Pittsburgh Recruiting

ELITE 75 REVIEW - PART I (EXPRESSIONS ELITE VERSION)

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By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The Elite 75 took place on the campus of Umass-Lowell on Friday afternoon bringing together the top talent New England has to offer. All of the area’s top AAU programs were represented including, but not limited t,o Expressions Elite, BABC, NE Playaz, Mass Rivals, CBC and the NY Lightning. I had the chance to catch up with players from all of those programs regarding their recruitment since the unlimited contact period started on June 15th. Starting with Expressions Elite, NBE Basketball will be profiling players from each of these six programs over the next few days.

Expressions Elite was well represented at this year’s Elite 75 led by arguably the top 2 performers at the entire event in Jared Terrell (2014 SG) and Abdul-Malik Abu (2014 PF). Both were dominant in early skill development as well as full court 5 on 5 game action. Before getting started on their stand out days, both stars caught up with NBE regarding their burgeoning recruitment.
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RECRUITING NOTEBOOK: (SAM SINGER, TERRENCE SAMUEL & JOSH BROWN)

Clearing out the notebook from some recent updates we have gathered from players in the Class of 2013. We have updates below on Josh Brown, the Sports U/St. Anthony’s (NJ) point guard that recently de-committed from Temple, Terrence Samuel, a NYC point guard who has been hearing the most for a couple schools since June 15th and Sam Singer, a scoring guard out of Florida who has a long list of schools looking to track him this summer.

Read on below for the lastest on each…

JOSH BROWN COLLECTING OFFERS

When news circulated that Josh Brown was backing off his verbal commitment to Temple which he made last Fall, we knew it wouldn’t be long before his recruitment started to take off. Brown had been very impressive every time NBE saw him during the season at St. Anthony’s as well as on the spring AAU period with Sports U. When we caught up with Brown yesterday he shared with us the schools that have been in contact with him since his decommitment, which also coincided with the June 15th opening of the unlimited contact period.

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PHONE CALLS, OFFERS COMING IN FOR ’14 PF QUADRI MOORE

The Sports U 16U AAU team has been one to watch this spring and will certainly draw a large contingent of college coaches, scouts, fans and reporters this summer. One of the main attractions is 6-foot-8, 230-pound PF Quadri Moore out of Linden (NJ) High School.

Moore is an interesting mix of size and skill on the basketball court and those traits have certainly caught the attention of college basketball recruiters over his two varsity seasons at Linden. Moore has solidified himself as one of the top recruits in the Class of 2014 in the Northeast with his play this spring, which he has enjoyed with his Sports U teammates.

“Going to Texas and also playing in the Rumble in the Brox were both exciting tournaments for me,” said Moore of his highlights on the AAU trail in the spring.

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CLASS OF 2014 INTRO: KYLE WILLIAMS

With college basketball coaches being able to be on the road this April for the first time in several years to evaluate prospects, recruiting at this stage this year seems to be well ahead for the rising senior class than in recent memory. Along with the head start in getting a look at their top 2013 targets, college coaches also had the opportunity to take a glance at 2014 and younger players this past April. That has meant a more meaningful June 15th date for the rising junior class as college coaches got a good look over a two weekend period at prospects and their early phone calls and texts to prospects were likely chosen from what they actuall saw.

One name that is new to many recruitniks that they should begin to learn in the Class of 2013 is Kyle Williams. College coaches definitely know the name and by judging from the list of school making early contact with the 6-foot-9, 225-pound big man out of Freeport (NY), his recruitment could blow up quickly.

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JOSH HART EMBRACING UNLIMITED CONTACT RULE WITH RECRUITING

Josh Hart, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Washington, DC’s Sidwell Friends School, has had a productive spring and word has spread. Playing with Team Takeover on the AAU trail it has come as no surprise that college coaches are hitting up regularly since the unlimited contact rule went into effect at midnight on June 15th. One school showed their strong interest in Hart by making sure they were the first school he heard from.

“After the rule change North Carolina State texted me first and that was at 12:01 AM,” hart told NBE Sports this evening.

