March 2007 -- Emmanuel Negedu '08 has been named to the adidas National Team, which is comprised of the top 15 basketball players in the country in the class of 2008.

Negedu, who is from Kaduna, Nigeria, came to Brewster as a freshman and just completed his third season with the varsity Bobcats. During the 2006-2007 season he averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds per game. In March Negedu helped the Bobcats reach the finals in the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A tournament.

"Emmanuel has the potential to be one of the best players to ever come out of Brewster Academy,” said Head Coach Jason Smith. “Currently, we have approximately 30 alumni in NCAA Division I programs, but Emmanuel’s upside is the greatest.”

The National Team is part of adidas Nations, a global grassroots basketball program designed to emphasize and focus on adidas' core belief that real success in the game of basketball comes with playing on a team. This philosophy changes the way basketball is played at the high school/AAU level, according to adidas.

As a member of adidas Nations, Negedu will practice and compete with the nation’s top players from his class in a series of practices and events that focus on skill, social and educational development, and strength training. He will learn from the finest coaches, strength trainers, and teachers from across the country and will work with a combination of NBA players and coaches.

The adidas Nations teams are divided into regions with participating teams from the United States, China, Europe, and Latin America. The five-month schedule culminates with the adidas Basketball Experience – a six-day event in New Orleans in August that will feature the top 60 high school players (30 international, 30 American) in the world.

Among Negedu’s accomplishments are selections to the 2006 National Prep School Invitational All-Tournament Team, Nigerian Junior National Team, and 2006 MCI Invitational All-Tournament Team. He also was selected 2006 MVP of Real Deal on the Hill. In 2005, he participated in the World Championships as a member of the Nigerian national team. Last July he was invited to the 2006 adidas Superstar Camp and earned an Underclassmen All-Star Selection as one of the top 20 non-seniors at the camp.