Workforce Takeover (17U), Nightrydas Elite (16U) and Workforce CP3 (15U) seize titles at EYBL Finals at Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina.
The EYBL Finals 17U title recreation at Peach Jam pitted one program accustomed to the championship stage of the celebrated occasion’s prime division, whereas the opposite was on the lookout for a title in its first championship recreation look. Workforce Takeover, unbeaten at Peach Jam getting into Sunday’s ultimate, knocked off Mokan Elite within the semifinals, 70-59. That was the group that defeated the Washington, D.C.-based, Nike-sponsored journey ball membership in 2022’s title recreation by one level (53-52). Vegas Elite, in the meantime, defeated the New York Rens of their semifinal contest, 80-68.
The championship recreation was stuffed with offensive fireworks within the first half, however Workforce Takeover clamped down on the defensive finish within the second half and outscored Vegas Elite, 36-20, after the break to report a 76-61 win. The terrific group defensive effort led Workforce Takeover (8-0 in North Augusta) to its third EYBL Peach Jam title, successful in 2018 and the inaugural one in the summertime of 2010. Vegas Elite completed 6-2 on the occasion, dropping to the identical group throughout pool play on the Fourth of July by one level, 65-64.
By the point Workforce Takeover had an early 19-8 lead, Duke-bound Darren Harris, a 6-foot-6 rising senior (2024) from Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), already had 15 factors. Workforce Takeover had a 21-15 on the finish of the primary quarter (17U is performed with quarters and a shot clock), however Vegas Elite bought again within the recreation behind the within play of Pharaoh Compton, a 6-foot-6 2024 energy ahead from AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) and the long-range capturing of Ohio St.-bound Juni Mobley, a 6-foot combo guard from Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah). Vegas Elite took a 22-21 lead on Comtpton’s layup and at one level within the second quarter, Mobley and Harris went backwards and forwards from lengthy vary. Mobley had a giant second quarter and Vegas Elite led 41-40 at intermission. By halftime, Harris made 4-of-4 3-pointers and had 23 factors, whereas Mobley made 4-of-5 3-pointers and had 18 factors.
The second half was a lot totally different.
Workforce Takeover went on a 7-0 run to take a 49-45 lead and led the remainder of the best way. Keith Stevens’ program had a 57-53 lead getting into the fourth interval and pulled away down the stretch behind its defensive effort and disciplined offensive appears. Vegas Elite was additionally damage when Compton fouled out with 6:05 remaining within the recreation and his group trailing, 61-53. Mobley didn’t convert a area objective after intermission and completed with 20 factors. Compton completed with 12 factors on 6-of-6 capturing. Compton shot an unbelievable 76.3 p.c (29-of-38) from the sphere throughout Peach Jam.
The one essential statistical distinction that stood out between the 2 groups was assists, which favored Workforce Takeover, 22-14.
Harris completed with 28 factors (5-of-7 3-pointers) and 4 assists. Syracuse-bound Donovan Freeman, a 6-foot-9 energy ahead from St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), added 13 factors, whereas Patrick Ngongba, a 6-foot-11 heart from Paul VI, had 11 factors, 5 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Because it normally is for the profitable journey ball membership, Workforce Takeover’s victory really was a group effort. Workforce Takeover joins Mokan Elite as the 2 golf equipment which have gained three championships at Nike EYBL Peach Jam.
Boozer-Flagg Trilogy: Huge One Goes To Boozer
The 16U championship on the Riverview Park Actions Heart in North Augusta, S.C., was hyped as maybe probably the most anticipated recreation at that degree of membership ball in a few years. That’s as a result of the sport between Maine United and the Nightrydas Elite featured the 2 greatest highschool basketball gamers no matter class: Cameron Boozer of the Nightrydas, final season’s Mr. Basketball USA selection at Columbus (Miami, Fla.), and Cooper Flagg of Maine United, who starred final season at Montverde Academy (Fla.) and put up online game numbers at Peach Jam in main his group to the title recreation.
There can be no online game numbers within the title recreation from both participant, and regardless that Cameron Boozer completed with solely 5 factors, his Nightrydas Elite group extracted a measure of revenge with its 58-50 victory. Maine United got here into the 16U ultimate undefeated at Peach Jam, together with a Wednesday pool play victory over the Boozer brothers’ membership. Maine United upset the Nightrydas, 73-65, as Flagg’s supporting solid got here up huge handy the Florida-based group its solely loss throughout all the EYBL.
