ATL NIKE EYBL: Youth Is Served!

We had a chance 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 annually, and a lot of the nation is aware of concerning 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 crew within the Merritt Division and that is California-based Why Not 17U. Coached by Reggie Morris Jr., Why Not upped its report heading into the EYBL’s Dwell Interval Session III in Indianapolis (Could 17-19) with a 71-66 comeback victory over Try For Greatness 17U in an all-California Sunday showdown. The star of the sport was 6-foot-5 2025 wing Tounde Yessoufou, who had probably the most vitality of all 10 gamers on each ends of the ground, hit quite a lot of photographs and made some large defensive performs en path to a 26-point efficiency. He made 9-of-10 area objectives and 7-of-8 free throws vs. Try and is unofficially tied for first in 17U scoring with 6-foot-6 2025 wing Xzavion Mitchell of Wisconsin-based Staff Herro at 25.5 ppg.

Staff Herro is one among three 6-0 groups within the Raveling Division, together with New England-based Expressions Elite and DMV-based Staff Takeover.

For now, let’s check out the highest underclass performers and eye-catchers at Nike EYBL Session II:

2026

Austin Brown, JL3 Elite/Lufkin (Texas) 6-8 SF
This tough-nosed ahead strikes nicely with out the ball and excels despite the fact that typically JL3 performs at a fast-pacedthat would not at all times go well with Brown’s greatest attributes. Within the half courtroom sport, or a decent spot, this crew is aware of who to get the ball to as a result of Brown is aware of the right way to transfer with out the ball and is such a terrific shooter. Brown was flattening the 3-ball with regularity and is very wonderful off the catch.

Josiah Cannady, Staff Durant 16U/St. Francis Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 6-3 PG
We cherished his pace with the basketball and play-making capacity.

Christian Collins, Why Not 16U/Westchester (Los Angeles) 6-8 SF
This wiry athlete performed second fiddle on his earlier highschool crew at St. Bernard (Playa Del Rey, Calif.) to a gifted 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 identified he was a high-major prospect for over a 12 months and a half now, however he is added extra coordination and maturity to his sport, and is now hitting deep perimeter photographs with ease. The son of 2002 McDonald’s All-American DeAngelo Collins, Christian one sport the place he canned three consecutive 3-pointers and caught the eye of nationwide scouts and even a number of NBA brass.

Kendre Harrison, Staff CP3 16U/Reidsville (N.C.) 6-7 PF
Former 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 top Grid-Hoopers for close to 40 years and despite the fact that his evaluation was a bit off, there are nonetheless loads of two-sport athletes that play excessive stage basketball that might make a NFL roster. Harrison helped Reidsville to a 29-0 report and North Carolina Class 2A state crown and No. 39 Final FAB 50 ranking a number of months after main the soccer crew to a state title in the identical division. Harrison is the nation’s high 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 all the things with good timing and has nice fingers as one may think about.

Andrew Hilman, Oakland Troopers 16U/Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) 6-4 SG
The sport is beginning to decelerate for this slashing wing participant who was typically the perfect participant on a talent-laden Riordan crew the place a number of bench gamers have legit D1 provides. 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 simple run-out buckets. There could also be some extra naturally gifted, however few performed each possession as laborious as this humble child.

Jordan Hunter, Staff Takeover 16U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-3 SG
An beneath management shooter with vary and self-discipline. Hunter is aware of what a very good shot is and the place he desires to get within the half courtroom setting.

Dylan Mingo, PSA Cardinals 16U/Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-4 PG
Repeatedly got here up with sturdy drives to the basket and his expertise stage stands out. A well-known participant who’s in retailer for a giant summer season.

Jordan Smith, Staff Takeover 17U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 6-4 SG
Enjoying up, Smith was one of many standouts of the weekend, as Staff Takeover stays unbeaten in EYBL play. He’s the crew’s catalyst along with his motor, physicality and ability. In truth, his mixture of these three attributes may need been the perfect 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 sturdy finishes or a monster flush.

Jahda Swann, New Heights Lightning 16U/Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-4
A sleeper who has loads of long-term potential. Swann is simply coming into his personal and we preferred what we noticed along with his exterior taking pictures and glossy body. Swann can knock down the nook shot, strikes his ft nicely on protection, and is inventive off the dribble. He is beneath the radar, however his teammate Oesoemana Sacko (6-8, 2026) may be the perfect 2026 prospect in NYC at St. Francis Prep (Queens, N.Y.).

Cameron Williams, Vegas Elite 16U/St. Mary’s (Phoenix, Ariz.) 6-10 PF
He might not dominate immediately, however boy, the potential is off the charts. Williams can face up and rating and when the ability stage and energy 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 SF
His crew had an abundance of expertise, however we needed to level out his good really feel on the basketball courtroom. Walters has alot in his offensive bag with the ball.

2027

Brock Bass-Browner, Georgia Stars 15U/North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.) 6-7 PF
Athletic ahead who is aware of what he’s. Excels at ending off off choose and rolls and has stable contact as a lefty large.

