While LeBron James and Amar’e Stoudemire get set to meet with free agent suitors like the Bulls, Knicks, Nets, Heat and Clippers beginning Thursday at midnight, Nike is hosting skills academies featuring both superstars.
James is reportedly going to meet Thursday with the Nets even as reports have him and free agent forward Chris Bosh leaning toward signing with the Bulls.
The New York Times quoted an unidentified league executive as saying ”It’s a done deal” that James would sign with the Bulls, but that his meetings in Ohio would continue out of good faith toward the other teams.
The Knicks reportedly hope to meet with Stoudemire on July 1 in Phoenix after a potential meeting with Hawks guard Joe Johnson, Chris Broussard of ESPN reports.
King James is expected to be at his Nike Skills Academy July 5-7 in Akron, Ohio one year after video of current Atlanta Hawk and then-Xavier guard Jordan Crawford dunking on him was held back by Nike officials.
James will probably play some pickup with the college players, but likely won’t speak with the media about his pending free agency plans.
Meantime, Nike is hosting four Skills Academies in Chicago this weekend leading up to the James Academy. The Deron Williams point guard and Amar’e Stoudemire big man Academies rosters are up, while the Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant rosters will come out soon. See rosters below:
DERON WILLIAMS ROSTER
No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Wingspan Class High School/Hometown
2 Tyrell Corbin 6-0 170 73 !” 2011 West/Salt Lake City, UT
3 Tre Demps 6-3 197 75” 2011 Ronald Reagan/San Antonio, TX
4 Tyrone Johnson 6-2 ! 191 81 !” 2011 Plainfield/Plainfield, NJ
5 Shannon Scott 6-2 175 75 !” 2011 Milton/Norcross, GA
6 Myles Mack 5-10 151 73” 2011 St. Anthony/Paterson, NJ
7 J-Mychal Reese 6-2 169 75” 2012 Bryan/Bryan, TX
11 Gary Bell 6-2 198 76” 2011 Kentridge/Kent, WA
12 Jamal Branch 6-3 160 75 !” 2011 Atascocita/Humble, TX
13 Jahaii Carson 5-11 167 73” 2011 Mesa/Gilbert, AZ
14 Nick Johnson 6-2 ! 198 77 !” 2011 Findlay Prep/Phoenix, AZ
16 Kedren Johnson 6-5 217 81 !” 2011 Marshall County/Lewisburg, TN
17 Marquis Rankin 6-0 ! 158 76 !” 2011 Vance/Charlotte, NC
18 LJ Rose 6-3 181 77” 2012 Second Baptist/Houston, TX
20 Trevor Lacey 6-3 205 76” 2011 S. R. Butler/Huntsville, AL
31 Deville Smith* 6-0* 180* TBD* 2011 Callaway/Madison, MS
AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE ROSTER
2010 High School Roster
No. Name Hgt. Wgt. Wingspan Class High School/Hometown
8 Cody Zeller 6-11 ! 205 6’8” 2011 Washington/Washington, IN
9 Daniel Ochefu 6-10 ! 225 7’3” 2012 Westtown School/Westtown, PA
10 Rakeem Christmas 6-9 226 7’3” 2011 Acad. New Church Boys/Bryn Athyn, PA
11 Mikael Hopkins 6-8 206 7’0” 2011 DeMatha Catholic/Hyattsville, MD
12 Marshall Plumlee 7-1 208 6’8 !” 2011 Christ School/Warsaw, IN
13 Julian Royal 6-8 219 6’9 !” 2011 Milton/Alpharetta, GA
14 Norvel Pelle 6-10 ! 195 7’1” 2011 Frederick K. Price/Long Beach, CA
15 Zach Peters 6-9 232 6’8” 2012 Prestonwood Christian Acad./Plano, TX
16 Bernard Sullivan 6-8 210 6’7 !“ 2011 North Mecklenburg/Huntersville, NC
17 Angelo Chol* 6-8* 200* TBD 2011 Hoover/San Diego, CA
18 DaJuan Coleman 6-9 ! 280 7’1 !” 2012 Jamesville-DeWitt/Syracuse, NY
19 Kevin Johnson 6-10 246 7’0” 2011 Taft/Woodland Hills, CA
20 Sidiki Johnson 6-9 206 7’11” 2011 Oak Hill Academy/Bronx, NY
21 Deng Leek 6-10 ! 220 7’2” 2011 Wesleyan Christian Acad./High Point, NC
22 Trey McDonald 6-9 204 7’0” 2011 Battle Creek Central/Battle Creek, MI
23 Zach Price 6-11 233 7’1” 2011 St. Edward/Lakewood, OH
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