NEW YORK — On their train ride from Boston to New York for the Jordan Brand Regional Game, Brewster (N.H.) Academy teammates Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Adams talked about putting their school on the map.
They weren’t sure how many fans at Barclays Center knew about the New Hampshire prep school and they were prepared to do their talking on the court.
“A lot of people don’t know Brewster Academy so we were just talking about going out and putting Brewster on the map in a bigger way,” Mitchell said. “We just said to ourselves that we were going to go out and impact the game in different ways.”
Mission accomplished.
The 6-foot-2 UConn-bound Adams went for a team-high 27 points along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds en route to MVP honors as the Away Team beat Mitchell and the Home Team, 125-112.
“I just wanted to show people that I can play with these guys,” Adams said. “That’s what I was trying to prove.”
The 6-2 Mitchell, meantime, also won MVP honors for the losing team with a game-high 30 points and 9 steals. He had the highlight of the game with this spin move and tomahawk dunk.
“I actually do the spin move a lot and I’m not going to lie to you, I didn’t think that I would dunk it,” Mitchell said. “I was behind the backboard when I tried to dunk it and I just went up and finished it. I think that play sparked a little something in me.”
Both guys could have easily played in the main event, the National Game, but said they didn’t feel marginalized in the Regional Game.
“A little part of me wanted to prove something but in the end the decision was one that they made and I understand it,” Mitchell said. “It’s an All-Star game and college is a restart so it’s not going to hurt me too bad….
“I was just trying to show that I am a top player in the country. It sucks not making it to the actual game, but like I said it doesn’t really matter once you get to college. And respect to those guys, I like all of them but I just wanted to go out and show how we play at Brewster Academy.”
Both guys figure to be able to contribute right away next year on the college level.
With Ryan Boatright leaving UConn, Adams can slide in and have a key role as a scoring guard alongside fellow incoming big man Steven Enoch, who had 15 points and 9 rebounds for the Home Team.
“I need to become a vocal leader on the court and off the court,” Adams said. “I need to tighten up my handle. It can never be too good.”
Mitchell, meantime, can be a Terry Rozier-type guard for Louisville coach Rick Pitino.
“Coach Pitino knows I’m a defense-first kind of guy,” he said. “I think just coming in and working on my offense is one thing that we talked about. He hasn’t told me what position I will be playing, he just told me to be ready when you get there.”
Mitchell is also working on recruiting guys to Louisville, and said he’s been in touch with Drexel transfer Damion Lee, who visits Louisville April 19-21.
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