IMG Academy Basketball: A Breeding Ground for NBA and Olympic Stars

IMG Academy, located in Bradenton, Florida, has rapidly risen to prominence as a national high school powerhouse, particularly in basketball. The academy has become renowned for producing top-tier NBA talent and developing well-rounded student-athletes. This article delves into the factors that have contributed to IMG Academy's success, highlighting notable alumni and the unique approach that sets it apart.

From Obscurity to Prominence: The Rise of IMG Academy

IMG Academy wasn't always the basketball powerhouse it is today. In recent years, the school has produced top-end NBA talent like Anfernee Simons, Jarace Walker, Dwight Powell, Josh Green, Mark Williams, Jett Howard, Keyonte George, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. On the girls' side, their alumni gallery includes names like Arella Guirantes, Grace VanSlooten, Rokia Doumbia, and Kailyn Gilbert.

To understand this transformation, it's essential to look at the architects behind the program. Brian Nash, the Director of Basketball at IMG Academy, is a key figure in this success story. Nash, who brought nearly 25 years of collegiate coaching experience to IMG, recognized the academy's potential and set out to make it the best in the country.

Nash said, “If you’re in the space, you know the traditional powerhouses like Montverde Academy and Oak Hill Academy. But when I got here seven years ago and saw this place and all its potential, the first thing I said was, ‘I don’t know why we shouldn’t be the best team in the country every year. So, from then on, we put more of an emphasis on making sure that our national high school team was really good.”

A Holistic Approach to Student Development

IMG Academy's rise to the top is rooted in its holistic approach to student development, which encompasses three key prongs: athletics, academics, and personal development.

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Athletic Excellence: Preparing for the Professional Game

The primary reason IMG Academy produces so many professional athletes is its focus on preparing them for the demands of the professional game. Unlike traditional high school programs with rigid structures, IMG Academy enables its basketball players to play in a free-flowing, pro-style system.

Jarace Walker, chosen as the American Athletic Conference’s rookie of the year and selected eighth in the 2023 NBA Draft, noted, “The coaching staff really believed in me, and they empowered me to play my game and hoop freely. Our system was a free-flowing, motion-based offense. This allowed me to develop a high feel for the game. The system they had in place definitely allowed me to flourish.”

In addition to on-court tactics and strenuous practices, IMG Academy emphasizes rigorous weight training, a practice uncommon at the high school level. Anfernee Simons, who averaged 21.1 points per game for the Portland Trail Blazers, recalled, “Going from a public school to IMG was a night and day difference. We didn’t weight train in high school, and practices were kind of casual. But at IMG, it was all completely different. We were practicing hard, weight training, getting ice treatments, etc.”

Simons continued, “I was super skinny in high school. I felt very behind physically. So, I needed the post-graduate year to build my body up to prepare for the next step. Weight training was like a ritual at IMG. We were in the weight room at least five times a week. That was one of the things that sold me during my visit. The idea that we were going to be following a college-level workout routine.”

IMG Academy provides its athletes with access to top-notch coaches with college and NBA connections. Zach Edey, the 2022-23 Associated Press Men's Basketball Player of the Year, emphasized, “They have a lot of coaching staff there that you wouldn’t get at a regular high school. You’re not getting coached by your science teacher. You are getting people who are there specifically to coach basketball. People who have coached basketball for a long time. People who are former college/NBA players. People that really know what they are talking about.”

These connections can be instrumental in helping players get noticed by college programs. Edey himself credits IMG Academy for connecting him with Purdue University, where he had a successful college career. “IMG is a big reason why I got connected with Purdue,” Edey explained. “Coach Nash asked me what schools I was interested in, and I told him, Gonzaga and Purdue. Both those schools had a really good history with big men. And within the week, Coach Matt Painter reached out and called me. Two weeks later, I had my visit at Purdue.”

Academic Excellence: Prioritizing Scholastic Achievement

IMG Academy recognizes that athletic prowess alone is not enough. The academy prioritizes academics, ensuring that its student-athletes are well-prepared for college and beyond.

