Overtime Elite has Big Monday against top NC teams in high school basketball showdown
Atlanta-based Overtime Elite has caused a big stir in high school basketball circles nationwide as the league has plucked some of the nation’s top talent.
At Overtime, players are paid a guaranteed six figure salary of at least $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and shares of equity in the company. The players can earn money through their name, image and likeness and also get healthcare coverage, disability insurance and what Overtime calls “a rigorous and highly personalized education.”
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and NBA star Kevin Durant are among the financial backers of the league, which hopes to be a pathway to professional basketball. The players give up college eligibility by playing, but gain instant cash, notoriety and a rather large target.
Everybody wants to play Overtime.
Everybody wants to beat Overtime.
Monday, Overtime brought its three teams to Lincolnton to play three of North Carolina’s best. In the feature game, Overtime’s Team Gomes beat nationally ranked Combine Academy 106-95.
Team Gomes’ star -- former Keenan (SC) High player Jazian Gortman -- had 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Gortman, a senior guard in the class of 2022, reportedly signed with Overtime for $650,000 for one season.
After a tight first quarter, Gortman got his team going with back-to-back three-pointers in the second quarter. He also got help from Jean Montero, a 5-star recruit from the Dominican Republic and Overtime’s first international player.
Montero finished with 33 points, seven rebounds and made 10-of-18 shots.
“We had a pretty good game,” Gortman said. “The team played outstanding. I hit a three-pointer and an and-one, and it kinda got me going.”
For Combine, 4-star Illinois recruit Jayden Epps had 39 points and made 14-of-29 shots. He helped Combine get back into the game after trailing 51-37 at halftime.
“I feel like I played okay today,” Epps said. “I came out a little slow. I got my rhythm going and I felt like I just needed to slow down and let the game come to me more.”
In the end, it was Overtime who came out on top after sealing the deal with big shots down the stretch.
Combine -- which lost three potential starters to Kanye West’s Donda Academy, including top 10 2023 recruit Robert Dillingham -- struggled to make them.
“That was a tough game,” Combine coach Jeff Mcinnis said. “We came out, we fought. They were tough man. They made a lot of shots and we didn’t really make those shots tonight. They are a tough team, hats off to them man.”
Highlights from the earlier games
Team Fanning vs. Liberty Heights
Overtime team Fanning faced off against Liberty Heights in the first of three games and won 86-70. The top scorer for team Fanning was Johned Walker with 21. Liberty Heights’ top performer was Silas Demary Jr. with 20 points and four rebounds to go along with his points.
Team Leiato vs. Winston Salem Christian
This was the closest game of the evening with Overtime’s team only edging the Lions of Winston Salem Christian by a score of 96-95. Team Leiato’s Ausar Thompson had a double-double with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Camian Shell had 35 points and seven assists for the Lions.
Tuesday’s schedule
The teams will play again Tuesday at Combine Academy.
Team Gomes vs. Winston-Salem Christian, 3 p.m.
Team Leitao vs. Liberty Heights, 5 p.m.
Team Fanning vs. Combine Academy, 7 p.m.