Kentucky targets set to play in Nike World Basketball Festival in NYC

Some of Kentucky’s biggest basketball recruiting targets are competing on the world stage this weekend in New York City. The Nike World Basketball Festival takes place in the Big Apple from Sept. 15-16, celebrating the past, present and future of Nike Basketball.

The event? A tournament featuring 80 of the best high school basketball players — 40 girls and 40 boys — across 23 states and three countries taking place over two days.

Kentucky’s top targets set to participate in the prestigious event are Tre Johnson, Jayden Quaintance, Caleb Wilson, Karter Knox, Jasper Johnson, Patrick Ngongba, Boogie Fland, Meleek Thomas and Will Riley.

Rosters for the Nike World Basketball Festival this weekend in NYC pic.twitter.com/AlEaHv2ESi

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 15, 2023

Winners will receive an exclusive limited-edition jersey, designed in partnership with Cactus Jack. The girls’ and boys’ championship games on September 16 will be streamed live on the NBA app and YouTube here.

The Nike World Basketball Festival will serve as the culmination of this summer’s VS tournaments that occurred in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Toronto.

“If running is the heart of Nike, then basketball has always been Nike’s soul,” says Scott Uzzell, Vice President and General Manager of Nike North America. “There’s no place like New York City to witness basketball’s deep connection to culture. And that influence grows as the global game continues to grow.”

The event will be hosted at Lincoln Center, an iconic location for movement and cultural expression, bringing the best of basketball home to New York City.

“The game has always stood for something bigger than simply what happens on the court,” explained David Hollander, New York University professor and author of “How Basketball Can Save the World: 13 Guiding Principles for Reimagining What’s Possible.” “Basketball actually provides a unique, compelling portal into the human condition. That is the source of its phenomenal power — its ubiquity, its influence and its peerless future.”

“The energy of New York City basketball is unlike the energy in any other place in the world,” said Mikal Bridges, small forward with the Brooklyn Nets. “This incredible moment pulls together next-gen talent, icons of the game and the people who help share the culture of the city. Only in New York. Only because of basketball.”

The Kentucky coaching staff will be watching closely.