EYBL Kansas City: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook

It was a big day of games on Saturday at Nike EYBL in Kansas City!  We saw a lot of 15U and 16U action including several big time 17U matchups.  Here it all is in EYBL Kansas City: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!   Team Thad Opens Up with Impressive Win Over Mac Irvin Fire   In the first 17U game of the day we caught it was all Team Thad from start to finish.  Even without their superstar it was no problem as they knocked off the Mac Irvin Fire 104-72. Really intrigued with Isaiah Sealy as a long and versatile wing that scores in transition, finishes with either hand at the cup, and runs the floor well.  Plus athlete with a lot of upside had 14 points.  At the point Caleb Thomas shined with his strong and compact build.  Made shots from beyond the arc in the win.  Active defender with anticipation getting his hands on steals and taking them the other way for scores netting 15 points.  Courtland Muldrew was the third star for Thad as the 6'3” wing plays with great strength as an explosive slasher and was pouring in threes scoring 20 points.   Top performer for the Mac Irvin Fire among their Illinois prospects was Phoenix Gill.  He did a nice job in this one showcasing his all-around game   Got to the line, scored in transition, left handed finish off a DHO, and drained a baseline J.  One of his better games of the spring scoring 16 points.  Bit of a tough morning shooting for Aleks Alston, but he still managed 11 points on 4-12 shooting.   Thompson Continues to Show Out as Meanstreets 15U Tops NW Rotary Rebels   Meanstreets 15U is probably the top team as far as talent in the state of Illinois.  Even without one of their big 4 the other three did plenty to carry the load winning against the NW Rotary Rebels 75-64.  Bolingbrook combo guard Davion Thompson was special again in this one as he has been all spring long!  The lefty shooting guard pretty much got whatever he wanted off the bounce on smooth drives, hit a couple threes, and made regular trips to the foul line finishing with 29 points (9-13 FG) ( 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.  His backcourt mate Jaxson Davis struggled with his shot, but he was outstanding as a distributor in this one with his pin point passing to Thompson and others racking up the assists.  Whitney Young forward Howard Williams had 18 points and 8 rebounds.  Strong combo forward that finishes well around the hoop out of the dunker spot, gets to the line, and rebounds well in his area.   For NW Rotary Rebels it was Jimmie Haywood who was the standout recording 27 points (9-16 FG).  Long and rangy wing that is smooth off the dribble with his long strides where he converts with nifty finishes.  Also flashed a clean looking jumper.   The Family 16U Gets Revenge for their 17U Loss Friday Night vs Meanstreets   On Friday Meanstreets 17U defeated The Family.  It went the other way on Saturday morning in a 16U contest as The Family controlled most of the game with Meanstreets coming back late only to fall to the Michigan squad 65-59.  It was my first look at 5-star 2026 wing Elijah Williams from The Family.  The son of Monty Williams who is the head coach of the Pistons has elite upside.  In the first half he was special, hitting a pull up jumper and attacking with his long strides for scores along with getting to the line.  Good athlete that also showed well as a rebounder, defender, and passer.  The complete young wing had 16 points and 8 rebounds.  Jordan Sigmon is another name to watch.  The young point guard is an angular lead guard that finishes with acrobatics in the lane while flashing passing feel scoring 13 points and dishing out 3 assists.   Meanstreets was led by Whitney Young combo guard Marquis Clark.  The #3 prospect in the state of Illinois turned it up a notch in the second half finishing with 18 points trying to bring his team back.  Smooth creator off the bounce that sliced and diced his way for scores in the paint along with trips to the charity stripe.  Hit a couple threes early and we thought he made sound decisions as a passer racking up 6 rebounds and 4 assists as well.  Fern Creek (KY) power forward Jordan Bender is a lengthy left that used his quickness around the hoop, hit a deep three with his lefty shot, and rebounded well finishing with 6 points and 5 rebounds.   Nightrydas High-Major 2026 Duo Lead Way in 16U Win vs Mac Irvin Fire   It was all about the superstars for the Nightrydas in their 74-67 win against the Mac Irvin Fire.  Five-star 2026 Caleb Gaskins and four-star Toni Bryant brought it in a major way helping them secure the victory.  Gaskins is one of the premier prospects nationally in 2026 and the strong bodied wing showed why in this one.  Has some Jaylen Brown to his game with his build, shot making, and defense.  Plus three point shooter that particularly likes them from the corners off the catch.  Brought the athleticism finishing in the paint, rebounded well, and impacted as a defender.  Such an elite burst with the ball.  Went for 20 points (8-12 FG) and grabbing 8 rebounds.  Toni Bryant is a 6'9” center that brings great length and athleticism up front.  Had some massive dunks out of the dunker spot along with one take from the mid-post where he posterized his man.  So quick and fluid around the hoop as he had 19 points (8-13 FG) and 7 boards.   Rajan Roberts was the star for the Fire.  The Kenwood combo guard was in attack mode.  When he uses his burst off the dribble and strength at the rim he is one of the most lethal scorers in Illinois.  That is exactly what he was doing in this game along with showing some improved passing instincts hitting shooters in the pocket while scoring 13 points.  Missouri 2026 forward Tyseandre Edwards had a strong showing in the first half.  He relies a lot on his athleticism and motor.  