We had a possibility to observe all three days of the Nike EYBL Session II in Atlanta and got here away with a number of main themes. Certain, there’s loads of expertise on the NIKE circuit every year, and many of the nation is aware of in regards to the likes of Cooper Flagg and A.J. Dybansta, so we determined to focus loads of our time on the youthful age teams (16U and 15U).
So far as the journey ball golf equipment on the 17U circuit go, there is just one 6-0 workforce within the Merritt Division and that is California-based Why Not 17U. Coached by Reggie Morris Jr., Why Not upped its file heading into the EYBL’s Dwell Interval Session III in Indianapolis (Could 17-19) with a 71-66 comeback victory over Attempt For Greatness 17U in an all-California Sunday showdown. The star of the sport was 6-foot-5 2025 wing Tounde Yessoufou, who had essentially the most vitality of all 10 gamers on each ends of the ground, hit quite a lot of pictures and made some massive defensive performs en path to a 26-point efficiency. He made 9-of-10 subject targets and 7-of-8 free throws vs. Attempt and is unofficially tied for first in 17U scoring with 6-foot-6 2025 wing Xzavion Mitchell of Wisconsin-based Group Herro at 25.5 ppg.
Group Herro is certainly one of three 6-0 groups within the Raveling Division, together with New England-based Expressions Elite and DMV-based Group Takeover.
For now, let’s check out the highest underclass performers and eye-catchers at Nike EYBL Session II:
2026Austin Brown, JL3 Elite/Lufkin (Texas) 6-8 SFThis hard-nosed ahead strikes effectively with out the ball and excels though typically JL3 performs at a fast-pacedthat would not at all times go well with Brown’s finest attributes. Within the half courtroom recreation, or a decent spot, this workforce is aware of who to get the ball to as a result of Brown is aware of how one can transfer with out the ball and is such a terrific shooter. Brown was pulling down the 3-ball with regularity and is particularly wonderful off the catch.
Josiah Cannady, Group Durant 16U/St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-3 PGWe beloved his velocity with the basketball and play-making capacity.
Christian Collins, Why Not 16U/Westchester (Los Angeles) 6-8 SFThis wiry athlete performed second fiddle on his earlier highschool workforce at St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) to a proficient graduating senior and Why Not 17s pal Tajh Ariza, who will be a part of him at Westchester. From a nationwide perspective, nonetheless, was his breakout occasion. We have recognized he was a high-major prospect for over a yr and a half now, however he is added extra coordination and maturity to his recreation, and is now hitting deep perimeter pictures with ease. The son of 2002 McDonald’s All-American DeAngelo Collins, Christian one recreation the place he canned three consecutive 3-pointers and caught the eye of nationwide scouts and even a number of NBA brass.
Kendre Harrison, Group CP3 16U/Reidsville (N.C.) 6-7 PFFormer NBA participant Austin Rivers made headlines earlier this week when he talked about NBA gamers’ talents to play within the NFL. We have been intently following the nation’s prime Grid-Hoopers for near 40 years and though his evaluation was a bit off, there are nonetheless loads of two-sport athletes that play excessive degree basketball that would make a NFL roster. Harrison helped Reidsville to a 29-0 file and North Carolina Class 2A state crown and No. 39 Closing FAB 50 rating a number of months after main the soccer workforce to a state title in the identical division. Harrison is the nation’s prime tight finish prospect in his class, however boy, he is awfully enjoyable to observe on the hardwood. Not solely does he tear down the rim, he does every little thing with good timing and has nice fingers as one may think about.
Andrew Hilman, Oakland Troopers 16U/Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) 6-4 SGThe recreation is beginning to decelerate for this slashing wing participant who was usually the most effective participant on a talent-laden Riordan workforce the place a number of bench gamers have legit D1 presents. Hilman is a strider who can get within the lane with ease and likes to spin off defenders. He has good instincts and loves to leap lanes for straightforward run-out buckets. There could also be some extra naturally proficient, however few performed each possession as exhausting as this humble child.
Jordan Hunter, Group Takeover 16U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-3 SGAn beneath management shooter with vary and self-discipline. Hunter is aware of what an excellent shot is and the place he needs to get within the half courtroom setting.
