I stayed in Atlanta for an additional week to catch the Nike EYBL first session. I spent many hours within the health club on Friday & Saturday, so I may make different strikes on Sunday. I broke-down what I noticed from the EYBL groups & gamers from the Southwest Area. Let’s dive in!
Drive Nation 16’s go 3-0 going into Sunday.
The 2025 group made it to the championship sport final season at Peach Jam and began EYBL session 1 with a flawless file going into Sunday. Level guard Jordan Lowery has been productive together with his environment friendly scoring. Aggressive and trying to make performs for himself and others, whereas defensively as an on-ball and staff defender, he’s been sufficient. Lowery makes use of his IQ and has good timing on ripping opposing guards and stepping into the passing lanes. I used to be additionally impressed with guard Leroy Kelly IV. Can play on and off the ball and is a reliable shooter from deep. Not a lot of a pattern measurement together with his 3-point capturing on the circuit however the shot appears clear and also you suppose it’s getting in when he releases it.
ProSkills 16’s Additionally Flawless Heading Into The Ultimate Day
Premier wing Hudson Greer is out with a leg harm however this staff flashed their depth.
Numerous the discuss after Friday night time was ‘25 Cooper Flagg’s 52-point efficiency vs ProSkills and pay attention… It must be the discuss as a result of I haven’t seen one thing like that in a very long time and truthfully by no means from a sophomore/rising junior. Nevertheless, ProSkills 2025 group bought the win. Guard Kayden Edwards was enormous in that matchup. He constructed a 27-point efficiency as he displayed prolific 3-point capturing (38%), high quality passes off the dwell dribble and sufficient on-ball defensive play. Large fella Amari Reed has been a beast within the paint. Seeking to block any shot on the rim, accumulate any missed shot and dunk it when he’s 5 ft in. Impressed together with his tenacity and sense of urgency on the defensive finish. Reed can also be capturing over 80% from the sector in three video games.
Another to notice is Jaylen Lawal. An excellent glue man for this membership. He defends the opposing staff’s greatest perimeter participant regardless of the dimensions, he will get downhill and finishes and simply does the soiled work that quantities to successful.
Kayde Dotson Shines for JL3
Beaumont United’s personal in 2024 guard Kayde Dotson confirmed out in entrance of quite a few coaches this weekend. Identified to be somebody that may knock down pictures from deep, however now he’s exhibiting extra comfortability together with his deal with and talent to assault defenders. Getting paint touches, defending with physicality and capturing an environment friendly 54% from three in three video games. Inventory has risen.
Additionally needed to notice ahead Chris McDermott play as effectively. Lively inside, ending over size and taller defenders and somebody that rebounds out of his space. Capturing a whopping 73% from the sector.
Kameron Williams….
Man seeing the capturing exhibition ‘24 Kameron Williams displayed in Liv-On’s win vs Houston Hoops. Standing at about 6-foot-8, Williams is a big-time shooter that has deep vary. His sport is straightforward, strikes and relocates off the ball, not bothered by heavy contests when he launches and confirmed to be an sufficient switchable defender. Excessive majors will begin getting on this one quickly.
Additionally needed to focus on guard Jared Harris. Implausible in transition, a fast twitch athlete that simply strikes otherwise. Nonetheless can enhance together with his effectivity within the half-court setting, however I’m seeing enhancements with him in working in tight areas.
Mr. Justin Beggs Everybody
Justin Begg continues to carry out regardless of the setting. Been environment friendly together with his scoring, flattening pictures from deep but in addition stepping into the paint and boasting plus floater sport. He’s fast off the dribble, he reveals management on the court docket and is exhibiting he’s a no brainer Division 1 prospect. Obtained a suggestion from George Mason on Saturday.
Tre Johnson has been struggling some this weekend up to now. Shot isn’t getting in with the accuracy we’re accustomed to, however you see the smoothness in him creating his personal pictures. I feel it’ll be sooner fairly than later that we see the No. 1 participant within the nation, Tre Johnson.
Staff Griffin Goes 2-1 Heading Into Sunday
After taking a thrashing from Staff Thad on Friday night time, Staff Griffin bounced again on Saturday and picked up two wins. Kansas State commit David Castillo, albeit not capturing it effectively, nonetheless garners a lot consideration which permits for clear appears for his teammates. Nonetheless like his shot creation and playmaking upside. The front-line of Luke Grey, Dylan Warlick & Darkaun King have been good too. All three can step out on the perimeter and assault, as Grey makes use of his broad body to carve house inside. Warlick throws his physique round and might create house on drives with pump-fakes and spin strikes. Additionally is aware of tips on how to use the rim to guard himself from shot-blockers. King is a excessive IQ ahead that may deal with, move and shoot. Performs beneath the rim, however he actually is aware of tips on how to play and is artful together with his off the bounce creation.