Some of the players we have talked to the last couple days have been a little lukewarm on the new unlimited contact rule, wondering if it will become cumbersome as the months pass. Right now most players are out of school for the summer and the new rule adds excitement. Hart is one that is ready for the calls and texts to come and understands the way society is today that the constant contact is more of the norm.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP: RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (MIKE YOUNG & JARELL MARTIN)

by Alex Schwartz

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – By most accounts, Jarrell Martin and Mike Young were two of the most impressive players at the recent Pangos All-American Camp.

Both players also made their way to the University of Virginia last week to participate in the NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp, where NBE Sports had the opportunity to talk recruiting with each of them.

Jarrell Martin, a 6-foot-8 power forward, has a list that is mostly comprised of schools south of the Mason-Dixon Line. That certainly makes sense, considering he goes to Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge, La.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP: RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (SINA, LAWRENCE, MUDIAY & MORE)

By Matt Whitfield

Throughout the day on Friday NBE Basketball Report caught up with many of the top players at the 2012 NBPA Top 100 High School Basketball Camp on the beautiful campus at Virginia University. Here are some of the recruiting notes gathered from conversations with the players.

Jermaine Lawrence Indicated a Top 3 School List

Jermaine Lawrence has had an impressive spring on the AAU trail and may people were excited to see him in action against other top players in the Class of 2013. Unfortunately Lawrence is out of action because of a wrist injury, but he expects to be back in action at full health by the time July rolls around.

Entering the camp there was some murmurs that Mike Rice and Rutgers had positioned themselves into the lead for his services. While Lawrence said that was not quite the case, Scarlet Knight fans should rest assured they are very much in the mix for the 6-foot-7 forward who attends Pope John XXIII.
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NBPA TOP 100 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CAMP: FRIDAY AFTERNOON RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

By Matt Whitfield

HARVARD GOT A GOOD ONE!
It did not take long to become really impressed with Zena Edosomwan. The Class of 2013 verbal commitment for Harvard already has a college-ready body. Edosomwan easily could have been recruited to any conference in America, but is going to get a great education.

Edosomwan is long and atletic and has a non-stop motor that continues to hustle on both ends of the court. Maybe the strongest player on the floor in the game NBE saw him in action. So strong he has to be double-teamed at times near the rim on the offensive end to prevent him from scoring easily. He also has a decent shooting stroke for a big man that keeps his upside potential impressive. Will impact immediately at the college level and will also be an elite rebounding force.
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2012 RUMBLE IN THE BRONX RECAP (PART II)

By Brian Bosworth, National Recruiting Analyst

The Rumble in the Bronx got back into swing on Saturday at gyms all over the greater NYC area. I had the opportunity to take in the action at both Baruch College in the morning and John Jay College in the evening. While younger players in the 2014 and 2015 classes stole the show for much of the day it was still a member of the 2013 class who gets top billing for Saturday.

Top Performance of the Day:

Dayshon Smith (NY Lightning 2013) – Affectionately called “Scooch” by just about everybody, Smith is an old school New York City point guard. He uses spins, hesitation moves, crossovers, and herky-jerky head fakes to constantly work his way into the paint and make plays. Once inside he’s equally likely to use a soft floater, explode towards the rim, or whip a pass out to a 3 point shooter at any and all angles. While his physical skills are impressive it’s the mental side of the game where Smith truly separates himself from the competition. He has a unique understanding of when to get others involved and when to look for his own offense. In the first half of a Saturday night victory Scooch ran the show and got everyone else the ball in spots where they could be successful. Then down the stretch of the second half with the outcome still in the balance he took matters into his own hands and seemed to score on every possession down the floor. This is not the first time I’ve seen Smith master the balance of keeping teammates happy for 3.5 quarters and then closing the game out himself in the final moments. It’s unusual for players at the high school level to already understand that just because they can get their own shot any time doesn’t always make it the right decision. Scooch is ahead of the game in this area and it’s a mindset that will continue to serve him well at the next level.
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NYC GUARDS SHANE RECTOR & DAYSHON SMITH SEE RECRUITMENT RISE

by Alex Schwartz

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. – Shane Rector and Dayshon Smith are two of the top New York City natives in the class of 2013. Both point guards, Rector and Smith have different styles of play, but they each get the job done on the hardwood.