Dylan Mingo, PSA Cardinals 16U/Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-4 PGRepeatedly got here up with robust drives to the basket and his expertise degree stands out. A well-known participant who’s in retailer for an enormous summer season.
Jordan Smith, Group Takeover 17U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-4 SGPlaying up, Smith was one of many standouts of the weekend, as Group Takeover stays unbeaten in EYBL play. He’s the workforce’s catalyst together with his motor, physicality and talent. In reality, his mixture of these three attributes might need been the most effective we noticed in Atlanta. Smith is a ferocious on-ball defender and did a terrific job on The Household’s Darius Acuff Jr. in a key win. Smith additionally has stable play-making abilities to create and likes to take it down the center for robust finishes or a monster flush.
Jahda Swann, New Heights Lightning 16U/Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4A sleeper who has loads of long-term potential. Swann is simply coming into his personal and we favored what we noticed together with his outdoors taking pictures and modern body. Swann can knock down the nook shot, strikes his toes effectively on protection, and is artistic off the dribble. He is beneath the radar, however his teammate Oesoemana Sacko (6-8, 2026) could be the most effective 2026 prospect in NYC at St. Francis Prep (Queens, N.Y.).
Cameron Williams, Vegas Elite 16U/St. Mary’s (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-10 PFHe might not dominate right now, however boy, the potential is off the charts. Williams can face up and rating and when the talent degree and power meet on the body he possesses, he’ll be a legit NBA prospect. After final weekend, eager NBA scouts know who Williams is.
Clyde Walters, Nightrydas Elite 16U/Pinson Valley (Ala.) 6-7 SFHis workforce had an abundance of expertise, however we wished to level out his good really feel on the basketball courtroom. Walters has alot in his offensive bag with the ball.
2027Brock Bass-Browner, Georgia Stars 15U/North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.) 6-7 PFAthletic ahead who is aware of what he’s. Excels at ending off off decide and rolls and has stable contact as a lefty massive.
Anderson Diaz, NY Rens 15U/St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-1 PGOf all of the 15U video games we evaluated, Diaz might need had the most effective burst with the ball from a stop-start place. His first step is nice, however Diaz additionally appeared beneath management after we watched. Likes to get in the important thing with the power to do it, then make a fast dish to both facet for a high quality shot.
Amir Dockery, New Heights Lightning 15U/Eagle Academy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PGA throwback NYC level guard with all of the trimmings and fixings on his plate: retains the dribble alive with a artful deal with, will get by tight areas, can cut up double groups and fishing with a powerful lay-up package deal. Freshman starter for his highschool workforce that captured the PSAL, title whereas he was named the Public League’s freshman of the yr.
Cole Holden, Why Not 15U/Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-2 CGThis membership was unbeaten till its final recreation on Sunday and it is easy to see why once you look of the make-up of the roster. The workforce makes use of teamwork and good ball-movement to punish foes and Holden is without doubt one of the ring-leaders. He and Why Not teammate Pierce Thompson (6-2, 2027) performed JayVee for the CIF Open Division champions and it is easy to see how working towards towards these skilled gamers helps him on the 15U degree. Holden is a assured ball-handler and as soon as the sport slows down for him, he’ll be a terrific contributor for the most effective highschool applications on the West Coast. On this workforce, he has loads of weapons round him and is studying when to assault and when to get them concerned.
Jeremy Jenkins, FL Rebels 15U/Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 6-7 PFHis power and talent at his age (turned 15 final month) stand out immediately. He is bodily and may deal with the trials of big-time ball. Already thought-about one of many nation’s finest prospects within the 2027 class. Jenkins’ entrance courtroom mate Jonathan Watts (6-8, 2027) additionally strikes effectively and challenges pictures on the rim.
Dooney Johnson, Group Herro 15U/Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-4 PGWe love the identify and the sport much more, as Johnson is without doubt one of the finest 2027 prospects within the Midwest Area. He will get downhill in a rush and may change course effectively with the deal with.