Nash stated, “We are a developmental academy, first and foremost. But not just in an athletic sense. We take a very holistic approach. At IMG, we often refer to a ‘total athlete.’ The kids come here to play a specific sport. But the academic component at our school is fantastic. People have always referred to us as a jock school, but we have some of the most intensive curriculum in the country. We have kids going to Ivy League schools.”

In 2023, IMG Academy had six students accepted into Ivy League colleges. As a whole, IMG’s 2023 Class averaged a 3.5 GPA, demonstrating the academy's commitment to academic excellence.

IMG Academy and its student-athletes earned outstanding academic achievements during the 2024-25 academic year, solidifying its position as a global leader in sports education. The graduating class of 2025 boasted an impressive academic record, with a weighted GPA average of 3.66 and an unweighted GPA average of 3.46. Notably, 35 student-athletes graduated with high honors, each maintaining a perfect cumulative GPA of 4.0. and 167 student-athletes graduated with honors, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Further demonstrating the academic strength of the 2025 class, seven student-athletes committed to continuing their education at Ivy League institutions, 25 student-athletes will attend a school listed on the US News Top-25 colleges and universities, and two student-athletes will join a United States Military Academy. The senior class represented 48 countries with 14 student-athletes planning to attend international universities and five will join professional leagues. The Valedictorian and baseball student-athlete, Bennett Jacobs was the top academic performer in the class and received the Harvard Book Award. Cooper Yi, Salutatorian and soccer student-athlete, was recognized as a National Merit Scholar finalist. Chloe Chang, golf student-athlete and Yale Book Award recipient, received the Ascender Spirit Award recognizing her leadership and lasting impact at IMG Academy. Basketball student-athlete, Georgia Pauli was awarded the second annual Nick Bollettieri “Power of Passion Award”. Pauli was recognized for her dedication to her sport while embodying the same characteristic as IMG Academy Founder, Nick Bollettieri. The volleyball program stood out throughout the year for their consistent commitment to their academics. IMG Academy’s student-athletes’ dedication to growth and excellence in the classroom is demonstrated among the 470 student-athletes who enrolled in multiple Advanced Placement (AP) courses for the 2024-25 academic year, 173 of whom were seniors. IMG Academy offers all levels of academic rigor, including 21 AP courses.

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Personal Development: Building Strong and Confident Individuals

IMG Academy aims to develop well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success both on and off the court. The academy focuses on personal development, helping students become strong and confident individuals.

Edey explained, “IMG really helped me adjust to being away from home. I was always a person who got really homesick. Moving away from home for two years to go to IMG helped get me over that.”

Simons added, “IMG was a big part of the reason why I was able to become an independent adult. They helped me learn to be on my own, think for myself, and make my own decisions.”

Organizational Buy-In: The Binding Agent

IMG Academy's success is not solely attributed to its holistic approach but also to the organizational-wide buy-in from coaches, staff, and players. Nash emphasizes the importance of hiring coaches who are invested in the program's long-term success.

“When you’re building a program, it is really important that you have people who are invested and locked in,” he explained. “You don’t want people who are coming in with one foot already out the door.”

Similarly, IMG Academy seeks players who are willing to fully embrace the academy's culture and values. “Regardless of talent, you have to be super driven to play at IMG,” Nash said. “We always refer to our kids as having a different DNA because we have a super regimented schedule for them here. Our kids get a college-level schedule right out of the gate. They have classes at specific times, weight training at specific times, and nutrition/mental training at specific times. They have so much to do every day, and that type of intensity isn’t for everybody.”

“We make sure that we recruit players that we know will be a good fit to the values of our program. No matter how talented a player is, they won’t be successful here if they don’t fit our culture.”

This commitment to a shared culture has fostered a strong sense of community among IMG Academy's students and alumni. Walker noted, “Occasionally, some of the alumni would stop by to help out with practice or a workout. I feel like the IMG alumni are still pretty involved in the community. It’s huge being able to talk to them and pick their brain because they are someone who has gone through what you are about to go through and experience. That kind of thing is very beneficial.”

