By David Cordova
Every kid wants to play on that one big stage. The stage that’s going to bring them notoriety, the stage that will get them to the next level. For the most elite players, there is no better proving ground than the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League, or the EYBL, as it is commonly referred to.
The EYBL, which is in its seventh year in existence, has produced many McDonald’s All-Americans, college stars and NBA players since its inception. It is considered by many to the most premier league in the country during the spring and summer.
This weekend marked the first of four sessions at the Boo Williams Sportsplex, named after one of the most legendary coaching figures in AAU basketball, in Hampton, Virginia. The Sportsplex, a facility with eight courts, showcased a lot of big-time talent who auditioned for scholarships in front of over hundreds of Division I coaches during the first live period.
This past weekend is a prelude to what will be a very big spring and summer for many teams. But there can only be as many as twenty-four teams that will advance to the Peach Jam, which is the official ending for the summer for all Nike teams, during the week of July 12-16 in North Augusta, South Carolina.
To get there, every team must make it their mission to qualify for their spot, which makes it a survive-and-advance type of scene that is reminiscent to what college teams go through with the NCAA Tournament. The main objective for these teams is to be the last team standing. The question now is: which team will be that ONE team holding that trophy on July 16th? That, is to be determined.
Notable Players for Session 1 Of Nike EYBL:
Cole Swider, St. Andrew’s School (RI)/BABC, Class of 2018, 6-8, Forward
Swider is a stretch forward that can step out and shoot and also does good work in the post. Averaged 21.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Keldon Johnson, Huntington Prep (WV)/Boo Williams, Class of 2018, 6-6, Forward
Johnson is a swingman that is very athletic and is solid on the boards. Has plenty of toughness and gets to the basket easy. Averaged 25.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
Zion Harmon, Bowling Green (KY)/Boo Williams, Class of 2021, 5-10, Guard
Harmon, the youngest player in the entire EYBL, is a small guard that makes smart plays. Averaged 7.8 points and 3.2 assists per game.
Andre Hyatt, Miller School (VA)/Boo Williams, Class of 2019, 6-7, Forward
Hyatt is a skilled swingman that shoots from long range and is also a physical presence in the paint. Averaged 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Bol Bol, Mater Dei High School (CA)/California Supreme, Class of 2018, 7-2, Center
Bol is a dominant presence in the paint on both ends of the court that runs the floor well and is very versatile. Averaged 21 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
Tyger Campbell, La Lumiere School (IN)/Spiece Indy Heat, Class of 2019, 6-0, Guard
Campbell is a guard that is a scoring threat, but also gets his teammates involved. Averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 assists per game.
Tre’ Jones, Apple Valley High School (MN)/Howard Pulley Panthers, Class of 2018, 6-4, Guard
Jones is a player that is going to dominate with scoring, but will also make terrific passes to teammates for assists. Averaged 18 points and 9.3 assists per game.
Alan Griffin, Archbishop Stepinac High School (NY)/New York Rens, Class of 2018, 6-5, Forward
Griffin is a scoring threat that that has athletic skills and can rebound well on the glass. Averaged 8.8 rebounds and three rebounds per game.
Kofi Cockburn, Christ the King High School (NY)/New York Rens, Class of 2019, 6-10, Center
Cockburn is a solid big man that rebounds and is a terror in the paint. Averaged 10 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Cormac Ryan, Milton Academy (CT)/New York Rens, Class of 2018, 6-5, Forward
Ryan is a scorer that attacks the basket and scores in bunches. Averaged 16.5 points and three rebounds per game.
Marvin Bagley III, Sierra Canyon School (CA)/Nike Family, Class of 2018, 6-11, Center
Bagley is a good ball handler for his size, can shoot from long range and is very dominant in the paint area. Averaged 25.5 points, 13.8 rebounds and three blocks per game.
Aidan Igheion, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)/New York Lightning, Class of 2019, 6-10, Center
Igheion is a dominant presence in the low post on both ends of the court. Has a very strong presence and pulls down rebounds with force. Averaged 8.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Sekou Touree, Prolific Prep (CA)/Oakland Soldiers, Class of 2018, 6-6, Forward
Touree is a player that has a lot of versatility and scores easily. Averaged 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Amadou Sow, Prolific Prep (CA)/Oakland Soldiers, Class of 2018, 6-9, Forward
Sow is a forward with athleticism and is a good rebounder. Averaged 9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Jalen Lecque, Christ School (NC)/Southern Stampede, Class of 2019, 6-3, Guard
Lecque is a guard that is known for his athletic prowess at the rim, but can also shoot as well. Averaged 20.8 points per game.
Louis King, Hudson Catholic (NJ)/Team Final, Class of 2018, 6-8, Forward
King has a lot of guard skills for his size and is very versatile with his game. Averaged 16 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Cole Anthony, Archbishop Molloy High School (NY)/PSA Cardinals, Class of 2019, 6-2, Guard
Anthony is known for his scoring prowess, but shared the ball with his teammates throughout the weekend. Averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 assists per game.
Mamadou Doucoure, Our Savior New American School (NY)/PSA Cardinals, 6-9, Class of 2018, Forward
Doucoure is a forward that works hard and is great at rebounding on the board and is fluid with his post moves. Averaged 5.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Tyler Herro, Whitnall High School (WI)/Wisconsin Playground Elite, Class of 2018, 6-5, Guard
Herro is a tall guard who has great court vision and can run a team and looks to pass and has a great shot selection. Averaged 15.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
Highlights of Session 1 of Nike EYBL:
Courtesy of BallislifeEast.
Courtesy of BallislifeEast.
Courtesy of MakePlayz.
Courtesy of Hoop Diamonds.
Courtesy of Hoop Diamonds.
Courtesy of Hoop Diamonds.
Courtesy of Hoop Diamonds.
Courtesy of Primetime Hoops.
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