ROCK HILL, S.C. — My first experience covering the Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships was enjoyable, but also interesting.
This was my first time covering an event outside New England since our launch last July, and I was curious how the talent would stack up against the rest of the country. Our region’s top players are well-known here, but at these national events, they’re sharing the court with stars from other regions in every game. Of course, several of New England’s best have done impressive things on a national level within their circuits over the years – but I wanted to see it for myself.
New England didn’t disappoint. In a facility filled with hundreds of high-level recruits from around the country, the region had many standouts. The established stars were impressive, and some performed even made a bigger impression than expected. Along the way, there were even a few hidden gems who enjoyed breakout weeks in front of Division 1 head coaches.
Here are 10 New England/NEPSAC standouts from the Adidas 3SSB Championships.
Chase Geremia, BABC 17U
Class of 2026, 6-2 guard
Newman/Madison, Conn.
Alongside three nationally-ranked stars, Geremia has fit in perfectly as an elite shooter who stretches the floor and impacts games within the margins. He continued that in Rock Hill. He went 16-for-35 from 3-point range (45.7%) over five games, including a 7-for-9 performance in BABC’s opening round win over Team Lillard. He rarely forced shots and played within the offense, threading the balance of finding his own looks in rhythm and letting his teammates cook if there wasn’t a shot available.
Geremia was also impactful on the glass and defensively – two constants this spring. The 6-foot-2 guard grabbed eight rebounds and four steals in BABC's finale against the Atlanta Celtics, and he made one of the biggest plays of the week when he stole an inbounds pass that led to Amir Jenkins’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the quarterfinals against D1 Minnesota. He continued to show he’s not just a shooter. Geremia picked up offers from UMass and Texas State over the weekend, bringing his total to 10.
Alex Egbuonu, BABC 17U
Class of 2026, 6-7 wing
Lawrence Academy/Nashua, N.H.
I was sitting courtside for BABC’s game against the Atlanta Celtics on Saturday and was surrounded by Celtics parents; the constant praising they were doing of Egbuonu – who they had not seen play before – was noticeable. They were mostly complimentary of his skill, dribbling ability and mobility for a player of his size.
When he went coast to coast, getting past multiple defenders for a layup, one of the parents commented that they would be afraid to get in front of him because of big size, physicality and speed. Egbuonu went for 26 points and nine rebounds in that game, and averaged 20 points per game over the week, including a dominant 31-point performance in BABC’s opening round win over Team Lillard, as he showed off his entire offensive package. He continued to be a force defensively, too. Though he fouled out late in the quarterfinal loss to D1 Minnesota, he was disruptive and impactful at the rim as a small-ball five, which included a four-block game against Team Lillard.
RECAP: 7 takeaways from Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships
Amir Jenkins, BABC 17U
Class of 2025, 6-2 guard
Worcester Academy/Worcester, Mass.
NCAA: West Virginia
As I’ve already written this week, it was a relative surprise to see Jenkins – who committed to West Virginia on July 1 – suiting up for BABC in Rock Hill. But again, it’s the type of player and teammate Jenkins is, and he expectedly performed at a high level on the big stage. He averaged 18.8 points and 3.4 assists over the five games in Rock Hill, and he was the leader BABC needed in its 17U quarterfinal, when he was the spark of their comeback on both ends of the floor and hit the game-tying 3-pointer that sent the game to overtime. Jenkins, like usual, was hard to stop offensively with his skillful playmaking, finishing and difficult shotmaking, his ability to take advantage of defensive breakdowns and win his matchups. It was Jenkins at his best in his final games before heading off to WVU.
Abdou Toure, BABC 17U
Class of 2026, 6-6 wing
Notre Dame West Haven/New Haven, Conn.
While Egbuonu and Jenkins took on most of the scoring load in Rock Hill, I thought Toure still made a sizable impact with his length and athleticism defensively at the rim, and he also rebounded well. And while Jenkins made the biggest plays in BABC’s comeback against D1 Minnesota, Toure played a critical role in helping get the game to overtime. He got to the free throw line 17 times in that game, and it was essentially a parade to the stripe over the final minutes of regulation as he continued to slash his way with ease to the hoop. Toure is easily one of the most athletic scorers on the Adidas circuit and it showed.
Warren Keel, Mass Rivals 17U
Class of 2026, 6-0 guard
Putnam Science/Lynn, Mass.