Southpaw scored in bunches in transition and on spinning takes to the rim.  Quick to the glass as well scoring 14 points.  Class of 2027 Kenwood star Devin Cleveland is playing up on the 16U level.  Opened with a three then after a quiet stretch he got it going in the fourth quarter with his floater game finishing with 9 points.   Bowman Jr's Massive 1st Quarter Paces Team Takeover 15U over Mac Irvin Fire   This one was all TTO from the beginning as their 15U squad knocked off the Mac Irvin Fire 90-57.  In the first quarter it was the Navorro Bowman Jr show as the athletic and well built combo guard scored 17 of his 19 points in the contest.  Silky smooth guard that can really shoot it from three, attacks with ease in the open floor, crisp passer, and is slick finishing at the cup.  Big man Matthew Mena was a difference maker with his hook shots, spot up shooting, and nimble footwork netting 12 points.  Athletic and strong front court player Daniel Abass has great size and athleticism up front.  He can put it on the deck especially baseline for big plays.  Gets on the glass and plays with power.  Went for 12 points.  It was the sharp shooting of Dylan Harsanyi that also played a key role in the win as he hit four triples on the way to 18 points.   A new name emerged for Mac Irvin Fire 15U in Normal Community 2027 small forward Jarrel Brown.  Like the upside here as a rangy wing with length that can knock down open shots from three and is good in the open floor getting points including some nice euro steps.  Finished with 11 points.  Power guard Damari Stephens is a slasher from Kenwood that bullies downhill while scoring in the paint and at the line.  He had 17 points.  Lindbloom point guard Ed Williams is another to keep tabs on as he has had a good spring.  Tough guard that can make shots and is adept at scoring in the paint against taller defenders notching 15 points.   NJ Scholars 17U Survive in Nail Biter vs Indy Heat   This one came down to the wire.  Controversial calls late, but the NJ Scholars ended up winning 74-72.  Their toughness at the guard and wing spots was what made the difference.  Emmanuel Joe-Samuel (19 points), Jordan Ellerbee (15 points), and Markell Alston (10 points) came up big!   For Indy Heat it was their backcourt of sharp shooter Jack Smiley with his sweet lefty jumper notching 23 points while 5-star Jalan Haralson did a nice job getting to his spots for mid-range jumpers finishing with 14 points.   PSA Star Trio Leads to Win Against Boo Willaims   Two of the premier east coast programs in the EYBL clashed as PSA got the win over Boo Williams in a 17U matchup 70-54. La Lumiere (IN) 2025 shooting guard Darius Adams is always a joy to watch. Plus shot maker from beyond the arc with an effortless stroke. He is so smooth with the ball in his hands winning off the bounce on baseline takes, straight line attacks, and in transition. Solid secondary passer and can defend multiple spots. He had 21 points in the win. Kayden Mingo is a combo guard that continues to impress this spring. The New York native is a scoring guard that loves to get in the paint with his burst and handles to score in the paint on soft touch finishes or through contact for and-1s. Racked up the points scoring 16 points in the game. Keith McKnight is a long and wiry wing that brings size and length at 6'6”. His bounce around the hoop allows him to finish with force and rebound well for his position. Can also knock down an open shot as he had 11 points.   For Boo Williams we came away impressed with 2024 unsigned big man Rodney Baines.  Not sure what the deal is why he is still  unsigned, but at 6'8” with his frame and ability to score on spin moves, hooks, rim running, and from mid-range you would think a low-major or mid-major would snap him up before the end of the spring.  Their 2025 standout was Micah Tucker.  The combo guard plays with good pace, is efficient with his shots, and stuffs the stat sheet as he had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists before fouling out.   Brad Beal Elite 16U Wing Trio Physically Dominates vs Mac Irvin Fire   Always fun to see these two border rivals clash as Brad Beal Elite took on the Mac Irvin Fire.  BBE got the win 83-71.  It was their perimeter powerful wings that took over this one.  Early on it was Evansville Reitz (IN) 2027 small forward Jaylan Mitchell who did whatever he wanted.  Threes off the catch, crosses for finishes, and as the game went on he converted multiple and-1s racking up 22 points (4-6 3 PT) and 6 rebounds.  Chaminade 2026 wing Jamison White is a big boy that is super skilled.  Put his defender in spin cycles, got to the line, and finished so well in the paint off the bounce for 25 points (10-14 FG) and 6 rebounds.  Highly ranked small forward JJ Andrews from Arkansas is a high energy wing that didn't shoot it great, but was so active with his cutting, rebounding, and finishing with ferocity in the paint netting 15 points (6-14 FG) and 8 rebounds.   Lincoln Williams played about as well as we have seen him for the Fire.  The Kankakee wing has a long and projectable frame with a clean looking shot.  He also attacked off the bounce with fluidity and force all game long making some really difficult shots.  Best play was when he went back up for his own miss for an explosive tip slam.  Finished with 20 points (9-14 FG) and 6 rebounds.  Kenwood star Devin Cleveland struggled shooting it from beyond the arc, but inside the three point line he did damage.  Sweeping layups, shot fakes for drives, ridiculous reverse finishes, and stop/pop pull ups on his way to 17 points (8-21 FG).

It was a big day of games on Saturday at Nike EYBL in Kansas City! We saw a lot of 15U and 16U action including several big time 17U matchups. Here it all is in EYBL Kansas City: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!