ADAMS TWP — If it was an audition, Bryce Cunningham got the part.

And it may lead to many more.

The 6-foot-1 Mars seventh-grader received an invitation to play for coach Danny Young’s All-Ohio club basketball team in Cleveland last fall. He also played for the team in the Nike City Tournament in October.

“We went undefeated and won that tournament,” Young said. “I liked what I saw in Bryce. He’s aggressive, competitive and he has good size.”

So when Young shifted over to the Adidas-sponsored Ohio Basketball Club this year, he invited Cunningham to come with his team.

“I’m pretty excited about this,” Cunningham said. “It’s an opportunity to play with some of the best talent out there for my age level.”

The Ohio Basketball Club is based in Cleveland. Cunningham will travel there each Tuesday and Thursday evening to practice with its seventh-grade team. OBC is involved in various weekend tournaments at the end of this month through July and includes events in Chicago, Indianapolis and Las Vegas.

Cunningham is not the first Butler County player to join OBC. Robby and Michael Carmody of Mars play in the program, as does Butler’s Ethan Morton.

Robby Carmody has become a national recruit. Michael is a freshman at Mars. Morton was offered by Cleveland State in eighth grade last year after playing for OBC.

OBC has nine teams, ranging from 9-under through 17-under. Robby Carmody’s team won the Adidas national championship last summer in Las Vegas.

“That was an eye-opening experience,” said Mars boys basketball coach Rob Carmody, Robby’s father. “Almost every major college coach — Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, Roy Williams of North Carolina, on and on — was there.

“If you’re a high-level player, the colleges will find you in terms of recruiting. But being involved in a program like OBC definitely accelerates the process.”

Cunningham averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Mars seventh grade this season. The team finished 20-2.

“We didn’t have definitive positions,” Cunningham said. “I liked that. Sometimes I’d bring the ball up the court, sometimes I’d post down low.

“I’d handle the ball, set up to shoot ... every type of role. It makes you a more well-rounded player.”

Carmody described Cunningham as “a good athlete with an excellent shot.

“He is an outstanding outside shooter with very good mechanics,” the Mars coach said. “Bryce is very passionate about the game and I’m happy that he’s getting involved with OBC so early.

“That organization doesn’t just hand out spots to people. They look to fill roster needs. They believe Bruce can help them.”

Mike Duncan, who has individual contacts with more than 300 college coaches, founded the OBC program in 1985. It is recognized as the top AAU hoop program in Ohio.

Its alumni include NCAA Division I players Jawad Williams of North Carolina, Chane Behanan and Zach Price of Louisville, Jamar Butler and Matt Tewillger of Ohio State, Randy Morrissey of Penn State, and NBA players Nene Hilliaro of the Washington Wizards and B.J. Mullens of the Charlotte Hornets.

Overall, OBC has placed more than 300 players into college basketball or football programs and approximately 30 to the NBA.

“We’re getting some Pa. kids who are making an impact — and we’re making an impact for them. We’re getting them seen,” Young said.

“This definitely helps the recruiting profile,” Carmody admitted. “OBC is an AAU club with a great reputation. They’ve developed pros, McDonald’s All-Americans ... If we can develop a pipeline of kids from around here to join them, it’s a cool thing.”

Carmody estimates Cunningham may grow to be 6-4 or 6-5, “but you can never really predict that stuff,” he said.

Cunningham is just grateful for another opportunity to grow his game.

“Just working out with those guys has been amazing,” he said.