Mamba Invitational showcases NaVorro Bowman Jr., Yann Kamagate and Dylan Betts

LOS ANGELES — Notre Dame High guard NaVorro Bowman Jr., St. Francis forward Yann Kamagate and IMG Academy forward Dylan Betts took turns hammering down dunks in front of a buzzing crowd Saturday at Chick Hearn Court during the star-packed Mamba Invitational.

Kamagate, Betts and Bowman are among the basketball players who are being recruited heavily by UCLA.

Betts seemingly needed no introduction. The high school junior, who has grown to 7-foot-3, is the younger brother of Lauren Betts, the standout for UCLA’s women’s ational championship team, and sophomore UCLA forward Sienna Betts.

“They’ve helped me with what’s good in a coach,” Dylan Betts said of his siblings, “the goods about a team and the bads about a team. I love the school (UCLA) and it’s a good developmental system.”

For Kamagate, the experience of the Mamba Invitational allowed for him to adapt his game and learn to play with talented teammates who came from across the country to play in the Mamba Invitational, which is dedicated to Kobe Bryant and sponsored by Nike.

“I’ve been able to learn a lot of things,” Kamagate said. “How to become a better basketball player, how to rim run and learn a lot of things.”

A showcase for all three players included eight-minute quarters and a running clock until the final two minutes.

Betts, Bowman and Kamagate offered a glimpse of what all three could become, imagining the future with the trifecta in UCLA blue, white and gold.

Bowman said his college choice is wide open. The 6-foot-3, five-star recruit is the No. 1-ranked combo guard for the class of 2028. He has visits scheduled for UConn, Texas, Arizona and North Carolina.

The Mamba Invitational represented Bowman’s opportunity to honor Bryant.

“It means a lot, the mentality he had on the court and it showed,” Bowman said. “This is respect towards him.”