Nike EYBL Atlanta | Saturday notebook: Vegas Elite sends message
The 2019 Nike EYBL circuit tipped off in Atlanta over the weekend. Here are some of Saturday’s top superlatives in front of NCAA coaches at LakePoint: VEGAS ELITE SENDS MESSAGE Vegas Elite averaged more than 107 points per game in…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 Nike EYBL circuit tipped off in Atlanta over the weekend. Here are some of Saturday’s top superlatives in front of NCAA coaches at LakePoint:
VEGAS ELITE SENDS MESSAGE
Vegas Elite averaged more than 107 points per game in starting a perfect 3-0 in the 17s. I am not sure what was more impressive: Putting up 130 points in a 58-point rout of N.J. Playaz or running away from a star-studded Nightrydas Elite squad, 94-78, in front of a packed court.
“We battled them the last two years and they have a great program,” Vegas Elite coach Rich Thornton said of Nightrydas. “We went to overtime two years in a row with them when seeing them in lower-age groups. Their roster is even more stacked this year, so we’re ecstatic about that win.”
Vegas Elite defends for starters … they play a suffocating defense. And they can shoot. Led by the trio of Josh Christopher (2020), Julian Strawther (2020) and Jaden Hardy (2021), Vegas Elite shot a blistering 38 of 71 from the field vs. Nightrydas. The 6-foot-7 Strawther (Liberty High School) — a Gonzaga commit — had 19 points and 11 rebounds. The 6-5 Christopher (L.A. Mayfair), pictured above, poured in 23 points. The 6-4 Hardy (Coronado High School) added 16 points and 5 assists. The squad’s point guard Zaon Collins (Bishop Gorman) is also just a sophomore. Collins had 11 assists.
Nightrydas led 23-20 after one quarter before Vegas Elite edged ahead 41-37 at the half. Vegas broke it open in the third, outscoring Nightrydas 36-11.
“Contrast of styles,” Thornton said. “We’re not one of the bigger teams in this league but we have great guard play. So we’ve got to try to play to our guards. We want to play fast.”
Vegas’ closest contest in the first three was a 98-93 win over Pro Skills (Texas).
THE STARS ALIGN
Another program that was very similar Saturday: the Georgia Stars 16s.
The Stars ran away from Florida Pro Hoops, 87-50.
6-9 2021 Lynn Kidd (The Rock School) and 6-5 2020 Quincy Ademokoya (Dacula, Ga.) were impressive. The Stars are quick, have good hands and can shoot.
Kidd and Ademokoya both said they would be transferring to different schools next year.
THOMPSON, DELANCY STAND OUT
Florida Pro freshman guard Ausar Thompson continues to show out. The 6-4 guard out of Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest scored 15 points — including two 3-pointers — against the Georgia Stars 16s. Sophomore Oteman Delancy (St. Pete Lakewood) continued his fine work off of a stellar state tournament, averaging 11 points in Atlanta.
If you have travel or high school basketball news, you can reach Pat Lammer via text at 954-661-9671.