Grassroots Team Preview: Brad Beal Elite
The organization formerly known as the St. Louis Eagles is now taken the name of the former Chaminade College Prep star who is now one of top shooting guards in the league with the Washington Wizards. Brad Beal was a member of the a very successful St. Louis Eagles’ 17U team that finished 51-7 and advanced to the championship game of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam during the summer of 2010.
This year’s 17U Brad Beal Elite Team will again be competing in the EYBL during the grassroots season. Last summer, they won 11 games during the regular season and advanced to the Peach Jam.
Here is a look at the Brad Beal Elite teams:
17U Roster
Darius Garland 6’2″ Brentwood Academy (TN) (2018)
Jericole Hellems 6’7″ Chaminade (2018)
Karrington Davis 6’6″ Chaminade (2018)
Fred Thatch, Jr. 6’3″ Sikeston (2018)
Kale Catchings 6’5″ CBC (2018)
Shaun Williams 6’3″ Hazelwood Central (2018)
Joseph Reece 6’8″ Vashon (2018)
James Wiseman 6’10” Ensworth (TN) (2019)
Francis Okoro 6’9″ Normal (IL) (2019)
Outlook: The leader of the team will be Garland, who is one of nation’s top-ranked point guards, with offers from schools such as Duke, Kansas, Louisville and many major programs. He was an impact player on the team last year as a rising junior with his ability to score and facilitate for others. The 6’7″ Hellems also got plenty of run at the 17U level last year while playing up in the EYBL. He parlayed that experience into a huge junior season at Chaminade. The combination of Hellems, Davis, Catchings and newcomer Reece give the team plenty of options as the forward positions. Catchings in tough around the basket, Reece is a slender, shooting Stretch 4, Davis is a 3-point shooter who can hit the offensive boards. Thatch is a powerful performer who can play any position on the perimeter while Williams is a scoring point guard. The addition of highly-ranked 2019 bigs Wiseman and Okoro will bolster the front line play for the next two seasons. Wiseman is long and athletic while Okoro is strong and skilled.
16U Roster
Yuri Collins 5’11” St. Mary’s (2019)
E.J. Liddell 6’7″ Belleville West (2019)
Mario McKinney 6’2″ Vashon (2019)
Ben Cooper 6’1″ Undecided (2019)
Josh Wallace 6’5″ CBC (2019)
Kevin Jones 5’10” Sikeston (2019)
Lewis McDaniel 6’3″ Ensworth (TN), (2019)
Chris Payton 6’6″ Bloomington (IL), (2019)
Jordan Nesbit 6’5″ Lutheran North (2020)
Caleb Love 6’3″ Lutheran North (2020)
Lamontray Daugherty 6’6″ Duquoin (IL), (2020)
Outlook: The top prospect on this team is Liddell, who earned All-State honors in Illinois after a big sophomore season. Liddell has already gotten five Division I offers, including ones from his in-state school Illinois and most recently from Kansas State. A newcomer to the team is McKinney, a sparkplug shooting guard who plays with a lot of excitement. He has gained a number of Division I offers as well. Point guard Collins and Jones were mainstays at the 15U level last season. Collins is a true point guard who can pass the ball while Jones is a high-energy performer who excels in the open court. Newcomer Ben Cooper is a knock-down 3-point shooter who will be able to stretch the defense while Payton is an athletic performer who will bolster the front court play. Getting a taste of the 16U level early will be talented 2020’s Love, Nesbit and Daugherty.
15U Roster
Davion Bradford 6’10” CBC (2020)
Luke Kasubke 6’6″ Chaminade (2020)
Dylan Branson 6’3″ Chaminade (2020)
Davion Harris 6’6″ Parkway Central (2020)
King Waller 6’3″ Mehlville (2020)
Patrick Ready 6’6″ Althoff (2020)
Terrell Rush 6’0″ Trinity (2020)
Phillip Russell 5’9″ Vashon (2020)
Tahj Patterson 5’10” Lutheran North (2020)
Dominic Wynn 5’11” Ensworth, (TN), (2020)
Cory Reynolds 6’4″ Ensworth (TN), 2020
Kyle Geraghty 5’11” Parkway West (2020)
xx Catchings 6’1″ CBC (2020)
Schedule
March 31-April 2: NY2LA Swish N’ Dish, (Milwaukee, WI)
April 7-9: TBA
April 21-23: EYBL Session #1 Hampton, VA (16U), (17U); Nike Spring Showdown, Chicago, IL (15U)
April 28-30: EYBL Session #2 Indianapolis, IN
May 12-14: EYBL Session #3 Lake Point, GA
May 26-29: EYBL Session #4 Los Angeles, CA (17U), Memorial Day Classic, Atlanta, GA (15U, 16U)
July 12-16: Nike EYBL Peach Jam (17U), Nike EYBL (15U, 16U)
July 18-23: TBA
July 26-30: Las Vegas Classic (17U); Jayhawk Invitational, Olathe, KS (15U, 16U)