By Jordan Divens

Hourly Guide:

Friday
9:30 am: PSA Cardinals (NY) vs BABC (MA)

11:00 am: California Supreme (CA) vs Team CP3 (NC)

12:30 pm: Team Takeover (DC) vs Meanstreets (IL)
2:00 pm: Houston Hoops (TX) vs Pro Skills (TX)
5:00 pm: Phoenix Phamily (AZ) vs Oakland Soldiers (CA)
6:30 pm: Team Final (PA) vs St Louis Eagles (MO)
8:00 pm: Team CP3 (NC) vs Georgia Stars (GA)
9:30 pm: CIA Bounce (Can) vs Pro Skills (TX)

Saturday
9:30 am: Spiece Indy Heat (IN) vs Team Penny (TN)
11:00 am: Playaz Basketball Club (NJ) vs Alabama Challenge (AL)
12:30 pm: Howard Pulley (MN) vs E1T1 United (FL)
2:00 pm: Nike South Beach (FL) vs Boo Williams (VA)
5:00 pm: BABC (MA) vs Expressions Elite (MA)
6:30 pm: Mokan Elite (KS) vs Team Penny (TN)
8:00 pm: California Supreme (CA) vs Meanstreets (IL)

9:30 pm: Team CP3 (NC) vs Albany City Rocks (NY)

Sunday
8:00 am: PSA Cardinals (NY) vs Expressions Elite (MA)
9:30 am: Team Final (PA) vs Mokan Elite (KS)
11:00 am: Albany City Rocks (NY) vs All Ohio Red (OH)
12:30 pm: Meanstreets (IL) vs Southern Stampede (GA)

Locks:
Howard Pulley (11-0), PSA Cardinals (10-1), and Mokan Elite (10-1) have all clinched berths in the Peach Jam, and have no pressure heading into Session 4. Team CP3 (9-2), Team Penny (9-2), Team Final (9-2), E1T1 United (8-3), Spiece Indy Heat (8-3), St Louis Eagles (8-3), and Albany City Rocks (8-3) all sit in very strong positions and have all but locked up a spot in the Peach Jam in July. The remaining locks for the Peach Jam are three teams that only need one or two more wins to push themselves through the postseason: Playaz Basketball Club, The Rens, and California Supreme, which all sit at 7-4 with five games remaining in the EYBL regular season. If any of these teams miss the Peach Jam, it would be because of a major collapse in Session 4.

Bubble Watch:
With 13 teams virtually locked in to advance to the EYBL postseason, there is a group of 12 teams that sit right in the middle of the bubble with a 6-5 or 5-6 record. Six teams sit right outside of the bubble with a 4-7, record but still have a shot to advance to the Peach Jam with a strong showing in Session 4. Meanstreets (6-5), Team Takeover (6-5), Nike South Beach (6-5), CIA Bounce (6-5), Expressions Elite (6-5), and BABC (6-5) all sit on the inside of the bubble, and would make the Peach Jam if the event started today, but each team still has work to do in Georgia. Teams in the last few spots on the inside of the bottom are defending champions Georgia Stars (5-6), as well as King James (5-6), Southern Stampede (5-6), Pro Skills (5-6), Las Vegas Prospects (5-6), and Oakland Soldiers (5-6). All of these teams will likely advance to the Peach Jam with a 3-2 showing or better in Session 4. All Ohio Red, Mac Irvin Fire, Houston Hoops, Phoenix Phamily, New York Lightning, and the Alabama Challenge sit at 4-7, and will likely need four or more wins in Session 4 to advance. All the teams on the bubble still have a chance to receive an invitation to the Peach Jam, but some need stronger showings than others.

Defending champs on bubble
Team CP3 sits atop Division A at 9-2 and are an impressive 7-1 with Wendell Carter in the lineup. The Georgia Stars have struggled this EYBL season and sit just inside the Peach Jam bubble at 5-6 after losing four of their last five contests. Georgia Stars need a strong showing in the final session of the EYBL regular season to clinch a postseason berth and will have an extra edge against their former star Wendell Carter in Session 4.

Regular Season MVP Candidates:
There are a number of players who have put together solid regular seasons, and strong showings in Session 4 could help them take home the honor of Regular Season MVP.

2016 7’ 0” C DeAndre Ayton (PSA Cardinals) 19.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, .614 FG%
2016 6’ 8” PF PJ Washington (Team Penny) 19.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, .678 FG%
2016 6’ 6” SG Gary Trent Jr (Howard Pulley) 23.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, .432 FG%
2016 6’ 8” SF Kevin Knox (E1T1 United) 21.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, .512 FG%
2016 6’ 9” SF Michael Porter Jr (Mokan Elite) 21.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, .567 FG%
2016 6’ 2” PG Trae Young (Mokan Elite) 20.8 points, 7.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds
2016 6’ 10” PF Wendell Carter (Team CP3) 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, .732 FG%
2016 6’ 0” PG Quade Green (Team Final) 13.1 points, 10.2 assists, 2.7 steals
2016 6’ 2” PG Collin Sexton (Southern Stampede) 30.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, .435 FG%