Tracy McGrady is mentoring the next generation at the legendary adidas ABCD camp.
PHOENIX – The ABCD Camp was the premier summer event for 22 years in the ‘90s and early 2000s. Basketball legend Sonny Vaccaro founded the camp in 1984, and the stories and matchups to come out each year changed the trajectory for some players. The camp ended in 2006, but Tracy McGrady and Vaccaro revived it 20 years later, and 50 of the top players in the country came out to compete over the weekend.
Kobe Bryant was the camp MVP in 1995, and in 2001, it was16-year-old LeBron James who solidified himself as the best prospect in the nation. James stole the ball from Lenny Cooke and hit the game-winner, a one-legged 35-foot jumper, in the championship game. James’s nickname “The Chosen One” resulted from the ABCD Camp.
Maybe the best story to come from the ABCD Camp was in 1996 when an unknown prospect, McGrady, received the last invite to the camp from Vaccaro and ended up completely dominating all competition. The 6-foot-8 wing received MVP honors and skyrocketed into the No. 1-ranked player in the country.
“I still remember my time as a camper and what it did for my career,” McGrady told NBA.com. “It was the best of the best, and that brought out everything in me. I’m just happy to be back in the gym and give these kids the same opportunity I had. This is a legendary camp, and I’m glad to be a part of it, and it doesn’t get better than this.”
Tracy McGrady & Sonny Vaccaro arrive for tonight’s Adidas ABCD Camp action! pic.twitter.com/U0cyvb3r2r
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) August 2, 2026
McGrady was the No. 9 pick in the 1997 NBA Draft and went on to play 13 years in the NBA.
This year marks the first time since 2006 that the camp has run. Some of the top players in high school competed over three days in front of NBA scouts and executives from all 30 teams. There were also some NBA legacy kids in attendance like Pierre Rondo (Rajon Rondo) and RJ Evans (Reggie Evans). Rajon was like any typical dad, taking pictures and videos on his phone of Pierre during drills and scrimmages. RJ Evans is one of the top players in the 2029 high school class and was a top performer of the camp, coming off a strong AAU season on the adidas 3SSB circuit.
“I’ve heard the stories of this camp growing up, and it’s just cool to come out here and be included in the first one back in 20 years,” Evans said. “I’m one of the younger guys here, so I just want to go out and cook and show that I’m one of the best players in the country.”
The high school players were being coached by current NBA assistant coaches, and a few NBA players were on hand for mentorship and different panels off the court. Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick in the draft, was there for the first two days and made a point to watch the No. 3 player in the incoming senior class, Demarcus Henry, during scrimmages Friday night.
“He’s cold,” Peterson said of Henry, who had 15 points and six rebounds. “The game slows down for him; he’s patient, he’s a good player.”
Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets, was on the bench coaching his little brother Zach, who’s an incoming freshman. Brown took time to really sit with each player when they left the game and recognized what it means to bring this camp back.
“It’s just a privilege to be here and help the next group of players coming up,” Brown said. “I was just a camper in this same gym two years ago for Dame’s [Lillard] camp, so I know what any sort of advice or anything I can give will help these guys. It’s crazy just being here coaching my little bro too. I’m glad they brought this back.”
Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe were also coaching on the sidelines and in drills. It was an opportunity for them to get in and get reps with the younger players but also work out themselves.
“Just having some of the young NBA talent in the building is so crucial for these young kids,” McGrady said. “They’re really dialed in on how they see the game and approach different sets and read things. It’s something I didn’t really have coming up, and it’s just cool to see how everything has come together on every level.”
Even though it’s the end of the summer, there is something about the ABCD Camp that elevates the game for players, and the scrimmages were highly competitive. Vaccaro and his wife Pam were in the stands watching all weekend long and had some long conversations with some of the top players in the camp.
Lewis Uvwo, a 6-foot-10 center, won camp MVP and went from being ranked in the 90s in his class to now the No. 6 player in the country. He had 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, three assists and two steals in the championship game and capped off his summer on a high note.
“Just being here and competing against these guys and learning from the NBA players has been amazing,” Uvwo said. “Sonny Vaccaro is a legend and just meeting him and being able to talk to him was something I’ll never forget. The amount of basketball he’s seen and what he’s done for the game is crazy.”
The ABCD Camp has been dormant for 20 years, and the spirit was revived for the first time with a lot of tough competition and excitement. Even Lenny Cooke was quietly in the stands watching some of the best basketball players coming up. A legendary camp with legends in the stands watching possibly the next great player to hit the NBA in a few short years.
Leave a Reply