New Balance held its second annual Beantown Elite Experience this week at The TRACK on its Boston campus, bringing in top-rated boys and girls prospects from the 2026-28 classes for four days built around on-court development, financial literacy, personal branding, and NIL education.
Kawhi Leonard opened the week at the welcome party and gifted campers the KAWHI V.
Tyrese Maxey handed out the Maxey v1, his first signature shoe, which launches worldwide Oct. 2 for $129.99.
The camp separates itself in two ways. First, every athlete brings a plus-one: a parent, coach, or mentor who runs their own dedicated program. Second, the pro players don’t simply fly in, do the bare minimum, sign some autographs, and leave. Maxey, Darius Garland, Zach LaVine,
Dejounte Murray, Nick Smith Jr., Jordan Smith Jr., Chris Livingston, Aaliyah Crump, Sienna Betts, and Haylen Ayers were all around throughout an entire day working with the kids and actually getting to know some of them.
"Just seeing the top people in the country and seeing the growth of the game is super cool to see," Garland told HoopsHype. "Just to be here like a big brother for them, be a mentor, show them the hard work that it takes to get there."
The pros noticed the talent level immediately as they cheered and coached them from the moment scrimmages and skill workouts started.
"What's not surprising but was refreshing to see is how much the guys listen and want to learn, and the competitiveness," LaVine said to HoopsHype. "They made it a learning environment, but then when they get down to playing, it's very competitive."
Nick Smith Jr. felt the same, with one caveat that the younger generation of hoopers were a lot taller than expected.
"They got a lot of skill, and they were way bigger than what we were when we were kids," Smith Jr. said. "It brings me back home, to be honest with you."
Murray framed the mentorship differently, as actions are louder than words.
"Less is more," said Murray. "I don't try to be that guy who's just in these kids' ears all the time. But just showing up, I think, is louder than any words you can use."
Maxey, who watched campers open his signature shoe and lace it up on the spot, called that the highlight of his week.
"You can wear whatever shoe you want to wear, but for someone to choose to wear your shoe, that means a lot," Maxey told HoopsHype.
The women's roster carries equal weight
New Balance's women's roster is just as strong as the men's. Haylen Ayers, a 6-1 guard out of University School of Jackson and a consensus five-star in the 2027 class, is arguably one of the best up-and-coming prospects in the country. Ayers has already started stacking her resume. She has won three straight Tennessee Miss Basketball awards, took gold with USA Basketball at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup, and signed with the brand in October 2025. She also plays high-level softball, which she treats as the release valve.
"It's honestly a good balance for me," said Ayers. "One is fast-paced and there's not a lot of time to think. The other one is slower-paced. It takes my mind off of one, and on the flip side, it takes my mind off the other."
Ayers echoed the one sentiment that nearly every athlete on the roster repeated in some form to HoopsHype when asked about what makes New Balance different from other brands.
"I'm about relationships," said Ayers. "That's what has stood firm in our partnership through this last year. It's made it super easy just to be a part of a team that cares for you as an athlete, but more so as a person."
Days after signing with New Balance, she hosted a free youth camp that drew more than 100 kids and gave away shoes.
"You look back two weeks later, and you see them playing a middle school game, and you're like, they're wearing the shoes I gave them," said Ayers.
Ayers candidly discussed the cost of being a teenager with a brand attached.
"It's hard being a young athlete with a name or a brand that's gonna represent you," said Ayers. "It's very easy to become consumed with that or what people have to say about it. For me, it's just leaning on the people that have poured into me and trusting in the work I've done on and off the court."
Standouts
Dylan Betts, C, 2028
Betts caught our attention first, and it is not subtle. He is listed anywhere from 7-0 to 7-2. He told us he is 7-4, and having stood next to him, we can confirm he is at least 7-4. He is one of the rare cases of an under-reported height.
The bloodlines help explain it. His father, Andrew Betts, went 50th overall to Charlotte in the 1998 NBA Draft but never played in the Association, building a long career across Italy, Spain, Greece, and Ukraine. Both his sisters went to UCLA. Lauren Betts won a championship there before going No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Sienna still plays for the Bruins.
Betts needs strength, but so does every 16-year-old at that height, as seen in this clip below.
The mobility and the fluidity of his movement at that size are the selling points. He understands his job on the glass and at the rim, and he is already chasing the perimeter version of himself.
"I'm trying to work on the outside game more, making shots more and coming off a kick and making a move," said Betts. "I'm nowhere near my peak, but once I get to my peak, I think I'll be really good."
His film study is exactly what you would want.
"If I'm watching defense, I wanna study Rudy Gobert or Victor Wembanyama, and if I wanna study offense, I'll do Wemby or [Nikola] Jokic, Anthony Davis," said Betts.
He also credited his sisters for the parts that do not show up on tape.
"They've already done everything I've already done," said Betts. "They've always told me about staying off social media and just being focused on myself."
The screening and the strength need work, but that comes with age and experience.
Nolan Nelson, F
A 6-8, 210-pound forward, Nelson has a solid build and plays with the type of physicality you would expect from a multi-sport athlete. Also profiled as a top football prospect at tight end, Nelson is a decent athlete who moves fluidly for his size, and the jumper is already a legitimate part of his game. He gets to his spots comfortably with good touch on his shots, and rarely looks unsure of what he wants to do with a touch.
Darius Wabbington, C
Wabbington already carries an NBA-caliber frame with a reported wingspan approaching 7-4, and he ranks among the top of the 2027 class. His USA Basketball U18 experience matches a skill set that often plays more like a combo forward than a traditional big. He handles the ball comfortably, operates inside-out, and runs the floor with purpose. The athleticism reads functional rather than explosive, but his length, coordination, and feel allow him to impact possessions across multiple areas.
