Nike EYBL Session 4: Under the Radar Top Performers

KANSAS CITY -- A look at some of the under the radar prospects in the 16U Division that caught our attention during Nike EYBL Session 4... [player_tooltip player_id="1142131" first="Jack" last="Daugherty"] - 2024 - F - Phenom University Daugherty played some of his best basketball, at least offensively, down in Kansas City. On Saturday, the Brookfield Central forward exploded for 29 points on 7-of-11 from 3-point shooting in a win over WhyNot. He also managed to grab seven rebounds and dish out three assists. Caught Daugherty in a blowout win over Mokan earlier in the day in which he had 11 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Daugherty’s shotmaking skills have taken a noticeable jump recently. He’s an excellent catch and shoot or pick n’ pop threat, but is now moving without the ball to hunt those outside shots and even added a little one-dribble step-back to his repertoire. Like most bigs in the EYBL, Daugherty plays on a guard-heavy team. Thought he did a great job all weekend of alleviating pressure and finding soft spots in the defense. In a high-level matchup with Howard Pulley in the silver championship, Daugherty once again posted an all-around effort 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. [player_tooltip player_id="1110808" first="Boden" last="Howell"] - 2025 - SG - Oakland Soldiers<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/howell.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1396863" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/02/howell-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> This is one of the better 2025 prospects I saw in Kansas City. Howell is a killer offensively that plays with some noticeable swagger. The 6-foot-3 guard is a sniper from 3-point range and skilled enough as a shot creator to size even plus-length, athletic defenders up and go to work. While he’s a deadly shooter, Howell isn’t a guy that’s always going to settle. He’s got some sneaky athleticism off the bounce and I love his finishing package around the rim, able to put the ball home with either hand and change his touch depending on the defense. [player_tooltip player_id="1089686" first="Quinton" last="Lomack"] - 2024 - PG - Phenom University The 8-16 range is so close in the Wisconsin 2024 rankings and I’m making some tough decisions. Lomack is one of the reasons I’m struggling. Didn’t love him as a prospect early in his career. Knew he was talented obviously, but Lomack suffered from tunnel vision -- always wanting to put the ball on the deck and attack multiple defenders. He was a guy that relied on being bigger, stronger, more athletic, and he’d get the calls at the rim. Just wasn’t always aware of his surroundings and how beat defenses with the pass. It’s a night and day difference in Lomack’s game as he’s evolving into a pure point guard. Lomack already checks the boxes from a size (6-2) and athleticism standpoint. Now that’s got the vision, court awareness, and unselfishness you want in a lead guard, think it’s only a matter of time before Division 1 programs take notice. Lomack is also a plus defender that’s going to take away straight-line drives to the rim and create turnovers by getting in the passing lanes. [player_tooltip player_id="1017916" first="Jeremy" last="Lorenz"] - 2023 - PF - Phenom University Sometimes you cringe a little bit when raw prospects make a jump from an independent to a shoe circuit team, especially when it’s the EYBL. Think this circuit has actually been very beneficial to Lorenz and I’m glad he stuck with it, even though it wasn’t always sunshine and roses for him. Playing against some of these monsters inside, I think has really toughened Lorenz up. The 6-foot-8 forward is very underrated when it comes to protecting the rim and holding post position down on the block. Thought a year ago, even this spring, he was getting overwhelmed at times. In Kansas City, saw him really be an x-factor in those two areas. Lorenz is also able to score against size and length a lot better as well. He’s terrific at pulling bigs away from the rim, getting them off their feet with a pump fake, and slashing to the bucket. Lorenz also shoots it well from all areas of the floor and is especially deadly in the pick n’ pop game. Still think he may need a redshirt year at the Division 1 level or at least just dip his toe into the water, but I still like his trajectory and you can see him slowly climbing towards that high ceiling. [player_tooltip player_id="1456812" first="Cyril" last="Martynov"] - 2023 - F/C - UPlay Canada This is a prospect that’s getting better in a hurry. For 6-foot-11, Martynov moves about as well as you can. Saw him on one occasion catch from the top of the key, swing through and rip, get to the cup in one dribble, and finish with his off hand. A native of Toronto, Martynov transferred to New Jersey last year. A big, strong, athletic forward who can do the dirty work under the rim, Martynov also has some budding skill. Finishing around the rim needs work as does his outside shot, but he’s good enough to pull defenders away from the rim. Given his physical and athletic measurables, think he’s a guy that can play at the high major level right away. As time goes on and his skill develops, Martynov could be a sneaky good pickup. [player_tooltip player_id="1081863" first="Kayvaun" last="Mulready"] - 2024 - G - City Rocks<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/Mulready-Kayvaughn.