While his backcourt mate Antonio Pemberton earned most of the buzz, Keel was an excellent sidekick, and he helped push Rivals to its opening round victory over Upward Stars. Keel scored 25 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting, which included some huge plays down the stretch as Upward Stars made a late comeback. After Rivals let a big lead slip into a tied game, Keel produced a sequence where he hit a 3-pointer, then converted a three-point play to restore their advantage, then scored a layup in the final minute to help seal the resilient win. Keel, a prep school champion at two schools, is never flustered in those big moments.
Antonio Pemberton, Mass Rivals 17U
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Brewster Academy/Lawrence, Mass.
Pemberton was so good at the Adidas championships that college head coaches were openly wondering if the 2027 guard would be able to leave high school a year early. The longtime Rivals standout, who’s been playing on the top 17U team since he was in eighth grade, made a national statement at this year’s Adidas championships. He was the second-leading scorer of the 17U division championships, finishing at 26.8 points per game and shooting 38.1 percent from long range.
He was unguardable in most games – which included a 37-point effort vs. Indiana Elite – as he got to his spots at all three levels and consistently knocked down tough shots. Pemberton, who earned offers from Georgetown and Boston College after the weekend, is only rising up national lists after this performance, made even more impressive by the fact that he was the focal point of every defense.
NEW ENGLAND BUZZ: 5 memorable moments from the action in Rock Hill
Kamari Whyte, New Heights 16U
Class of 2027, 6-4 guard
Vermont Academy/Harlem, N.Y.
Whyte, who emerged as one of NEPSAC’s best players last winter, put on a national show in Rock Hill, where he averaged 22 points per game to lead New Heights to the 16U championship final, including a 31-point, eight-rebound, five-assist and four-steal effort against Gamepoint.
Alongside star teammate Caleb Lundy, he made winning plays late in a semifinal win over Midwest Basketball Club and he was at his best getting downhill, putting pressure on interior defenses and either getting to the free throw line or making tough finishes. Though the week ended in disappointing fashion with a championship loss to Team Lillard, Whyte cemented himself as a rising star in the 2027 class.
Derek Swartz, Mass Rivals 16U
Class of 2028, 6-5 guard
Portsmouth High School/Portsmouth, N.H.
Get familiar with him now. After a strong start to the spring playing up a grade with Rivals’ 16U team, Swartz put it all together in a breakout week at the Adidas championships, where he thrived against some of the best talent he’s ever played. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, including a monster 32-point, eight-rebound, four-assist, four-steal game in Rivals’ finale against Southern Assault.
Swartz boasts an elite handle and high IQ, and he’s skillful and physical enough with his size to consistently get to the rim. He has a strong feel for the game and knows how to find his shot or create for others out of double teams. His 3-point shot needs to be more consistent, but he has the capability and should only improve in that area, too. Swartz earned an offer from Georgetown after the weekend and his stock is climbing.
Josh Roux, Mass Rivals 16U
Class of 2027, 6-0 guard
Andover High School/Andover, Mass.
I’ve already labeled Roux as one of the best 3-point shooters in New England, but he hit a different level in Rock Hill. The 6-foot flamethrower went 21-for-41 (51.2 percent) from long range over Rivals’ six games, including a huge 28-point performance in a loss to Midwest Basketball Club when he shot 7-for-13 from downtown. He was also massive in their opening round comeback win over ETG, when he hit five 3-pointers, including a sequence when he hit three in a row and made some critical ones to keep them in the game.
Most of Roux’s 3-pointers were on catch-and-shoot opportunities, but I was so impressed with his ability to turn his hips and body on the catch for a quick release and strong form. He simply couldn’t miss for some stretches during the week, and Vin Pastore continuously dialed up plays to get him the ball beyond the arc.
Jakare Innocent, BABC 16U
Class of 2027, 6-1 guard
Tilton/Taunton, Mass.
BABC’s 16U team won just one game in Rock Hill – a 71-68 triumph over Tennessee Impact – but Innocent was at the center of most of the good things that happened for them. He scored 20 points in that game, 19 points in their opening round loss to Power 5 and caught fire from 3-point range with four made triples in both of those games. As he did all spring, Innocent also made a nice impact within the margins, soaring for offensive rebounds and giving his teammates valuable second chances or being a disruptive defensive force with speed and anticipation within BABC’s press. There’s a ton to love about Innocent’s game as he enters his debut season at Tilton.
