AAU season is formally up on us. Whereas there have been numerous excellent unbiased AAU occasions all through the nation to get issues going this spring, the circuit actually begins when the shoe corporations start having their occasions. Whereas Adidas, Beneath Armour, New Steadiness all have important quantities of expertise on their respective circuits, there’s one league that’s often on a fully completely different stage: Nike EYBL.
Held simply outdoors of Phoenix on the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, EYBL Session I provided rising seniors the prospect to solidify their reputations in a single ultimate AAU go-around. In contrast to most different AAU occasions, gamers performed one sport a day, making it tough to determine which video games to look at at occasions with such an unlimited quantity of expertise within the constructing. Fortunately, the Ballislife staff 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 sophomore class (2028) in attendance at EYBL stand out was the overwhelming majority of prospects performed in their very own 15U age group. Most of the time, you will notice gamers close to the highest of the nationwide participant rankings enjoying a 12 months or two up in a journey ball setting. That’s often good for improvement. For essentially the most half, the group of 2028 at EYBL performed their very own age, which created no scarcity of hyped matchups and gave us a very good begin to evaluating the category since they weren’t sitting on the bench of deferring to older expertise.
Nash Avery, 6’8, SF/PF, Group Melo 15U
The definition of a brand new age ahead, Aaron “Nash” Avery produced at a better stage than anybody at 15U in session 1 of the EYBL. In a position to play in and out, Nash created properly off the dribble, utilized his measurement on each ends of the court docket, and displayed an computerized mid-range jumper. Posting averages of twenty-two.5 factors, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocks per sport, it’s simple to see why he’s now considered a High 25 participant within the class of 2028.
A.J. Williams, 6’6, SG/SF, Georgia Stars 15U
The Ballislife Nationwide Freshman of the 12 months didn’t disappoint in his opening EYBL session, exhibiting all the expertise that presently has him ranked No. 2 within the nation by ESPN. Williams is a silky easy 3-point shooter (shot 40% from 3PT), can assist on the glass from the perimeter (averaged 9.3 factors per sport), and is aware of easy methods to get to his spots to get his shot off with restricted dribbles. Whereas there’s nonetheless loads of time left to settle the controversy, the Georgia product has firmly supplanted himself within the dialog for the highest participant within the Class of 2028 in the intervening time.
Erick Dampier Jr., 6’10, C, Alabama Fusion 15U
The son of 16-year NBA vet Erick Dampier has the bodily profile to comply with in his father’s footsteps, however can also be mirroring that along with his play at EYBL. Having performed varsity since he was a center schooler, the second coming of the Dampier household has loads of expertise enjoying in opposition to elite competitors. Whereas his offensive sport remains to be growing, he displayed intriguing contact dealing with the basket and was a menace to be double teamed any time that he received the ball within the pivot. The place he actually made an impression on the sport was defensively. Dampier utilized his 7-foot-5 wingspan to guard the rim (3.7 blocks per sport), dominate his space on the glass (13.7 rebounds per sport), and supply a again line of protection to let his teammates get out and stress the perimeter. The development of huge males is of course a bit slower, however Dampier Jr. has additionally solidified himself within the combine for the highest participant within the class.
Johnquell Garner, 6’5, SF, AOT 15U
A participant I wasn’t accustomed to main into the Phoenix EYBL session, I walked away loving what I noticed out of Johnquell Garner. Continuously in assault mode, the freshman performs with an impressive motor, can end by way of contact when he will get to the rim, and helps out on the glass on each ends of the court docket. Johnquell is the subsequent in line of AOT merchandise out of McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), following the likes of Isaac Okoro, Sharife Cooper, and Ace Bailey.
A.J. Okoh, 6’2, PG, Alabama Fusion 15U
Enjoying for Nashville powerhouse Brentwood Academy, Okoh ran with Alabama Fusion for the EYBL and confirmed why he’s one of many extra intriguing younger prospects in Tennessee. Okoh exhibits nice persistence for a freshman playmaker in choose and roll conditions, possesses deep vary on his jumper, and is a scoring menace any time that he has the rock. A.J. completed the weekend with averages of 21.3 factors and seven.3 rebounds enjoying alongside Erick Dampier Jr., marking himself as a severe prospect to look at in his personal proper.
Bryson Jatta, 6’2, PG/SG, AOT 15U The main scorer of the EYBL’s 15U Division, Jatta was a no-nonsense guard who simply received it completed on the hardwood. The sturdy combo guard completed by way of contact on the rack, was continuously in assault mode, and confirmed the he was able to enjoying both backcourt spot. Additionally a soccer standout, he introduced that gridiron toughness to the hardwood and it confirmed along with his manufacturing to the tune of 23.3 factors, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per sport all through session one.