On Friday night, NBE Sports had the opportunity to catch up with both of the Big Apple floor generals while at City Sports for the first round of games in the 2012 Rumble in the Bronx.

Rector, who stands 6-foot-1 and attends St. Raymond’s (NY), listed scholarship offers from Providence and Hofstra. The Playaz Basketball Club standout also named Arizona, Iowa State, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, North Carolina State, Stanford, and UMass as programs involved in his recruitment.
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REEBOK SHOWDOWN SERIES - PHILADELPHIA (SATURDAY RECAP)

By Alex Schwartz

PHILADELPHIA – In its inaugural year, the Reebok Showdown Series has managed to attract some quality teams. In fact, the field at the Philadelphia event this weekend is one of the best of any tournament in the month of June. NBE Sports was on hand for much of the day on Saturday and had the chance to take in some impressive performances and talk with some talented prospects.

TOP PERFORMER

Rondae Jefferson: One of the top players in the class of 2013 on a national level, the Chester (PA) star was at his absolute best on Saturday afternoon. Versatile enough to play three positions, the 6’6 Jefferson is best suited as a small forward who can be a secondary ball handler and also provide aid down low. With Jaren Sina not present for Team Final, Jefferson actually played a lot of point guard in this affair and was fantastic in doing so. He has a great feel for the game, sees the floor quite well and knows how to hit the open man. Possessing a great build, quality athleticism and nice strength, Jefferson is also impressive from a physical standpoint. The younger brother of Temple’s Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, Rondae has an impressive skill set, gets to the cup with ease and can really score it. He continues to improve his game and does not seem to be done making progress.

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‘WHOLE BIG EAST’ & MORE ON ’14 NYC F CHRIS MCCULLOUGH

Chris McCullough burst onto the national recruiting radar last summer with a series of strong performances during the month of July, first at the Hoop Group Elite Session 1 Camp and the Hoop Group team camp playing with the Salisbury (CT) School. McCullough built up a strong following and next thing you knew college coaches were making sure they knew where his team SCAN AAU squad would be playing throughout the open evaluation periods of July last year.

Fast-forward to a year later and McCullough is regarded as one of the elite prospects in the Class of 2014. The NYC native is once again making the rounds with Team SCAN on the AAU circuit and beginning this weekend his camp tour is also picking up as he headed west for the Pangos All-American camp in California.

This past high school season the 6-foot-9, 207 pound forward scored 26 points in the New England Class A Basketball Championship game and led the Salisbury School to it’s first ever title. Considered a hybrid forward, McCullough filled NBE in on that he is working to fine tune everything in his game.

“Going to the rim [is my strength],” he said. “I need to improve my overall game.”

Last summer McCullough told us he made unofficial visits to UConn, Providence, Rutgers and St. John’s. He also at the time told us that schools that offered were St. John’s, Providence, Rutgers, Florida, Iowa State, Syracuse, Temple and Hofstra in addition to interest from Arizona, UMass, North Carolina, Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and Kansas State. As we head into this summer period McCullough is just taking the recruiting aspect as it comes, not really looking at things very seriously on that front yet.

“I’m wide open in my recruitment,” he recently told NBE. “The whole Big East, Temple, Iowa State, Hofstra, Arizona [and] Kansas [have offered].”

With the June 15th date of when college coaches can begin unlimited texting and calls of Class of 2014 players, you can be certain Chris McCullough will be a hot target of some of the biggest names in college basketball. Additional scholarship offers are certain to pour in for this elite prospect who cites “coaches and style of play” as the factors that will be most important in his eventual college decision. NBE will certainly make our way to see Team SCAN in action and follow up in July with how the recruiting process is going for Chris McCullough. Stay tuned…

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MAJOR CANADY HAS FOUR SCHOOLS STANDING OUT IN RECRUITMENT

Major Canady, a powerful and quick point guard measuring 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, from Kiski Prep near Pittsburgh (originally from North Carolina) has had a very good start to the AAU circuit playing with the Ohio Basketball Club. NBE caught him in action with OBC at the Under Armour Pittsburgh Jam Fest hosted by the Hoop Group. Canady and his teammates reached the event’s championship game in the 17U division before falling to a very talented Sports U club.

