by TWINSBURG, Ohio– A venue change and a couple of last-minute changes did not stop Ian Cunningham from proving once again why The Kenny Anderson Showcase has impacted up-and-coming student-athletes across the country.
Cunningham–the founder of the Kenny Anderson Showcase–brought together 72 athletes from more than 22 states to Twinsburg, Ohio for the fourth annual event back on June 11.
What was once a vision of starting something to help under-the-radar high school players swiftly turned into an opportunity.
An opportunity he’s taken full advantage of the last four years.
“It’s my ministry, it’s my way to give back instead of taking. To me, society is such a take, take, take world we live in,” Cunningham said about the importance of providing an opportunity to run a free showcase.
“When you have these families tell me it’s the best showcase they’ve ever been to…having college coaches say this is the best showcase they’ve ever come to, that is my fuel to my fire. I go through each kid individually and hand-pick each kid,” he continued. “Talk to them, get to know them. It’s a process but the reason it’s so successful is that we’re taking kids that all have an opportunity to play college basketball.”
The showcase provides a chance for these student-athletes to prove why they should play at the next level. There were a total of 26 college coaches in attendance, a number that continues to grow each year.
“For 26 college coaches to show up and enjoy a day, I thought it was great,” Cunningham said.
“I know when I go over there I’m going to see some good basketball players, from top to bottom,” Penn State Altoona head coach David McGreal said about the showcase.
McGreal–the school’s all-time winningest coach in just five years–has attended the showcase the last two years. Just the lineup Cunningham brings to the free showcase each year impresses McGreal right off the jump.
“It’s always pretty impressive when you have two NBA players, one of them being probably one of the greatest point guards ever, speaking to the kids and telling them their stories and stuff like that,” the Division III head coach said. “I just think again that all those things combined make it a unique showcase….The fact that he gets kids from different states as well is special.”
“You got Kenny Anderson who was the No. 1 player in the country to Smush Parker— who had to fight and claw his way into the NBA. So these kids get to see two perspectives of the type of NBA players we have involved in this and that’s huge for these kids as far as motivation,” Cunningham said about how imperative it is to have two former NBA players come to the showcase each year.
Featuring in this year’s showcase was a king-of-the-court challenge, a two-man shooting competition along with a complete team question and answer session with former college basketball coach and athletic director William Payne.
The improvements this year gave all players a different kind of way to try and stand out.
Having more time and space during this year’s event, Payne took that advantage to speak to each team individually about recruiting and the opportunities to play at the next level. Payne currently serves as Vice President and Brand Ambassador of AllInTeamSports— a place for coaches across the world to come together to help develop winning programs.
The 4th Annual #kennyandersonshowcase #FREEBASKETBALLSHOWCASE BROUGHT A DIFFERENT VIBE THIS YEAR. @TweetsbyCoachP took ALL 70 YOUNG MEN FOR A Q&A TO HELP BENEFIT THESE PLAYERS SOME KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS #COLLEGEHOOPS #COLLEGEBASKETBALL @CoachNoelroman #hoopdreams pic.twitter.com/g6I5iewl1z
— Ian C founder of the kennyandersonshowcase (@iancle1) June 16, 2022
“Social media has really paid off for me in a fascinating way,” Payne said on his rise into a new role. He was able to use his platform at the showcase a couple of weeks ago and it started with Cunningham bringing it to Payne’s attention.
“It’s been kind of a work in progress from year one up until this past year. With a change in venue, Ian said why don’t we play to your strong suit and have you talk to all the kids because that’s what you do. That’s kind of my wheelhouse and decided to take advantage of that small window of time interacting with each player,” Payne explained. “I’m going to give it to you in a method, a manner that nobody else does and so I took that opportunity to just be real and raw and tell them the truth and I gave them the opportunity to hear the reality of college basketball and again it came down to what Ian thought of.”
