Five of Bermuda’s middle school basketball players from the Wolfpack Elite Training Programme have been selected to participate in the invitation-only John Lucas International Middle School Combine.

The IMSC camp is held every year in Houston, Texas, and is one of the top basketball events for elite middle school talent.

The event can only be attended by invitation from John Lucas, a former NBA player and coach, or his staff of former college coaches who invite about 150 of the best middle school players from around the world, before accepting the first 100 to register for the event.

The IMSC hosts the top college basketball scouts, coaches, and every major ranking service across the United States and will have on average six or seven McDonald’s All-American committee voters watching the youngsters.

Lucas said: “The eighth grade is where it all starts for kids and the [college] recruiting process. We have had all of the national ranking people here to watch and talk to them, along with lots of college coaches, and a panel of college players to give them insight into the high school and recruiting process for the next four years.

“This is by far the best competition. We have 37 6ft 4in or taller players here who are really extraordinary. There is a criteria to get invited here and a criteria to compete here.”

The Bermudians who have been invited to the prestigious camp are Malachi Dates, a student from Clearwater Middle School, Miguel Perry, of Warwick Academy, Ryan Grant, who also attends Warwick Academy, Kobie Reid. from Mount Saint Agnes, and schoolmate Caelin Peters.

Travelling with Bermuda’s “Fab Five” will be coach Charles Peters, the director of Wolfpack Hoops. “One of the best things about our kids from Bermuda is that they are all highly coachable and very well-mannered, which is something that the scouts, coaches, and experts look for in future college athletes,” Peters said.

“Our programme focuses on developing individual players both their basketball skills but more importantly their character and not just building the best team. Our job is to build a total player and to create opportunities for our players to be recruited.”

All of the coaches from the Wolfpack Elite programme are former college and professional players who have over 80 years of combined playing and coaching experience.

For more information about Wolfpack Elite, contact Peters at charles@wolfpackhoops.com.