With the success during the key April evaluation periods Canady has seen his recruitment begin to pick-up. He has a variety of schools on his trail, but the list has lengthened since college coaches were able to be on the road for two weekends in April. With a head start in getting a look at this intriguing point guard, you can expect many schools to be very anxious to see him in action once again this summer.
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NIKE EYBL - OAKLAND (SUNDAY RECAP)

Parker vs. Randle highlights day

By Raphielle Johnson

Nike saved the “best” for its final regular season session of Nike EYBL, with the top two players in the class of 2013 facing off on Sunday afternoon. Jabari Parker and Mac Irvin Fire went toe-to-toe with Julius Randle and the Texas Titans, but a furious second half rally for the Chicago-based team fell just short. Behind 23 points and 13 rebounds from Randle and Matt Jones adding 19 and eight rebounds, the Titans won 63-59 to move into a tie for third in Division C with Mac Irvin.

That was a big win for the Titans from a Peach Jam standpoint as well, as the result guaranteed them a berth in the 24-team tournament to be held in July. A loss would have dropped them into a three-way tie with CPE and E1T1 Elite, and while all three would most likely advance (four at-larges join the top five in each division) it’s better to simply take care of business yourself instead of relying on help.

Jones had the assignment of guarding Parker in the first half while Jackson Forbes helped out in the second, and the nation’s top-ranked player seemed to settle for perimeter jumpers a bit too much. But he did guard Randle on the other end in the first half, and to be frank both seemed to be pressing in the first 16 minutes. But Randle’s teammates, most notable Jones, came up big as they led by as many as 18 in the first half.

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NIKE EYBL - OAKLAND (SATURDAY RECAP)

By Raphielle Johnson, NBE West coast Editor/Recruiting Analyst

After one round of play on Friday night things got into full swing in Hayward with all teams playing two games on Saturday. There were many players who stood out, most notably a high-major talent from North Carolina. Below are some thoughts and recruiting updates from Saturday’s action.

- Player of the Day: Theo Pinson (CP3 All-Stars)

There were some very good performances on Saturday, but the way in which Pinson played for CP3 earned him this spot. Pinson’s an immensely talented player blessed with excellent athleticism, something he used to his benefit on both ends of the floor.

Offensively Pinson was able to get to the basket off the dribble at will, and he has to be considered as one of the top athletes in the 2014 class. Pinson showed off the ability to finish above the rim, and with some improvement to his perimeter shot he will become even more dangerous at that end of the floor.

On the defensive end Pinson was a major distraction in their win over Alabama Challenge, whether CP3 was playing man or going with their 1-3-1 zone. In the zone Pinson would play up top, and the combo of his quickness and wingspan made things difficult for the Challenge guards.

- Sleeper of the Day: John Davis (Team Final)

Davis played well in both games for Team Final on Saturday, with his effort standing out on both ends of the floor. He isn’t afraid of physical play inside, and he’s more likely to attack the basket than put up a perimeter shot.

Davis also played well on the defensive end of the floor, moving his feet well and working hard on the glass. He mentioned multiple Atlantic 10 and CAA schools in a post-game conversation (more on that info below), and that would be a good level for him with some work on his jumper.

More Player Observations:

- G/F Rondae Jefferson (Team Final)

Jefferson played better in Team Final’s afternoon win over Alabama Challenge, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and three steals, than he did in the morning defeat at the hands of Team United. Jefferson’s a gifted player, and he’s played the point for lenghty stretches on Saturday, but a little more controlled aggression would help his game in a big way. That happened in the afternoon tilt, as he was more aggressive in looking to make plays.

- G Nigel Williams-Goss (California Supreme)

Not sure there’s a better defensive guard in the 2013 class than Williams-Goss, who will figure prominently in Findlay Prep’s plans next season as well. Williams-Goss also displayed his well-rounded skill set on the offensive end of the floor, but he really stood out defensively. Very good on the ball, he also displayed good awareness of what was going on when his man didn’t have the ball.

- PG Darren Williams (Team United)

Williams played well in Team United’s win over Team Final, accounting for eight points and an assist against Final’s long-armed defenders. Williams displayed good handle and made solid decisions with the basketball, even though he finished with just one assist.

