EYBL Session 3: Vegas Elite in Dallas
Vegas Elite came to EYBL Dallas sporting an 8 – 3 record, good for second in their 17u Division A Standings. In Session 3 they seem to have hit their stride. They dominated their first four games with an average margin of victory of 16 points. This squad is absolutely loaded featuring top 15 senior Josh Christopher and top five junior Jaden Hardy. While those two get most of the headlines, this team is much more than a two man show. They finished 4-1 in Dallas with their only defeat coming by 2 points in an epic battle against Phenom University and top 5 senior Jalen Johnson. Here are a few of the standouts on this team.
Josh Christopher Mayfair (CA) 2020
Christopher is a walking bucket, a professional scorer at the high school level, he is virtually unguardable one on one. VE did run some floppy action for him this weekend, which allowed him to come off down screens, but he is still at his best in iso situations. The 6’5 Wing is an explosive player who finished several drives with a few thunderous assaults on the rim.
Jaden Hardy Coronado 2021
Hardy has a poise well beyond his years. He is a crafty player with the ability to get to any spot that he wants on the floor. Hardy is one of the only combo guards I have ever seen that is actually better running the 1 than the 2. He’s unselfish, but understands when he needs to go get a bucket for his team. With his 6’4 frame he can shoot over smaller guards, but his lateral quickness allows him to drive around taller Wings. He is a program changing leader, who posses a calmness and comfortably whenever the ball is in his hands.
Julian Strawther Liberty 2020
Strawther is a prototypical Wing, at 6’6 he has the ability to knock down 3’s or put the ball on the floor to create a shot for himself. He has a variety of floaters and runners that he uses to finish over and around larger defenders. You wouldn’t realize it by looking at him, but he’s a big time athlete who absolutely shut the gym down with a reverse lob dunk this weekend.
Noah Taitz Bishop Gorman 2020
Taitz is a big time defender with a high motor who can guard 1, 2, or 3. An elite competitor, he never takes a play off, making him the ultimate glue guy for this team. Taitz is the rare prep player that doesn’t have to shoot the ball well to impact the game. Listed at 6’3 he plays much bigger, fighting for rebounds in traffic and locking down much taller Wing players. He can be best described as a winner, and I can see him as the type of player to change the entire culture of a program with his work ethic and competitive nature.