Mike’s Friday EYCL Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Friday I attended the NIKE circuit event in Memphis and caught a bunch of EYBL and EYCL action, in this article I'll break down the standout performers from the EYCL action on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2532398"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c7f83"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A top athlete in central Ohio, Ivery has an explosive first step and is dangerous in transition. A monster transition slam dunk in the first game of the morning stood out as a highlight play from Ivery on Friday. As a passer I thought Ivery did a nice job finding cutters and kicking out to shooters. While Ivery prefers to use his right hand on layups, dunks and floaters, Ivery is a left-handed shooter and the next step in his game will be developing consistency from beyond the arc. Expect Division I programs to become very familiar with Ivery over the next few months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2370700"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c7fdd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of my favorite players to watch in Ohio's 2027 class, James is one of the most impactful point guards at both ends of the court. I've never left a game disappointed with James effort and that really shows on the defensive end of the court. Offensively, James wants to push the pace and makes quick decisions to either attack off the bounce or pass to a teammate. With a few steals that turned into layups, a pair of righty scoop layups and a breakaway slam dunk, James was also generating his own offense on Friday in two big victories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2125740"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c8024"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A nice complimentary piece for his team, Stumpf checks a lot of boxes for his team. A physical wing guard who can pass, rebound and make shots from the outside, Stumpf was efficient and played his role well for a winning team. Big Walnut has a lot of talent in their program and Stumpf and [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] 16 U teammate Carson School both impressed on Friday. One of the better multi-sport athletes in central Ohio, Stumpf will get college interest for both basketball and football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2611027"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c808b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I don't think there are many more improved players in Ohio's 2027 class from last year to this year than Creager. A hard worker who has taken a leap athletically by getting stronger and quicker, Creager had some tough finishes in transition to score through contact. An elite shooter on the perimeter, Creager knocked down three straight 3-pointers in the first half against Utah Gold and maybe his best shot of the game came when he dribbled off a pick and roll, put the defender in jail before rising up for a pull-up jumper. During our next rankings update, Creager will continue to climb the ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1985934"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c80d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] 17 U squad has been on a mission this EYCL season and continued their dominant winning ways with another blowout win. I thought Johnson impacted the game in a variety of ways with his defensive activity, quick processing as a passer and scoring off cuts and closeout attacks off the dribble. An underrated part about Johnson's game is his rebounding ability and I was impressed with his ability to box out bigger forwards and once he secures the rebound he can quickly go coast to coast. Expect the Division I interest for Johnson to spike starting this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2838551"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c8143"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hardwick was one of the top scorers in northeast Ohio as a Junior playing for Brooklyn high school. A combo guard with a quick first step and the shiftiness to beat defenders with his wiggle, Hardwick is a tough player to stop in transition or when he gets a head of steam. With some strong finishes in traffic including an and-1 layup and a slick slam dunk, Hardwick was playing above the rim when he had a clear path to takeoff from. Also knocking down a couple time and space 3-pointers, Hardwick can score the basketball in a variety of ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617867"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68280368c81a0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the fastest risers in the 2025 class, Vickerstaff continues to improve and produce. On Friday I saw Vickerstaff get a handful of second chance opportunities, and he continued to space the floor as a stretch forward with a couple of 3-pointers. Vickerstaff also had a putback slam dunk that was the exclamation point of a strong second half performance for his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->