Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Preseason honors continue for Missouri State men's basketball standout Alize Johnson as the senior forward has earned an invitation to the Adidas Global Nations Basketball Experience in Houston, Texas, August 3-7.
 
Adidas Nations is one of the premier evaluation camps in the world, annually attended by NBA prospects and more than 75 NBA scouts and team personnel. Eight NBA assistant coaches, along with Pacers assistant Billy Bayno, will coach this year's Nations event, which will be held at M13 Sports Center.
 
The event will consist of "skill training from NBA coaches, performance workout sessions, and games," according to the adidas Uprising site. In addition, each participant will experience off-court elements essential to athletic success, such as global interactions, leadership and philanthropy. The week culminates in a championship game to determine the Nations Global Champion from the eight teams from five continents.
 
"It's a blessing and a great opportunity to gain more experience and help me on my basketball journey," said Johnson. "I have been working camps with my teammates all summer, so to have the opportunity to perform at a big-time camp is great honor. I look forward to representing Missouri State and all my teammates at the adidas Nations and getting started with the season ahead of us."
 
Johnson was the 2017 Newcomer of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference and attended a pre-draft workout with the Boston Celtics in April. In 2016-17, Johnson also earned All-MVC first-team and NABC All-District honors while being named to the MVC All-Tournament Team. He was a two-time Valley Player of the Week and six-time Valley Newcomer of the Week in his first campaign in Springfield.
 
After transferring to Missouri State from Frank Phillips (Texas) College, the native of Williamsport, Pa., led the conference in rebounding at 10.6 per game, which ranked 11th nationally. He also led MSU in scoring at 14.8 points per game while producing 17 double-doubles -– the 15th-most in the nation -- and 21 double-figure rebounding games. He also finished with the second-highest season rebounding total of Missouri State's Division I era (351) while converting 48.8 percent of his field goals and 39 percent of his 3-point attempts.