- C Kennedy Meeks (Team United)

Meeks may have scored just four points in United’s win over Team Final but it’s easy to see why much of the ACC (among others) is after this 6-9 ½ big man. Meeks racked up seven assists with just one turnover, playing the high post against the Team Final zone and doing a very good job of turning and facing the basket.

Meeks also grabbed eight rebounds, leading the way for either team. With his build Meeks has no problem with getting physical, but it was good to see how effective he could be as a distributor against a zone defense.

- SG Sindarius Thornwell (Team United)

Talk about an athletic slasher. Thornwell was able to get to the basket off the dribble on multiple occasions, and his ability to finish in traffic played an important role in United’s 2-0 day. He’s at his best in the transition game, and stated that he’s working on improving his perimeter shot this summer. With trips to the NBA Top 100, Kevin Durant and LeBron James camps on his schedule, the chance to do that work against some of the other top players in the country should make Thornwell an even better prospect.

- PG Travon Landry (Alabama Challenge)

Things didn’t go particularly well for the Challenge in their game against CP3, but Landry was one of their better performers on the defeat. Landry made solid decisions with the basketball and knocked down five of seven shots from the field. Had a tough go against Mac Irvin Fire in the evening session however.

- PF Jimmy Taylor (Alabama Challenge)

Already committed to Alabama, Taylor finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in Challenge’s loss to CP3. The 6-10 Taylor ran the floor well and was an active defender in the paint. Chai Baker (19 points, six rebounds) also stood out for Alabama Challenge.

- SG Matthew Madigan (CP3)

Madigan played hard on the defensive end of the floor for CP3, and when he got opportunities to take open shots he knocked them down. Madigan made four of five from beyond the arc in the morning session against Alabama Challenge, but was much quieter in their evening win over E1T1.

- PF Akoy Agau (All-Iowa Attack)

A tough EYBL season for All-Iowa (now 0-17) got even tougher in the second half of their loss to B-More Elite as Agau went down with an injury. In the first half of that game he was quiet offensively, but there really weren’t many options to help take some of the defensive attention away from him. Hard to think that Agau will play again this weekend with the injury.

- PF Bobby Portis (Arkansas Wings)

Like the aforementioned Jimmy Taylor, Portis is committed to an SEC school (Arkansas) and played well in defeat. A long-armed 6-9 forward, Portis has the build of a guy who can put on a few pounds and not have his game be affected negatively. He was able to face up effectively and showed the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers when needed. But the key for Portis is to make sure he doesn’t try to do too much offensively when out on the perimeter, because he got into a little trouble when over-dribbling.

- PF Jordan Bell and SF Roschon Prince (ICP)

Putting these two together since they ran into a very difficult match-up during the evening session: Julius Randle and the Texas Titans. Prince was given the assignment for much of the game, and while he worked very hard it was evident that this wasn’t the best defensive match-up for him (he also had to guard Matt Jones at times).

Offensively Prince didn’t hesitate to attack the basket, and if anything his willingness to mix things up stood out. Bell was saddled with early foul trouble, and while he’s a very good shot-blocker he’s raw offensively. Maybe he can show off a little more on that end of the floor with a better match-up.

- PF Julius Randle and PF Damian Jones (Texas Titans)

Randle and Jones both bounced back from disappointing performances in the Titans’ loss to E1T1 in the nightcap, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds (Randle) and ten points and three blocks (Jones) respectively.

The one concern regarding Randle in the win over ICP: six turnovers. He’s immensely talented and when fully engaged is an absolute man-child. Jones put up a “ten trillion” in the E1T1 defeat, so it was good to see him bounce back with a solid performance. Jones was good as a weak-side defender and ran the floor well.

- SF Matt Jones (Texas Titans)

Jones, who’s already committed to Duke, played well for the Titans in both games on Saturday. Offensively it seemed as if he was quiet…and then you’d look up and see that he scored 18 points. Jones was efficient on that end of the floor against ICP, and was the primary defender on Roschon Prince for much of the game. Duke’s getting a good one in Jones.

