Nike EYBL 2014 Preview

After almost one month of AAU action, the first and only live period of the spring begins for college coaches on Friday night. With limited time and recruits playing in all parts of the country there will be lots of frequent flier miles earned in a three day span. Big time recruits and big name coaches will be seen in Pittsburgh and Kansas (Under Armour), Dallas (Adidas), and Sacramento (Nike). While the EYBL talent level might be down a bit from last year, it will still be the premier stop for high major college coaches. This year six out of the top seven ranked players in the class of 2015 will be playing on Nike teams and 14 out of the top 25. In addition seven of the top 10 players in the class of 2016 will also be playing. Last year it was players such as Kelly Oubre and Reid Travis that made the leap with the play during the spring and summer Nike AAU circuit. Who will it be this year?

 

New Faces: Who are the top players that made the leap from other shoe circuits to the Nike EYBL?

Ben Simmons, 6’8”, 220, F, Montverde (FL), Each 1 Teach 1, Committed to LSU, No. 4 - 2015

The native of Australia will suit up for the defending Nike champions this year. After staying away from the AAU circuit last year, the smooth and versatile forward will join up with some of Florida’s finest in hopes of becoming the first team to win back to back titles. The future Tiger is a hard cover for anyone on the high school level with a smooth game. He has the size and strength of a power forward, but can handle the ball like a guard. 

Stephen Zimmerman, 6’11”, F/C, Bishop Gorman (NV), Oakland Soldiers, No. 5 - 2015

No longer sophomores, Rabb, Newman, & Zimm are ready to roll

Fresh off another state title at Bishop Gorman, Zimmerman made the jump to the EYBL. No longer will he team with high school teammate Chase Jeter on Dream Vision opting to play with five-star and No. 1 ranked Ivan Rabb and the Oakland Soldiers instead. Early on it looks as though the Soldiers will have the top offensive frontcourt in the EYBL, but how Rabb and Zimmerman mesh remains to be seen.

Henry Ellenson, 6’9”, PF, Rice Lake (WI), WI Playground Elite, No. 62 - 2015

Ellenson noted that he wanted to test himself against the best players and play in an up-tempo style when discussing why he switched AAU teams. He will be able to do just that with the Playground Elite this year. Fresh off a Duke offer, Ellenson will be able to show off his ball-handling and shooting skills to all of the coaches watching the EYBL action.

The Debut: Who are the top young guys playing one year up?

On Saturday at 9am PST, all eyes will be on either Court 1 or Court 4 in Sac-town.

Harry Giles, 6’8”, F, Wesleyan Christian (NC), CP3, No. 1 - 2016

The number one player in the class of 2016 is scheduled to make his first public appearance after tearing both his ACL and MCL in June playing for the 16U USA team. Last April, coaches such as John Calipari, Roy Williams, and Coach K would line up for Giles’ 8am AAU games on the 16U circuit. While there will no doubt be a lot of rust you can be sure that all of the big name college coaches will be there to see Giles back in action. One new face that will be seen following Giles throughout the summer will be that of Danny Manning now at Wake Forest which is right in Giles’ backyard.

Jayson Tatum, 6’7”, G/F, Chaminade College Prep (MO), St. Louis Eagles, No. 2 - 2016

Tatum is ranked number two in the current sophomore class and could easily be the top player soon. Last year the lanky guard destroyed the 16U circuit and scored basically at will. Now that he will be playing on the 17U level it will be hard for Tatum to score so easily, but his advanced skill-set will serve him well. In early April he led his young Eagles team to the championship game of the Swish N’ Dish and just like Giles will also be a main draw for the blue bloods in college basketball.

The King Is Back: Malik Newman, 6’4”, G, Jackson Tigers

It seems like just yesterday that combo guard Malik Newman was dropping buckets in the Dallas EYBL in 2012. Now, after another state championship under his belt the EYBL veteran is ready for his third year on the circuit. Last year Newman led the EYBL in scoring with 24.1 points per game despite having just finished his sophomore year. Some of his games were simply amazing such as the 36 point performance he put up on Spiece Indy last year on 13-20 shooting and the 32 points he put on Arkansas. Newman can score in pretty much any situation and is almost impossible to guard in one on one situations. He can drive with either hand, shoot off the dribble, and can utilize the pick and roll. It will be fun to watch Newman, the No. 2 ranked recruit up close again which will begin on Friday night against Each 1 Teach 1.

