EYBL: Scott’s Friday Standouts
PrepHoopsIllinois was in the house for Nike EYBL on Friday night in Indianapolis. Here are the prospects that stood out to us on night one!
C Francis Okoro (Brad Beal Elite)
The state’s top 2019 center had a solid game for BBE in their opener. He is such a physically impressive prospect with his strong upper body and plus athleticism. Okoro even handled it on one play going coast to coast dishing it off to Liddell for a dunk. The Normal West post had a couple big dunks of his own including one after he snatched a grown man rebound and hammered it home. Most of his scores were on dunks and offensive rebounds, but did show skill on one nice hook shot. Okoro had 14 points (5-8 FG) and 6 rebounds.
PF EJ Liddell (Brad Beal Elite)
It was a workman like effort for Liddell on Friday night. He missed a couple short shots, but got to the line at a really high rate! The Belleville West standout is super athletic and quick to the glass. He plays with a high motor. That combination makes him a prospect that has a high volume of trips to the charity stripe. Liddell had one poster jam over a defender. Worked well in the middle of BBE’s zone offense as a passer finding teammates. Plus rebounder that is a quick leaper off the floor. He had 14 points (3-6 FG) (8-13 FT) and 6 rebounds.
SF Moses Moody (Brad Beal Elite)
Moody is quickly becoming one of my favorite national prospects. The 6’6” 2020 small forward is a lights out perimeter shooter usually as we saw earlier in the month at Swish N Dish. He struggled a bit from deep going 2-8 from three, but more than proved he can score in others ways. When defenders closed hard on him he made impressive drives to the cup where he finished at the rim or with short runners. Was very effective on the baseline. Moody had 21 points.
SG Addison Patterson (CIA Bounce)
Patterson was clearly the go to guy on the perimeter for CIA Bounce. The Canadian wing is a big and athletic shooting guard that can really score the basketball! Explosive with the ball in his hands attacking downhill especially in transition. Plus shooter as well as he connected on an array of mid-range jumpers and was 3-4 from three. Big wing that can score at all three levels. Went for 22 points.
SG Josh Christopher (The Truth)
Christopher is among the top 2020 wings nationally. He is so competitive! This 6’4” shooting guard plays all out on both ends of the floor. Offensively Christopher made quick and aggressive moves taking his opponent off the dribble where he scored in the paint over and over again. Streaky jump shooter. Gets to the line at a high rate. Beast defensively with his angular frame, anticipation, and mentality. He had 21 points (7-12 FG).
C Carl Lewis (The Truth)
Lewis is one of the more polarizing prospects in the national 2020 class. He has tremendous physical tools with his size, strength, and athleticism. The skill level is there too as he will make some moves that just wow you! He did that again with a couple skilled and powerful moves down low and hit a pair of threes. He forces some bad shots and his mentality could definitely improve. He is a beast rebounder that snatches them with two hands in traffic. He had 14 points and 7 boards.
PG Sharife Cooper (AOT)
Cooper is a lead guard that is seeing his stock on the rise. The AOT guard is quick and shifty with the rock in his hands. Crisp ball handler that got pretty much wherever he wanted. Scored well in the paint with acrobatic layups and short jumpers. Streaky perimeter shooter. Like how he dished the rock and got others involved. With a deep team of talented prospects he knows how to get them the ball in position to succeed. Cooper finished with 20 points and 12 dimes.
SF Brandon Boston (AOT)
Boston is a very intriguing long term prospect in the 2020 class. He has tremendous length and projectability at 6’7” with go go gadget arms. Boston is a skilled wing that handles it with ease. Boston got to the foul line at a high rate. The big time wing had 21 points.
SF Joe Pridgen (Expressions Elite)
Pridgen is a physically imposing wing. He might not jump off the floor at you, but this kid is super productive. He put his imprint on the game by physically dominating weaker opponents. Took it right at the opponent where he scored through them over and over. This is bring your lunch pail to work wing will be productive at the next level because of his mentality! He had 16 points (6-7 FG)
PF Tre Mitchell (Expressions Elite)
Mitchell was an intriguing post prospect. He is a big man that can move and has skill on the low block. His most impressive move with a nifty and-1 where he used excellent footwork to score. Solid mobility and showed a soft touch from the line. Sound rebounder. Mitchell had 15 points and 7 rebounds.
G Jaden Hardy (Las Vegas Prospects)
Hardy is a rangy guard that flat out gets buckets and plays with a high energy. He scored at the rim on a variety of tough takes to the rim where he consistently finished through or around the trees. Also hit a three in the half that we saw. Stock continues to rise!
PG Markese Jacobs (Mac Irvin Fire)
We didn’t see this game, but it is definitely worth noting. The Kansas commit from Uplift put on a show in their win over Howard Pulley! Jacobs scored 34 points on 12-17 shooting from the field and 5-9 from three.