- PF Marcus Lee (California Supreme)

Lee is raw offensively, but it’s the other end of the floor where he’s drawn raves all spring. Lee is a good shot-blocker with long arms, and he ran the floor well in Cali Supreme’s evening victory over NY Lightning. How much he progresses offensively will ultimately determine how high he can climb amongst the top big men in the 2013 class.

- PG Parker Jackson-Cartwright (California Supreme)

Jackson-Cartwright played well for Cali Supreme, and while some may point to his size (5-7) as a detriment he displayed good vision at the point. Not sure how much taller he gets but the 2014 prospect is obviously talented. The goal at this point has to be to continue to improve as a floor general, and there’s definitely room for growth in that area.

Random Thought:

One thing that was noticeable on Saturday was the number of teams who used an attacking 1-3-1 zone on the defensive end of the floor. Being so used to teams playing 2-3 zones and daring the opposition to shoot, seeing an active zone defense proved to be far more entertaining. CP3 and Team United were two of the teams who used the zone to their advantage on Saturday, and with EYBL also using a shot clock maybe zones of this style become a bit more commonplace.

Recruiting Notes:

Sindarius Thornwell says that there isn’t a leader in the race for his services but did mention South Carolina and Memphis. What that means is difficult to tell, but while location isn’t a concern playing in a program that has a family atmosphere and plays an uptempo brand of basketball. From an academic standpoint, Thornwell mentioned sports management and broadcast journalism as academic interests.

Darren Williams mentioned the following six schools: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, East Carolina and Gardner-Webb. Williams said that the schools were even at this time.

Kennedy Meeks is being pursued by just about the entire ACC at this point. Specific schools he mentioned included North Carolina, Pittsburgh, NC State, Syracuse and Miami in addition to Georgetown, Louisville, Notre Dame and West Virginia.

Theo Pinson has heard from a number of schools, including Ohio State, Indiana, Syracuse, NC State, Georgetown, Alabama, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina and Marquette.

JaQuel Richmond said that the following schools are even right now: Oklahoma State, Virginia, Wake Forest, Charlotte, Tennessee and Georgetown. Richmond also mentioned recent phone conversations with Syracuse assistant Adrian Autry.

Troy Williams will most likely make his decision at the end of the summer. While North Carolina and Kentucky remain the top two, he’s still listening to Florida, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgetown. The decision will come down to which head coach Williams has the best relationship with.

John Davis has heard from a number of schools, including La Salle, Massachusetts, VCU, George Mason, Drexel, Towson, Delaware, Rider, Missouri State and Mount St. Mary’s. As for VCU, while Davis didn’t say he’s got a specific order he did say that the Rams’ move to the A-10 gave them a boost in his eyes.

Rondae Jefferson didn’t have a whole lot to say about the schools in hot pursuit of his services, but did mention that he’d likely have an idea of who’s on his list at the Peach Jam.

CLASS OF 2013 STOCK RISER: SAM SINGER

Sam Singer, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard from Ransom Everglades High School near Miami (FL), has been turning heads on the AAU circuit all spring with Gold Coast AAU. Known most for his ability to score off the ball, NBE saw Singer on Day Two of the Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest where his ability to play on the ball helped spring an upset over Philly Pride in an exciting contest. Singer has very intriguing size for a back court prospect which he uses to get into the line and finish or draw many trips to the free throw line as well as a nice looking shooting stroke that is improving out past the three-point arc. What NBE saw from him in Pittsburgh was what he felt were his greatest strengths are as a player.

“I’m a true combo guard and my ability to make shots and create for others and basketball IQ are my strengths,” he said. “I’m working hard this offseason on my athleticism and defensively.”
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TERRENCE SAMUEL PLANNING TO VISIT UCONN, PITT SOON

Terrence Samuel has quietly been establishing himself as one of the elite point guards in the Class of 2013. After impressing NBE earlier this spring at the NJ Playaz Spring Fling and the Hoop Group’s Pittsburgh Jam Fest with the New Rens 17U AAU squad, Samuel will try and make his mark in a new environment this coming weekend playing for NY Lightning in the fourth and final preliminary leg of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League. it is not a permanent change for Samuel, just looking to get a different experience.