Don’t Forget About Me: Mickey Mitchell, 6’7”, SF, Texas Titans

After his freshman year Mitchell was considered a top five player in the class of 2015. After an ACL injury that forced him to miss action last summer Mitchell is now ranked No. 31 in the class. Mitchell committed to Ohio State last August and currently remains a Buckeye despite having his older brother transfer out of the football program in February. Before he tore his ACL, Mitchell was a do everything type of player. He could handle the ball comfortably and shoot efficiently from the outside. He will play for one of the top teams in the country and will look to become a topic of conversation once again.

Players That Could Make the Jump:

Jawun Evans, 5’10”, PG, Kimball (TX), Texas Elite, No. 38 - 2015

Last year Evans played for the SC Raptors Elite AAU team and the Clemson staff was in full pursuit. Evans subsequently moved to the Dallas area and had a stellar junior season for Kimball High. Arguably the quickest point guard in his class, Evans is now ranked No. 38 in the country and will be playing in the EYBL circuit. With a strong spring, Evans could rise up in a class void of five-star point guards.

Antonio Blakeney, 6’3”, Oak Ridge (FL), E1T1, No. 39 - 2015

Blakeney was the leading scorer in the City of Palms tournament this past weekend and will look to bring his high scoring ways into the EYBL circuit. The 6’3” shooting guard has his choice of suitors right now and after a significant rise in the rankings sits at No. 39 in the country. He can get by defenders in one on one situations and can also hit multiple threes per game. If the wiry guard can show an improved mid-range game he could become one of the top scorers in the EYBL.

Jarvis Johnson, 6’0”, PG, De La Salle (MN), Howard Pulley, No. 71 - 2015

Last year Johnson came off the bench for Howard Pulley and showed his explosive athleticism at times, but was forced to play behind future Duke guard Tyus Jones. Now with free reign at the point guard spot, Johnson should become one of the most exciting players to watch. Last year he averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.2 apg, but bumped that up to 12.6 ppg during five Peach Jam games. He currently sits at No. 71 in the class of 2015.

Raymond Spalding, 6’9”, PF, Trinity (KY), The Travelers, No. 75 - 2015

Spalding averaged about five points and four rebounds per game last year in the EYBL, but given his height and length he is an extremely intriguing prospect. He averaged 13.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game this past high school season and will look to build on that during the AAU season. Spalding currently sits at No. 75 in the rankings, but oozes potential which has in-state programs Kentucky and Louisville interested in the junior.

Esa Ahmad, 6’7”, F, Shaker Heights (OH), All Ohio Red, No. 92 - 2015

The powerful 6’7” Ahmad got off to a strong start in April beginning with a championship run at the NY2LA Swish N’ Dish. Right now, Ahmad is too strong for most wings and too quick for most power forwards. He can drain threes from the wings and finish with muscle down low. The top teams in the Big 10 are interested and will be keeping a close eye on Ahmad going forward. He is currently ranked No. 92, but will most likely make a big jump when the next rankings come out.

Josh Reaves, 6’5”, SF, Paul VI (VA), Team Takeover, No. 98 - 2015

The junior swingman had a coming out party this past season playing for Paul VI in the WCAC. After barely playing as a sophomore, Reaves was one of the big surprises during the high school season. He has drawn interest from ACC and Big East schools in the mid-Atlantic and also just cracked the Top 100 at No.98 this past winter. Playing for the always strong Team Takeover should help Reaves continue to develop as the interest continues to grow.

Other Players to Watch:

Deyonta Davis, 6’9”, PF, Muskegon (MI), Spiece Indy Heat

The relatively unknown Davis committed in December to the in-state Spartans. He led his Muskegon team to the Class A state championship in Michigan this past year by scoring 26 points on 10-12 shooting while adding 13 rebounds and three blocks. Max Preps named him a second team junior All-American.

Aaron Folzan, 6’8”, SF, Northfield Mount Hermon (MA), Expressions Elite

Folzan averaged almost 10 points and six rebounds per game last year in the EYBL but also knocked in 47 three pointers at a 36% clip. He has range on his jump shot and is comfortable shooting beyond NBA range. He should see his scoring rise by at least five points per game this year.

