The Adidas 3SSB is the only circuit to have set their schedule for the end-of-summer championships. They released their finals bracket this week, and there are definitely some surprises. Based on the finals bracket, only the top six teams in each division in 17U and 16U qualified for the “Championship Bracket.” The bottom two, and in one case three, teams ended up being placed into the “Classic Bracket,” a secondary bracket without access to competition against the top teams in the 3SSB Championships. In addition, there is a dead day on the 18th before coaches can come out and watch the remainder of the event from the 19th to the 22nd, making it a long five-day trip at the end of the summer. On the positive side, several Gold (3SGB) teams made the “Classic Bracket,” with an opportunity to play against the sponsored teams which did not qualify for the championship bracket.
The sponsored 3SSB teams in 17U who did not qualify for the championship bracket are:
– AEBL 17U 3SSB
– Upward Stars 3SSB
– CFE 17U 3SSB
– AK Rivals Team Pili 17U 3SSB
– Midwest Basketball Club 17U 3SSB
– JBS 17U 3SSB
– Jsizzles 17U 3SSB
– Always 100 2025 3SSB
– Lady Push 2025 3SSB
The South was hit hard with non-qualifiers. Ironically, with the event being in South Carolina, AEBL, CFE, Jsizzles, and Upward Stars are four of the Southern teams which did not qualify to play in their own backyard. In the South, Team Elite was the only 17U team to qualify for the Championship Bracket, and barely so.
For 17U, the teams which qualified out of the Gold to play in the Classic Bracket are:
– Hardwood Nation
– Earl Watson Academy
– TTY Seigenthaler
– Houston Lady Nets
– Arkansas Mavericks
– Team Loaded
– ULP 3SGB 17U
For 16U, the following teams did not make the championship bracket and will be in the Classic Bracket to face the Gold teams who placed high in Chapters 1 and 2:
– CFE 16U 3SSB
– FAM Hoops 16U 3SSB
– Della Lamb 3SSB
– Team Trae Young 16U 3SSB
– Midwest Basketball Club 16U 3SSB
– All In 16U 3SSB
– M14 16U 3SSB
– Mass Rivals 16U 3SSB
– Full Package 16U 3SSB
The Gold teams who qualified for the 16U 3SSB Palmetto Road Classic Brackets are:
– Alabama Twisters Black
– CFE Blue Heat
– WER1 Gold
– Team Loaded
– Hoop Hall 2026
– EBA Ice
– TTY Seigenthaler
As Adidas looks to the future, you can see multiple programs which did not qualify for the championship bracket in both 16U and 17U. In 15U, all 3SSB teams qualified for the finals championship bracket despite their record. Several Gold teams also qualified in 15U:
– Team Takeoff
– Hoop Code
– Lady Wildcats
– ULP 14U Blue
– E1T1 MN Queens
– Ohio United Gold
As we look at the Championship division, it is pool play into a bracket which occupies the entire five-day event. Here are the pools:
Pool A
Team Lex is a heavy favorite here. Elevate Elite is likely the only team that could threaten to upset them.
– Team Lex Nation
– Elevate Elite
– Gauchos 17
– M14
– Team Elite Hubbard
– FAM Hoops
Pool B
Moriah Jefferson played a close game earlier in the season, and I think this is a 50/50 game moving into July as ETG Midwest has been playing well this season.
– Team Moriah Jefferson
– ETG Midwest
– Texas Lonestar
– NW Greyhounds
– Della Lamb
– Utah Lady Prospects
Pool C
This pool is significantly stronger than the A & B pools, with three legitimate contenders at the top. While Hardwood is the reigning Adidas champion, both United Family and Indiana Elite will be tough games, and an upset could happen.
– Hardwood Elite
– United Family
– Indiana Elite
– All In 17U
– Minnesota Stars
– Lady Jets
Pool D
While Team Trae Young is a clear favorite, the balance in teams 2-6 is pretty strong, and there won’t be many blowouts in this pool. The winner will be tested moving into the bracket.
– Team Trae Young 17U
– Metro Stars
– Full Package
– Mass Rivals
– Bay City
– Meta Hoops
