Tyus Jones will be one of the many prospects that the Gophers will be recruiting this weekend in the Twin Cities.
Minnesota is known as the “State of Hockey,” but that could change this weekend as three major basketball events will take place in the Twin Cities. These events will feature many of the country’s top players and since it is part of the two week “open period,” many of the top college coaches will also be in attendance. Expect to see coaches such as Tom Izzo, Bill Self, Tubby Smith, Bo Ryan, Thad Matta and Roy Williams in the Twin Cities this weekend.
All three events have plenty of talent, but the Nike EYBL is loaded with top prospects. The event features the top 40 Nike AAU programs. Those teams will play in four EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League events) in Eagan this weekend, Hampton, Virginia (next weekend), Dallas (May 11-13) and Los Angeles (May 25-27). The top 24 teams will advance to Augusta, South Carolina for the Nike EYBL Championship (Peach Jam). Those squads get Nike financial backing, so there is plenty to play for in the four EYBL events.
The EYBL events held at the High Performance Academy will feature 33 of ESPN’s Top 60 players from the Class of 2013, including the top three players. Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon is the top ranked player. He led Simeon to their third straight Illinois Class AAAA state title.
The following is a look at the top 2013 prospects at the EYBL event.
1. Jabari Parker: Mac Irvin
2. Julius Randle: Team Texas Titans
3. Aaron Gordon: Oakland Soldiers
6. Troy Williams: Boo Williams
8. Jabari Bird: Oakland Soldiers
9. Nick King: Bluff City Legends
10. James Young: The Family
12. Brannen Greene (Kansas commit): Southern Kings
13. Allerik Freeman: Boo Williams
14. Keith Frazier: Houston Hoopsa
15. BeeJay Anya: Team Takeover
19. Jimmie Taylor: Alabama Challnege
22. Matt Jones (Duke): Team Texas Titans
23. Johnathan Williams III: Bluff City Legends
24. Anthony Barber: Boo Williams
26. Marc Loving (Ohio State): All Ohio Red
31. Bobby Portis (Arkansas): Arkansas Wings
32. Kennedy Meeks: Team United
33. Moses Kingsley: Arkansas Wings
36. Greg McClinton: CP3
38. Rondae Jefferson: Team Final
39. Semi Ojeleye: Spiece MoKan
41. Tyler Ennis: CIA Bounce
42. Thomas Hamilton, Jr.: Mac Irvin
43. Davon Reed: Team Final
46. Stanford Robinson: Team Takeover
47. Sindarius Thornwell: Team United
49. Jordan Bell: California Supreme
50. Billy Garrett, Jr. (DePaul): Mac Irvin
54. Aquille Carr (Seton Hall): Baltmore Elite
56. Kendrick Nunn: Meanstreets
57. Stevie Clark: Athletes First
60. Jarquez Smith: Southern Kings
There are 12 of the Top 25 sophomores also playing, including the top three 2014 prospects. Canadian prospect Andrew Wiggins played in the 2010 Best Buy Holiday Classic at Augsburg and is the top sophomore prospect and the son of former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins. The number two player in the country, according to ESPN is Jahlil Oklafor, a 6-foot-9, 270-pound center from Chicago Whitney Young. The third best player is a familiar name in 6-foot point guard Tyus Jones of Apple Valley.
The following is a look at the top 2014 prospects at the EYBL event.
1. Andrew Wiggins: CIA Bounce
2. Jahlil Okafor: Mac Irvin
3. Tyus Jones: Howard Pulley
6. Wayne Selden: BABC
7. Trey Lyles: Spiece Indy Heat
9. Theo Pinson: CP3
10. Justin Jackson: Houston Hoops
14. D’Angelo Russell: All Ohio Red
19. Paul White: Meanstreets
20. Parker Jackson-Cartwright: California Supreme
23. Jalen Lindsey: Tennessee Travelers
24. JaQuel Richmond: CP3
The EYBL rosters will not be available until Friday and some of these players may have switched teams.
Minnesota fans will likely want to watch Jones, Alex Foster of Meanstreets, Gavin Schilling of Mac Irvin Fire, Alvin Ellis of Meanstreets, Juwan Parker of Jackson Tigers among others.
The NY2LA Spring Extravaganza will be played at Hopkins and Minnetonka High. Local fans will want to watch a Friday night matchup between Wisconsin Playmakers shooter Matt Thomas and Net Gain Sports’ sophomore Rashad Vaughn. Net Gain won the Minnesota Comets 17-and-under title.
The following is a look at some of the top prospects that will be playing in the West suburbs.
2012 – PF – Phillip Nolan – Net Gain Sports
2013 – F – D’Andre Downey – DTA Spartans
2013 – SF – AJ Jacobson – ECI Prospects
2013 – PF – Maurice Kirby – I-Can All-Stars (former Arizona State commit)
2013 – PG – Connor Frankamp – KC Run GMC (Kansas commit)
2013 – F/C – Tory Miller – KC Run GMC
2013 – PF – Ted Friedman – Kingdom Hoops Elite
2013 – SF – Dalton Franken – Kingdom Hoops Elite
2013 – F/C – Luke Fischer – Wisconsin Swing (Indiana commit)
2013 – C – Carson Shanks – Minnesota Select White (Utah State commit)
2013 – SG – Riley Dearring – Net Gain Sports
2013 – SF – Deonte Burton – T.P. Elite (Marquette commit)
2013 – G – Matt Thomas – WI Playmakers White
2013 – F – Turner Botz – WI Playmakers White
2013 – PF – Toby Hegner – WI Playmakers White
2013 – G/F – Cody Wichmann – Wisconsin Swing
2013 – G/F – Nick Fuller – Wisconsin Swing
2013 – G – Bronson Koenig – Wisconsin Swing (Wisconsin commit)
2014 – PG – Emanuel Mudiay – Texas Select
2014 – PG – Andrew Wallace – Net Gain Sports
2014 – G/F – Rashad Vaughn – Net Gain Sports
2014 – PG – Damontrae Jefferson – Milwaukee Rebels
2014 – SF – Kevon Looney – Milwaukee Rebels
2014 – F/C – Nate Gehring – Kingdom Hoops Elite
2014 – G – Dominique Collier – KC Run GMC
The Best Buy Spring Classic will be held at Bloomington Jefferson and Kennedy. This event will have the most local flavor of the three events with 22 of the 48 17-and-under teams being Minnesota squads. However, there is still plenty of out-state talent as well.
The host Minnesota Pump N Run team has several standout players among their three teams such as Reid Travis, Jarvis Johnson, Ian Theisen, Cullen Russo, Henry Ellenson, Jordan Dembley and Marshawn Wilson. Minnesota Pump N Run 16’s won the Minnesota Comets 16-and-under title defeating their 15-and-under counterparts, while the 17’s finished runner-up to Net Gain Sports. .
There are several talented out-state teams such as the Illinois Warriors, Team Breakdown, Michigan Hurricanes, Arkansas Hawks and the Kansas City 76ers, who won the Fab 48 in Vegas and Best of the summer in Anaheim last July.
The First Annual IM Bball Spring Showcase, which will be played at the Eagan Community Center, Burnsville High and Eastview High, is part of Pulley event. It will feature the other Howard Pulley 17, 16 and 15 and under team that will play Saturday and Sunday. There are 12 17-and-under squads, 26 16’s and 15’s team.
Minnesota target Kyle Washington will play for the Howard Pulley 17 White team. Freshman Alex Illikainen, who recently received a Minnesota offer, will play for the Minnesota Cyclones in the 15-and-under division. The Cyclones won the Minnesota Comets 15-and-under title.