The Below Armour Subsequent Elite 24 showcase wrapped up on Saturday with a aggressive sport between 24 of the highest males’s highschool and worldwide basketball gamers, and no person got here out sturdy than 2025 Florida four-star recruit Shon Abaev.
Abaev, who attends Calvary Christian Academy, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was seen as a top-40 recruit within the Class of 2025 coming into the weekend, and solidified that standing with a 22-point, 10-assist, and seven-rebound efficiency, whereas capturing 8-for-19 from the sphere.
Standing at 6’7”, 185 kilos, Abaev was dealing with the ball almost each time he was on the courtroom, commanding the offense as a point-forward, whereas particularly working nicely out of the choose and roll, utilizing his leverage to create shot alternatives off the dribble or producing appears for his teammates.
Abaev got here out actually sturdy, beginning the sport with a troublesome fadeaway jumper on the baseline. Just a few possessions later, he separated off the dribble to attach on an open three earlier than getting a giant slam in open house in transition.
“I’ve been in a position to shoot since I used to be youthful,” Abaev shared throughout the weekend. “I used to be a shooter. I had a really feel for the ball since a younger age, so I simply felt like I needed to preserve the vertical, preserve getting higher as a result of that’s one thing that I had since little. I used to be all the time a very good shooter, so I simply needed to carry on engaged on and preserve getting higher.”
The four-star was battling early with 2025 five-star Nate Ament on the ahead place, attacking him on the offensive finish, whereas selecting up the task defensively as nicely, resulting in the aggressive nature that stemmed round the entire sport.
After fouling Ament on a drive to the basket, Abaev acquired his get-back, recording a candy block on a fadeaway after holding his floor within the put up, regardless of the five-star having two inches on him.
Abaev’s sturdy begin wasn’t accomplished but, because the ahead hit a floater and one other three off the dribble in response to an Ament three, resulting in an especially productive first half.
Within the second half, whereas the shot cooled a bit, the Florida native seemed to get his teammates concerned extra, commanding the offense nicely and speaking throughout.
He particularly related with ahead Marcus Jackson on a pair of alley-oop dunks, attracting a number of defenders in pick-and-roll conditions to release his teammate with a couple of good passes.
In direction of the top of the sport, with either side starting to play extra hero ball, Abaev did have a couple of pointless pictures, decreasing his total effectivity, nevertheless it was an “All-Star” sort sport to be honest.
The sturdy efficiency in opposition to some powerful competitors and the close to triple-double for Abaev gained him MVP honors, capping off a stable weekend for the four-star ahead.
Coming into the weekend, the ahead revealed to SB Nation that his purpose was to show that he might belong and stick as among the finest gamers within the nation. After Saturday’s efficiency, it’s protected to say that was the case.
Watching from afar over the three days, one factor that impressed me was not solely Abaev’s command on the courtroom, but in addition off the courtroom as a frontrunner, as he was continually speaking in drills and pushing teammates with confidence.
“I used to be only a born chief. I all the time needed to steer individuals after I was youthful my complete life,” Abaev mentioned. “So I simply really feel prefer it’s a task that I’d prefer to tackle as a participant. Even on the subsequent stage, , that’s the toughest position to tackle as a result of if you win, it goes to the crew and also you lose, it goes on you. So I’m prepared to take full duty with that. So I’m grateful to have the ability to be a frontrunner and push everyone else round to do higher.”
With the UA Subsequent Elite 24 formally over, it’s time for Abaev to concentrate on his senior season with official visits arising.
The High-40 prospect has an inventory of officers set, as he’ll be headed to Maryland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Syracuse, Auburn, and USC.
Now, it’s time to search out the appropriate match for his future, together with his distinctive point-forward expertise standing out at the highschool stage.
