Another youngster is taking America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) by storm, as Edrice Femi “Bam” Adebayo is making waves with Miami Heat.
Sports247.ng reports that the latest thrills from Adebayo came at the weekend, as he helped Miami Heat beat Cleveland Cavaliers 118-94.
It was another step forward for ‘Bam,’ who played one season of college basketball for Kentucky Wildcats before he was taken 14th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Heat.
Adebayo was born July 18, 1997 in Newark, New Jersey, and was given the nickname “Bam Bam” by his mother.
The sobriquet started when, while watching The Flintstones at age one, he flipped over a coffee table in a manner similar to the show’s character Bamm-Bamm Rubble.
In his junior year, he attended Northside High School in Pinetown, North Carolina, where he averaged 32.2 points and 18 rebounds per game.
After his junior season, he moved to High Point Christian Academy in High Point, North Carolina.
In his senior season at HPCA, Adebayo averaged 18.9 points per game, 13.0 rebounds per game, 1.4 blocks per game and 1.5 assist per game.
Adebayo led the Cougars to a NCISAA state championship appearance and was named North Carolina Mr. Basketball in 2016.
Prior to his senior year, Adebayo competed on the Adidas Uprising Circuit for the AAU team, Team Loaded North Carolina alongside Dennis Smith Jr.
‘Bam’ averaged 14.2 points per game and 10.2 rebounds per game on the Adidas Uprising Circuit.
He soon played on the Under Armour Association Circuit for the AAU team, Team Felton, sponsored by Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Raymond Felton.
Adebayo played in the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game and Jordan Brand Classic, then participated in Under Armour Elite 24 Invitational in 2015 where he was named Elite 24 MVP.
He also competed in the Adidas Nations and NBPA Top 100 camp, and was rated as a five-star recruit and ranked No.5 overall player in the 2016 high school class.
Adebayo has some level of prior USA Basketball experience and was named a MaxPreps All-American in 2013.
He committed to University of Kentucky on November 17, 2015; despite initial links with NC State and Auburn.
He joined fellow freshmen Malik Monk, De’Aaron Fox, and Wenyen Gabriel.
On December 7, 2016, Adebayo recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds in an 87-67 win against Valparaiso Crusaders.
On February 21, 2017, Adebayo scored 22 points and 15 rebounds to defeat the Missouri Tigers in a 72-62 Victory.
As the number one seed entering the SEC Tournament, Kentucky would defeat Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinals and beat Alabama in the semi-finals.
On March 12, 2017, Adebayo grabbed 9 rebounds to help the Wildcats defeat Arkansas 82-65 and win the SEC Championship.
In 38 games for Kentucky in 2016-17, Adebayo averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.
After losing in the Elite Eight in a heartbreaking fashion, he declared his entry into the 2017 NBA draft on April 5, signing an agent 20 days later.
On June 22, 2017, Adebayo was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Miami Heat and, on July 1, 2017, he signed his rookie scale contract for the 2017 NBA Summer League.
On June 27, 2018, it was announced that Adebayo would play in 2018 NBA Summer League, from where he has grown in leaps and bounds, before hitting the spotlight against Cleveland on Friday.
Adebayo made eight shots and scored 18 points, Josh Richardson added 16 points and Rodney McGruder chipped in 13 as seven players scored in double figures for the Heat, who have won six of seven.
”You can tell the game is now slowing down for him and once the game slows down for you, it’s scary how good you can be. So we all are enjoying it,” Heat guard, Dwyane Wade said.