Anderson Diaz, NY Rens 15U/St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 6-1 PG
Of all of the 15U video games we evaluated, Diaz may need had the perfect burst with the ball from a stop-start place. His first step is nice, however Diaz additionally appeared beneath management once we watched. Likes to get in the important thing with the flexibility to do it, then make a fast dish to both aspect for a high quality shot.

Amir Dockery, New Heights Lightning 15U/Eagle Academy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 6-0 PG
A 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 means of tight areas, can cut up double groups and fishing with a robust lay-up bundle. Freshman starter for his highschool crew that captured the PSAL, title whereas he was named the Public League’s freshman of the 12 months.

Cole Holden, Why Not 15U/Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.) 6-2 CG
This membership was unbeaten till its final sport on Sunday and it is simple to see why while you look of the make-up of the roster. The crew makes use of teamwork and good ball-movement to punish foes and Holden is among the ring-leaders. He and Why Not teammate Pierce Thompson (6-2, 2027) performed JayVee for the CIF Open Division champions and it is simple to see how training in opposition to these skilled gamers helps him on the 15U stage. Holden is a assured ball-handler and as soon as the sport slows down for him, he’ll be a terrific contributor for top-of-the-line highschool applications on the West Coast. On this crew, 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 PF
His energy and ability 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 greatest prospects within the 2027 class. Jenkins’ entrance courtroom mate Jonathan Watts (6-8, 2027) additionally strikes nicely and challenges photographs on the rim.

Dooney Johnson, Staff Herro 15U/Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-4 PG
We love the title and the sport much more, as Johnson is among the greatest 2027 prospects within the Midwest Area. He will get downhill in a rush and may change path nicely with the deal with.

Gabriel Nesmith, Nightrydas Elite 15U/Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-6 SG
You’ll 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 sport and we won’t wait to judge Nesmith extra, however inside the first 10 seconds of watching him we knew what sort of expertise he was and what stage he’ll finally be recruited it. He hit a mid-court crossover and lined tons of floor to get in assault place in that timeframe 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 ft with ease. The mechanics and rhythm look nice, too. Do not be shocked if he challenges for a high 3 spot within the 2027 class within the last rankings that matter on the finish 4 years from now.

Marquis Newson, Staff Closing 15U/Sanford College (Hockessin, Del.) 6-3 SG
A crew with an ubundance of particular person expertise that we preferred, Newson is a high-level athlete who can get downhill with loads of horizontal pop. He is a prototypical wing prospect with a excessive ability stage that prime majors will observe down the road.

Babatunde Oladotun, Staff Durant 15U/ Blake (Silver Spring, Md.) 6-8 SF
Oozing 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 National Freshman of the Year, however we perceive the feelings of putting him on the high. There may be nonetheless a protracted methods to go, however Oladotun clearly has the scale and measurables to be a terrific and dominant highschool participant. At this stage, he can dominate with array of shot-making abilities, step backs and size. He must work on getting in a stance and taking the optimistic house in entrance of him, as a substitute of counting on the unfavorable house that he can have at any time in opposition to lesser abilities.

Zaiyir Phillips, Staff United 15U/Hunter Huss (Gastonia, N.C.) 5-10 PG
This lefty simply retains attacking till he will get to his spot on the ground. It is refreshing to see his ability stage mixed along with his need to make successful performs. Phillips is deft on the right away 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 PG
This quarterback helped a terrific highschool crew within the winter as a ninth-grader and is a pacesetter on top-of-the-line 15U groups within the nation. Prescott is past his years in relation to understanding and seeing a play forward. He is additionally a terrific passer in numerous conditions.

Clarence Rosser Jr., Staff United 15U/Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, N.C.) 6-9 PF
He’s the kind of participant that stands out immediately along with his size and dimension, however Rosser has already developed a pleasant array of ability. Rosser makes good excessive submit passes and has some persistence in his assault. He can shoot the deep ball with confidence and his potential is off the charts. As soon as he learns the right way to take house and canopy floor with the dribble, be careful as he’ll be a Prime 20 kind prospect when it is all stated and completed. His entrance courtroom teammate Charles Pur (6-9, 2027) is one to observe as nicely.

Jymin Veney, Tea Melo 15U/Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-3 SG
We find it irresistible when younger gamers can get their ft 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. Regulate him down the road.

2028

Adan Diggs, AZ Unity 15U/Arizona 6-4 SG
The state of Arizona is has an abundance of high quality younger gamers and Diggs is correct up there as the perfect of the lot. He has terrific dimension and body for his place, and strikes nicely 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 CG
When one talks about scoring, some simply had that innate really feel and intuition for it and “KyiKyi” is among the greatest. In truth, as a rising ninth-grader he is top-of-the-line we have seen come down the pike in a very long time. Final season he performed on AZ Compass Prep’s highschool crew and was most likely ok to play on the EYBL Scholastic crew. He dropped 35 factors in a sport vs. Babatunde Oladotun and Staff Durant and was terrific within the sport prior that we additionally had an opportunity to judge. Miles had nice capacity to get by defenders whereas protecting floor, can shake them with significant dribbles and already possesses a easy pull-up sport 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 straightforward and Miles already has that in his device field. Be careful for Miles on the elite highschool stage.

Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He will be reached at [email protected]. Remember to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores