The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

FREDRICK King Jr was the breakout player of the NBA Academy Invitational and boosted his recruiting profile as an elite international prospect.

King averaged 30 points and 14.5 rebounds per game at the event hosted by his NBA Academy Latin America programme in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The 6’10” forward opened with 31 points and 16 rebounds for NBA Latin America to an 82-61 win over NBA Africa Red. He followed with 29 points and 13 rebounds in a 93-87 over The Skills Factory.

Jonathan Givony, NBA Draft analyst at ESPN, said King was one of the surprise standouts at the event.

“[King] has unquestionably been the breakout guy of this event,” he said, “Now being recruited at the very highest levels for college in 2022.”

King made Bahamian basketball history last January when he became the country’s first student athlete to enrol in one of the NBA’s global academies.

NBA Academy Latin America is an elite basketball training centre in Mexico City, Mexico for the top prospects throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, Canada and South America. The academy is a partnership between the NBA, CONADE (Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport) and the Mexican Basketball Federation.

NBA Academy is an elite basketball development initiative that provides top high school-age prospects from outside the US with a holistic approach to player development. The NBA Academy programme includes six academies across Australia, China, India, Mexico and Senegal for top male and female prospects from their respective countries and continents.

The programme focuses on health and wellness, character development and life skills, and gives prospects the opportunity to learn the game from outside coaches who the NBA hires with professional, collegiate and international coaching experience.

As part of the programme, the prospects compete against top competition throughout the year and have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments and exhibition games.

Depending on the location of the academy, prospects either attend a local public school or receive a scholarship to a local private school, and receive additional academic support as needed.

“I just want to thank everyone who has helped me on this journey. I appreciate the support and the love. I was very happy, I just had no idea I could get this far in the game yet. I feel confident, I just need to pick up on things quickly and work even harder now,” the 17-year-old said at the time of his announcement to join the academy. “I try to pattern my game after Giannis Antetokounmpo,” he said, “I can rebound, run the floor, play above the rim and just be athletic. I can play inside or out, but I know I have to learn how to shoot better.”

A native of Mangrove Cay, Andros, King Jr matriculated to New Providence and joined Mark Hanna’s programme at DW Davis.

As a member of the Royals, King helped the team to multiple GSSSA and Father Marcian Peters Tournament championships. He then went on to play for Kevin Johnson and the CI Gibson Rattlers.

King’s opportunity came about as a result of the Bahamas Elite Sports Academy hosting a virtual showcase.

Then President of the Bahamas Basketball Federation and current Minister of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg said King projects to be next in line amongst the Bahamas’ stars in the sport.

“I believe this opportunity for Fredrick will allow us to have another player in the pipeline that stands a great chance of making it to the NBA,” he said.

“It shows the great improvement in the development of the game and the players in this country. When I got the call from the NBA Academy I was excited and I’m just happy that this day is here and Fredrick has an opportunity to better his skills at a high level toward becoming a collegiate or professional basketball player.”