Premier Youth Basketball League Season Finale Standouts

Established in 2014, the Premier Youth Basketball League has been the best platform for middle school DMV basketball talent to showcase their skillset for fans and high school coaches. 13 different programs split amongst the Rising Stars (rising 7th graders) and Elite teams (rising 8th graders) streamline area high school basketball recruiting to teams formed in geographic regions to compete in a summer and winter season.

Standout Performers:

’27 CG Navorro Bowman Jr– City

Turned in a massive 49-point performance for his City Rising Stars team, filling it up from all three levels. He uses his handle well to get to the rim or set up a jump shot, confidence never wavering regardless of make or miss. Aggressive, athletic prospect who understands leverage when going shoulder to shoulder with another guard in the paint. As he progresses, play-making reads to corner shooters and weakside teammates will be important to his development as an all-around threat.

’27 PG Jymin Veney– PG County

Impressive all-around prospect with tremendous feel and patience who regularly manipulates the defense to create advantage opportunities. Veney predicts rotations and stunts from the defense to find the open man at a very advanced level, understanding when to pass and when to shoot. Defensively very solid, tenacious on the ball but can also catch his matchup off guard to bait them into a turnover or forcing them to dribble to a corner to force a trap. Shifts gears well, gets downhill, has improved on his ability to finish through contact.

‘26 G/F Eric Wedge– PG County

Possesses a strong frame that he utilizes well to rebound the ball in and outside the paint. Wedge plays well both on and off the ball, generating his own offense regardless of touches with an assortment of putback finishing moves (tip-ins, drop step finishes, floaters). He can play everything from point forward to small ball 5, his versatility is powered by a motor that stands out against the best of teams.

’27 F Zikom Etolue– Southern Maryland

Etolue is a tremendous rebounder that also showcased an ability to take guards and bigs alike to the rim off the bounce. The simplicity of his game is refreshing for such a young prospect- one sweep move or jab and he is attacking right away, catching both the on-ball and off-balls defenders off-guard. This athleticism manifests itself into impressive versatility defensively- Etolue can guard either player in the pick n roll, sliding on the perimeter with guards or banging with bigs for position in the paint.

’27 Gavin Holden– Charles County

Holden was the best shooter that I saw today both in consistency and in process. Always in a stance before the ball reaches him, he goes into his shot in a consistent, fluid motion with range that extends a few feet past the high school three point line. Shot selection is on point, can hit the one-dribble pull-up in the midrange, has good lift on his shot, and understands his role.

Other prospects that impressed:

’26 Colin Stemberger– Fairfax

Very solid both on and off-ball defensively and offensively, plays well with other elite talent and understands role, uses a tight handle to get past his matchup, good playmaker in the halfcourt, functions well in full or half court traps as a quick defender that understands positioning and cutting off angles, very scrappy defensively, wins every 50/50 ball, shoots it well from perimeter

‘27  Maddox Davis– Prince William

Uses his size and pivot well to get to advantageous positions in the paint, finishes well over defenders, doesn’t panic when facing double teams and ball pressure, good playmaker, has a nose for the ball on the offensive glass

’27 Aidan Pinchas– Prince William

Hit several deep, contested threes after he got going early, doesn’t hesitate when the defender gives him too much space, keeps his head up to find the open man when facing a hard closeout, consistent and dependable role player

’26 Lawrence Brown– Baltimore

Brown impressed with his vision in transition and coming off of screens, advanced handle allows him to always keep his head up for passing options, communicates well, good finisher in the paint, great timing and placement on his paces, high IQ, leader