Elite Prep League Session 1 Standouts

The Elite Prep League is back for it's second season, and it has even more talent than the first year! Last year, the Commonwealth Basketball Group put together the Elite Prep League to give some of the top post grad teams in the mid-atlantic a platform to compete on, and after the huge success of the first year it's only improved going into year two.   The league has a total of seven teams - Hargrave Military Academy, Fork Union Military Academy, Massanutten Military Academy, Combine, Winston Salem Christian, Mt. Zion Prep and Perkiomen. Six of the teams were in attendance, with Perkiomen being the one team not available for the event.   Here's a look at some of the MD and PA standouts from session one of the EPL season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1579092' first='Malachi' last='Palmer'] | 6'6” CG | Mt. Zion Prep 2024   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Palmer-Malachi-MZP.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Palmer-Malachi-MZP.jpeg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2300252" /></a></figure>   Palmer has been a nationally ranked player since he entered high school and while his stock has dropped somewhat due to some injuries over the past few years, he looks extremely good right now and even like he could be playing college basketball at the highest level at this moment. The 6'6” guard has bulked up and looks like a current college player, and he's polished his scoring ability off the bounce to where he it's essentially drill work, he just gets wherever he wants to and can rise up and knock it down even when contested. He is shooting the ball very well from deep right now and scored it efficiently from all three levels, while also being a leader on the defensive end and just making winning plays all around.   Godslove Nwabude | 6'8” PF | Mt. Zion Prep 2024   Nwabude is set to be the breakout prospect in the EPL if not the entire country as he continues to polish and get seen by coaches over the next few months, as he has big time upside with great tools and he's just scratching the surface with how good he can be. At 6'8” he has an impressive frame and even more impressive athleticism, as he got up and down the floor and showed explosive leaping ability as a finisher and rim protector too. He showed a good base skillset and was pretty impressive off the bounce getting downhill and making plays, and he has all the tools to be an excellent and versatile defender at the next level.   Chris Jeffrey | 6'3” PG | Mt. Zion Prep 2025   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Jeffrey-Chris-MZP.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Jeffrey-Chris-MZP.jpeg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2300254" /></a></figure>   If I had to pick, Jeffrey has probably been the most impressive player in the EPL so far this season, and he solidified it at Session 1 of the EPL where he continued to see his recruitment pick up with another offer. The NYC native is just dynamic and fun to watch play basketball, as he keeps it on a string and changes pace so well that it's almost impossible for defenders to stay in front of him. He has a different cadence and style to his game and he made an array of difficult shots off the bounce, he has great vision as a playmaker and he's a tough nosed and high IQ defender who turns ball handlers over and jumps passing lanes too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1579104' first='Bobby' last='Montgomery'] | 6'5” WG | Mt. Zion Prep 2025   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Montgomery-Bobby-MZP.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/Montgomery-Bobby-MZP.jpeg?w=683" alt="" class="wp-image-2300255" /></a></figure>   We've been watching Montgomery for quite some time now, and it's good to see his development as it's heading in the right direction and he's becoming more and more comfortable as this team's 3 and d guy, and he'll get recruited heavily if he continues to produce in that role. He's a very good defender as he has long arms and moves his feet well to stay in front and challenge shots, and he used his athleticism to get deflections and rebound as well. He shot the ball with confidence and a high clip from deep in both of their games, and he showed off his explosion with some above the rim plays in transition and when getting downhill in the half court.   Jackson Gaffney | 6'7” PF | Rock Top Academy 2024   Gaffney has had a great season so far for Rock Top and that's no surprise as he came off a big summer on the HGSL as well. The 6'7” forward is simply super productive, as he scored over 20 in both of their games against high level EPL opponents and he did so in a number of different ways. He's a knock down shooter who stretches the floor and opens the paint for his guards and he's excellent in pick-and-pop situations, he hits the offensive glass and he can get hot quickly and score it from all three levels.   Evan Pasik | 6'8” PF | Rock Top Academy 2024   Pasik and Gaffney fit together perfectly, as he is also a stretch big man who can knock it down and the two of them are able to give them different looks and lineups that make it tough to guard. He is excellent as the trail man and has the confidence to let it go from deep, and he's a very good passer on the perimeter to find cutters since he is able to open the paint for them. He was efficient and scored it well throughout the event, and his ability to stretch them look made it easier for everyone.

The Elite Prep League is back for it's second season, and it has even more talent than the first year! Last year, the Commonwealth Basketball Group put together the Elite Prep League to give some of the top post grad teams in the mid-atlantic a platform to compete on, and after the huge success of the first year it's only improved going into year two.