IMG Academy: A Legacy of Athletic and Academic Excellence

IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, stands as a global leader in sports education, renowned for its holistic approach to developing student-athletes. The academy's commitment to nurturing talent across various sports has resulted in a long list of notable alumni who have achieved remarkable success in collegiate and professional arenas. As the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games approach, the achievements of these former IMG Academy student-athletes shine as a testament to the academy's dedication to helping them win their future.

A Holistic Approach to Student-Athlete Development

IMG Academy prides itself on a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes for college and life. This approach encompasses not only athletic training but also academic rigor and personal development, ensuring that graduates are well-rounded individuals prepared for success in any field.

Brian Nash, Vice President of Athletics at IMG Academy, emphasizes the significance of the academy's training and development programs, stating, "The achievements of our alumni leading up to and participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics are a powerful affirmation of the training and development provided at IMG Academy."

Notable Alumni at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Beyond

IMG Academy's impact on the world of sports is evident in the diverse representation of its alumni at the 2024 Paris Olympics. These athletes, hailing from various countries and competing in a wide array of sporting events, exemplify the academy's global reach and commitment to excellence.

Basketball

Aleem Ford (Puerto Rico): During his post-graduate year at IMG Academy in 2015-16, Ford showcased his talent by averaging 13.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Arella Guirantes (Puerto Rico): Guirantes made history as IMG Academy's first-ever WNBA draft pick, selected No. 22 overall. Her impressive stats at IMG Academy included averaging 33 points, 13 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game.
Dwight Powell (Canada): Powell, representing Canada in basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game during his time at IMG Academy. He was also one of two high school players invited to train with the Canadian National Team in the summer of 2009.
Josh Green (Australia): Green, representing Australia at the Paris Olympics, earned numerous accolades during his time at IMG Academy, including competing in the 2019 national championship, the 2018-19 McDonald's All-American Game, the 2018 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, and two Nike Hoop Summits in 2018 and 2019.
Zach Edey (Canada): Edey, a 2020 graduate of IMG Academy, was invited to Canada Basketball's training camp ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. He went on to play for Purdue University, leading the team to two consecutive first-seed rankings and its first Final Four appearance since 1980. In the 2024 NBA Draft, Edey was selected No. 9 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.

Golf

Byeong Hun An (Korea): An is representing Korea in golf at the Olympics. He is a former U.S. Amateur champion, capturing the title at the age of 17.
C.T. Pan (Chinese Taipei): Pan is competing for Chinese Taipei in golf at the 2024 Olympics. His time at IMG Academy was marked by victories in several junior golf tournaments.
Emiliano Grillo (Argentina): Grillo is competing for Argentina in golf, bringing his talent to the Olympic greens. Junior Open in 2008 and won the 2009 Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award.
Nelly Korda (USA): Korda is competing for the USA in golf, coming off a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On the LPGA Tour, Korda has won 14 times, including two major titles. She reached her highest world ranking of No. 1 in 2023.
Nicolas Echavarria (Colombia): Echavarria is representing Colombia in golf. Junior Amateur. He also won the Colombian Amateur.

Tennis

Danielle Collins (USA): Collins is representing the USA in tennis. She played collegiate tennis at the University of Virginia, where she won two NCAA singles championships before turning professional and achieving a top-20 WTA ranking.
Kei Nishikori (Japan): Nishikori is competing for Japan in tennis at the 2024 Olympics. Nishikori came to IMG Academy when he was 14. He is the only man from his country ever to break into the top-five of the world rankings.
Sebastian Korda (USA): Korda was invited to compete in the Olympics for the USA. During his time at IMG Academy, Korda was a top-ranked junior player, winning the Australian Open Junior title.

Track and Field

Rikkoi Brathwaite (British Virgin Islands): Brathwaite is competing in the 100m for the British Virgin Islands at the Paris Olympics.
Jeremiah Clemons (USA): Clemons is representing Team USA in the long jump at the Paris Olympics. He trained at IMG Academy his senior year and continued his track career at the University of Florida, where he medaled in multiple SEC championships and earned All-American honors.
Ben Howell (Cayman Islands): Howell is competing in the 100m track and field event for the Cayman Islands. Howell competed for IMG Academy during the 2022 and 2023 track & field seasons and went on to compete at the University of Tennessee, where in his first year he earned a spot in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Nia Woodruffe (Trinidad and Tobago): Woodruffe competed in the Olympic Trials for Trinidad and Tobago. As a student-athlete at IMG Academy, Woodruffe is a standout sprinter, setting personal bests in the 100m and 200m.

Football: A Breeding Ground for College and NFL Talent

IMG Academy's football program has solidified its reputation as one of the nation's best for student-athlete development and college placement. With five straight years ranked in the top 10 nationally and more than 200 student-athletes placed in college programs since its inception, the program has a proven track record of success.

Read also: Contributions of USCGA Alumni

Notable IMG Academy football alumni include:

O.J.
Antonio Tripp, Jr.
Stephon Wynn Jr.
Curtis Dunlap Jr.
Jarvis Lee Jr.
Tony Jones, Jr.

