Athletes of Tomorrow: Dallas recap
Athletes of Tomorrow goes 3-1 in Dallas
This past weekend the Nike EYBL held it’s first session in Dallas, Texas where all Nike sponsored programs from 15U to 17U meet and compete not just for scholarships but a spot in Peach Jam. The Nike EYBL consist of at least half of the top prospects in the nation from the class of 2021 to 2019. Top prospects such as Vernon Carey, Cole Anthony, Jalen Lecque, Scottie Barnes, Josh Christopher, Tyrese Maxey, James Wiseman, & more.
Georgia’s own Nike Athletes of Tomorrow and Georgia Stars went a combined 5-3 overall record between the two, with AOT finishing 3-1 and GA Stars 2-2 over the first weekend. Coincidentally both of these Georgia programs matched up in Texas and where AOT held off the GA Stars by a score of 71-70 and where 2019 center and Auburn commit Babatunde Akingbola (McEachern HS) had the game winning block.
In AOTs first matchup, they came across a familiar face, which was Team CP3 out of North Carolina. These two squads last met last July in the Nike E16 championship and where Team CP3 took home the title. The anticipated matchup led to a huge crowd, and the expected wing matchup of 2019 wing Wendell Moore (Cox Mill) of Team CP3 and 2019 forward Isaac Okoro (McEachern HS) of AOT. The backcourt matchup also made headlines with the 2019 guards, the Langley twins (Wesleyan Christian) of Team CP3 against 2020 point guard Sharife Cooper (McEachern HS) and 2020 guard Brandon Boston (Norcross HS) of AOT. AOT had their foot on the gas in the first half and led going into halftime. Once the 2nd half began, Team CP3 locked up defensively and starting putting their foot on the gas to win the game at a score of 70-61.
After their intense matchup against CP3, AOT went 3-0 the rest of the weekend. Defeating programs such as GA Stars, The Family (MI), and All Ohio (OH). 2020 point guard Sharife Cooper finished with a game high 40 points in their match against The Family (MI). Backing that game up with a 28 point performance the next morning against All Ohio (OH). Cooper is expected to take the EYBL by storm this summer with his tremendous play and making his case that he is a top five point guard in the class of 2020.
This AOT squad is a favorite out of the 40 EYBL teams to win it all this summer at Peach Jam in mid July. Already with outstanding chemistry, it will be a hard matchup for any team that goes up against this group. The next EYBL session is scheduled for this weekend (April 27-29) in Indianapolis, Indiana and where AOT is expected to face The Truth (CA), Pro Skills (TX), Nike Phamily (CA), and Houston Hoops (TX).