Cali Boost making its mark in inaugural Adidas Uprising campaign

Those familiar with club basketball season are well aware that the live viewing periods of the spring and summer are the best times for a basketball prospect to put his name on the map.

In the case of the Cali Boost 16U squad, its players are not only working to gain exposure for themselves, but are also out to prove that they belong on the Adidas Uprising Gold Division circuit.

Cali Boost, originally named San Diego Select prior to partnering with Open Gym Premier, is coached by Steve Wade and is based out of San Diego. The club has players from all over Southern California, including San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and the Inland Empire and they come from a wide range of classes.

In its first two live periods since joining the Adidas circuit, Cali Boost finished with a respectable 6-4 record through 10 games. It has earned wins over Northwest Panthers, Marcus Smart Basketball (YGC36), Team BBC, Stackhouse Elite, The Firm and Urban DFW Elite with solid contributions from all of its players across the board.

In Cali Boost’s first win in Dallas over Northwest Panthers, Six-foot 3 freshman guard Beon Riley (Chula Vista Mater Dei) led all scorers with 15 points, while Corona del Mar sophomore DJ Rodman added 14 and incoming freshman Thomas Notarainni pitched in 13.

In CB’s second victory, a 62-47 decision over Marcus Smart Basketball, it was 6-foot-6 Santa Monica Crossroads forward Jacob Ray who led the way with 22 points, while Rodman added 11 and Paris Dawson pitched in 9.

Cali Boost had four score in double figures in a dominant 70-50 victory over Team BBC, led by Rodman and Dawson who each had 13 points, while Ray added 11 and 6-foot-7 rising freshman Obinna Anyanwu chipped in 10.

Through the team’s first five games of the spring, Rodman led the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game, while Ray and Anyanwu averaged 11.2 and 10.4 respectively.

Cali Boost drew the intrigue of a number of college coaches across many different levels and the play of Rodman and Anyanwu earned them their first two scholarship offers from Georgia Tech head coach Josh Pastner.

Cali Boost headed to Atlanta for the second live period of the spring and defeated Stackhouse Elite via forfeit, The Firm (48-42) and closed out the weekend with a 60-49 win over Urban DFW Elite.

Anyanwu paced Cali Boost over The Firm with 15 points, while Dawson added 12 and Riley finished with 10.

CB had three more score in double figures against Urban DFW Elite as Riley scored 14, Ray had 13 and Anyanwu added 12 as the squad left Atlanta with a 3-2 record and 6-4 overall in Adidas Uprising play.