EYBL Session 2 (Memphis): PA 17U Standouts

Nike's EYBL circuit made its second stop of the spring in Memphis this past weekend with hundreds of college coaches converging on Bluff City for the only AAU "live" period of the spring. With prospects from across the country showcasing their talents, the following group of PA-based prospects stood out among the rest in the 17U division.    The buzz has been building around Johnson Jr. throughout the spring, with his early EYCL play drawing national eyes to the uber-talented scoring guard who's showcased himself around the state for years. He backed it up across a 4-0 weekend, helping cement [program_tooltip program_id='2428253' first='Team' last='Final Red'] among the primary contenders for a 17U title in July. Starting to settle into his frame and blossom athletically, Johnson shows flashes of high-major ability while pouring in buckets from all over the floor with a silky handle and dynamic shot-making aptitude. The game looks to be slowing down for him as well as he learns to leverage his scoring gravity to make plays for his teammates. It's still rough around the edges at times as he adjusts to a different level of surrounding and opposing talent from the high school season, but it's clear why mid-majors have prioritized Johnson already with Power 5 programs beginning to poke around.     Among the highest-profile prospects in the state, Foster backed up his lofty national standing in leading [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final'] to a 3-1 record on the weekend, placing them in the driver's seat for a Peach Jam bid heading into Session 3. An athletic wing in the valued 3-and-D mold, Foster was blisteringly efficient for the weekend, averaging 19 points on 60% shooting (11-for-20 from 3) highlighted by a 27-point effort on just 12 attempts. When he has his perimeter stroke working, he becomes that much more difficult to keep in front, allowing him to showcase his highlight-reel athleticism around the rim. He'll have to be mindful of his defense and rebounding remaining consistent even when tasked with a scoring load, but productive, hyper-efficient weekends like this make it clear why the incoming Link Academy transfer is among the most highly-recruited swingmen in the country.     Another key piece to a three-headed monster that has [program_tooltip program_id='2078709' first='Team' last='Final']'s 17U among the contenders for a Peach Jam title, Jackson continued to flourish in Memphis while showcasing his IQ and well-rounded skillset as a jumbo playmaker. His scoring came and went throughout the weekend, with double-figures in two out of four games, but Jackson's consistency as a shotmaker and facilitator were key to his team's 3-1 record. Playing all across the perimeter, including extended reps at lead guard, Jackson stood out among the smartest players on the floor at all times, using his size and court vision to rack up at least four assists in each game. The floor-spacing he provided in knocking down half of his 12 3-point attempts was also key to open up driving lanes and keep the floor spread in transition. Jackson looks to be among the bigger stock-risers in the country through the first half of the grassroots season.     Coming off a dynamite opening weekend of EYCL play, it was more of the same for Vigo as Final Red cruised to an imposing 4-0 record to position itself among the main 17U contenders heading into Session 3 in Kansas City. A bruising, explosive downhill guard, it's looked impossible for defenders to keep the southpaw from his spots as he showcases a deceptive handle and swift footwork before detonating inside for dynamic above-the-rim finishes. Vigo sets an intense tone defensively and is a regular turning defense to offense in transition, while also showing he can make enough jumpers to keep defenses honest. Heading to Phelps for a post-grad year this fall, he's seen a slew of D1 offers come his way as a newly-minted member of the 2026 class.     The man in the middle for a well-oiled Final Red group that coasted to a 4-0 weekend in Memphis, Scarff was Mr. Reliable when it came to doing his job up front. Complementing a deep core of guards, the Western PA native was a regular recipient of lobs and dumpoffs in both the halfcourt and transition, showing his touch, leaping ability and body control while converting efficiently and athletically in traffic. Scarff is an instinctual rim protector who can move his feet with smaller players on the perimeter, regularly beating opposing bigs down the floor for early offense. His flashes of floor-spacing and faceup scoring are just gravy, with the energy and athleticism he brings being the trademarks that should attract regular scholarship-level attention in the coming months.

Nike's EYBL circuit made its second stop of the spring in Memphis this past weekend with hundreds of college coaches converging on Bluff City for the only AAU "live" period of the spring. With prospects from across the country showcasing their talents, the following group of PA-based prospects stood out among the rest in the 17U division.