It’s a quirk of scheduling that in theory would make the most loyal and committed football-basketball dual sport super recruit chose a game: Nike hosts both The Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. and The Opening in Oregon on the same set of days following July 4th. In theory, the doubled schedule makes it impossible for any man — athlete or reporter — to be in both places at the same time.
Wade is one of two juniors along with Najee Harris named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA football team last season.
While that may be the case, it can’t completely keep a star prospect from attending both, provided he or she is willing to skip the final stages of one event or the other. That’s precisely the scenario that has unfolded in front of Shaun Wade, a five-star Ohio State defensive back commit who also stars as the point guard for the Each 1 Teach 1 team in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. According to Land of 10 Ohio State recruiting reporter Jeremy Birmingham, Wade is determined to compete at The Peach Jam on Wednesday and Thursday before flying to Oregon to work out at The Opening on Friday and the weekend.
“He is going to the Peach Jam for two days,” Randy Wade, Shaun’s father, told Land of 10. “Then he’ll head to The Opening. … We’ve got to do what’s best for Shaun. The Opening is a once in a lifetime event and the Peach Jam is too.”
While Wade is undoubtedly an impressive basketball prospect, his future bread is certainly buttered on the football field. Considered a top-2 defensive back and top-3 overall recruit in Florida, Wade hopes to build on his considerable accomplishments during his senior campaign at Trinity Christian Academy, where he’ll suit up for both the football and basketball teams. There’s no direct sense that he’ll be playing basketball for Ohio State, too, though with Wade’s talent you can never rule anything out.