Bryce’s EYBL notebook: Friday night Oklahoma players to watch (Part II)
The spring session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League kicks off Friday night in the frugal, sequestered North-side of the Atlanta metroplex. However, it will be anything but quiet this weekend at the EYBL as Nike teams from across the country have traveled to A-Town to promote their best talents, give evidence of their established hype and expose their undervalued pieces.
And for those teams who made the journey to compete this weekend, the stakes are high as the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Recruiting Calendar allots this weekend as the first annual “live period,” in which coaches are granted the liberty to attend certified non-scholastic events. The State of Oklahoma is well-represented in Atlanta by players in the 2020 through 2023 classes.
Bijan Cortes 2021 Kingfisher/Team Griffin point guard (pictured above)
- Floor general
- Finisher
- Drive-and-dish
- Playmaker
Bijan Cortes, like Robinson, has been at the forefront of media and recruiting attention in the past few weeks. Cortes also received an offer from Oklahoma ahead of the weekend and also holds an offer from the University of Tulsa. With a handful of Division-II offers in his pocket as well, the defending 4A State Champion can both establish a national presence and lock in his status as a high-major recruit at the EYBL.
Watch: Team Griffin 16U vs. JL3 Elite 16U (TX), Friday, April 26 @ 8 p.m. EDT/ Lakepoint Champions Center 12
Trey Alexander 2021 Heritage Hall/Team Griffin guard
- Basketball iQ
- Score-creator
- Shooter
- Explosive
As the top-ranked recruit in the Oklahoma sophomore class, Heritage Hall’s Trey Alexander is looking to add some new faces to his recruiting mix this weekend. Alexander’s lanky, 6-foot-5-inch frame combined with his versatility and basketball iQ has been indicative of the attention he has already received in his young career from Division-I schools, but if you ask him, the party’s just getting started.
Watch: Team Griffin 16U vs. JL3 Elite 16U (TX), Friday, April 26 @ 8 p.m. EDT/ Lakepoint Champions Center 12
Adante’ Holiman 2022 Lakewood Christian/Team Griffin point guard
- Slasher
- Ball-handler
- Shooter
- On-ball defender
Adante Holiman just goes by Te, but his personality is far from abbreviated. The charismatic, personable freshman floor general from McAlester had a fantastic season for Lakewood Christian, but his recruiting has yet to take off. Te can put his name in the mix this weekend with a strong performance as coaches will look ahead and take their first stabs at the 2022 class. Te’s handles and shot-creating will be highlights to his game, and if his efficiency follows trend, he will turn heads.
Watch: Team Griffin 15U vs. Rose City Rebels 15U (OR), Friday, April 26 @ 9:30 p.m. EDT/ Kell High School 2
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