EYBL: 2019 National Evaluations
PrepHoops took in the Nike EYBL on Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis. We saw some of the premier prospects in the country at the event. Here are the evaluations from the 2019 prospects that made an impression on us!
PG Yuri Collins (Brad Beal Elite)
Collins is one of the more underrated point guard prospects in the Midwest. The St. Mary’s (MO) lead guard plays his role for BBE. He can score the ball as he proved during the high school season, but with this particular team and so many weapons on the floor he is a facilitator. At times he throws some risky passes, but most are crisp and on the money! Collins is a quick guard that gets dribble penetration where he can either find his shooters like Moses Moody or throw bullet passes to his bigs for dunks. He had 3 points and 11 assists against Team Takeover and also dropped 6 dimes against CIA Bounce. Mid-major plus player.
PG Mario McKinney (Brad Beal Elite)
McKinney is the definition of a scoring combo guard. The lefty is a high volume scorer that struggled some against CIA Bounce on Friday night. He shot 1-6 from the field drilling one corner three. Against Takeover he connected on 2-3 from beyond the arc. McKinney is a solid spot up shooter with a quick release. Played just ok in the two games we saw. High-major minus combo guard.
SG Keyyaun Batchman (Brad Beal Elite)
Batchman is a player that doesn’t get talked about much for BBE, but we are fans of his game. The 6’2” shooting guard is coming off a strong junior campaign at Chaminade where he showed he could score it. On this team he is asked to do other things and he definitely showed off his versatility. Batchman scored in the lane a couple times, but it was his passing that stood out. Made the extra dish and when in the paint he found his teammates for better looks. Nose for the basketball and is a good rebounder for his size. Tough on ball defender that plays with grit. Low-majors should definitely give him strong consideration.
SG Jaime Jaquez (The Truth)
Jaquez is a player that gained a lot of steam after his play in the first EYBL session. He is a skilled wing that is crafty with the ball in his hands. Can hit a three when left open and is a sound passer. Gritty kid. Also has some bounce as he showed when he crossed his man behind his back, jump stopped, and slammed it home. High-major player.
C Babatunde Akingbola (AOT)
This big man is a physically imposing center that is a plus athlete. He is a great area rebounder that high points them above the rim with two hands. Rim runner and shot blocking presence. He is committed to Auburn.
C Kofi Cockburn (New York Rens)
Cockburn was a man among boys physically even against some of the premier post prospects in his class. He is just so strong and can maul his opponents on the interior. Cockburn did just that against Bluff City consistently garnering deep post position and then scoring with an array of spins and hooks inside. He is definitely a bully inside, but also has a soft touch around the hoop. Finished with 23 points (10-15 FG) and 7 boards. High-major big!
SG Jalen Hill (Las Vegas Prospects)
In my first time evaluating this 2019 shooting guard he was very impressive. He has a lot of bounce off the floor and can score it in a variety of ways. Looked confident shooting the ball from the perimeter and was very aggressive in transition. High-major prospect.
PG Cole Anthony (PSA Cardinals)
Anthony is the top 2019 point guard in the country in my eyes. The PSA Cardinals star didn’t have his best outing against Expressions when we saw him play. He struggled shooting it from the field going 5-15 and only hitting one three. Also had some turnovers, but you cannot deny the elite level of speed and talent he has in his game. Works well in the pick/roll and is a dynamic playmaker in the open floor. Top 5 type player in the country. In a “down” game he still managed 16 points and 4 dimes.
PG Joe Toussaint (PSA Cardinals)
Toussaint is an athletic point guard that has explosive speed in the open floor. He can really get it and go! Pushes the pace of the game. Solid passer, but does throw some risky ones at times.
G Noah Fernandes (Expressions Elite)
Fernandez is a combo guard that puts the ball in the hoop. He is crafty with the ball using hesitation to keep the defense off balance. He scores well at the hoop and can also connect from deep as best shown on a play where he crossed his man and then drilled a step back triple. Also a quality defender that has a knack for getting his hand on the ball. He had 19 points in a win over PSA. High-major player.
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). Like him best at the mid-major level.
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. Very intriguing high-major post.
PF James Wiseman (Bluff City Legends)
I still believe Wiseman is the best prospect in the country, but if you just saw his game against the Rens on Saturday morning you wouldn’t have thought that. He missed a lot of very makeable shots that he usually puts in the hoop. The 6’11” power forward is a long and lanky big man that runs the floor well and has elite skill. Showed that off with a couple nice lefty hooks, but for whatever reason wasn’t himself in that game. Finished with 8 points and 5 boards.