IMG Academy continues to set the standard with a growing list of talented players representing college and pro teams across the nation.

Academic Excellence: A Cornerstone of the IMG Academy Experience

IMG Academy's commitment to academic excellence is reflected in the outstanding achievements of its student-athletes. 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.

35 student-athletes graduated with high honors, maintaining a perfect cumulative GPA of 4.0.
167 student-athletes graduated with honors, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
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.
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.

Recognition of Academic Achievement:

Bennett Jacobs, Valedictorian and baseball student-athlete, 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.
Georgia Pauli, basketball student-athlete, was awarded the second annual Nick Bollettieri “Power of Passion Award”.

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.

Community Engagement: Giving Back to the Bradenton Area

A top priority for IMG Academy is to give back to the community and support local community groups by providing resources, facilities, and volunteers for service initiatives. IMG Academy’s student-athletes continue to set new academic standards.

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Athletic Achievements: Setting New Standards of Excellence

In the 2024-25 academic year, IMG Academy and its student-athletes demonstrated their ability to win at every level through individual and team achievements, solidifying the academy’s position as the world’s premier youth sports training destination.

Seven student-athletes were listed on ESPN Top 100 rankings.
Four student-athletes represented their national team.
The program led the nation in the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer challenge.
Kostovic reached a career high ranking of No. 1 in the USTA Florida Section.
In the outdoor season, the girls 4x800m relay won Penn Relays with a US No. 1 time.
The girls 4x800m relay team won at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.
All four teams ended the Florida Region Club season ranked inside the top-50.

Professional Sports Drafts: A Pipeline to Success

In 2024-25, IMG Academy saw four alumni drafted in the first round of professional sports:

Zach Edey (ninth overall, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA)
Terrance Shannon Jr. (Round 1, Washington Wizards, NBA)

IMG Academy’s alumni continue to represent their sport, finding success across professional sports drafts and competing in collegiate sports. This year marked the 18th time in the last 20 years that an IMG Academy alumnus was selected and the 17th time in the last 18 years that multiple alumni were selected in the same draft.

James Wood, ’21 graduate, was drafted in the 2021 MLB Draft and had an incredible rookie season with the Washington Nationals. This year marked the eighth consecutive year IMG Academy had alumni selected in the NBA Draft since 2017 and the fifth consecutive year an IMG Academy alumnus was selected in the first round. The 2025 NFL Draft marked the third straight year at least two IMG Academy alumni were selected in the first two rounds and the fourth time in five years. Since 2020, IMG Academy has had at least one first round draft pick each year-an NFL record for one high school.

Collegiate and Professional Success: Alumni Making Their Mark

IMG Academy alumni continue to excel in collegiate and professional sports, showcasing the academy's ability to prepare them for the next level.

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Ten alumni left their mark on the 2025 NCAA Golf Tournaments across all divisions.
Three alumni played in the LPGA Tour including: Nelly Korda (’16), Dottie Ardina (’13), and Gemma Dryburgh (’11).
Five alumni played in the U.S Women’s Open including: Korda, Dryburgh, Ardina, Kelly Tan (’12), and Yani Tseng.
Sebastian Korda (’18), reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 15 and a career-high doubles ranking No. 46.
Jerry Shang reached a career-high ranking of World No.
Rei Sakamoto (’24), won the 2024 Yokkaichi Challenger and made his Masters main draw debut at the 2025 Miami Open as a qualifier.
Sonobe made her WTA Tour debut at the WTA 500 2025 Abu Dhabi Open as a qualifier and recorded her first tour‑level win over the world No. 55 at the time in the first round.

The Rise of a National Powerhouse: Inside IMG Academy's Basketball Program

IMG Academy's basketball program has risen to prominence in recent years, producing 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 girl's side, their alumni gallery includes names like Arella Guirantes, Grace VanSlooten, Rokia Doumbia, and Kailyn Gilbert.

The Architect: Brian Nash and the Holistic Approach

Brian Nash, the Director of Basketball at IMG Academy, has been instrumental in the program's success. With nearly 25 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, Nash recognized the academy's potential and implemented a holistic approach to student development.

This holistic approach encompasses three key prongs:

Athletics: IMG Academy prepares athletes for the professional game through a free-flowing, pro-style system and a rigorous weight training schedule.
Academics: The academy prioritizes scholastic achievement, with a curriculum that prepares students for Ivy League and other top-tier universities.
Personal Development: IMG Academy focuses on developing students as strong and confident individuals, regardless of their athletic success.

Organizational Buy-In: The Binding Agent for Success

Nash emphasizes the importance of organizational-wide buy-in, ensuring that coaches and players are fully invested in the academy's core values. He seeks coaches who are committed to the program and recruits players who fit the academy's culture.

A Tradition of Excellence: IMG Academy's Legacy

IMG Academy's commitment to its holistic approach and organizational culture has created a tradition of excellence. Alumni remain invested in the community, serving as spokespersons for prospective athletes and contributing to the academy's continued success.

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