Ohio EYBL 17 U Prospect Breakdown
The NIKE EYBL made a stop in Indianapolis and brought some of the top talent from across the country to compete against each other in front of hundreds of Division I coaches. I’ve already broken down each Ohio performer in…
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Continue ReadingThe NIKE EYBL made a stop in Indianapolis and brought some of the top talent from across the country to compete against each other in front of hundreds of Division I coaches. I’ve already broken down each Ohio performer in 15 U and 16 U, this concludes our EYBL coverage from the past weekend.
All Ohio Red 17 U
Will Maxwell Will Maxwell 6'5" | SF Oakwood | 2023 State OH , 6’5 SF Dayton Oakwood 2023: Maxwell had one marquee showing this weekend and it was against the Florida Rebels where he scored 21 points on 8/10 shooting from the field. Maxwell is a solid complimentary piece who does a lot of things well but doesn’t have one skill he hangs his hat on. Maxwell made some good passes, including an alley-oop pass to Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH on the fast break, had moments where he shot the ball well from the outside and defenders at a solid level. Maxwell projects as a wing who could play early at the mid to low major level, he earned five Division I offers in the summer of 2021, four of them from MAC programs.
Dailyn Swain Dailyn Swain 6'7" | SF Africentric | 2023 State #81 Nation OH , 6’7 SF Africentric 2023: Swain had an up and down weekend, struggling at times against the athleticism and strength of the EYBL. Swain is still very young for his grade and could use a little bit more core strength to compete against mostly older competition. Swain’s lack of a consistent jumper also made his life more difficult as he didn’t make a 3-pointer all weekend. All the skills he displayed during the high school season are still there, just the flaws in your game become much more apparent on the EYBL circuit. I still really believe in Swain long term, but this weekend was not one where he played his best basketball.
Chico Johnson Chico Johnson 6'2" | SG Toledo Central Catholic | 2023 State OH , 6’2 SG Toledo Central Catholic 2023: Johnson came off the bench and did what he usually does, which is play tough perimeter defense and make open perimeter shots. Johnson is adjusting to the EYBL talent level after being a stud on the UAA circuit at the 16 U level. Johnson still should be a target for mid major programs as watching him impact the game off the bench could be similar to the role he would be expected to play as an underclassman.
Lawrent Rice Lawrent Rice 6'4" | PG Huber Heights Wayne | 2023 State #184 Nation OH , 6’4 PG Huber Heights Wayne 2023: Rice had a solid weekend, showing off his athleticism, size and passing ability. I like how Rice drives to the basket and is looking for shooters on the perimeter, Rice had a positive A/TO ratio in three of the four games this weekend. Despite shooting jumpers with his left hand, Rice prefers to finish with his right around the basket and shows good touch on floaters and layups with that hand. I’d like to see Rice head to a system that pushes the pace because he’s much more effective in the open court than in the half-court. Rice also struggled to shoot it from the outside, only making one 3-pointer all weekend. After shooting almost 40% on 3-pointers during the high school season, it’s going to be interesting to track how well Rice shoots it from the outside at the next level as that is a major swing skill for him.
Amani Lyles Amani Lyles 6'7" | C Beechcroft | 2022 State OH , 6’8 C AIA Prep 2023: Lyles is heading to the post-grad route where hopefully he will gain the Division I interest that seemed to elude him as a high school senior. Lyles only posted Division I offer was from Cleveland State and their staff is completely changed due to Dennis Gates taking the Missouri job. Lyles played tough on the interior as the starting center for All Ohio and competed in the paint against mostly bigger opposing centers. Lyles isn’t going to wow you with scoring moves from the post, but his motor and potential switch ability defensively should make him an intriguing target for low to mid major programs. Lyles to me projects as a small ball center for teams that want to play fast, or a power forward who can play next to a floor spacing center.
Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH , 6’6 PF Pickerington Central 2023: Royal is establishing himself as one of the dominant players on the EYBL circuit and the high major offers continue to come in. Royal is a very productive player, just finding ways to score in the half-court. Royal makes decisive moves that have a purpose and has really improved his athleticism in the past year and a half. Royal throws down 1-2 alley-oop slams a game it seems like and his explosiveness is tough to stop. There’s not much more to say about Royal outside of emphasizing the rise he’s made in the past few months after winning a state title and now scoring at a high rate on the EYBL circuit.
Dayjuan Anderson, 6’2 SG Ponitz 2023: Anderson played brief minutes and finished with 12 points over the weekend. You could tell the potential talent that Anderson has some real talent with the ball in his hands and some solid burst athleticism. Anderson is a guy that Division II programs should be watching closely, especially in June with his high school program.
London Maiden London Maiden 6'8" | C Richmond Heights | 2022 State OH , 6’8 C Richmond Heights 2022: Maiden hasn’t announced his plays for next season, I’m unsure if he is taking the prep route or heading to the college level. Maiden is a big bodied post presence who has a solid right hook over his left shoulder. Maiden provided good interior muscle when Amani Lyles Amani Lyles 6'7" | C Beechcroft | 2022 State OH went to the bench and scored in the paint. If Maiden can lose a little weight and get quicker feet on the perimeter, he could be an intriguing guy for a program to take a chance on at the next level.
George Washington III 6’2 CG Christian Academy of Louisville (KY) 2023: Washington is supposed to be coming to Ohio for his senior season after his Dad took a job with the University of Dayton, yet hasn’t announced where he’ll be playing next season just yet. On the court this weekend, Washington was very impressive as a shot-maker from the outside and made nine 3-pointers over the course of four games this weekend. I love the patience that Washington plays at, always looking under control with the ball at his hands. Washington isn’t a great athlete but with his handle and poise with the ball in his hands, he’s able to get where he needs to inside the 3-point line. The future Ohio State Buckeye was one of the better outside shooters I saw all weekend.
Indy Heat 17 U
Jacob Meyer, 6’1 PG Holy Cross (KY) 2023: Sitting just across the river in Covington, Kentucky, I decided to catch a few Indy Heat games this weekend and I left once again impressed with Meyer’s talents. Meyer is so good at getting low to the ground and beating defenders off the bounce with his elite quickness and change of pace. Meyer is quicker than just about anybody guarding him and was tough to keep out of the paint all weekend. Meyer also knocked down the game clinching 3-pointer against Mac Irvin to close out that game and made key plays against Houston Hoops. For a prospect who comes off the bench, the fact that Meyer had games with 16, 14 and 11 points this weekend shows the impact he can make. Western Kentucky is getting a steal and I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw Meyer transfer up to the high major level if he wants to.
Houston Hoops 17 U
Amier Ali, 6’8 SF Montverde (FL) 2024: After being the talk of the town in Orlando, session two of the EYBL was a bit more difficult for the highly touted wing prospect originally out of Columbus, Ohio. Ali had his struggles shooting the ball from the outside, but his process is a lot better than what I watched on live-stream last year during Peach Jam. Ali is playing more under control and taking smarter shots. I think a season of practicing under the Montverde coaching staff did him wonders and I’m not surprised the pieces are starting to click for Ali. Ali is a special athlete who also has shown the potential to be a great outside shooter, with those skills it’s not surprising to see him toe the line of becoming a five-star prospect in the 2024 class. After recently picking up an offer from Kentucky, I wouldn’t be surprised if that fifth star comes by the end of the summer.
The Family 17 U
Christian Harmon Christian Harmon 6'5" | PF Buchtel | 2023 OH , 6’5 PF Buchtel 2023
Tyler Williams Tyler Williams 6'8" | C Brush | 2023 State OH , 6’8 C Brush 2023
I didn’t get the chance to watch The Family 17 U as Harmon and Williams were the only Ohio prospects I didn’t see this weekend. According to the EYBL box scores, Williams scored 6 points on 3/4 shooting in the four games while Harmon scored 9 points on 4/10 shooting.