The Paul Pierce Nike Skills Academy feature the top 20 high school players. The athletes have the opportunity to receive personal instruction from the NBA athlete along with a first class group of high school and NBA coaches.
The goal of the Skills Academies is to instill the fundamentals into the next generation of top players. Each academy focuses on strength and conditioning and skill development. In addition to the on-court instruction the players also get to hear from the NBA athlete and the coaches on life lessons and what it takes to make it at the next level.
June 20-22, 2008
2008 High School Roster
No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Class High School/Hometown
1 Jason Morris 6-3 ½ 195 2010 Hotchkiss/Lakeville, CT
3 Darius Smith 6-1 166 2009 Marshall/Chicago, IL
5 Avery Bradley 6-3 175 2009 Bellarmine Prep/Tacoma, WA
7 Marcus Jordan 6-2 ¾ 201 2009 Whitney Young/Chicago, IL
11 Demetrius Walker 6-2 187 2009 Serra/San Juan Capistrano, CA
12 Michael Snaer 6-5 187 2009 Rancho Verde/Moreno Valley, CA
13 Durand Scott 6-4 177 2009 Rice/New York, NY
14 Jereme Richmond 6-7 191 2010 Waukegan/Waukegan, IL
15 Aaron Dotson 6-3 194 2009 Rainier Beach/Seattle, WA
16 Kawhi Leonard 6-6 210 2009 Martin Luther King/Riverside, CA
17 Naji Hibbert6-5 ½ 188 2009 DeMatha Catholic/Hyattsville, MD
18 Xavier Henry 6-6 214 2009 Putnam City/Oklahoma City, OK
19 Jordan Hamilton 6-7 219 2009 Dominguez/Compton, CA
20 Nolan Dennis 6-4 170 2009 Richland/North Richland Hills, TX
21 Reggie Bullock 6-6 183 2010 Kinston/Kinston, NC
22 Terrence Boyd 6-4 220 2009 Norman/Norman, OK
23 Glen Rice, Jr. 6-5 188 2009 Walton/Marietta, GA
24 Tristan Spurlock 6-8 207 2009 Montrose Christian/Rockville, MD
25 Lane Adams 6-3 181 2009 Red Oak/Red Oak, OK
26 Ralston Turner 6-5 ½ 191 2010 Muscle Shoals/Muscle Shoals, AL
Steve Nash Skills Academy Update:
The official invite list for The Steve Nash Skills Academy in New Jersey will be released on June 26th but local invites include: Lance Stephenson (Lincoln) and Dexter Strickland (St. Patrick, N.J).
According to Lance Stephenson's father, Stephenson was originally invited to the Paul Pierce Skills Academy but opted to play at a closer location.
Additional Invites confirmed by Adam Zagoria include: Brandon Knight (Coral Springs Fla. Pine Crest), Tommy Mason-Griffin (Houston Madison), Leslie McDonald (Memphis Briarcrest Christian/NC)and John Wall (Raleigh N.C. Word of God Christian/).
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