Dejounte Murray, 6’4”, SG, Rainier Beach (WA), NW Express, No. 46 – 2015

Rainier Beach was one of the top high school teams in the country this past year and shooting guard Dejounte Murray was their top underclassman. Murray currently is being pursued by the majority of PAC-12 schools and received a big rankings boost with his high school play. With a strong AAU performance his stock could continue to rise.

Five Teams to Watch:

1) Oakland Soldiers – With Rabb and Zimmerman playing together the Soldiers will have two top five players in the same front court along with 6’10” Chimezie Metu, 6’6” Rex Pflueger, 6’1” Max Hazzard and possibly Derryck Thornton from the class of 2016.

2) Team Scan – Just like the Soldiers, Team Scan has a formidable front court with 6’9” Cheick Diallo and 6’10” Thomas Bryant. While they might not be as talented on the offensive end it will be tough for any opponent to score in the paint. Team Scan also gains the services of Tyus Battle, one of the top wings in 2016.

3) Texas Titans – The Titans return pretty much their entire team and they are led by a group of top ranked players from Plano, TX in Mickey Mitchell, D.J. Hogg, and Tyler Davis. Powerful guard King McClure also returns as does 6’11” Djery Baptiste.

4) Texas Elite – Another Texas team that was predominantly underclassmen last year features a loaded squad. The top players on this team are 6’9” Elijah Thomas, 6’5” guards Austin Grandstaff and Matt McQuaid, and also 5’10” point guard Juwan Evans.

5) All Ohio Red – As noted above this team won the Swish N’ Dish and finished second in The Real Deal In The Rock tournament. They blew out Mac Irvin and the St. Louis Eagles a month ago and are a well balanced team. They push the pace and have players that can score inside and outside. D’Mitrik Trice is a sparkplug at the point position.

Bonus Teams:

6) Each 1 Teach 1 – The defending champions lose a lot, but they also add Ben Simmons and big man Daniel Giddens. These two will team with the Charles Barkley of the EYBL in Alex Owens. Last year Owens was huge off the bench in the Peach Jam. Along with these guys down low, Antonio Blakeney will light things up from the outside.

7) Arkansas Wings – The Wings took home the 16U crown last year in North Augusta and feature high scoring guards in Malik Monk and Melvin Frazier. They also added 6’10” Skal Labissiere.

Five Games to Watch:

1. Team CP3 vs. Oakland Soldiers (Saturday, 3PM PST)

The return of Harry Giles for CP3 and the first game for Rabb and Zimmerman in the EYBL.

2. Jackson Tigers vs. E1T1 (Friday, 8:30PM PST)

High scoring Newman goes against Blakeney and the defending champions.

3. Texas Elite vs. Team Scan (Sunday, 8AM PST)

Elite will be without big man Elijah Thomas but has plenty of fire power at the guard spots when taking on the twin towers of Bryant and Diallo.

4. Houston Hoops vs. Mac Irvin Fire (Saturday, 3PM PST)

Top point guard in Jalen Brunson and De’Aron Fox match-up while Luwane Pipkins will provide plenty of three's.

5. Texas Titans vs. All Ohio Red (Sunday, 3PM PST)

Esa Ahmad goes against a taller Titans squad.

Joel Berry II Interview

Joel Berry II is one of the top high school point guards in the country and will be playing his college ball at the University of North Carolina next season. The 6’0” Berry is ranked #17 by ESPN and recently competed in the McDonald’s All-American and Nike Hoop Summit games. He also finished his high school season at Lake Highland (FL) as a back to back state champion and became the first player to win the state’s Mr. Basketball award for three consecutive years.

How did the high school season go for you?

It was pretty good. It was a good way to go out winning my second (championship) in a row. We had some doubts at the beginning of the season because it was a new team. Our changing point was when we played Grayson Allen’s team down in Port Charlotte. We lost by like twenty-something, but it was a good loss. Even though we lost, we realized we could compete with high level players like Grayson. After that we didn’t lose a game from December to the end of the season.

During the high school season, especially at the City of Palms it looked like you started incorporating the floater into your game?

