Today, Under Armour announced their title sponsorship of the Under Armour Elite 24 Game, which is now in its seventh year and features the top 24 high school underclassmen from across the country. The 24 players are selected by a committee of experts from ESPN recruiting services and other national talent evaluators. UA will outfit the players from head to toe with sneakers, uniforms and apparel. The Elite 24 game will air live on ESPNU on August 25 at 7 p.m. EDT. More details, from Under Armour:
Taking place at the famed playground basketball courts in Venice Beach, California, Elite 24 is the only high school basketball event that brings together the nation’s best players, regardless of academic class.
“Over the past six years the Elite 24 has introduced the nation to high school basketball’s best young players, many of whom have gone on to great collegiate and professional careers,” said Matt Mirchin, Senior Vice President, Global Sports Marketing and Brand, Under Armour. “We are excited to elevate our support to title sponsorship and look forward to this year’s game adding to the event’s already rich legacy.”
A number of current NBA players, including Under Armour athletes Brandon Jennings, Kemba Walker and DeAndre Jordan, have participated in the Elite 24 Game. Other notable alumni currently playing in the NBA include Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Tyreke Evans, Michael Beasley and incoming rookies Austin Rivers, Harrison Barnes and Bradley Beal.
“Having supported the Elite 24 Game since the inaugural event in 2006 at Rucker Park by providing the teams with base layer, we feel now is the right time to outfit the players from head to toe,” said Kris Stone, Elite 24 Founder and Director, Pro Basketball Sports Marketing, Under Armour. “It’s a natural evolution as we continue to push forward and show our commitment to the basketball category and the next generation of great basketball players.”
“I went out and made a name for myself by winning the MVP at the first game at Rucker Park in 2006 and in the 2007 game,” said Jennings. “The Elite 24 Game gave me a chance to show my skills in front of the toughest crowd in basketball and to compete against the best high school players in the country, including Kevin Love, Michael Beasley, Jerryd Bayless, Tyreke Evans, DeAndre Jordan, Kyle Singler, Donte Greene, and JJ Hickson to name a few.”
On Thursday, August 23, players will participate in an Under Armour Grind Session to prepare for the game. Grind Session is a skill development curriculum developed by Under Armour and the game’s best trainers, designed to teach young basketball players how to improve different basketball-specific skills and their overall physical ability. Renowned basketball trainers Jay Hernandez and Hanif Hill, both of whom work with NBA talent, will run the special Under Armour Grind Session for the Elite 24 players.
The brand is also the title sponsor of the event’s Under Armour Dunk Contest that will air Friday, August 24 on ESPNU at 7 p.m. EDT.
