Day 3: Top Big Men from Nike EYBL Atlanta
Championship Sunday of Nike EYBL Atlanta did not disappoint. Many prospects competed on day 3 to bring hardware back home for their teams. As fatigue and dead legs became a factor for guards, big men took charge and dominated scoring in the paint. Here are some of the top big men I saw on the last day of Nike EYBL Atlanta:
Vernon Carey Jr. (Nike Team Florida)- It is no secret that Vernon Carey Jr. (pictured) is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2019. The 6’10 big man is very mobile. He looked very comfortable playing on the perimeter and even managed to knock down a three-point shot. Carey took his defender off the dribble in the half-court and finished plays with a flush at the rim. He ended with 24 points and 6 rebounds in a loss to Houston Hoops.
N’faly Dante (Mokan Elite)- Dante scored the ball easily in the paint. The 6’11 center is a lanky shot blocker who finishes very well at the rim. He also has a nice shooting touch at the free throw line. Dante finished the day with 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Jaden McDaniels (Seattle Rotary)– Besides Carey Jr., Jaden McDaniels was the most impressive big man I saw on day 3. Standing at 6’10, McDaniels did just a little bit of everything. He scored from all three levels and also handled the ball well against the press. Not a super athletic player, McDaniels impressed with his finesse skill set. He finished with 20 points and 9 rebounds against PSA Cardinals.
Jaden Bediako (UPlay Canada)- The Canadian big man scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in a loss to New York Lightning. He has a nice hook shoot and finishes with soft touch around the rim. His drop step in the paint gave defenders a lot of problems.
Prince Gillam (The Truth)- Prince Gillam plays above the rim. He finished very well and had many crowd-pleasing dunks throughout the game. He led the team in scoring with 22 points and 14 rebounds in a win against Mac Irvin Fire.
Jamir Chaplin (Stackhouse Elite)- Chaplin was a man among boys on Sunday. The recent Meadowcreek state champion played well against a fundamental Team EAB. He used his athleticism to finish plays above the rim and even hit a few shots on the perimeter. Chaplin’s momentum from EYBL Atlanta could lead over to the school season, where he could deliver Meadowcreek yet another state championship.