EYBL 16s: Standout Forwards/Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MESA, Ariz. — The 2025 Nike EYBL circuit kicked off last Friday night at the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa with many of the country's top prospects and teams beginning their quest to qualify for Peach Jam in July. We were in the gym all weekend and below are the top forwards and centers we watched at the 16u level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Achilles Reyna | 2027 | NW Rotary Rebels</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reyna is a physical interior prospect whose bully-ball type of approach and soft touch with both hands around the basket make him a difficult cover at the 16u level. The 6-foot-8 sophomore seeks out contact and finishes through it on his post touches, wedges defenders under the basket to secure offensive rebounds and has some touch on the perimeter off the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Baba Oladotun | 2027 | Team Durant</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oladotun is considered by many of the rankings websites as the top prospect in the 2027 class and I won't be the one to argue against that after watching him at length over the weekend. The 6-foot-9 sophomore has a long, wiry frame, advanced ball-skills for his size and position and has the ability to stretch the floor to the three-point line both off the catch and off the bounce. Oladotun is at his best in transition where he uses his physical and athletic tools to finish at the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">CJ Rosser | 2027 | Team United</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosser will likely be battling Oladotun for the top prospect in the 2027 class over the next two years. The 6-foot-10 forward is highly skilled with touch out to the three-point line, the ability to attack and create off the dribble but brings a little bit more physicality and toughness inside on both ends of the floor. Rosser boasts impressive interior footwork and the ability to finish with touch or force in the painted area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1555179' first='Darius' last='Wabbington'] | 2027 | Arizona Unity</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wabbington might be the most skilled true five-man out west in the 2027 class. The big-bodied 6-foot-10 center has elite feel with his back to the basket that allows him to take advantage of suspect post defenders. He uses his combination of physicality, advanced footwork and touch with either hand to score around the basket but can also step out and stretch the floor to the three-point line off the catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2436295' first='Godson' last='Eyita'] | 2027 | Team Why Not</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eyita mainly stood out for his defensive prowess. The 6-foot-9 center showed great timing and anticipation when protecting the rim and blocking and altering shots, rebounded the defensive glass and threw quick outlet passes to guards and communicated well to his guards in ball-screen action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Marcus Spears, Jr. | 2027 | Drive Nation</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spears is a prospect who blends a high motor, toughness, physicality and the willingness to do the little things with a ton of skill, making him an intriguing next-level prospect. The 6-foot-7 lefty forward is an elite transition rim-runner and lane filler who slashes his way to the paint for above the rim finishes and he also has the ball skills, vision and basketball IQ to rebound the defensive glass and push the break. Spears' effort and energy is on display when crashing the offensive boards for second chance points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->