Nike EYBL Atlanta: Nightrydas hit century mark
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — Nightrydas Elite hit the century mark Saturday, drubbing UPlay Canada, 100-55, in its opening 17U game at Nike EYBL Session I Atlanta.
Saturday was Day 2 of the three-day national travel basketball showcase.
Isaiah Todd, a 6-foot-10 2020 stretch forward from Trinity Academy in Raleigh, N.C., led six Nightrydas in double-digits with 21 points.
Todd, who wears No. 7, showed an excellent stroke from deep, canning four 3-pointers in the W. He has a pure shot and can be unstoppable when catching and shooting. Todd’s size allows him to shoot over people. He has nice length and provides a boost on the boards and defending at the rim.
Antwan Burnett, a 6-5 junior out of Montgomery (Ala.) Lanier, added 18 points, while guards Dudley Blackwell (Huntington Prep) and Kameron Woods (Pinson (Ala.) Valley) each had 16 in the rout. Blackwell, featured playing defense in the main photo, is formerly from Fort Lauderdale Westminster Academy and Somerset Pines.
“It went well,” Nightrydas coach Edward “Boobie” Francis said. “We still have got a lot of stuff to work on, you know little things. But overall the kids played hard. They shared the ball, looked good together.”
Among other Florida squads, the E1T1 United 17s lost their opener, 78-75, to Bluff City Legends of Tennessee.
2020 guard Marcus Niblack, out of Wildwood High, led E1T1 with 18 points and 2020 big Giancarlo Rosado (Palm Beach Lakes) chipped in 17.
“We gave them a game we should have won,” E1T1 coach Steve Reece said. “We didn’t execute down the stretch.”
The Nightrydas’ verdict was never in doubt. The talented squad — which is pointing to winning the Peach Jam in July — led 20-9 after one quarter, 42-25 at the half and 69-42 going to the fourth quarter.
Nightrydas’ pressing defense overwhelmed UPlay Canada, forcing numerous turnovers in the second half. In the first half, UPlay Canada was held to 10 made field goals, four of which were 3s.
“Antwan Burnett played tough,” coach Francis said. “Isaiah, tough kid, played tough. I like what Dudley brought to the table today. Scottie [Barnes] will always be Scottie, so as a group we played well.”
Barnes, one of the top juniors in the country out of University School in Davie, Fla., finished with 10 points and had at least 8 rebounds.
If you have travel or high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.