By Jordan Divens

Packed with close games, breakout performances and excitement at every turn, the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) regular season lived up to its billing as the best shoe circuit in the nation. Four division winners finished atop the regular-season standings at 14-2: Team CP3, Howard Pulley, PSA Cardinals, and Team Penny. The EYBL regular season was as competitive as ever, and sets up for an incredible week of play at the Peach Jam in July.

Peach Jam berths: (24 teams)

Division A

Team CP3 (14-2)Team Takeover (10-6)
California Supreme (10-6)
Albany City Rocks (9-7)
Meanstreets (9-7)
King James (8-8)

Division B

Howard Pulley (14-2)E1T1 United (11-5)
CIA Bounce (9-7)
Pro Skills (8-8)
Nike South Beach (8-8)
Houston Hoops (7-9)

Division C

PSA Cardinals (14-2)BABC (9-7)
Expressions Elite (9-7)
NY Rens (8-8)
Phoenix Phamily (7-9)
Las Vegas Prospects (7-9)

Division D

Team Penny (14-2)Mokan Elite (13-3)
St. Louis Eagles (11-5)
Playaz Basketball Club (11-5)
Team Final (10-6)
Spiece Indy Heat (9-7)

Regular Season Recap

Regular Season MVP:

2017 6’ 9” SF Michael Porter Jr. (Mokan Elite) | 22.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, .587 FG%
Porter Jr. was the second-leading scorer in EYBL play. He averaged 22.8 points per game to go along with his 10.9 rebounds per game (fourth in EYBL). His double-double average and efficient shooting from the field helped Mokan Elite to a strong 13-3 record to finish the regular season in fifth place. Porter Jr. is the top-ranked small forward in 2017, and he continues to battle for the top spot overall.

Top Big Man:

2017 6’ 10” PF Mitchell Robinson (Pro Skills) | 16.5 points, 11.6 rebounds 4.1 blocks .734 FG%
Robinson had a breakout summer that turned many heads and resulted in him de-committing from Texas A&M to explore other options. Robinson will have his choice of high-major colleges after leading the EYBL in both rebounds and blocks per game and shooting an incredible 73 percent from the field. He is a name to watch in Peach Jam play.

Top Guard:

2017 6’ 2” PG Collin Sexton (Southern Stampede) 31.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, .854 FT%
Sexton was a machine in regular-season play. He lit up the scoring column and averaged just over 13 free throw attempts per game. Sexton made 91 more free throws than anyone else on the EYBL circuit and broke the record for average points per game in the regular season with 31.7. Sexton was the most prolific scorer in the EYBL with 30-plus points in 75 percent of the Southern Stampede’s games.

Breakout Prospects:

2017 6’ 5” SG Jordan Goodwin (St Louis Eagles) 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists
2017 6’ 1” PG Markell Johnson (King James) 18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.2 steals
2017 6’ 5” SG Chaundee Brown (Nike South Beach) 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds .821 FT%
2017 6’ 8” PF Rayshaun Hammonds (Bama Challenge) 18.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, .552 FG%
2017 6’ 5” SF Anthony Gaines (City Rocks) 15.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .572 FG%

Throughout the EYBL regular season, a number of players saw their stock soar. Goodwin and Gaines proved themselves as strong rebounding perimeter threats, and both nearly averaged a double-double. Johnson and Brown showed off and led their teams to 8-8 records—good enough to clinch Peach Jam berths. Hammonds was another strong performer who averaged about 18 points and 8 rebounds per game and saw his stock steadily rise.

FloHoops First Team All-EYBL:

2017 7’ 0” C DeAndre Ayton (Cali Supreme) 19.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks .602 FG%2017 6’ 10” PF Mitchell Robinson (Pro Skills) 16.5 points, 11.6 rebounds 4.1 blocks .734 FG%
2017 6’ 9” SF Michael Porter Jr (Mokan Elite) 22.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, .587 FG%
2017 6’ 2” PG Collin Sexton (Southern Stampede) 31.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, .854 FT%
2017 6’ 0” PG Quade Green (PSA Cardinals) 14.1 points, 10.5 assists, 2.9 steals, .881 FT%

FloHoops Second Team All-EYBL:

2018 6’ 11” PF Marvin Bagley III (Phoenix Phamily) 20.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, .523 FG%2017 6’ 10” PF Wendell Carter (Team CP3) 16.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, .709 FG%
2017 6’ 8” PF PJ Washington (Team Penny) 17.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, .613 FG%
2017 6’ 6” SG Gary Trent Jr (Howard Pulley) 22.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, .853 FT%
2017 6’ 2” PG Trae Young (Mokan Elite) 21.3 points, 7.1 assists, 1.9 steals, .857 FT%

FloHoops Third Team All-EYBL:

2017 7’ 0” C Brandon McCoy (California Supreme) 17.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, .516 FG%2017 6’ 8” PF Jarred Vanderbilt (Houston Hoops) 13.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists
2017 6’ 8” SF Kevin Knox (Each 1 Teach 1) 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, .506 FG%
2017 6’ 5” SG Chaundee Brown (Nike South Beach) 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds .821 FT%
2017 6’ 1” PG Markell Johnson (King James) 18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.2 steals

Honorable Mention:

2017 6’ 8” PF Rayshaun Hammonds (Bama Challenge) 18.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, .552 FG%2017 6’ 8” PF Chuma Okeke (Georgia Stars) 14.8 points, 9 rebounds, 1.6 steals, .511 FG%
2016 6’ 5” SF Anthony Gaines (City Rocks) 15.7 points, 9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, .572 FG%
2017 6’ 5” SG Jordan Goodwin (St Louis Eagles) 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists
2017 6’ 6” PG Troy Brown Jr (Las Vegas Prospects) 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists