Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

ABCD Camp

The ABCD Basketball Camp was a youth basketball camp founded by Sonny Vaccaro that was held from 1984 to 2006. The camp gathered the highest ranked high school players of the United States, and was considered one of the top events of high school basketball. ABCD stood for Academic Betterment and Career Development.

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Jun 19, 2026
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LeBron James was Camp MVP in 2001 as an underclassman and was one of the camp participants to be drafted out of high school. source ↗

The ABCD Basketball Camp was a youth basketball camp founded by Sonny Vaccaro that was held from 1984 to 2006. The camp gathered the highest ranked high school players of the United States, and was considered one of the top events of high school basketball.1234 ABCD stood for Academic Betterment and Career Development.5

History

The ABCD Camp was founded in 1984 by Sonny Vaccaro and was sponsored by Nike.6 The camp took place every year in the month of July usually lasting 4–5 days, and was held in different locations in the initial years, among which the Bren Events Center at UC Irvine in 19927 and at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 19938 before moving to the Rothman Center, at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, New Jersey, where the camp was held from 1994 until its final edition in 2006.9

The camp was sponsored by the corporations Vaccaro was signed to: from 1984 to 1992 Nike was the sponsor; in 1993 the camp was under the Converse brand, while from 1994 to 2003 Adidas was the sponsor.10 After 2003, Vaccaro had a deal with Reebok6 that lasted until the last edition of the camp in 2006.11 Several college coaches attended ABCD Camp during their recruitment process of high school players: among them Bob Bender, Jim Boeheim, P. J. Carlesimo, Joe Harrington and Mike Krzyzewski.9121314 NBA scouts also participated and in some cases, camp participants were drafted out of high school, for instance Kevin Garnett,14 Kobe Bryant, Jermaine O'Neal, Tracy McGrady, Kwame Brown, Eddy Curry, Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green.15

Sponsorships

Camp MVPs

Year16 Class Player High School State
1992 Seniors Antonio McDyess Quitman Mississippi
Underclassmen Felipe López Rice New York
1993 Seniors Willie Mitchell Detroit Pershing Michigan
Underclassmen Lester Earl Glen Oaks Louisiana
Stephon Marbury Abraham Lincoln New York
1994 Seniors Stephon Marbury Abraham Lincoln New York
Underclassmen Tim Thomas Paterson Catholic New Jersey
1995 Seniors Kobe Bryant Lower Merion Pennsylvania
Underclassmen Khalid El-Amin Minneapolis North Minnesota
1996 Seniors Dion Glover Cedar Grove Georgia
Anthony Perry St. Anthony New Jersey
Underclassmen Clarence Gilbert Dillard Florida
Stromile Swift Fair Park Louisiana
1997 Seniors Rashard Lewis Elsik Texas
Underclassmen DerMarr Johnson Maine Central Institute Maine
1998 Seniors Leon Smith Martin Luther King Illinois
Underclassmen Alton Ford Milby Texas
1999 Seniors Taliek Brown St. John's Prep New York
Avery Queen Maine Central Institute Maine
Underclassmen Apolinar Fernandez Artesia California
T. J. Ford Willowridge Texas
2000 Seniors Billy Edelin Oak Hill Academy Virginia
Mo Williams Murrah Mississippi
Underclassmen Lenny Cooke Northern Valley Regional New Jersey
Charlie Rodríguez Clovis West California
2001 Seniors DeAngelo Collins Inglewood California
Antonio Lawrence San Joaquin Memorial California
Underclassmen LeBron James St. Vincent–St. Mary Ohio
Sebastian Telfair Abraham Lincoln New York
2002 Seniors Travis Outlaw Starkville Mississippi
Charlie Villanueva Blair Academy New Jersey
Underclassmen Sebastian Telfair Abraham Lincoln New York
Darius Washington Jr. Edgewater Florida
2003 Seniors Shaun Livingston Peoria Illinois
Josh Smith Oak Hill Academy Virginia
Underclassmen Tasmin Mitchell Denham Springs Louisiana
Brandon Rush Mount Zion Christian Academy North Carolina
2004 Seniors Danny Green St. Mary's New York
Monta Ellis Lanier Mississippi
Underclassmen Derrick Caracter St. Patrick New Jersey
Greg Oden Lawrence North Indiana
2005 Seniors Damion James Nacogdoches Texas
Greg Oden Lawrence North Indiana
Underclassmen Kevin Love Lake Oswego Oregon
O. J. Mayo North College Hill Ohio
2006 Seniors DeAndre Jordan Christian Life Center Academy Texas
Taylor King Mater Dei California
Kevin Love Lake Oswego Oregon
O. J. Mayo Huntington West Virginia
Bill Walker North College Hill Ohio
Underclassmen William Buford Libbey Ohio
Drew Gordon Archbishop Mitty California

