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Naz Ried. Sonia Citron. Azzi Fudd. Maddy Siegrist. Jonathan Kuminga.
Long before any of them were dominating in college, the WNBA and NBA, they were once high school standouts on a mission to prove that their game wasn’t all hype. As the basketball landscape has changed over the years, today’s stars have to navigate so much more when it comes to NIL (Name, Image and Likeness), brand deals and having so many eyes watching their every move online and on the court.
For a 16, 17-year old hooper looking to get their name out there, exposure is everything. No one knows that better than ACES CEO Brian Kortovich, who, just six years ago, put together an elite (no pun intended) All-American game, known as the ACES Elite Classic, in New York City. Over the years, the AEC has evolved into a platform for the culture; there, every player can shine on the biggest stage and learn the business side of the game when it comes to working with major brands, too.
“At ACES, we’ve positioned ourselves as one of the premier storytelling platforms centered around sports, music & entertainment,” says Kortovich. “What we’ve seen since the start, is how ACES resonates with iconic athletes, musicians & entertainers, and globally renowned brands. ACES is being recognized across the board for our unique ability to connect corporate partners with the real culture of sports and entertainment. The AEC continues to attract the top-ranked high school players in the country to New York City, which has become one of the premiere All-American Games in the nation. This is bigger than a game to our city, it’s a responsibility to tradition, hoops culture, and the next generation of athletes.”
The event, which takes place this year from May 21 at the Gauchos Gym in The Bronx, has featured over 35 McDonald’s All-Americans and hundreds of Division-1 players, including all of the names we mentioned earlier and so many others.
Over 30 of their alumni have gone on to play in the pros, too, and even grace the cover of SLAM. It’s at the ACES Elite Classic that they’ve been able to show that the hype isn’t just real, it’s just getting started.
“Being able to play at some of the historic courts in NYC is always special,” says Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo, who played in the AEC twice during her high school career. “This area has produced some of the best basketball players in the world and a game like the ACES Elite Classic showcases just that. I’m truly blessed to represent Jersey hoops and am excited to continue doing so at the next level.”
This year, we’re proud to announce that SLAM will be the official media partner of the AEC. The event, which starts at 6PM ET, will be streamed exclusively on the NBA App.
To watch this year’s standouts compete in-person, you can purchase a ticket here:
