ROCK HILL, S.C. — Antonio Pemberton broke down his defender from the left wing, took a big side-step dribble to his left and drained a deep, ridiculous 3-pointer. After hitting another big shot, the Mass Rivals guard had a big smile on his face as he went back on defense.
The play – which helped Rivals seal a close win over Upward Stars at the Adidas 3SSB Palmetto Road Championships – was emblematic of Pemberton’s undeniable talent, and the unbridled joy he plays with on the court.
It was a common scene in Rock Hill, where Pemberton (Lawrence, Mass.) was one of the biggest individual winners of the event. The 2027 guard, who has been playing up on Rivals’ top 17U squad since he was in eighth grade, asserted himself on the national radar as he lit up the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center with electric scoring performances. He was the 17U division’s second leading scorer at the championships with 26.8 points per game, including two 30-point performances. He added two more 30-point efforts this weekend at the Earn Your Stripes Invitational in California, including a 39-point, five-assist masterpiece that included eight 3-pointers.
As a sophomore this winter at Brewster Academy, Pemberton played a smaller role on an older team. But this spring and summer with Rivals – and after the departure of teammate Sebastian Wilkins to Duke – Pemberton had the opportunity to spread his wings as the clear-cut No. 1 option. Offensively, his gifts shined bright, especially from the mid-range, and earned the attention of the college coaches in attendance. Georgetown and Boston College offered him after the championship weekend, adding to a growing list of Division 1 suitors.