Notable players

Kobe Bryant was Camp MVP in 1995. source ↗

The players mentioned have at least 1 All-Star selection in the NBA or were lottery picks in the NBA draft.

References

References

  1. Benezra, David; Mayemura, Mark (July 8, 2002). "ABCD Chatter: All-stars shine on final night". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  2. "THESE SUMMER CAMPS AREN'T JUST FOR FUN". Chicago Tribune. August 1, 1993. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  3. Katz, Andy (August 20, 2003). "Vaccaro steps down to help ailing wife". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  4. Carp, Steve (July 15, 1997). "Tourney for 'Sonny's kids'". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  5. Mulligan, Kevin (July 13, 1988). "Nike Camp Prepares Prospects for Reality". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 80.
  6. Thamel, Pete (June 24, 2007). "Marketing All-Star Is Ready to Relax". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  7. Norwood, Robyn (July 5, 1992). "Tale of Two Camps: Nike, Entrepreneur Compete for Players : Basketball: Shoe company keeps grip on most standouts, but UC Irvine camp attracts many talented players". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  8. "Summer basketball camps for everyone but the kids". Daily Herald. August 15, 1993. p. 24.
  9. Vorkunov, Mike (July 24, 2011). "With ABCD Camp gone from Fairleigh Dickinson, there's a hole in college basketball recruiting". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  10. Williams, Charean (April 10, 1994). "RECRUITERS FLOCK TO WATCH MAINLAND'S VINCE CARTER". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  11. "Camps make players' stock sink or soar". The Cincinnati Enquirer. July 2, 2006. p. 34.
  12. Martin, Dan (July 9, 2001). "HIGH SCHOOL HOP; NEW STEP'S ALL THE RAGE AT ADIDAS CAMP". The New York Post. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  13. Penner, Mike (July 8, 1992). "Wishing It Was Easy as A.B.C.D." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  14. Allen, Percy (July 13, 1997). "Dreams Can Come True At Abcd Camp". The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  15. Francis, Clark (2004). "REEBOK ABCD CAMP HITS HOME RUN WITH OUTSTANDING YOUNG PLAYERS/5TH YEAR PLAYERS". Hoop Scoop. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. "MVPs and Players of the Week". abcdcamp.net. Archived from the original on June 24, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  17. "Sonny's Greatest ABCD Camp Moments". abcdcamp.net. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  18. "HOOP SCOOP'S FINAL RANKING OF THE TOP PLAYERS AT THE REEBOK ABCD CAMP (JULY 6TH, 7TH, 8TH, & (9TH)". Hoop Scoop. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  19. "adidas ABCD Camp To Be Held July 7–11 @ FDU". socalhoops.com. July 2, 2002. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  20. "POINT GUARDS/BIG MEN HIGHLIGHT ADIDAS ABCD CAMP". hoopscooponline.com. 1998. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  21. Clark, Francis (2000). "COOK EDGES OUT HODGE FOR ADIDAS ABCD CAMP MVP HONORS". Hoop Scoop. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  22. "HOOP SCOOP'S RANKING OF THE TOP PLAYERS AT THE ADIDAS ABCD CAMP FROM JULY 7TH, 8TH, 9TH, & 10TH". Hoop Scoop. 1999. Archived from the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  23. Clark, Francis (2003). "Interesting Mix of Players Collectively Dominate adidas ABCD Camp". hoopscooponline.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2020.