Rock Hill has been selected as the 2020 NCAA Recruiting Camp Southeast location.
The NCAA College Basketball Academy is designed to give male student athletes within the classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022, a taste of what it’s like to be a college basketball player. The academy receives input from NBA coaches helping to develop the boys academy.
To attend the academy, you must be considered for an invitation, and register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, after nominating yourself [himself]. According to the program’s webiste, 2,400 players will be selected for the academy with about 600 players selected from each region. Each session will contain about 300 players, where players can only attend one of the aforementioned sessions. During the Academy, participants will partake in activities such as drills, games, and life skill- like sessions. College basketball coaches will also be in attendance on July 23-28.
“We are ecstatic to put Winthrop University, the City of Rock Hill and Visit York County on display in this wonderful opportunity to host the NCAA College Basketball Academy,” Dr. Ken Halpin, vice president for intercollegiate athletics said.
“Being awarded this opportunity is further evidence of Rock Hill’s commitment to being a leader of sports tourism in the United States.” Winthrop University, along with the University of Utah, Wichita State University, and the University of Connecticut, will serve as host sites for the second annual NCAA College Basketball Academies.
The deadline for nominating and applying to the academy will be on Sunday May 5, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Students will be notified of their acceptance via email no later than Friday, May 31, 2020.
For the community of Rock Hill, York County, and Fort Mill this is a big deal that can mean growth for the community.
Malik Frazier, junior political science major, is excited for this potential growth.
“It means a lot that they chose Rock Hill, SC to host the NCAA Basketball Academy. It shows our determination to continue to bring amazing events to the good town that our citizens can enjoy. We are continuing to grow here in Rock Hill which help us to host amazing events. It also shows that we are a top destination when it comes to hosting events. It’s a huge plus for us here in Rock Hill,” Frazier said.
Junior sports management major, Justin Rhodes, is not as convinced of the possible impact on the city.
“It would be a good start for exposure, but I feel the impact won’t be that great for Rock Hill,” Rhodes said.
“Well I don’t really have any ties to Rock Hill since I’m not from here so it’s not that big of a deal to me but it definitely brings exposure to the area,” said Isaac Smith, a junior sports management major.
“I think it would be good for us as sport management majors because that gives us more internship opportunities in the PESH department as a whole, especially because we would get work without some of the best known high school basketball players in the country,” said Morris Buckery, a junior sports management major.
The selections will be taking place from July 20th-26th, 2020.
Graphic: Elizabeth Talbert/ The Johnsonain