IMG alumni also serve as spokespersons for prospective athletes, further strengthening the academy's reputation. Edey, for example, played a role in recruiting Oliver Rioux, the world’s tallest teen, to IMG Academy.

Notable Alumni: A Legacy of Success

IMG Academy's success is evident in the accomplishments of its alumni, who have excelled in the NBA, college basketball, and international competitions.

NBA Draft Success

IMG Academy has consistently produced NBA talent, with multiple alumni being selected in the NBA Draft each year. In 2023, IMG Academy made history with three former student-athletes selected in the first round of the NBA Draft: Jarace Walker (No. 8), Jett Howard (No. 11), and Keyonte George (No. 16).

The 2023 NBA Draft marked the seventh-consecutive year IMG Academy had a draft selection, and the fourth-straight year it’s had a first-round pick. Over the last nine years, IMG Academy has had at least two alumni selected in the NBA Draft seven times including 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The 2023 NBA Draft also marked the first time IMG Academy had multiple lottery selections in a single draft with Walker and Howard. Walker, George, and Howard add to IMG Academy’s 11 first round picks in NBA Draft history.

In 2024, IMG Academy continued its NBA Draft success with Zach Edey (No. 9) and Terrance Shannon Jr. (No. 27) being selected.

IMG Academy has produced five first-round draft picks in the last two years, including back-to-back drafts with lottery picks in 2023 and 2024. The 2024 NBA Draft marked the eighth-consecutive year IMG Academy had an alumni selected in the draft since 2017 and the fifth-consecutive year an IMG Academy alumni was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Over the last 10 years, IMG Academy has had at least two alumni selected in the NBA Draft seven times including, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. With the selection of Edey and Shannon Jr., IMG Academy has now had 13 first round NBA draft picks in program history.

IMG Academy has had 21 alumni from its basketball program selected in the NBA Draft since 2005.

Alumni in the NBA Finals and NCAA Tournament

IMG Academy alumni have also made their mark in the NBA Finals and NCAA Tournament. In the 2024 NBA Finals, Josh Green and Dwight Powell played for the Dallas Mavericks, while Jaden Springer played for the Boston Celtics. Springer's victory with the Celtics marked the first time an IMG Academy alumnus had won an NBA title.

At the collegiate level, 18 IMG basketball alumni representing 14 different schools from across the country competed in the Division I NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Alex Karaban won the title with the University of Connecticut.

Olympic Representation

IMG Academy's commitment to developing well-rounded athletes is exemplified by the number of its alumni who have represented their countries in the Olympics. Aleem Ford and Arella Guirantes represented Puerto Rico in basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Dwight Powell represented Canada, while Josh Green represented Australia.

IMG Academy's alumni have also excelled in other sports at the Olympics. Byeong Hun An and C.T. Pan competed in golf, representing Korea and Chinese Taipei, respectively. Nelly Korda, a gold medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competed for the USA in golf. Ke Nishikori competed for Japan in tennis.

Other notable alumni who competed in the Olympics include:

Grillo (Argentina, Golf)
Echavarria (Colombia, Golf)
Collins (USA, Tennis)
Sebastian Korda (USA, Tennis)
Howell (Cayman Islands, 100m Track and Field)
Clemons (Team USA, Long Jump)
Brathwaite (British Virgin Islands, 100m)

A Tradition of Excellence

IMG Academy's commitment to its holistic approach, organizational buy-in, and culture of excellence has created a tradition of success. As Nash stated, “When people come to IMG, they know they are a part of a tradition, and they want to add to that tradition. Whether you’re going to Williams College to be a Division III All-American, or you’re going to be Jarace Walker and be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft.”

IMG Academy's rise to prominence is a testament to its unique approach to student-athlete development. By prioritizing athletics, academics, and personal growth, IMG Academy has created a breeding ground for NBA stars, Olympians, and well-rounded individuals who are prepared to succeed in all aspects of life.

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