As a part of Nike‘s World Basketball Festival 2012, some of the top amateur players from around the world showed off their hoops skills in D.C. over the weekend.
Celebrating international basketball in the nation’s capital, the 2012 Nike Global Challenge concluded with USA Midwest prevailing over Canada as part of Nike World Basketball Festival 2012.  Led by James Young of Troy, Michigan (Troy High School), and his 29 points and 10 rebounds, team USA Midwest won 100-86.
Held in Washington, D.C. at Episcopal High School and the D.C. Armory, this eight-team, 16-game tournament began on July 13 and concluded with the championship on Sunday, July 15. Featuring top amateur basketball players from elite international teams throughout the world, the Nike Global Challenge began in 2007 with several alumni playing on pro teams both in the U.S. and internationally.
The international teams participating included Under-18 teams from Brasil, Canada, China, Lithuania and Puerto Rico. This is the third consecutive year that Canada advanced to the tournament championship. Â
2012 Nike Global Challenge International and US All-Tournament Teams
International All-Tournament Team
Andrew Wiggins, Canada (Co-MVP)
Trey Lyles, Canada (Co-MVP)
Dereke Reese, Puerto Rico
Justas Tamulis, Lithuania
Deryk Evandro Ramos, Brasil
Gao Shang, China
US All-Tournament Team
James Young, USA Midwest (MVP)
Theo Pinson, USA East
Troy Williams, USA East
Nigel Williams-Goss, USA West
Sindarius Thornwell, USA West
Bobby Portis, USA Midwest
The U.S.-based Nike Global Challenge players participated in positional skills camps in Chicago hosted by several pro basketball superstars including Deron Williams, Kevin Durant and Amar’e Stoudemire. The journey for these young players continued to Las Vegas as they participated in the LeBron James US Skills Academy. The top 30 players from the spring and summer circuits then made up the three regional teams to representing the United States in this tournament.
Played under FIBA rules, the Nike Global Challenge is a key component in Nike’s summer series of youth skills academies aimed to broaden and elevate basketball globally. For more information on the Nike Global Challenge visit www.nikeglobalchallenge.com.
