A familiar name returned to the summer basketball calendar in Phoenix. ABCD Camp, the showcase Sonny Vaccaro founded in 1984, was back in 2026 with Tracy McGrady at the center of its revival and adidas presenting the event. For an earlier generation, an invitation to ABCD meant a chance to measure yourself against the players everybody was talking about. The new camp set out to give that opportunity fresh meaning.
McGrady knows what one week can change. He arrived at ABCD in 1996 with far less attention than some of the other prospects and left with a national reputation. The following year, he was selected ninth in the NBA Draft. Three decades later, his role shifted from camper to mentor.
A legacy that still draws attention
ABCD's alumni include Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce, Dwight Howard and James Harden. Those names give the camp instant recognition. They also set a demanding standard for its return: a famous history matters only if the current players leave with something valuable.
The 2026 program offered games and workouts alongside sessions on recovery, financial literacy, NIL, media preparation and personal branding. Young prospects can attract national attention and commercial interest before they finish high school. The camp's broader curriculum acknowledged that reality.
The names from Phoenix
Lewis Uvwo earned Camp MVP after anchoring the championship team. He averaged 10.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Jalen Davis took Finals MVP with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals in the title game. He also led the camp with 4.0 steals per game. Mason Grivna won the defensive award after averaging 4.3 blocks.
Among the younger prospects, RJ Evans and Pierre Rondo were named Rising Stars. Evans, a Class of 2029 wing, averaged 16.3 points and 4.3 rebounds, including 23 points in a matchup with Rondo. At 14, Rondo showed poise and playmaking against older competition.
First Team All ABCD honors went to Blaze Johnson, Moussa Kamissoko, Kevin Savage III, Darius Wabbington and Juleeyan Williams. Johnson averaged 15.3 points, Kamissoko 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds, Savage a camp leading 5.7 assists, Wabbington 14.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists, and Williams 16.3 points. NBA.com's camp report also highlighted Antonio Pemberton and DeMarcus Henry.
A meeting place across circuits
ABCD returned to a landscape shaped by Nike EYBL, adidas 3SSB and other national circuits. Those platforms offer months of team competition. A camp puts players from different programs on one floor for a short, intense evaluation. Although adidas presented ABCD, the 2026 field included prospects from different shoe affiliations.
That arrangement gives the camp a distinct place in the sport. Players who have built reputations on separate circuits can face one another with unfamiliar teammates and only a few days to adjust. An invitation can become a meaningful test, provided the field remains strong and the evaluation credible.
What comes next
ABCD has a credible path to becoming a premier individual showcase again. Vaccaro's legacy, McGrady's connection, adidas support and the camp's history give it a head start. Its reach will depend on drawing top prospects across affiliations year after year, offering useful development and giving scouts a reason to return.
The revival also raises a possibility for the girls' game. An equally presented girls' camp could combine elite competition with mentorship, financial education, media preparation and recovery resources. That is an editorial proposal, not an announced ABCD event.
ABCD does not need to become a full season circuit to matter. Its strongest role may be the week when players from those circuits finally share the same court.
THE CIRCUITS BUILD THE RESUMES. ABCD CAN TEST THEM.
Performance statistics and 2026 camp awards are drawn from adidas 3SSB and NBA.com reporting. The comparisons with EYBL and the proposal for a girls' camp are D1HYPE editorial analysis.