AOT goes 4-0 in hometown session
Note: Photo above by OST247
The Athletes of Tomorrow Running Rebels out of Powder Springs, Georgia represented well this past weekend in their home state at Lakepoint Sports Academy. Already one of the top 17U squads in the EYBL and the country, the Running Rebels were looking to improve their success and punch their ticket into the Nike Peach Jam in July and they did just that. AOT went a perfect 4-0 this past weekend in Atlanta during the EYBL’s third session. They faced programs in Mac Irvin Fire (IL), Team United (NC), Boo Williams (VA), and Russell Westbrook’s Team Why Not (CA). The Rebels came into the third session already with a 6-2 record and added some star power to their already loaded roster in 2019 wing Christian Brown out of South Carolina. Unfortunately due to injury, Christian was not able to play as much as we would have liked him too.
AOT’s first matchup came Friday night against the reigning MVP’s Russell Westbrook’s program in Team Why Not (CA) with the Russell Westbrook in attendance. A program that features top-25 2019 prospect Cassisus Stanley (Sierra Canyon, CA). The Running Rebels were down for most of this matchup and was down at most by 15 points. Every thing looked to go wrong for AOT, not hitting shots and Team Why Not (CA) playing super aggressive defense. Mid way into the second half, the McEachern (GA) trio of Isaac Okoro, Sharife Cooper, and Auburn commit Babatunde Akingbola, all started to lock in and lead their squad to a comeback victory. Okoro was the most aggressive, as always, by attacking the rim and getting the foul line. Cooper hit a couple key three pointers to give AOT the lead. And Akingbola did what he does best on the defensive end and snatching down every rebound. AOT went on a tremondous run in the second half and came out with their first victory of the weekend beating Team Why Not (CA) 74-66. 2020 point guard Sharife Cooper finished with a team high 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assist while 2019 forward Isaac Okoro finished with 22 points and 2019 center Babatunde Akingbola finished with 7 points and 15 rebounds.
The two Saturday matchups were against Boo Williams (VA) and Mac Irvin Fire (IL) and where the Running Rebels won both by 10+ points. Isaac Okoro continued his dominating performance from Friday night with a 23 point and 10 rebound performance against Boo Williams (VA). Later that day they defeated Mac Irvin Fire (IL) with a score of 78-68 and where 2020 wing Brandon Boston went for a hot 30 points. Sharife Cooper also finished with a triple double against Mac Irvin Fire (IL) with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
The Rebels ended their perfect weekend with a dominating 89-72 win over Team United (NC). At least seven different players finished with 9 or more points. AOT was clicking on all levels in their Sunday morning matchup. Connecting on threes, hitting jump shots, defending well, and scoring in transition. Their tremondous play got them a EYBL season high 89 total points. With that win secured the Running Rebels are now sitting at a 10-2 overall EYBL record and have clinched a Peach Jam berth. Let us not forget nor be surprised they are having this much success. This is the same program who made their presence known last summer when making their way to the Nike E16 Peach Jam championship. Athletes of Tomorrow will look to continue their winning streak in two weeks in the last EYBL session in Hampton, VA.