F DJ Jeffries (Bluff City Legends)
This 6’8” combo forward from Olive Branch High School in Mississippi was an absolute beast for the portion of the Bluff City game we saw in the morning. The Kentucky verbal commit scored in a variety of ways, but was most effective from mid-range with his pull up jumper. Jeffries has a smooth and fluid release on his shot. Can stretch it out to three on occasion, but is most effective shooting from 15-18 feet. Jeffries draws a lot of contact around the rim getting on the glass and making quick moves at the defense. Gets to the foul line at a nice clip! He had 21 points.
C Malcolm Dandridge (Bluff City Legends)
Dandridge is a player that I continue to like more each time I see him. He isn’t going to wow you with skill, but this post can rebound the basketball and swat shots at the rim! Offensively he is best getting deep post position and finishing with quick moves. High-major post.
C Sydney Curry (Mac Irvin Fire)
Curry stands at 6’8 from Northrop (IN). This kid is a physical enforcer on the interior and that is exactly what he did early against the Fire playing bully ball in the post scoring efficiently with quick moves and powering his way through opponents. For whatever reason they went away from him the rest of the game. Mid-major big man.
PF Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indy Heat)
Jackson-Davis is a 6’9” power forward from Center Grove High School in Indiana. He is a strong post that moves well with the strength he carries. The lefty is extremely skilled on the low block using an array of crafty post moves to score. He has definitely improved as an athlete as that was seen with his ability to play above the rim both finishing alley oop slams along with other dunks as well as high pointing rebounds all game long. Jackson-Davis had 26 points (11-14 FG).
PF Keion Brooks (Indy Heat)
Brooks was equally as impressive for the host team. This 6’8” 2019 power forward is a thin and angular four man that works well when he can face up and use his athleticism taking other posts out of their comfort zone. He finishes well around the rim with big dunks and is an excellent rebounder high pointing balls on a consistent basis. Extremely bouncy post that can stretch out and hit a three on occasion. Also impressed with his passing making quality decisions from the forward spot. Defensively his length plays very well getting in passing lanes and blocking shots. He went for 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 dimes.
SF Malik Hall (Mokan)
Hall who is a native of Chicago has been a hot name on the recruiting trail over the last couple weeks. The first thing we noticed is that he has grown a couple more inches since we saw him during the high school season. Looks about 6’8” now which gives him more of an advantage on the wing and can play some four at the college level. He had a few slick drives to the hoop and was the best player on the floor at finding his elite big man N’Faly Dante including on a great wrap around pass. Hall missed both of his threes. Solid jobs on the glass. He had 12 points and 7 boards. High-major prospect.
SG Isiaih Mosley (Mokan)
Mosley is the top 2019 prospect in the state of Missouri. The Columbia Rock Bridge two guard struggled shooting it from the field going 4-15 including 1-6 from three. Despite the poor outing we still believe he is a plus shooter from the perimeter after seeing him in numerous settings. In this game he was best being aggressive especially late trying to get his team back in the game. Finished with 10 points and 6 boards. High-major wing for Midwest programs.
G Anthony Harris (Team Takeover)
This 6’4” combo guard from Paul VI was lights out shooting the rock! He was hitting jumpers both off the catch and pulling up at a very high rate in their game against BBE. Harris was straight money over and over again helping them push out to a big lead early and ultimately getting the win. Harris had 15 points. High-major player.
SG Armaan Franklin (Meanstreets)
This Cathedral (IN) wing is a strongly built two guard that can shoot the rock when left open. Franklin connected on an array of jumpers including several threes. Tough kid that stuck his nose in for a couple 50/50 boards and also made an impression on D. Mid-major plus.
SG Brandon Newman (Meanstreets)
Newman started the night off slow, but later in the contest this Valparaiso (IN) 6’4” shooting guard got it rolling. He is a wiry guard that likes to attack with straight line drives. He got to the charity stripe at a high rate and clinched the win with a pair in OT. Newman is a sound catch and shoot guy usually that struggled from deep in this game going 1-7. He had 19 points (3-12 FG) (12-13 FT). Mid-major plus/high-major minus prospect.
SF Romeo Weems (Meanstreets)
Weems is the top prospect on this team being from New Haven (MI). The 6’7” small forward was aggressive early with a couple nice takes to the hoop. He got in foul trouble which caused him to sit a portion of the first half. Once he got back in there he made some key plays late including a slashing dunk to take the lead as well as swatting back to back shots on Kahlil Whitney. Plus rebounder. Weems had 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 steals, and 3 assists. High-major.
SF Tray Jackson (Meanstreets)
Jackson had his moments in this game. The 6’8” Michigan native is a lefty with great size and slashing ability. He likes to take it strong with his left hand for sweeping runners in the paint. The combo forward had a few nice drives in this contest along with a tip dunk. Made a lot of points at the line. He had 17 points and 5 boards in the win. Mid-major plus prospect.