Top Players

• 6-2 JR Darius Acuff, Jr. ... ESPN-18
• 6-8 SR Khani Rooths (MICHIGAN) ... ESPN-22
• 6-8 SR Donavan Freeman (SYRACUSE) ... ESPN-43
• 6-6 SR Chase McCarty (HOUSTON) ... ESPN-95
• 6-4 SR Cole Certa (NOTRE DAME)
• 7-6 SR Olivier Rioux (FLORIDA)

Ascenders At A Glance

MAXPREPS “ACADEMY TOP 10” PRESEASON RANKING: 5
BALLISLIFE “FAB 50” RANKING: 7

Coach Sean McAloon has quickly put basketball on par with the academy’s world-renowned brands in tennis, golf and football, compiling a 134-32 record over his first six seasons, including a 31-1 GEICO Nationals championship run through Sunrise Christian, Montverde Academy and La Lumiere in 2019 and semifinal appearances in each of the past three years. IMG should contend again for NIBC and national honors, significantly bolstered by a quintet of already-accomplished transfers – 6-2 JR Darius Acuff, Jr. (21.4 ppg, 5.7 apg, while leading Detroit Cass Tech to its first Division 1 state championship), Houston recruit 6-6 SR Chase McCarty (23.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg at Alabama 4A runner-up Huntsville Westminster), Syracuse verbal 6-8 SR Donavan Freeman (21 ppg, 8.5 rpg, helping St. John’s DC win the WCAC title and finish nationally ranked for the first time), 6-8 JR Kareem Stagg (15 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 2.5 blocks at Virginia Class 6 semifinalist Chesapeake Oscar Smith) and Notre Dame commit 6-4 SR Cole Certa (26 ppg at Illinois 2A runner-up Bloomington Central Catholic). Returning Ascenders includes Michigan-bound 6-8 SR Khani Rooths, 6-7 JR Amari Allen and 6-4 SOPH Felipe Quinones, plus two players from the IMG Blue roster, popular University of Florida pledge 7-6 JR Olivier Rioux and future Ivy Leaguer 6-3 SR Gerard O’Keefe, headed to Columbia. … McCarty averaged 20 ppg for the Atlanta Xpress this summer and won the 3-point shooting title at Under Armour’s “Elite 24” in August.