Adidas Gauntlet Gold Preview: EAB 17u

<p>In their first season with adidas, EAB intends to making a splash.  The first stop (Indy) did not go well.  Superstar <strong>Keon Johnson</strong> looked lonely offensively.  Unsigned senior <strong>Nate Bloedorn</strong> missed for prom.  <strong>Keshawn Lawrence</strong>, one of the best athletes in the country did not attend.  <strong>Marcus Fitzgerald Jr.</strong> and <strong>Jon Turner</strong> left the program, whether by choice or mutual decision. Unexpected roster turnover deeply hurt the proud program. The 0-4 weekend was well below the intentions set forth by EAB Program Director Michael Couey.</p> <p>Now what?</p> <p>EAB 17u added two forwards, <strong>Luke Howard</strong> (#21 in 2019)  and<strong> Tyrone Marshall</strong>.  With Nate Bloedorn back and the two new bigs added EAB 17u hopes to deliver a much different performance.</p> <p>The fourth opponent EAB 17u faces in Dallas, Team Loaded VA, will have four players listed 6-foot-7 and taller.</p> <p>Virtually the entire backcourt, save Keon Johnson, is new to the EAB program.  When factoring in that EAB ascended from Hoopseen and independent living to the adidas GOLD circuit growing pains should have been expected.</p> <p><strong>Tre Carlton</strong> and <strong>Lucas King</strong> joined to figure out the point guard spot.  Both are heady.  King is more of a scorer of the two.</p> <p><strong>Schedule</strong></p> <p>9:00 p.m. Friday - EAB vs. Game Elite JB</p> <p>11:45 a.m. Saturday - EAB vs. Garner Road</p> <p>6:00 p.m. Saturday - EAB vs. Team Carroll</p> <p>11:45 a.m.  Sunday - EAB vs. Team Loaded VA (Ismael Plet - PrepHoops Virginia #25)</p> <p><strong>Deeper Dive in Team Loaded VA</strong></p> <p><em>2019 Tyrese Jenkins PrepHoops Virginia #26 (DNP in Indy)</em></p> <p><em>Ismael Plet - PrepHoops Virginia #25</em></p> <p><em>Henry Coleman - PrepHoops Virginia #4 (DNP in Indy)      Coleman is a load on the low blocks.  Kansas offered.  Team Loaded is obviously an adidas program and Kansas fancies themselves the #1 adidas commodity.  Consider Kansas the kind of place he might find himself as a college freshman.</em></p> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <p><strong><em>Luke Howard - 2019 F - PrepHoopsTN #21 - EAB 17u</em></strong></p> <p>One of the top unsigned seniors in the Southeast, Luke Howard is a deserving hot name on the recruiting trail.  He should have double digit D1 coaches on hand, hoping to land the late signee.</p> <p><em><strong>Keon Johnson - 2020 Wing - PrepHoopsTN #1 - EAB 17u</strong></em></p> <p>Recently named top 50 by ESPN, Keon Johnson is the best prospect in Tennessee.  He was very high on Vanderbilt before the coaching change.  Tennessee and Auburn are always high on his list.  Keon's athleticism is only part of the story.  He devotes himself to dominating, like all of the great players before him.</p> <p><strong><em>Nate Bloedorn - 2019 F - PrepHoopsTN #56 - EAB 17u</em></strong></p> <p>Maybe an inch shorter than ideal?  Nate Bloedorn is a faceup four man with incredible brains and work ethic.</p> <p><strong>Other Top Players</strong></p> <p>Luke Burnett (Webb)</p> <p>Lucas King (McKenzie)</p> <p>Tyrone Marshall (Pearl-Cohn)</p> <p>Daniel Saylor (Sycamore)</p> <p>Tre Carlton (Centennial)</p> <p>Jalen Page (Blackman)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>