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1335175" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/Mulready-Kayvaughn-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Mulready plays up in the 17U division. When he’s hot from 3-point range, City Rocks is going to get him the ball and let him work. An excellent catch-and-shoot threat, Mulready has the green light whenever he wants it. He’ll sprint up the floor and make himself available in transition, looking for quick offense before the opposition can set up shop. Also a plus athlete, the 6-foot-2 guard attacks the rim hard, has the athleticism to hang and finish over bigger defenders, and is willing to take a shot from defenders. Mulready dropped 26 points and six assists in a win over Indy Heat, putting together a big fourth quarter to help City Rocks pull away. [player_tooltip player_id="1284083" first="Andy" last="Stefonowicz"] - 2024 - PG - Howard Pulley This is one of those guys -- if he had the ideal measurables, Division 1 programs would be lining up for him. As it is, still think mid-major programs eventually come in fast for Stefonowicz, who just has a different feel for the game. A guy you want at the controls, if you’re open, Stefonowicz is going to find you. He ran the show as well as any point guard I saw in the 16U level. A pass-first floor general that can also get his own offense when needed, Stefonowicz balances being a lead guard and a scorer as well as you can ask. On Saturday, Stefonowicz posted seven points, seven assists, and five rebounds in a win over PG Elite. He then came back with 13 points, eight assists, and six rebounds to help Pulley knock off Team Melo and advance to Sunday. In six games, Stefonowicz had at least three assists in five of them. [player_tooltip player_id="985665" first="Xavier" last="Thomas"] - 2023 - F - The Family They’re not one of the more talented rosters on paper, but The Family won its Division in the EYBL regular season and went 5-1 in Kansas City. There are a lot of different parts to this team, but a prospect I liked off the bench was Thomas. The Family saw a lot of zones later in the weekend and Thomas was busting them up. The 6-foot-6 junior has the green light whenever he catches and has a smooth stroke from 3-point range. A big-bodied wing/forward, Thomas can catch in the high post, face-up, and slash. He’s also terrific and putting the ball on the deck, sucking in the defense, and kicking out to a shooter. In The Family’s final game, Thomas had 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including 3-of-3 from downtown. On Friday, Thomas had 17 points and seven rebounds in a win over the Georiga Stars and posted 16 points and six boards versus Alabama Fusion roughly 24 hours later. Even though he’s a starter, Thomas is a guy that his team doesn’t mind leaving on the floor in crunch time. Raydon Thorson - 2022 - PG - Vegas Elite<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Raydon-Thorson3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1259788" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/Raydon-Thorson3-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></a> Kid isn’t on a lot of radars by the major recruiting services, but he has the feel of being a sneaky good low/mid-major prospect. Thorson may not take a ton of shots or look for his own offense in spurts, but he’s going to make everyone around him better, run the show as a point guard, and make smart basketball plays. The ball movement is just different when Thorson is on the floor. He’s moving the defense, dribbling with a purpose, whipping it around the horn, and making his opponents work. Also saw good floor leadership. Thorson was calling out the shot clock time and was often the first to encourage a teammate when they made a big shot. It wasn’t a great weekend for Vegas Elite, but every time I watched Thorson, his head was up and he was giving 100 percent. Thorson had nine assists against CP3 on Thursday. Also caught his game against Boo Williams on Friday when he dropped 10 times. Cheikh Yessoufou - 2025 - SF - Team WhyNot This kid just plays hard and leaves it all out on the floor. A high motor, athletic wing, Yessoufou is going to give him team momentum-changing athletic and hustle plays. Given he already has a scholarship offer from Arizona State, Yessoufou probably doesn’t qualify as under the radar, but he’s a youngster that high major programs need to get on the radar. Yessoufou is a high-flyer that can block a shot on one end and take it back the other for a dunk. There’s some versatility in his game as well. In the halfcourt, Yessoufou can face up and slash. He’s also a pretty good post-up threat for his age/position as well and can score with finesse.