“A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity”
Last week the Pentagon National Team traveled to Colorado Springs and spent a few days at the USA Men’s Basketball Training facility working against the 16 and Under national team.
USA Men’s Basketball brought together the best high school basketball players in the nation and those players were fighting for spots on the 16 and Under national team.
Who did the nation’s best underclassmen compete against in daily trainings? The Pentagon National Team based out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota coached by Allan Bertram.
This was a chance for some of South Dakota’s best players to travel to beautiful Colorado, see the amazing USA basketball facilities, and to test their skills against the players who are truly considered the best in the nation.
Today some of those Pentagon National Team members shared their experiences with Prep Hoops.
“We got to play in the same building and/or courts that all of the greats have once played on,” Sioux Falls Lincoln point guard Dillon Barrow told Prep Hoops.
“Guys like MJ, Kobe, Lebron, all of those guys. It was an honor to be apart of something like that. That’s a one in a lifetime opportunity.”
“The entire experience was insane,” 6-foot-9 center Lincoln Jorde of Sully Buttes told Prep Hoops. “The Olympic Training Center was incredible. We got to tour it and the entire complex was really neat.
“It was also awesome to play on the court that so many star NBA players have played on.”
Aberdeen Roncalli guard Gus Reede was blown away by his team at the Olympic complex. From the facilities to the location, it was an experience he will never forget.
“The USA training campus is like heaven for an athlete,” Reede said. “It was an unbelievable place and I consider myself extremely lucky to get to step foot there.
“Dylan LeBrun (of Flandreau), Cole Bergan (of Aberdeen Central), Dillon Barrow, and myself climbed a mountain called the Incline which was a total of three miles and when we finally got to the top it was a really cool feeling and unreal view.”
The talent that the South Dakota competitors faced was unlike anything they’ve been tested against before. It was truly the best of the best and it allowed the Pentagon National players a chance to learn about themselves as well.
‘The USA team was crazy they were so good and it was really eye opening to see what the best players in country are like,” Reede said.
“I learned that I have to be much stronger with the ball and defensively I need to be much quicker to keep those guys in front of me.”
Barrow and Reede faced some of the nation’s elite and what Barrow took away was a different mental approach is needed in his game.
“I learned that I just need to start playing with confidence,” Dillon said. “Confidence in the game of basketball can make or break you. We had to play with confidence to compete with this type of competition.
“Playing against these guards was kind of a wake up call. I thought I was a pretty fast guy until I met them.”
Jorde battled against some of the best bigs in the nation and walked away with the belief that his team can compete against anyone.
“I learned that there are always kids working to get better, but also that we can play with anyone if we take care of the ball and play defense,” Jorde said.
Chester Area guard Devin Eppard was blown away by the size and talent level of the Team USA athletes.
“A bunch of things stood out but the biggest was how good Team USA 16u’s players actually were, Devin said.
“James Wiseman stood out the most to me. He’s a 6-foot-10 or 6-foot-11 center who is extremely athletic and has a nice touch but can also step out and hit a three very consistently.”
Reede was also impressed by Wiseman who is ranked by Prep Hoops as the ninth best prospect in the 2019 class. Wiseman, who has scholarship offers from Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama, and many others, is a five star prospect from Nashville, Tennessee.
“Wiesman was on another level and I think he will be a top five pick in the draft one day,” Gus predicted.
Another star that the South Dakota seniors-to-be faced was 2021 phenom Zion Harmon. Harmon is a 5-foot-11 point guard from Bowling Green, Kentucky that has taken the basketball world be storm.
“Zion Harmon tore us apart and to think he is only going to be a freshman is crazy,” Reede said.
“Zion showed me a lot,” Barrow explained. “He’s three years younger than me but still competes like a division one point guard who’s not even in high school yet.”
Jorde couldn’t pinpoint just one guy that stood out, he was impressed by everyone!
“All the players stood out to me. No matter how good of defense you played as a team they still could find a way to score.”
The 16U National Team left this weekend for the FIBA Americas U16 Championships in Argentina. Game one is Wednesday against Puerto Rico.
As for the South Dakota 17u kids that helped Team USA train for this week?
They will be back in action the second weekend of July when PBC National head to Milwaukee for the Next Level Invitational, one of the best events in the Midwest.
And when the Pentagon National Team plays their next game they will now be prepared for anything thanks to the one of a kind Team USA Basketball experience.