Yeah, going into the next level you aren’t going to be able to get all the way into the lane. Coming off the screen I normally pull-up for the jump shot, but when I came off the screens (against Taft) I felt like I could throw the floater. I felt with the pull-up it’s more of a slow shot and they might have blocked that, but with the floater you don’t really know when that is coming and it’s really fast. They had a lot of athletes so I tried to use the floater some more. You know, the floater is in my game, but that is something I want to use more at the next level.

In the McDonald’s practices you were matched up with Tyler Ulis and a little bit with Emmanuel Mudiay. How do you think it went?

I look at this experience as one that a lot of people don’t get. Every single play you are going against high caliber players and a high caliber defense. I love being here, sometimes I might make a mistake but it’s all part of the learning experience. I’ve just been having fun hanging with the guys, and at the same time it’s competitive. We are just having fun and raising money for the McDonald’s program.

How has the McDonald’s experience been off the court?

That was a great experience. That was my first time working with kids with disabilities or kids with illnesses that are deadly. It was a great experience and you see how that impacts the children when they have that smile on their face.  I just love doing stuff like that. Sometimes I don’t like doing it because I feel bad for the child and just want to be able to do something about it, but I don’t know the cure for all that. Just bringing a smile to their face though has been great. I’ve been doing research on how a feeling can heal someone mentally and physically at times. If those kids can smile every day like that hopefully it can heal them in a small way.

What are your expectations for next year at UNC?

I think there are a lot of high expectations with the recruiting class coming in and people are expecting a lot. We can’t let that get to us, but I just want to come in and be like a sponge. Just soak up everything I can and learn the system and everything. I think we have the team to make it to the national championship. You know, we have Marcus Paige coming back. Nate Britt is a great player. With the three incoming freshmen, along with Brice, Kennedy, Meeks, and Hicks, well we will have a lot of talent. We just want to go in and bond together and use our talent to the best of our abilities. I think we will be able to compete for a national championship. 

It seems like you, Theo, and Justin are all pretty close and there is a lot of interaction with the current Tar Heel players. How do you think it will be joining that group?

Yes sir, I’ve been up there for a few visits and I actually played against Marcus in the EYBL circuit when I was in 9^th or 10^th grade. We’ve known each other and I’ve been able to get to know some of the other guys on my visits so I think we already have a good bond and just looking to continue that when I get up there.

When will you head to Chapel Hill?

I’ll head there on June 16. My classes start on June 19. I’ll be there for a month and then come back home for four to five weeks and then get ready to start my year in Chapel Hill.

2014 Swish N Dish Recap

The AAU basketball season kicked off this past weekend with the NY2LA Swish N’ Dish located in Mequon, WI. Not only does this event serve as the unofficial opener for AAU play, but it also brings together some of the top teams in the Midwest regardless of shoe affiliation. Teams from Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour went head to head during the event, but it was two Nike programs that advanced to the championship game.

Championship Game (17U):

All Ohio Red 87 St. Louis Eagles 71

All Ohio finished 5-0 over a two day span including double-digit wins in a 21 point semi-final win over Mac Irvin and then a 16 point championship victory. The talented team came out firing on all cylinders starting with an Esa Ahmad three from the right wing. Soon Noah Bramlage and D’Mitirk Trice got in on the outside action and it was 15-4 before you could blink. The lead increased to 48-32 at the half with forward Ahmad Wagner getting into the action with several tough baskets down low. Sophomore star Jayson Tatum tried to lead the Eagles to a massive comeback scoring 16 second half points, but the well-balanced Ohio squad always had an answer and never let the lead get closer than six points. The 2014 champions got their revenge after losing to the Eagles in the 16U quarterfinals last year.

Championship Game Top Players:

Jayson Tatum, 6’6”, G/F, St. Louis Eagles, 2016

Tatum exploded last year at the Swish N’ Dish, leading his 16U team to the championship while taking home MVP honors. He did not have the same results playing at the 17U level, but still managed to put on quite a show despite being one year younger than most of his opponents. In the championship game Tatum scored 25 points to go with five rebounds. The versatile Tatum can score from all parts of the court and he showed the variety in his game by scoring on pull-up 3’s, mid-range jump shots in the middle of a zone defense, and coast to coast drives. He missed several Kobe-esque type fadeaways, but the 16 year old presents a match-up nightmare whenever he touches the ball. In a semi-final victory, Tatum went for 24 points and double-digit rebounds while attacking the rim time and time again. One of the few improvement points for the Missouri player of the year is his actual physical strength; however it was noticeable that the young phenom had added a few pounds of muscle to his upper body.

