Jim Couch Foundation to Present The Super 16 National Training Showcase This Weekend in NYC


Our friends at the Jim Couch Foundation have released the official details about their Super 16 Game and accompanying training events. This event started last year and combines elite underclassmen talent with outstanding instruction. Here’s the press release:

This weekend, 32 of the Nation’s top freshman and sophomore basketball players will descend on New York City to play in the second annual Super 16 National Training Showcase Games presented by the Jim Couch Foundation, starting Sun., Oct. 21, 1 p.m. ET (Freshmen) and 3 p.m. ET (Sophomores), at Baruch College, 55 Lexington Ave.

The event, benefiting The Jim Couch Free Basketball Conditioning Clinic, will feature players from the Classes of 2015 and 2016 from high schools across North America. Players have been invited to showcase their skills, and receive dedicated counseling and academic mentorship that will help guide them in meeting the NCAA clearing house requirements.

The event will debut on thebasketballchannel.net Friday, October 26, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. as a delayed-stream broadcast. Announcers for the showcase games will be Ralph Bednarczyk and Sean Couch.

The following players have committed to play in The Super 16 National Freshman Training Showcase Game (1 p.m. Sunday) presented by the Jim Couch Foundation: Mario Kegler (6-7, Forward, Calloway HS, Miss.); Rodney Miller (6-11, Center, St. Benedicts Prep, NJ.); Devonte Green (6-2 Guard, St. Mary’s HS. NY.); Ira Bennett (6-9 Center, Greater Emmanuel Prep Academy, NC.); Unique McClain (6-2, Guard, Hoosac HS, NY.); Kevin Hamlet (6-6, Forward, Phase One Academy, CAN.); Ryan Murphy (6-2, Guard, Fairfield Prep, CT.); Bryce Aiken (5-9, Guard, Pope John XXIII HS, NJ.); Thon Maker (7-0, Center, Assists Academy, LA.); Ty Jerome (5-10, Guard, Iona Prep, NY.); Nyrhique Smith (6-3, Guard, Monmouth Regional HS, NJ.); Kassoum Yawke (6-8, Our Savior New American School, NY.); Mustafa Heron (6-5, Wilberham Monson Academy, MA.); Temple Gibbs (6-3, Guard, Seton Hall Prep, NJ.); Ben Rabinowitz (6-0, Guard, The Ramaz School, NY.).*

The following players have committed to the Super 16 National Sophomore Training Showcase Game (3:00 p.m.):

Thomas Bryant (6-9, Bishop Kearney HS, N.Y.); Kejuan Johnson (6-6, Forward, Westlake HS, GA.); Isaiah Briscoe (6-2, Guard, St. Benedicts Prep, NJ); Jamar Ergas (6-3, Forward, Burlington Prep, NC.), Louis Montero (6-7, Forward, Wilberham Monson Academy, MA.); Kamar McKnight (6-4, Forward, St. Patrick’s, NJ.); Cheick Diallo (6-9, Center, Our Savior New American, NY.); Chancellor Ellis (6-4, Forward, St. Andrews Prep, RI.); Marcus Floyd (5-9, Guard, The Phelps School, Malvern, Pa.); Nassir Barrino (6-0, Guard, Hudson Catholic HS, NJ.); Djery Baptiste (6-10, Center, Wilberham Monson Academy, MA.); Cheyenne Nettleton (5-10, Guard, Holy Cross HS, N.Y.); Chris Atkinson (5-11, Guard, Long Island Lutheran HS, N.Y.); Aaron Ray (6-3, Forward, Middletown HS, NY.) *

Training Coaches for The Super 16 National Training Showcase Game Presented by the Jim Couch Foundation include Ben Gamble, St. Anthony HS, Julius Allen, New York Gauchos Coach and former assistant coach of South Florida University, Evander Ford, Coach at Wheels Academy High School, Mark Jerome, Executive Director of the Riverside Hawks, Terrence Williams, Executive Director of Team Scan, David Gates, Coach Team Scan, and Ro Russell, Director of Grassroots Canada Basketball.

On Saturday, October 20, the media will be allowed to view the practice and scrimmage sessions for the Classes of 2015 and 2016. Session time: 4:00-7:00 pm in Auxiliary and Main gym.

The event will also feature top 7th and 8th grade New York-metro players in the Regional Middle School All-Star Game, 6:45 p.m. ET, Saturday October 20, 2012 in the main gym.

The Super 16 National Training Showcase celebrates Jim Couch’s career as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s first coach. This weekend is in honor of Couch’s work in the New York City community as a leader and innovator of basketball training and mentorship. This event is an evolution: its genesis comes from the 2007 launched Jim Couch Reunion Games that featured the NBA’s Kemba Walker and Tobias Harris as headliners; the 2008 Girls High School game featuring the best of Westchester vs. the best of NYC metro; the 2009 expansion that included regional teams from Boston, Connecticut, Albany, and New Jersey; and the 2010 Freshman Game that featured the top 9th graders from the New York Metro region vs. Long Island’s top entering freshman. Last year, #8 Stephen Zimmerman, #10 Marcus Derrickson, #13 Thomas Bryant, #18 Isaiah Briscoe, and #25 Kejuan Johnson played in the first annual Jim Couch National Freshman Showcase game and are now in ESPN’s Class of 2015’s Top 25.

Thebasketballchannel.net (www.thebasketballchannel.net) is the official streamer of The Jim Couch Super 16 National Training Showcase presented by the Jim Couch Foundation.

SLAM Magazine (www.slamonline.com) is the Official Media Partner of the Super 16 National Training Showcase.

Shirts & Skins, Inc. (www.shirtsandskinsinc.com) is the official apparel sponsor of The Jim Couch Super 16 National Training Showcase presented by the Jim Couch Foundation.

Ektio Inc., New York, NY (www.ektio.com) is the official sneaker sponsor of The Jim Couch Super 16 National Training Showcase presented by the Jim Couch Foundation.