TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Close to 70 high school boys basketball players from Pensacola to Miami ventured to Tallahassee this weekend for the Select 80 Basketball Florida Challenge, a camp and showcase where the athletes honed their skills and show off their talents to college coaches and recruiting agencies.
In an area like Tallahassee, event organizers said a Showcase like this one is crucial to a young athlete's success.
"Being from this small area that we're in, this rural area, there's not a lot of exposure here," said Glen Mayo, who hosted the event for the second year. "Having a day like today, where you can get everybody in the gym, you know, you have ten to twelve different scouting services here to write about the guys, five or six different media guys to do mix tapes and stuff like that, so, it's really big as far as getting these guys on the scene and getting them ready for the next level."
A couple state champs were in the building too, as Godby High's Desean Enzor and Quan Jackson, who look to defend Godby's perfect 31-0 State Championship this year.
They agreed that having a showcase event like this in their backyard is great, and if they get to brag on Godby a little bit, that's okay too.
"31-0. Everyone wants our head now!" laughed Enzor. "They want to beat us and try and knock us down a few levels, but it isn't going to work. We're going back hard and we're in the gym everyday."
"We just have to compete!" said Jackson. "If we compete, we will do a repeat and we'll have another State Champion in our backyard. I'm ready for this season like I'm ready for this camp. No matter what it is, as long as you're competing and doing what you do, you'll be ready."
The Showcase continues on Sunday at 9:30 am at Florida High.