The Nightrydas led 27-24 at halftime with Boozer scoring just one level on a free throw within the first 16 minutes. Maine United’s Ace Flagg, the 6-foot-7 brother of Cooper Flagg who can also be a 2025 prospect, damage his ankle with 15:07 to go within the second half however was in a position to return along with his group nonetheless in vary. The important thing level within the recreation got here with 9:40 to go within the second half when Boozer picked up his fourth foul and the Nightrydas main 38-30. When Boozer went to the bench Cooper Flagg went to work with quite a lot of buckets and performs, however that’s when Cayden Boozer, Cameron’s twin brother and a 6-foot-4 2025 level guard, took over.
Cayden Boozer bought his downhill recreation going and hit the open man, as he helped preserve Maine United at bay. The Nighrydas led 49-46 with 4 minutes remaining when Cameron Boozer re-entered the sport. Maine United made one final push, slicing its deficit to at least one level (51-50), however the Nightrydas’ Dwayne Wimbley Jr., a 6-foot-6 2025 small ahead from Westminster Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), nailed a well timed 3-pointer with simply over two minutes to go to deliver his group’s lead again as much as 4 factors. Maine United hunted the 3-pointer down 4 (the group made 4-of-22 for the sport) however couldn’t convert and Ace Flagg’s two missed free throws with 30 seconds remaining had been additionally essential to the result.
Cayden Boozer completed with a game-high 23 factors, three rebounds, 5 assists and three steals. Cameron Boozer had 5 factors on 2-of-6 capturing and added seven rebounds. The second double-digit scorer for the Nightrydas was Dante Allen, a 6-foot-4 2025 capturing guard from Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.).
Cayden Boozer adopted up his terrific efficiency on the Part 7 Workforce Camp with a monster Peach Jam to indicate he’s a reputable Prime 15 participant within the 2025 class. He not solely had 15 assists within the semifinal victory over Workforce Why Not, however he additionally had a 10-assist outing in a victory over the PSA Cardinals and led 16U with 6.6 apg. He additionally hit in double-figures in all seven video games and averaged 14.4 ppg.
Cooper and Ace Flagg had been the 2 solely double-digit scorers for Maine United. Ace completed with 12 factors and 4 assists whereas his more-heralded brother completed with 18 factors on 8-of-24 capturing, together with 2-of-9 from 3-point vary. He didn’t have a ridiculous stat line as he had in lots of the pool play and bracket video games, however Cooper Flagg nonetheless added 12 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals. He had at the very least 10 blocks in three video games in North Augusta and completed with 48 blocks in seven video games (7.7 bpg). The versatile rising junior completed No. 3 within the Peach Jam 16U division in factors (25.4) and No. 2 in rebounds (13.0), assists (5.7) and blocks, nevertheless it was Cam Boozer who bought the avenging win and Peach Jam title.
The Boozer-Flagg matchups was a lot hyped, nevertheless it was additionally the third assembly between the 2 gamers prior to now few weeks, as in addition they met in a contest on the NBPA Prime 100 Camp. Going ahead, each transfer every makes will likely be in contrast and contrasted to the opposite and they’re going to at all times be tied to one another, however there isn’t any assure the duo will enter faculty and or the NBA on the similar time. There’s a good likelihood Cooper Flagg will re-class as much as the 2024 recruiting cycle. If that occurs, there will likely be not be a rankings debate between the 2.
The vast majority of this Nightrydas group gained the 15U title in 2022.
On this 12 months’s 15U ultimate, Workforce CP3 defeated Albany Metropolis Rocks, 61-49, in a wire-to-wire victory. Level guard Dionte Neal, a 5-foot-8 2026 dynamo from Reidsville Senior (Reidsville, N.C.), led the best way with 15 factors and 7 assists. Neal made just one area objective, however was 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Ashton Pierce, a 6-foot-3 2026 capturing guard from North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.), additionally had 15 factors for CP3.
No participant scored in double figures for Metropolis Rocks.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He may be reached at [email protected]. Remember to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
