups to watch during 2021 Governor’s Challenge
Obi Toppin
Obi Toppin, Quickley’s teammate on the New York Knicks and fellow member of the 2020 draft class, additionally performed within the Governor’s Problem throughout his highschool days.
Toppin got here to Salisbury along with his Mt. Zion Prep squad, the place he performed within the match in 2016 throughout a postgraduate 12 months. He would find yourself taking part in school ball on the College of Dayton, the place he would spend three years as a Flyer. Throughout his redshirt sophomore season, Toppin turned probably the greatest school basketball gamers within the nation, and was named the Nationwide Faculty Basketball Participant of the 12 months in 2020.
Toppin parlayed his school success into develop into a High 10 choose within the 2020 draft, the place he was chosen by the Knicks alongside Quickley. Like Quickley, Toppin has additionally develop into a fan favourite and prompt contributor in Madison Sq. Backyard, the place his high-flying dunks and hustle performs have saved him within the Knicks’ rotation.
Saddiq Bey
Saddiq Bey additionally made the journey to Salisbury to compete within the Governor’s Problem in 2016. Then a four-star recruit at Washington, D.C. personal college Sidwell Mates, Bey was one of many prime recruits within the DMV space. Throughout his time on the 2016 tourney, Bey’s Sidwell Mates squad performed in opposition to Quickley’s John Carroll workforce, and Carroll walked away with a detailed four-point win.
Bey would go on to play school ball at Villlanova for 2 years, the place he turned probably the greatest gamers within the Huge East. The winner of the 2020 Julius Erving Award, an award given to the nation’s greatest small ahead, Bey would find yourself changing into a primary spherical choose within the 2020 NBA Draft. Now taking part in for the Detroit Pistons, Bey was chosen to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Crew final 12 months, and has rapidly develop into a key piece of the Pistons future as they bear a rebuild.
Patrick Williams
The 2020 NBA Draft class was loaded with Governor’s Problem alumni, and no different participant who competed within the match was chosen as excessive as No. 4 total choose Patrick Williams.
Williams performed within the match very early in his highschool profession in 2015, when he and his West Charlotte highschool workforce made the journey from North Carolina to the Jap Shore. From there, Williams would develop into a top-30 recruit within the nation in keeping with ESPN, and would go on to play school basketball at Florida State for a 12 months.
Williams was drafted fourth total by the Chicago Bulls within the 2020 Draft, and he impressed throughout his rookie season along with his elite defensive skills and confirmed flashes of his offensive potential as a scorer. Williams had excessive hopes heading into this 2021-22 season, however a dislocated wrist ended his sophomore NBA marketing campaign early. Williams nonetheless has a great deal of potential as an NBA participant, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see how he bounces again subsequent 12 months.
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