“Yeah I will be in Oakland with them,” Samuel told NBE of playing with NY Lightning this coming weekend. “I’m with New Rens. I’m just getting some experience on the Nike circuit, only temporarily.”
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CLASS OF 2013 STOCK RISER: DAYSHON SMITH

Dayshon Smith has opened many eyes this summer. Eyes of fans, scouts and college coaches alike.

Right out of the gates this spring as one of the NJ Playaz Spring Fling Top Performers with the NY Lightning AAU program and through three sessions of play in the Nike EYBL, Smith has performed at a high level. His biggest strengths right now are his perimeter shot, tight handle, and the calm with which he plays. The best point guards know how to control pace and make opponents play their speed and that is something that Smith understands very well.

This is what NBE’s Brian Bosworth wrote about Smith on the final day of the Spring Fling:

Smith capped an outstanding weekend by making his best plays in the second half of the championship game. His Lightning came up short in overtime against the New Rens but Smith did everything he could to get the game into overtime. Two plays in particular stand out and deserve mention. Late in the second half Smith came down the lane after turning the corner from a high ball screen and dunked in the face of 6’8” jumping jack Kenton Facy. Then with 30 seconds remaining and his team trailing by three, Smith brought the ball up court and pulled up from behind the line tying the game and sending it to overtime. He had the guts to both take and make the biggest shots in the championship game and increased his stock in the process.

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TEAM FINAL G/F B.J. JOHNSON CONTINUES TO PILE UP OFFERS

One of the hgihest stock risers in the Class of 2013 this spring has been B.J. Johnson of Team Final. The 6-foot-6, 170-pound G/F has excelled on the Nike EYBL circuit, putting back-to-back eye-opening weekends together when the EYBL kicked off and college coaches were in the stands.

“It was exciting to get to play in front of a lot of big time coaches,” Johnson told NBE Sports shortly after the April open evaluaiton periods. “I hope they saw what I do well on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor as well as how much effort I put into what I do.”

Through three EYBL sessions Team Final is sitting with an 8-6 ranking and in position to clinch a spot in the EYBL Championship round this July at the Peach Jam with a solid performance in Oakland (CA) this coming weekend.

For his part, Johnson is second on the team in scoring (9.8 ppg) and rebounding (4.8) trailing only Rondae Jefferson in both categories. That type of performance really got the attention of college coaches as he had schools such as Boston College, Rutgers and >Pittsburgh exppress new interest right away. BC followed up with a scholarship offer joining the likes of James Madison and Penn State in the days immediately following the Boo Williams EYBL event.

Johnson has always been high on the Big 5 radar for the local Philadelphia schools as he attends Lower Merion (PA) HS. St. Joseph’s, Temple and La Salle have been in the mix with him previously, as well as Boston University, and they all have company now as the scholarship offers continue to come in.

“New offers from Rutgers, Richmond, Duquesne, Manhattan and UMASS,” Johnson told NBE earlier today.

NBE will be on hand this weekend in Oakland (CA) as Raphielle Johnson will be reporting on the action. So stay tuned for more coverage on B.J. Johnson, Team Final and the Nike EYBL this weekend and through the summer

CLASS OF 2013 SPRING STOCK RISER: B.J. JOHNSON

The Team Final 17U AAU squad that hit the road in April for the first two legs of the Nike EYBL had plenty of names familiar to college coaches and recruiting followers throughout their rister. Rondae Jefferson, Davon Reed, Austin Colbert and newly added Jaren Sina need little introduction to the masses. One player many were not very familiar with was B.J. Johnson, a 6-foot-6 wing from Ardmore (PA) Lower Merion High School.

Through the first two legs of the EYBL Johnson is third on Team Final in scoring in EYBL action as his team is off to a 5-4 start. Johnson is shooting 46% from the field overall and connecting on 40% from three-point range. He is also tied for second on the team in rebounds and leads the team in steals. Getting a chance to showcase his ability in front of college coaches has been a welcomed opportunity for Johnson.

“It was exciting to get to play in front of a lot of big-time coaches like Coach K and many others,” Johnson told NBE. “I hope they saw what I do well on both the offensive and defensive side of the floor as well as how much effort I put into what I do.”
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