Elite 24
08.19.2022

Under Armour Brings Together the Next Generation of Basketball Stars at Elite 24

UA athletes and NBA stars Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland and Will Barton join forces as coaches to support participating athletes

On August 12, Under Armour hosted its Elite 24 event in Chicago, bringing together 48 of the nation’s best rising boy’s and girl’s high school basketball players. As a brand dedicated to supporting the next generation of athletes, Elite 24 provided a venue for the future’s brightest stars to showcase their skills on the national stage and rise to the ranks of the nation’s top high school performers on the court.

Since 2006, Under Armour’s Elite 24 has hosted six number one picks, 106 drafted players, and 25 All-Americans. Throughout the event, athletes receive 1:1 coaching and mentoring from a standout roster of trainers against an incredible outdoor backdrop, creating an electric, once-in-a-lifetime experience for both participants and attendees. Back for the first time since 2016, this year’s event was particularly notable as Under Armour hosted Elite 24’s first girl’s game, with both games broadcasted on ESPNU.

 

Team Breakthru took home the title during the inaugural girl’s game with a 92-77 victory over Team Ascent, and Team Havoc won the boy’s game with a final score of 124-120 over Team FUTR. University of Alabama commit, Essence Cody, from Team Breakthru was named Most Valuable Player at this year’s Elite 24’s girl’s game, with Isaiah Collier from Team Havoc taking home the boy’s MVP honors. 

“It’s a good feeling that the women’s basketball game is growing first off and then knowing that I’m going to be a part of some women’s basketball history at Under Armour is also a really great feeling.”

Mikaylah Williams, LSU commit

Elite 24 featured two familiar faces in the Under Armour family, former teammates and NBA stars Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland and Will Barton. The duo returned to the Under Armour Association (UAA) Circuit to serve as coaches, sharing their knowledge and experience with the next generation of basketball stars, each coaching a team that went head-to-head on the court.

 

Not only are Bones and Will some of the NBA’s standout talents, but they have a very special friendship that is one for the storybooks. In 2014, Bones and Will met on the UAA Circuit and the two formed an instant friendship over their shared love for the game. The pair grew an unbreakable bond that ended up following them to the NBA when Bones was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, where Will was already a member of the team. The two fought to help Denver make a deep playoff run this past season and returned to their UAA stomping grounds to support this year’s participating Elite 24 athletes. Thanks to meeting on the UAA Circuit, Bones and Will were especially excited to give back to Under Armour through their participation as coaches as they enlightened the next generation of stars with their experience and expertise.

Over the years, Bones has consistently turned to Will for knowledge of the game, and Will has given Bones pointers on how to be mentally prepared, which Will finds more important than physical ability. Bones exhibited his mental fortitude upon arriving in Denver, earning his minutes, and carrying himself as a true professional. Both Bones and Will shared this crucial knowledge with the athletes who they coached throughout Elite 24 and encouraged all athletes to stay mentally focused on their individual journeys to rise to the top of their game. Will noted that he wanted each athlete to walk away from Elite 24 with the skills to compete hard, listen, and always lead with mental preparedness. Bones’ advice to players was to go out there, play with passion and grit, and not take this opportunity for granted.  

Elite 24, Will Barton and Bones Hyland

“Under Armour was the first brand to recognize me and give me love both on and off the court. Being able to give back to them, and also provide mentorship to the next generation of athletes is special. I hope to make an impact on these players, much like Will made an impact on me back in 2014.”

Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland

As Elite 24’s athletes continue to progress and evolve on their journeys to compete at the highest level, Under Armour looks forward to witnessing the continuous growth of these athletes and providing a platform for them to exhibit their talents on the national stage, just as the brand did with Bones Hyland and Will Barton.

Elite 24