Esa Ahmad, 6’8”, SF, All Ohio Red, 2015

The powerful wing jump started things with a three in the championship game, but Ahmad was on point all weekend long. He scored 17 points in the championship game, but just like Tatum he was one of the tougher players to defend in one on one situations. One of the stronger wings you will see, Ahmad was usually too quick for taller defenders and too powerful for smaller defenders. He also rebounded well and played aggressive defense.

Ahmad Wagner, 6’7”, PF, All Ohio Red, 2015

The other Ahmad dominated in the championship game as well, going for 25 points. Standing at 6’7”, Wagner plays much bigger than his height and dominated around the rim. A strong kid physically, Wagner was active the entire game attacking in the post and on the boards. He also threw down a few rim rattling dunks.

D’Mitirk Trice, 5’11, PG, All Ohio Red, 2015

Trice was arguably the quickest player in the 17U bracket all weekend. Trice ran circles around the Mac Irvin Fire and then scored 10 points in the championship while dishing out several pretty assists. While he is quick, Trice is also explosive. He gets great elevation on his jump shot and hit two three’s against the Eagles. He also knows how to run the pick and roll and delivered several pin point passes to his teammates as they rolled to the basket. Trice might look small physically but it would be a mistake to underestimate the tiny floor general.

Who Is This Guy?

Eli Chua, 6’8”, SF, Inland Empire, 2015

Chua grabbed everyone’s attention Saturday morning going against MeanStreets, one of the top teams in the Midwest. Kentucky bound Charles Matthews and Illinois bound D.J. Williams were the big names on the court, but it was Chua who outperformed them both. A legit 6’8”, Chua led his Inland Empire team to a 13 point victory. Throughout the game, Chua was seen handling the ball on the break, attacking the rim off the bounce, and coming out of nowhere to block shots. While not a knock down shooter, he did hit several three’s throughout the course of the day. With height, speed, and skills one would expect there to be some serious interest from Chua. According to NY2LA Sports, his only offer came from Cal State Northridge. Chua plans to re-classify to the class of 2015 at Elevate Prep in Daytona Beach, FL. It’s believed that the athletic small forward was recently at Redlands East Valley High in California, but then again, he is the mystery man of the tournament.

Other Players of Note:

Malek Harris, 6’7”, F, Illinois Wolves, 2014

Harris sat out his senior season due to a year long suspension and recently announced his de-commitment from Marquette after their coaching change. The 6’7” Harris is spending the spring playing for the Illinois Wolves and he didn’t show a lot of rust on Sunday afternoon. He drove aggressively toward the basket any time he glimpsed an opening in the zone and went to the foul line often. Now that he is back on the market, the schools in consideration are Marquette, Virginia Tech, Florida, Kansas State, and Gonzaga.

Henry Ellenson, 6’9”, SF, Playground Elite, 2015

This was Ellenson’s first tournament with the Playground Elite and the Wisconsin big man looked a bit slimmer and in better overall shape. One of the better ball-handling big men in the country, Ellenson often took the ball coast to coast while going through his legs or around his back at full speed. He knocked in a three from the top of the key and also added several mid-range jumpers to his repertoire. Despite the weight loss he still held his own down low grabbing rebounds when they came near and scoring frequently on the low block. Last year Ellenson played on the Adidas circuit but now he will get a chance to compete in the Nike EYBL.

Glynn Watson, 6’0”, PG, Illinois Wolves, 2015

The Wolves lost early on in the tournament, but they will have a strong spring and summer thanks to the steady play of Watson who is calm and under control as the teams point guard. Watson likes to attack and can also handle the press with ease. Utilizing strong ball handling skills, Watson is the perfect floor general for one of the smartest AAU teams in the land.