Gabriel Nesmith, Nightrydas Elite 15U/Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-6 SGYou can be hard-pressed to discover a higher efficiency by a 15U participant than the one we noticed from Nesmith on Saturday afternoon. It was just one recreation and we won’t wait to guage Nesmith extra, however inside the first 10 seconds of watching him we knew what sort of expertise he was and what degree he’ll ultimately be recruited it. He hit a mid-court crossover and coated tons of floor to get in assault place in that time-frame and his fluid physique actions, strategy and confidence stood out immediately. Nesmith has the size you search for in a high-major wing and may shoot the deep ball out to 25 toes with ease. The mechanics and rhythm look nice, too. Do not be stunned if he challenges for a prime 3 spot within the 2027 class within the closing rankings that matter on the finish 4 years from now.
Marquis Newson, Group Closing 15U/Sanford Faculty (Hockessin, Del.) 6-3 SGA workforce with an ubundance of particular person expertise that we favored, Newson is a high-level athlete who can get downhill with loads of horizontal pop. He is a prototypical wing prospect with a excessive talent degree that prime majors will monitor down the road.
Babatunde Oladotun, Group Durant 15U/ Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-8 SFOozing with potential and expertise, some well-known evaluators peg this lanky wing as the highest prospect within the 2027 class. He wasn’t our production-based Nationwide Freshman of the 12 months, however we perceive the feelings of putting him on the prime. There’s nonetheless a protracted methods to go, however Oladotun clearly has the dimensions and measurables to be a terrific and dominant highschool participant. At this degree, he can dominate with array of shot-making abilities, step backs and size. He must work on getting in a stance and taking the constructive area in entrance of him, as an alternative of counting on the unfavourable area that he can have at any time towards lesser abilities.
Zaiyir Phillips, Group United 15U/Hunter Huss (Gastonia, N.C.) 5-10 PGThis lefty simply retains attacking till he will get to his spot on the ground. It is refreshing to see his talent degree mixed together with his need to make profitable performs. Phillips is deft on the immediately jumper and shoots a excessive proportion off the catch. Phillips has the qualities coaches love of their younger guards.
Delton Prescott, AZ Unity 15U/Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-0 PGThis quarterback helped a terrific highschool workforce within the winter as a ninth-grader and is a frontrunner on the most effective 15U groups within the nation. Prescott is past his years in the case of understanding and seeing a play forward. He is additionally a terrific passer in numerous conditions.
Clarence Rosser Jr., Group United 15U/Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, N.C.) 6-9 PFHe is the kind of participant that stands out immediately together with his size and measurement, however Rosser has already developed a pleasant array of talent. Rosser makes good excessive publish passes and has some endurance in his assault. He can shoot the deep ball with confidence and his potential is off the charts. As soon as he learns how one can take area and canopy floor with the dribble, be careful as he’ll be a Prime 20 kind prospect when it is all mentioned and performed. His entrance courtroom teammate Charles Pur (6-9, 2027) is one to observe as effectively.
Jymin Veney, Tea Melo 15U/Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-3 SGWe adore it when younger gamers can get their toes beneath them on offense and keep in management off the dribble and Veney can just do that. He can play the lead or off the ball and is a terrific shooter, with a pleasant array of pull-ups. Control him down the road.
2028
Adan Diggs, AZ Unity 15U/Arizona 6-4 SGThe state of Arizona is has an abundance of high quality younger gamers and Diggs is true up there as the most effective of the lot. He has terrific measurement and body for his place, and strikes effectively with our with out the basketball. Diggs’ athleticism can be high-major and he is a shot-maker with loads of confidence. With pure development, he’ll be on the recruiting record of Blue Bloods sooner or later.
Jakyi Miles, Oakland Troopers 15U/Arizona 6-3 CGWhen one talks about scoring, some simply had that innate really feel and intuition for it and “KyiKyi” is without doubt one of the finest. In reality, as a rising ninth-grader he is the most effective we have seen come down the pike in a very long time. Final season he performed on AZ Compass Prep’s highschool workforce and was in all probability ok to play on the EYBL Scholastic workforce. He dropped 35 factors in a recreation vs. Babatunde Oladotun and Group Durant and was terrific within the recreation prior that we additionally had an opportunity to guage. Miles had nice capacity to get by defenders whereas protecting floor, can shake them with significant dribbles and already possesses a clean pull-up recreation from mid-range that almost all elite highschool gamers would kill to have of their arsenal. Sprinting right into a pull-up shouldn’t be simple and Miles already has that in his instrument field. Be careful for Miles on the elite highschool degree.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Remember to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
