TREVISO, Italy — At last week’s Adidas Eurocamp, in front of an international audience, it was a Pinetown native and a small forward from Brooklyn who stole the show.

From June 6-8, 11 elite high school basketball players from the 11 different states, most with private and charter school backgrounds, all donned the coveted Team USA jersey and took to the hardwood against some of the top international talent. Despite Team USA having never won a game at the showcase in previous years, they returned home with a 3-0 record.

Rising senior Edrice “Bam” Adebayo shared the court with basketball prospects like Kobi Simmons of St. Francis (Ga), Mustapha Heron of Sacred Heart (Conn.) and Rawle Alkins of Christ the King (Brooklyn). Coached by retired NBA veteran and Kinston native Jerry Stackhouse, Adebayo was the team’s top scorer, averaging 11.3 points per game, while Alkins averaged exactly 11 points per game.

Called the showcase’s “most spectacular player” by NBADraft.net, the Northside forward dominated on the offensive end, throwing down his signature slams and even hitting perimeter shots, but it was his contribution on the defensive side of the ball that truly powered Team USA to wins in the first two games.

“They do something that USA players don’t usually do,” Adebayo said. “They use all the shot clock — swing it and swing it and swing it, until they get the best shot. Some people, they see the first shot available and it goes in, but they always work for the best shot.”

Playing FIBA rules, with an expanded key, the international opponents based their game around efficiency, rather than finesse. It offered a different look to the athletes of Team USA, accustomed to lighting up their respective hometown gymnasiums. And even though the Adidas Eurocamp was an exhibition, both teams played gritty basketball through the three games.

“They won’t give you fast break layups,” Adebayo said. “If you’re in the open court, you might as well call it as an automatic foul. They’re going to foul you on the fast break. In the US, you’re going to try to go up, block it and try to get a highlight. They just create that foul.”

Adebayo returned to the states on Wednesday after a nearly two-week-long stay in Treviso. Basketball aside, the 17-year-old phenom considered it a once in a lifetime experience. Traveling alongside Adebayo was his trainer and advisor, Eric Peartree, who has been working with Northside’s all-time leading scorer since sixth grade and was pleased with his performance on the international stage.

“I’m still not satisfied until he’s the top (player) in the country,” Peartree said. “If we ain’t the best, we have a lot more work to do. We’re going to get better and push him to get better. Everyone that doubts us, that’s just motivation.”

Between high school, AAU ball for Team Loaded (ranked No. 1 nationally) and various national (and now international) Adidas Uprising events, Adebayo continues to piece together an impressive resume and increase his stock.

When asked about personal goals for the future, Adebayo said, “NBA first. Second, get a degree. And build something someone else hasn’t.”

Each time he takes the court, that principal goal, one that seemed unimaginable three years ago, becomes closer to reality.