Trevor Stumpe, 6’5”, SF, Illinois Wolves, 2015

One of the more impressive three point shooters over the weekend was Trevor Stumpe. In a Sunday afternoon game he hit four three’s in the first half and was deadly curling off screens for jump shots at the top of the key. He lost focus after his hot start, but there was no denying that Stumpe is a strong jump shooter from behind the arc.

Derrick Bruce Jr., 6’2”, PG, Inland Empire, 2015

Along with the mystery man in Eli Chau, Inland Empire also sported impressive point guard play. Derrick Bruce Jr., helped spur the Meanstreets upset. He carved up the defense whether in full court or half court situations. Once he got to the basket he used his size to finish at the rim. Bruce Jr. also showed that he could shoot the ball by knocking in several three’s as the game went on and looked to have the makings of a high-major point guard.

Khalil Fuller, 6’8”, PF, Inland Empire, 2015

Fuller is one of those players that gets overlooked by opponents and fans alike due to his large size, but soon enough he’s dropped 20 points. This was exactly the case on Saturday where it seemed Fuller was scoring on every possession. A bit undersized, Fuller knows how to use his size as he scored constantly in the paint.

Aaron Jordan, 6’4”, SG, Illinois Stars, 2015

Last year Jordan made a name for himself in the 16U Swish N Dish and he parlayed his hot shooting into an Illinois commitment. This year Jordan did not miss a beat and was one of the smoothest jump shooters in Milwaukee. While the shooting guard has a pretty stroke he is more than just a shooter and can put the ball on the floor as well.

Charles Matthews, 6’5”, SG, MeanStreets, 2015

Last year Matthews and the MeanStreets program advanced to the finals in the 17U age group. This year MeanStreets struggled and lost early on in the tournament. While the team didn’t play up to their potential, the Kentucky recruit had a solid showing. Matthews excels in the mid-range and he uses his explosive vertical to shoot over defenders from 15-18 feet out. He showed his soft shooting touch over the course of three days, but wasn’t able to put on any overly dominant performances.

Luwane Pipkins, 5’10”, PG, Mac Irvin Fire, 2015

Pipkins was fresh off a strong junior season playing for Bogan in the Chicago Public League and he continued his high scoring ways throughout the tournament. At times Pipkins was on fire from deep and hit seven in a game on Saturday. It wouldn’t surprise me if he led the tournament in three pointers made. Along with a strong outside shot, Pipkins is tough to stay in front of with his speed and quickness. He might be short, but Pipkins is one of those guys that plays much bigger than he is.

Levi Bradley Jr., 6’6”, F, Wisconsin United, 2015

The wiry forward from Milwaukee showed off his versatility throughout the tournament. At times Bradley Jr. was hitting threes from the left corner and other times he was using his athleticism to slash to the basket and finish above the rim. With continued strong play, Bradley Jr. could be seeing his stock rise over the next few months.

Other Notes:

• Another player who jumped to the EYBL was Nick Noskowiak of Sun Prairie High (WI) School. Last year he took the Swish N’ Dish by storm playing for the Wisconsin Playground Warriors. He committed to Marquette shortly afterwards, but now that Buzz Williams is out of town his recruitment is back open. Illinois, Xavier, and Creighton have jumped in, but the flashy point guard will soon have a larger stage to showcase his skill-set.
• Center Diamond Stone is one of the top five players in the country; however he was MIA this weekend. Stone said he was getting ready for the “live period” where his Young Legends team will compete at the Under Armour event in Kansas City.
• The Mac Irvin Fire couldn’t defend their 17U crown from 2013; however the program did win a championship in the 16U division. The Fire was lead by the Simeon duo of Zach Norvell and Ben Coupet. Along with Tatum, the St. Louis Eagles have a few other standout players from the class of 2016.
• Quentin Goodin was one of the most athletic guards in the tournament. He likes to push the ball on the break and is capable of unleashing a nasty dunk off the bounce.
• 6’8” Tyler Cook is a high school teammate of Tatum’s and was a monster on the boards all weekend. He also has fairly decent post moves with a solid set of hands.
• Last but not least is diminutive point guard Jordan Barnes. While Barnes doesn’t start, he is a fire plug off the bench and a key reason that the Eagles advanced to the championship. Despite a slight frame, Barnes can finish in traffic and he can also create space with his quickness when it comes time to take a jump shot. The Eagles might have lost the championship, but their future is bright.