Payne is a teacher of the game who’s already surpassed more than 54,000 followers on Twitter. He often hosts Twitter Spaces, trying to connect as many unsigned players to college figures all across the country. Cunningham appreciates Payne’s true impact on these kids each and every year.
“(Coach Payne) can help be the bridge that these kids need. A lot of these kids have bad advice from people that think that they’re really helping them but they’re hindering them by not telling these kids the truth and so having coach Payne, I can’t thank him enough,” Cunningham explained.
Throughout the years, Cunningham and a few others hand out awards for the top performers of the event. This year, players from various states took home trophies.
Julian Mitchell, an upcoming senior at Lakota East High School and Trent Branchen, an upcoming senior at Amherst High School were the two-man shooting challenge winners. Aaron Brown, an upcoming senior at Joliet West High School in Illinois won the king of the court challenge. Despite later getting injured during the event, Jaylen Marbley of Chapelgate Christian Academy in Maryland took home the Mr. Hustle Award.
The two MVPs of the showcase were Ben Canty of Bloomfield High School in Michigan along with AJ Clark, another upcoming senior out of Menchville High School in Virginia. The final award went to seven-footer Graham Eikenberry out of Lincoln High School in Oregon, who took home the defensive stopper trophy.
Eikenberry was one of a few athletes coming from the west coast. As an upcoming senior attending high school in Portland Ore, all he wanted to do was prove that he belonged.
“I want to represent Portland. I want to get my name out there. I want to get a little more attention,” Eikenberry reiterated.. “West coast there are a lot fewer schools than on the east coast so it’s the ability to get more exposure.”
Spoke with arguably the tallest player at the showcase today, seven footer Graham Eikenberry (@EIKENKID) about what it’s like coming all the way from Portland, Oregon to participate today @iancle1 @TweetsbyCoachP @SportsKee1 pic.twitter.com/KW5EzeHzDB
— Michael Trivisonno (@MichaelTriv_) June 11, 2022
Michael Shewmaker, the head coach at Bryant & Stratton College-Albany campus in New York, attended the showcase for the first time in June. He was recently hired as the head coach in the summer of 2021 after being an assistant coach at Norwich University from 2019-2021.
After recruiting the event just a year ago, actually attending it and connecting with players and coaches throughout the country really opened up Shewmaker’s eyes. It’s proved to be successful already as he’s already signed two players from the showcase.
“I was blown away at just how smooth the operation was from start to finish. Everything was just really organized and really efficient. What I also really liked was how well the games were officiated,” Shewmaker said about the event, including the volunteering referee crew.
“Everyone was in a good mood and it was just a really well done, friendly environment but very competitive at the same time.”
Cunningham is happy, very happy with the way he’s been able to grow the showcase in just four years. But just because he’s happy does not mean he’s satisfied, yet.
He understands there are areas to clean up.
He knows he can do more.
More for the coaches, players, parents and volunteers that make the showcase possible.
He’ll do whatever it takes to make this the best free basketball showcase in the country.
“The feeling of seeing other people succeed is priceless to me,” Cunningham said. “It’s about giving back…It keeps me going harder and harder to help more people. I love it and I’m addicted to trying to help these kids.”
Best Camp in the Nation hands down.
This was the best experience I have ever had. I am beyond grateful to have been selected to participate in the showcase. I met some wonderful players from across the country and I got the opportunity to be coached and watched by some incredible coaches. I want to play basketball to pay for my college education. And I appreciate the hard work that Ian Cunningham put in to this event. Coach Payne is so knowledgeable in the game. Kenny Anderson and Smush Parker are legends that I got to spend quality time with along this journey. I hope I can make them proud of the time they invested in me.
So honored and humbled by such a wonderful article. Thank you for covering the showcase every year!
I love what this is doing for the kids who put in work and go unrecognized and under rated. This showcase has brought recognition to so many that just needed to get their name heard. Ian and Kenny has changed the game. I recommend this showcase for anyone who needs to be recognized and have their name heard so their gifts, talents and hard work can be seen.
Great Article!!!!!! 💯