AAU season is formally up on us. Whereas there have been plenty of excellent unbiased AAU occasions all through the nation to get issues going this spring, the circuit really begins when the shoe firms start having their occasions. Whereas Adidas, Below Armour, New Stability all have important quantities of expertise on their respective circuits, there’s one league that’s normally on a very completely different degree: Nike EYBL.
Held simply exterior of Phoenix on the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, EYBL Session I supplied rising seniors the prospect to solidify their reputations in a single closing AAU go-around. Not like most different AAU occasions, gamers performed one recreation a day, making it troublesome to resolve which video games to look at at instances with such an unlimited quantity of expertise within the constructing. Fortunately, the Ballislife group was rolling deep with Ani Umana, Ronnie Flores, and myself all manning completely different courts to take a look at the motion.
What made the rising junior class (2027) in attendance at EYBL was the overwhelming majority of prospects performed their very own age group at 16U. Most years, you will notice gamers who’re sitting close to the highest of the nationwide participant rankings taking part in a 12 months or two up in AAU. For essentially the most half, the group of 2027 performed their very own age, which created no scarcity of hyped matchups. In truth, 4 consensus top-10 recruits (CJ Rosser, Ryan Hampton, Marcus Spears Jr., and King Gibson) all went at it in a hyped Group United vs Drive Nation 16U recreation that had the overwhelming majority of NBA Scouts forgetting lots of the most interesting gamers within the 2026 class had been taking part in close by.
Listed here are a couple of of the highest 2027 performers who caught our eye at EYBL Session 1:
C.J. Rosser, 6’9, SF/PF, Group United 16U
So far as long run prospects are involved within the class of 2027, the talk begins with C.J. Rosser and what makes it scary is that his manufacturing is beginning to mirror his potential. The freakishly lengthy ahead has a robust decrease physique, strikes with distinctive fluidity, and is knowing methods to make the most of his dimension to create an influence on each ends of the ground. Although anybody may see Rosser passes the look take a look at, it is the influence he had on the sport that has actually improved. Averaging 20 factors whereas taking pictures 45 p.c from 3-point vary, you understand that he is beginning to flip the proverbial nook together with his growth and has actually put himself proper there for the No. 1 spot within the class of 2027.
Marcus Spears Jr., 6’8, SF/PF, Drive Nation 16U
After simply wrapping up an excellent highschool season with Dynamic Prep (Dallas) that noticed this 5 star recruit embrace his function off the bench, Marcus Spears Jr. embraced his function as extra of a focus for Drive Nation within the EYBL. The lefty ahead is a swiss military knife on each ends of the courtroom, guarding nearly each place on the hardwood as a recreation altering defender with a motor. The son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman and present ESPN analyst Marcus Spears additionally confirmed his offensive recreation through a feathery contact, nice cuts and flashes, plus a excessive degree of exercise that has made him a lock for a high 5 spot in 2027.
Paul Osaruyi, 6’9, PF, Arizona Unity 17U
A participant who we had been fairly aware of at Ballislife is 6-foot-9 Canadian ahead Paul Osaruyi. Making the FIBA World Championship 16U All Match group at simply 14 years previous, we knew that there was a severe prospect we had on our palms. Since then, Osaruyi made the transfer to Phoenix to attend CIA Bella Vista and his growth was on show. Whereas his 10 factors, 4 rebounds, and a pair of blocks a recreation on the 17U degree might not stand out instantly, it is what he does that does not present up within the field rating that takes him to a different degree. Osaruyi is a bodily monster with freakish athleticism, is a succesful 3-point shooter, and is de facto beginning to play with a motor on each ends of the ground. There is definitely been an adjustment course of for the sophomore, however so far as long run potential is anxious, he is up there with nearly anybody within the class of 2027.
Ryan Hampton, 6’6, SG, Drive Nation 16U
The apple does not fall removed from the tree, and that is seen with the most recent Hampton to succeed in high 5 standing, 6-foot-6 wing Ryan Hampton. The youthful brother of former first spherical decide R.J. Hampton is taller than his massive bro, however possesses an identical physique kind with loopy size and fluidity for an even bigger guard. He was in a position to rating the ball with restricted dribbles, used his dimension to offer a presence on within the paint with powerful finishes, and produced at a excessive price all through the weekend. The 21.7 factors and 9.0 rebounds per recreation that he averaged all through session one actually stamped his popularity as one of many high gamers within the class of 2027.
O’Neal Delancey, 6’4, PG/SG, Florida Rebels 16U
After successful a state title at Gibbs Excessive Faculty (Fla.) and placing on a present at Dinos Trigonis‘ Pangos Implausible 40 final 12 months in Miami, O’Neal Delancey made everybody on the EYBL know he is way over only a title within the panhandle state. Averaging 18 factors, 7.7 assists, and 6 rebounds per recreation throughout session I, the sophomore confirmed appreciable development as a playmaker whereas sustaining his fixed menace as a scorer when he has the rock in his palms. He’s a severe shooter who can even make performs off the bounce, however has developed as a facilitator, particularly out of decide and roll play. After his excellent efficiency at EYBL, O’Neal finds himself sitting at No. 35 in ESPN’s newest 2027 rankings.
