EYBL Session II: Friday’s 7 Best
MESA, Ariz. — The NIKE EYBL circuit doesn’t come this far west very often, so when a short drive to see some of the top prospects from across the country presented itself, we had to make the most of the…
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Continue ReadingMESA, Ariz. — The NIKE EYBL circuit doesn’t come this far west very often, so when a short drive to see some of the top prospects from across the country presented itself, we had to make the most of the opportunity.
Session II of the EYBL tipped off Friday evening at Legacy Sports Complex just outside of Phoenix and the teams and players didn’t disappoint on night one. We weren’t able to take in the action from every game – though we will be sure to see every team before the weekend is over – and below is our list of top seven performers from Friday night’s live period action.
Billy Richmond, 2024, NJ Scholars
Richmond had himself quite the game in leading his team to a four-point win. The 6-foot-6 high-flying lefty finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds with many of those buckets coming in highlight-reel fashion. Richmond has elite pop in his legs and downhill speed in transition, which, combined with his aggressiveness and confidence going at defenders on the break, makes him such a tough cover in the open court. While Richmond is a high-level slasher and finisher, he can also create for himself and teammates off the dribble.
Jamari Phillips, 2024, Paul George Elite
Phillips is known as one of the best pure scorers in the class and his performance Friday night did not call that statement into question. The 6-foot-3 combo guard finished with 30 points on an efficient 11-for-17 from the field. Phillips is one of those players who lives up to the loosely-used “three level scorer” terminology. He can knock down the three-ball off the bounce and off the catch, has great balance on his mid-range jumper and uses his ball skills and creativity off the bounce to get to the cup.
Mikey Lewis, 2024, Oakland Soldiers
Lewis was one of the hottest names after Session I as he led the EYBL in scoring through the first four games and he get his name buzzing Friday night. The 6-foot-3 guard scored 28 points and led the Soldiers to a thrilling overtime win over Houston Hoops. Lewis is a wired-to-score guard who is shooting the three-ball at a scorching clip and uses his speed and shiftiness to get into the lane and put pressure on the rim.
Morez Johnson, 2024, Meanstreets
Johnson is one of the best big men in the nation and he lived up to that billing. The 6-foot-9 forward/center out of St. Rita in Chicago put up 17 points and eight rebounds all while serving as a deterrent rim protector defensively. Johnson, an Illinois commit, had two blocked shots in a 64-61 win over JL3 but his length, athleticism and timing made his presence felt on each and every shot at the rim.
Taj Degourville, 2024, Vegas Elite
At the time this story was written the final stats for Vegas Elite had yet to be uploaded to the EYBL site but no stats were needed to tell the story of Degourville’s impact. The 6-foot-5 forward is a do-it-all type of player whose fluidity and craftiness off the dribble makes up for any burst or athleticism he may lack compared to some of his counterparts. Degourville is a smart playmaker in a point-forward role who manages to slowly, but surely, turn his defender around and get to the rim where he can score with touch with either hand.
Terrence Hill, Jr., 2024, NW Rotary Rebels
When discussing smooth and efficient scorers Hill has to be somewhere in that conversation. The 6-foot-3 combo guard can really fill it up from deep as his consistency off the catch and in pull-up situations off the bounce keeps defenders guessing about what’s coming next. Hill scored 25 points on 10-for-18 from the field and 5-for-7 from three-point range.
Terry Copeland Terry Copeland 6'8" | PF Legacy Early College | 2024 State SC , 2024, NJ Scholars
Copeland was one of the hardest-playing guys I saw Friday night and it resulted in a productive stat line that contributed to winning basketball. The 6-foot-7 power forward/center is a beast on the offensive and defensive boards, sets physical ball-screens and rolls hard to the rim, and imposes his will on the defensive end of the floor. Copeland finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds in a win.