T.O. Barret Eval
Wished to focus on T.O. Barrett because of him being a excessive main prospect from Oklahoma, though Mokan Elite is predicated out in Kansas. Barrett has translatable toughness and energy. He hasn’t shot it nice from deep in three video games however you may inform he’s a greater shooter than the numbers have proven this weekend. He embraces contact on finishes, could make pictures off of onerous close-outs and is a bodily defender. Impressed together with his total sport.
Fast Hit Notables
2024
David Punch, 6’7 PF – Drive Nation: Has been the chief offensively for Drive Nation. Inside/out scoring and nonetheless in a position to nab rebounds and alter pictures because of his plus size.
Divine Ugo, 6’3 PG – Houston Hoops: Expert guard that has proven good poise and shot making capability. Three level capturing has been correct and he reveals good passer really feel.
Amier Ali, 6’8 SF: Houston Hoops: Wired scorer that may make powerful pictures. Makes use of size to rise to and join off the dribble. Like his off-ball motion as effectively. Creating alternatives for himself to attain.
Jacob Hudson, 6’3 CG – JL3: Lefty that’s shifty off the dribble. Can get to the rim and end with both hand, retains defenders at bay utilizing hang-dribbles and is aware of tips on how to change speeds. Had a robust season this previous 12 months with ISchool. (Lewisville, Texas)
Ashton Simmons, 6’2 PG – JL3: Attacking guard that will get paint touches and places strain on the rim. Was extra of a facilitator these previous two days, as he’s producing clear appears for his teammates.
Cam Patterson, 6’4 Guard – ProSkills: Guard with lengthy arms and might create off the dribble. Like his defensive switchability, deal with and scoring upside.
Jalen Shelly, 6’8 Wing – ProSkills: Wing-guard with nice measurement. Lefty that checks a whole lot of packing containers together with his mix of positional measurement, deal with and capturing upside. Hasn’t put all of it collectively but however as soon as he does, he can closely impression video games on each ends.
2025
Jeremiah Inexperienced, 6’2 PG – ProSkills 16U: Hasn’t shot it nice however Inexperienced is quick with the ball and might’t be stopped by one individual to get the place he desires. Defending onerous and inflicting disruption on the opposing staff’s level of assault.
Jaden Toombs, 6’9 C – Drive Nation 16U: Jaden is aware of tips on how to be productive. If he’s not scoring, he’s rebounding, blocking/altering a shot or deflecting a move. Efficient publish scorer that may stretch to the mid-range space and shoot.
Kellen Robinson, 6’2 PG – ProSkills 17U: Robinson mixture of energy and ability together with his sturdy body permits him to greater than maintain his personal on the 17U degree. Though ProSkills 0-3 going into Sunday, Kellen Robinson has been a shiny spot.
2026
Dakari Spears, 6’3 Guard – Drive Nation 15U: Lanky combo guard with a robust basketball household lineage. Succesful leap shooter from outdoors however is aware of tips on how to use his size to complete in visitors.
Trent Perry, 6’4 Guard – Drive Nation 15U: Athletic guard with big-time size and athleticism. The most effective freshman within the nation and at present one of the best participant in 2026 in Texas.
Austin Goosby, 6’4 PG – Drive Nation 15U: Large guard that’s a plus resolution maker. Poised coming off ball screens, he can get downhill and boasts a sophisticated stop-and-pop sport for his age.
Seven Spurlock, 6’6 Guard – ProSkills 15U: Seven, coming off a profitable season at Frisco Memorial and USA Basketball Mini Camp in Houston throughout the Ultimate 4 is constant his fantastic play. Additionally probably the greatest gamers in his class, Seven has good positional measurement and energy and might deal with it beneath strain. Bullies his solution to the rim (shot 78% from the sector) and showcased his sturdy passer imaginative and prescient and accuracy.
Cameron Lomax, 6′ PG – ProSkills 15U: Heady guard that will get to the paint. Lomax will get to his spots, can end vs size and is a succesful shooter.
Silas Rodrigues, 6’4 SG – Houston Hoops 15U: Hoops 15U have struggled as a staff, however Silas’s sport has been a shiny spot. Capturing from deep, flashing his deal with and a few shot creation, Rodrigues strung collectively a 27-point sport vs Nightrydas on Saturday.
Nasir Worth, 6’3 PG – Houston Hoops 16U: Worth is likely one of the greatest gamers in his class. A guard with plus size and good positional measurement. Capturing it effectively total (53%) and I believed he used his size effectively on the defensive finish.
