Everyone loves the 2026 NBA Draft class.
But very few people want to give American grassroots basketball credit for developing it.
After spending the last decade scouting on both sides of the Atlantic, here's why I believe the criticism of AAU and grassroots basketball has gone too far.
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NEWS: The Nike EYBL Scholastic will shift from 20 teams to 15 teams next high school basketball season, @LeagueRDY has learned.
Sunrise Christian (KS), Spire Academy (OH), Link Academy (MO), Brewster Academy (NH) and Utah Prep (UT) are among the teams leaving the conference.
Newly-formed Monarch Academy (KS) and Masters Academy International (MA) will join the EYBL Scholastic for the 2026-27 season.
Official 2026-27 Nike EYBL Scholastic team list, per @NikeEYB Instagram:
AZ Compass Prep (AZ)
CIA Bella Vista (AZ)
Dream City Christian (AZ)
Faith Family Academy (TX)
Iowa United (IA)
La Lumiere (IN)
Long Island Lutheran (NY)
Masters Academy International (MA)
Monarch Academy (KS)
Montverde Academy (FL)
Oak Hill Academy (VA)
Tennessee Collegiate Academy (TN)
The St. James (VA)
Veritas Academy (CA)
Wasatch Academy (UT)
The Portland Trail Blazers organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Rick Adelman, a franchise legend and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer. Rick was one of the most influential figures in franchise history, a member of the inaugural 1970 team and integral coach throughout the 80s and 90s, guiding the team to Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. Rick's basketball brilliance helped shape multiple eras of Trail Blazers basketball, earning the respect and admiration of the basketball community and cementing his legacy. His thoughtful leadership, integrity, and kindness impacted all those around him on and off the court. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire Adelman family, and all those in the world of basketball who were touched by his impact.
Tennessee State coach Nolan Smith and the Tigers have officially signed Aaron Bradshaw and Arterio Morris.
Bradshaw was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school. Spent freshman season at UK, sophomore at Ohio state, last season at Memphis.
Morris was a top 25 player coming out of high school, was at Texas his freshman season, Kansas sophomore and averaged 11.5 points at Bethune-Cookman last season.
Will Wade and LSU are building the most unorthodox college basketball roster of all-time.
• Yam Madar (25, drafted in 2020)
• RJ Luis (23, G League)
• Brice Dessert (23, EuroLeague)
• Marcio Santos (23, EuroLeague)
• Mo Dioubate (22, Kentucky)
• Austin Nunez (23, UTSA)
• Abdi Bashir (22, Kansas State)
• Divine Ugochukwu (20, Michigan State)
#lostfiles April 5th, 2026.
Everywhere he’s been, @NdotSmitty has held his own & made an impact, as a player and a coach.
Since his days in the DMV, he’s always been a standout, as he played for the legendary @dcassaulthoops program & also at high schools such as @_rbschool in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and also at the legendary @oakhillacademy, where he graduated in 2007 & led to an 80-2 record and a mythical national championship as the @oakhillhoops Warriors, then coached by the legendary @OHACoachSmith, finished the 2006-07 season as the No. 1 team in the country.
During his senior season, he was named a first-team @ParadeMagazine All-American & played in the 2007 @McDAAG in his birthplace of Louisville, Kentucky.
He then went on to play four years of collegiate 🏀 at @DukeMBB for the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, as he was a part of the 2010 national championship team, and was a part of the all @MFinalFour team. While with the Blue Devils, he was a member of the @accmbb All-Defensive team, was named the 2011 @accmbb Player of the Year & was a first-team All-American.
He was selected as the No. 21 overall pick in the 2011 @NBADraft draft by the @trailblazers & spent two years in the League & then went on to play in 🇭🇷 for Cedevita Zagreb, where he won a Croatian League championship in 2014 & was a Croatian League All-Star.
After his playing days ended, he would go on to coach on the college 🏀 scene, first doing six years at @DukeMBB from 2016-22, where he coached 25 @NBA players.
Then he went on to coach at @LouisvilleMBB for two seasons from 2022-24, followed by one season at @Memphis_MBB.
This past season, in his first season as head coach at @TSUTigersMBB, the program had an overall record of 23-10 & a 15-5 record in @OVCSports play & won a conference championship and went to the first round of @MarchMadnessMBB.
For his coaching efforts, he was named @OVCSports Coach of the Year.
Last month, he was the head coach of Team Bob Dandridge at the @HBCUAllStarGame at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis.
All in all, he’s paid his dues wherever he’s gone. It’s only up from here for @NdotSmitty.
Sources: The NCAA has initiated the final steps to expand the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments to 76 teams. The expansion is on track to be formalized in the upcoming weeks, with mid-May as the target. The 76-team tournaments begin next year. https://t.co/2ZGUjZR0uJ
A new era has begun! @CoachMikePeck has signed the first 3️⃣ year contract in Link Academy history! The future is in great hands! 😤🦁 Help us welcome Coach Peck to the Pride!