Kevin Whitley Jr., G/F
Whitley has been on the national radar for years, including multiple appearances at USA Basketball minicamps. His versatility as a wing is what might separate him from the rest. He passes, shoots, and defends multiple positions, projecting as a natural jumbo two or an athletic three with the potential to slide up to the four as he adds strength due to his length. We saw him hit a half-court buzzer-beater, providing another glimpse of his clean, repeatable shooting mechanics executed in a split second.
Michai White, G
On paper, White profiles as a pesky, pass-first undersized guard. In person, the juice runs deeper, and his motor is non-stop. He picks up at 94 feet, constantly seeks teammates, and can still break down defenders when the possession demands it. Constantly dribbles inside, creating opportunities for himself and others off his paint touches. The size will remain a talking point, but his floor-general instincts, high basketball IQ, competitiveness, and defensive event-creation are already evident. He plays like a guard who affects winning on both ends regardless if he is scoring or not.
Malachi Jordan, G/F
Jordan carries himself with a level of physical maturity that separates him. A spot on the USA U18 silver medal team adds to the resume. Jordan's frame and length draw immediate attention; he already looks like an NBA player as a teenager. He looks a solid 6-5, possibly 6-6 in shoes, with legitimate strength and athleticism already in place. He can pass, drive, and shoot while defending across the perimeter. Once he fills out his frame, it'll unlock the ability to not only guard twos and threes, but play as a small-ball four. His ability to generate stops without needing a block or steal to validate the possession stands out most. He has the lateral quickness and foresight to stay attached to the hip of his opponent on defense while maintaining a step ahead in whichever direction.
Cayden Daughtry, G
Daughtry did not scrimmage, but he remained locked in all week, talking shop with Maxey, Garland, and LaVine. On day two, while everyone else ate lunch, he was on the floor working step-for-step through drills with Garland. The jumper and ball skills are real, especially coming off the summer he just had. He stands 6-0 in shoes at best. That does not appear to be a problem because there is a real chance we are watching a modern-day Allen Iverson.
Alex Alexander, F/C
Alexander already ranks among the top prospects in the 2029 class, and the physical reasons are obvious. We saw up close that he possesses the traits sought in a modern, switchable combo big who can eventually play either the four or five. Alexander runs the floor well, moves comfortably for his size in any direction, and has broad shoulders that'll accommodate more strength to his frame as he matures. His production at Beantown did not always match the tools, as he was a non-factor, but his potential at his size fuels the intrigue. The combination of length, mobility, and physical upside gives him some of the same early developmental appeal that surrounded players such as Alexandre Sarr.
Standout performances throughout the week extended beyond the box score. Micah Gordon received the Terrence Clarke Award on the boys' side, while Jessie Moses earned the honor on the girls' side. The award recognizes athletes who distinguish themselves through leadership, character, and the way they carry themselves both on and off the court, making it one of the more meaningful honors handed out during the week.
What the camp says about the brand
The talent in the gym reflects the scouting New Balance put into this. The camp works because of what surrounds it. Through the Klutch Athletics collaboration, campers and their plus-ones gain access to agency-level resources alongside on-court work.
The repeated theme across every interview was the time the brand spends getting to know the person. Where a player came from, what matters to him, what his life looks like away from the floor.
"This brand is super close-knit," said Garland. "All the athletes are super close, and it's just eight of us, nine of us. With some other companies, it's like 100 players. So it's like we're the underdog, but climbing up the ranks."
Murray has been there since 2019, back when the basketball roster was three deep with intern Darius Bazley and Kawhi.
"It's just a blessing," said Murray. "Now you see from basketball, football, baseball, soccer, and track, it got a great group of people with high character. That just speaks volumes about the people that run the business."
LaVine, who signed in 2022, has watched the cultural side grow faster than the on-court side.
"You tip your hat off to New Balance for assembling the team, and Klutch Athletics as well," said LaVine. "People that don't even wear basketball shoes, you see nothing but New Balance. It became a cultural thing, and it's really cool to see."
Athletes also have a hand in the product itself, helping shape what they'll wear.
"It's a lot of fun to be able to have your input on shoes," said LaVine. "I'm not a creative mind like the guys that get paid to do this, but I can have some insights."
Inside New Balance's Sports Research Lab at its Boston headquarters, athlete feedback is paired with biomechanics and performance data to shape future footwear and apparel. The facility uses 3D motion-capture systems, force plates, and foot and body scanners to measure how athletes move, load, and generate force, whether that means a sprinter exploding out of the blocks, a runner navigating the track, or a basketball player shooting and changing direction on the hardwood.
Athletes can also sit down with New Balance's sports scientists in a broadcast-quality recording studio to provide more detailed feedback on what they feel and need from a product. The current lab, a significant expansion from the testing capabilities New Balance previously housed at its Lawrence, MA factory, gives the company a place to test, adjust, and retest products alongside athletes across its growing portfolio, from Coco Gauff and Shohei Ohtani to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and its basketball roster.
Nick Smith Jr. put New Balance's basketball roster camaraderie simply. The pros were already close before Boston, but the camp tightened it.
"We kind of already knew each other, to be honest with you," said Smith Jr. "I feel like this is one of the things that's making us even closer, just bringing us together as brothers."
The relationship runs both ways, and everyone in the building can feel it.
"We rep each other, and that's what makes great things come together," Murray said.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: New Balance Beantown notebook: standouts, NBA stars & more
