Takeaways From Nike EYBL Session 1:
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EMERSON, Ga. — After reflecting on the action from first Nike EYBL Session 1, here’s a look at our top takeaways… Amari McCottry Amari McCottry 6'5" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #304 Nation WI is Coming For…
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Continue ReadingEMERSON, Ga. — After reflecting on the action from first Nike EYBL Session 1, here’s a look at our top takeaways…
Amari McCottry Amari McCottry 6'5" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #304 Nation WI is Coming For High Major Offers
I got on a flight back to Milwaukee thinking, Amari McCottry Amari McCottry 6'5" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State #304 Nation WI might end up being a high-major prospect. No disrespect to his previous programs, but you get this kid around the talent, structure, and coaching that Phenom University has, and McCottry is a different player.
In four games, McCottry averaged 16.5 points on 48.8 percent shooting. The 6-foot-5 wing, who also dabbled by playing some point guard, got to the rim at will and impressed with his tremendous body control to evade defenders in mid-air. McCottry also posted 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while playing with a completely new group of teammates.
Thought maybe there’d be some hesitation or that McCottry might ease himself into the Nike EYBL. That was anything but the case as McCottry looked like an alpha on the floor.
Following the event, Miami (OH) offered McCottry joining Milwaukee and Grambling.
Jack Daugherty Jack Daugherty 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2024 State #311 Nation WI is Still Playing With Sky-High Confidence
Jack Daugherty Jack Daugherty 6'8" | PF Brookfield Central | 2024 State #311 Nation WI ended July playing the best basketball of his life. Wanted to see how he’d build on some big time performances last summer. It’s safe to say that the Brookfield Central forward is still trending up.
He was a little up and down at times, but for the most part, Daugherty shot the cover off the ball. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged in double figures while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, including 48 percent from 3-point range. Daugherty is making defenses pay for overplaying the gaps and giving too much help. He does a great job of getting defenders off the floor with a pump fake and just continues to be more of a playmaker/scorer off the dribble. You put a hand down, Daugherty will rise over the top and shoot it. You crowd him, Daugherty’s gaining confidence in that attack and adding strength to be able to power through contact.
Holding 10 mid-major offers, Daugherty will continue to generate those high major looks this spring/summer. Not only able to score against long, athletic forwards, Daugherty is giving them mismatch problems as well.
Phenom University Can Win Peach Jam
Phenom went 3-1 in Georgia with their only loss coming to an unbeaten NJ Scholars squad by just five points. They did that without their best player, Kon II Knueppel Kon II Knueppel 6'6" | SG Wisconsin Lutheran | 2024 State #15 Nation WI .
Featuring three players averaging in double figures, Phenom also got great point guard play from Nick Janowski Nick Janowski 6'3" | SG Pewaukee | 2024 State #126 Nation WI . The Nebraska commit was outstanding at running the show and getting his teammates involved. Janowski had a crazy 19 assists to just two turnovers. He also averaged 11.4 ppg while shooting 41 percent from the field — a number that’s skewed because the team looks to him late in the shot clock.
The additions of McCottry and Sekou Konneh Sekou Konneh 6'6" | SF St. Thomas More | 2024 State WI , a top five junior in the state, have been a big plus. Those two have fit in really well. This group has the depth and grittiness too from the likes of Bennett Basich Bennett Basich 6'3" | SG Arrowhead | 2024 State WI , M.J. Stackhouse M.J. Stackhouse 6'7" | PF Kenosha Indian Trail | 2024 State WI , and Ayden Goll who all had nice moments in Georgia.
Highlights
Zach Kinziger Zach Kinziger 6'3" | SG De Pere | 2025 State #127 Nation WI …Buy Stock Now
I had Kinziger drop one spot in the latest 2025 rankings and immediately regretted it on Friday.
Might not be a prototypical top five prospect that jumps out of the gym or has some ridiculous upside, but Kinzger is just incredibly consistent and has a college-ready offensive game already as a sophomore.
Leading Phenom to a 3-1 record, Kinziger posted 15.5 points per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field, including 58.8 percent from 3-point range. Against the two best teams on Phenom’s schedule, Kinziger had 19 points versus Expressions Elite and 22 against Team United. A sharpshooter who knows how to get himself open and scores equally well on and off the ball, Kinziger finished with 62 points on just 45 shots.
From what we’ve heard, there’s a couple strong mid-major programs ready to offer. We even had one Big Ten program inquire about the De Pere standout as well.