The Underneath 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 robust 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 sector.
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 effectively out of the choose and roll, utilizing his leverage to create shot alternatives off the dribble or producing seems to be for his teammates.
Abaev got here out actually robust, beginning the sport with a tricky fadeaway jumper on the baseline. A number of possessions later, he separated off the dribble to attach on an open three earlier than getting a giant slam in open area in transition.
“I’ve been capable of shoot since I used to be youthful,” Abaev shared through 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 maintain the vertical, maintain 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 maintain 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 effectively, 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 robust 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 a particularly 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 effectively 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 unencumber his teammate with a number of good passes.
In the direction of the tip of the sport, with each side starting to play extra hero ball, Abaev did have a number of pointless pictures, decreasing his total effectivity, however it was an “All-Star” sort sport to be truthful.
The robust efficiency towards some robust 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 aim was to show that he might belong and stick as top-of-the-line 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 pacesetter, as he was continually speaking in drills and pushing teammates with confidence.
“I used to be only a born chief. I all the time wished to guide individuals after I was youthful my entire life,” Abaev stated. “So I simply really feel prefer it’s a job that I’d prefer to tackle as a participant. Even on the subsequent degree, you understand, that’s the toughest function to tackle as a result of whenever you win, it goes to the group and also you lose, it goes on you. So I’m keen to take full accountability with that. So I’m grateful to have the ability to be a pacesetter and push everyone else round to do higher.”
With the UA Subsequent Elite 24 formally over, it’s time for Abaev to give attention to 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 seek out the appropriate match for his future, along with his distinctive point-forward expertise standing out at the highschool degree.
