Press Release:
adidas Grassroots Basketball Returns to CBS Sports Network

adidas Nations is the premiere global high school basketball platform for player development and competition. Commencing in 2007, adidas Nations identifies the top you players in the world and is designed to emphasize and focus on adidas’ core belief that real success in the game of basketball comes from refined fundamentals and playing as a team. The world’s top players, 19 and under, will be selected to comprise nine regional teams from Africa, Asia Pacific, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States.

Teams partake in training camps and competition around the world with a primary focus on becoming a professional basketball player. The culmination of this program brings all nine teams together to train and ultimately compete in an international world championship under the guidance and mentorship of highly esteemed NBA coaches, past and present players, and counseled by the top 30 college players in America.

In essence, adidas is redefining Grassroots basketball and developing the next crop of superstars along the way.  Over the past two years (2011, 2012) 29 adidas nations participants have been drafted into the NBA, and 68 players overall.  Some of the top names include: Derrick Rose, Serge Ibaka, Eric Gordan, Jrue Holiday, Brook and Robin Lopez, Damian Lillard, Alec Burks, Jared Sullinger, Andre Drummond, Josh Smith, Kevin Love, Tyreke Evans, James Harden, Demar Derozen, Mike Conley Jr., Paul George, Brandon Knight, Tristan Thompson, Corey Joseph, Iman Shumpert and many more.