Nike EYBL Atlanta: Top performers
Let’s take a look at the top performers at the Nike EYBL Session I that wrapped up Sunday evening in Cartersville, Ga.
Only four squads — the Texas Titans, Alabama Fusion, The Family and Indy Heat — finished a perfect 4-0 in the first of just two live periods in front of NCAA coaches during the 2019 travel basketball season.
2020 Sharife Cooper (AOT)
The USA Today Player of the Year, out of McEachern High in Georgia, led the circuit in scoring (31.3 points) and was second in assists (7). The 6-foot point guard attracted high-major coaches, including Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Kentucky’s John Calipari and Auburn’s Bruce Pearl. Cooper (pictured above) shoots it at a high percentage. He scored 37 points vs. the Georgia Stars and had 35 vs. Alabama Fusion. His recruitment reportedly is “wide open.”
2021 Daeshun Ruffin (MEBO Team Hood)
The 5-10 guard, out of Jackson, Miss., is an exciting sophomore. He finished the weekend fourth in the EYBL in scoring (27.5) and tied for fourth in steals (2.0). Ruffin poured in 36 points — connecting on six 3-pointers — against Team Melo. Last year in Las Vegas, Ruffin led MEBO to an upset of a loaded E1T1/Nike Team Florida squad.
2020 Cade Cunningham (Texas Titans)
Cunningham is a leader … a major reason the Texas Titans were one of just four unbeatens. The 6-7 guard, who attends Montverde Academy in Florida, averaged 25.5 points (6th) and 6.3 assists (T-3rd). Cunningham posted 32 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds vs. Wisconsin’s Phenom University on Sunday in front of a slew of NCAA coaches, including North Carolina’s Roy Williams and Kentucky’s Calipari.
2020 Josh Christopher (Vegas Elite)
Christopher, a 6-5 guard out of Bellflower, Calif., finished tied for 5th in assists (6.0), 10th in scoring (23.5) and was tied for 11th in steals (1.8). Christopher is one of several talented wings on a Vegas Elite (3-1) team that likes to run. He had 36 points vs. Pennsylvania’s Team Final and posted a double-double in a W over Texas’ Pro Skills.
2019 RJ Hampton (Drive Nation)
The big-time 6-5 scorer, out of Little Elm, Texas, came in second to Cooper in scoring at 28,8 points per game. Hampton popped in 41 points vs. Phenom on 12-of-22 shooting. He also got to the free-throw line 17 times in the game. He lost some points due to Drive Nation’s 0-4 mark. Hampton announced days after EYBL Session I that he was reclassifying from 2020 to 2019.
2020 Jaylin Williams (Woodz Elite)
The 6-10 big, out of Fort Smith, Ark., tied for second in rebounding (11.0), was tied for 4th in steals (2.0) and tied for 7th in blocks (1.5). Williams had double-doubles in victories over Illinois’ MeanStreets and UPlay Canada.
Nike EYBL Session II is scheduled for May 10-12 in Westfield, Ind.
If you have travel or high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.