​By Jordan Divens

Best Duo: 2017 6’2” PG Trae Young and 2017 6’8” SF Michael Porter Jr (Mokan Elite)
Young averaged 24.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game in the first session of the Nike EYBL. He's a playmaker who can knock down threes in bunches; is one of the top guards in the EYBL; and will look to lead a very good Mokan Elite team to a deep Peach Jam run. Michael Porter Jr. averaged 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3 assists per game during the first weekend of play and showed his ability to score at will and use his length to rebound at a high level. This duo will be tough to take down in Nike EYBL play and opened up 3-0 in Brooklyn.

Breakout Performer​: 2017 6'2” SG Collin Sexton (Southern Stampede)
Sexton led the EYBL in scoring in the first weekend of play, where he averaged 30.7 points per game along with 5 rebounds. He went off for 35 points and 32 points in the last two games of the opening session and shot a combined 25-30 from the free throw line in his three games. Sexton showed his ability to be a volume scorer for Southern Stampede by leading his team to a 2-1 record in the opening weekend of play.

Stock Riser: 2017 6’5” SG Jordan Goodwin
Jordan Goodwin led his high school, Althoff Christian (IL), to a state title and continued his success in EYBL play. Goodwin leads the St Louis Eagles (MO) with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. His strong start has finally made people start to notice his talent.

Dominant Big Men:
6’8” PF Brady Manek (Team Griffin)
6’9” PF Jarred Vanderbilt (Houston Hoops)
6’8” PF PJ Washington (Team Penny)
7’0” C Mohamed Bamba (PSA Cardinals)
6’10” PF Mitchell Robinson (Pro Skills)
7’0” C DeAndre Ayton (California Supreme)
6’11” C Nick Richards (Expressions Elite)

These big men in the 2017 class are truly special, and they proved it in their opening weekend of play in Brooklyn. Vanderbilt and Bamba may have been the most impressive, finishing with 17.7 points and 14 rebounds; and 15.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks, respectively. Bamba is firmly in the discussion as the nation's top high school player with his unmatched length and dominant blocking and rebounding abilities. Robinson also had a breakout weekend, and averaged 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.

Star Guards:
2019 6’0” PG Tyger Campbell (We All Can Go)
2017 6’6” SG Gary Trent Jr (Howard Pulley) 
2017 6’5” SG Lonnie Walker (Team Final) 
2017 6’5” SG Jaylen Nowell (Seattle Rotary Style)
2017 5’ 11” PG Tremont Waters (Expressions Elite)
2017 5’ 11” PG Quade Green (PSA Cardinals)
2017 6’ 2” PG Trae Young (Mokan Elite)
2017 6’ 5” SG Jordan Goodwin (St Louis Eagles)
2017 6’ 2” SG Collin Sexton (Southern Stampede)

There was a variety of guards in Brooklyn showing off their talents in the first session of EYBL play. Green led the EYBL in assists with 10.3 assists per game to go along with 13.7 points for the undefeated PSA Cardinals (NY). Waters (17 points, 5 rebounds, 4.7 assists) and Campbell (21.7 points, 5.7 assists) were two other true point guards who showed out in the opening weekend as Campbell established himself as the top guard in the class of 2019. Other guards, like scoring machines Trent Jr. (21 points, 4.7 rebounds per game) and Walker (20 points, 6.7 rebounds), also had impressive opening weekends and led their teams to 3-0 records.

Statistical Top 20 (In no order)
Collin Sexton: 30.7 points, 5 rebounds
Trae Young: 24.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2.7 steals
Michael Porter Jr: 21.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 assists
Kevin Knox: 21,7 points, 7 rebounds, 2.7 steals
Tyger Campbell: 21.7, 5.7 assists, 3 rebounds, 2.3 steals
Charles O’Bannon Jr: 21.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals
Gary Trent Jr: 21 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2 steals
Lonnie Walker: 20 points, 6.7 rebounds
Brian Bowen: 19.3 points, 10 rebounds
Jaylen Nowell: 19 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals
Brady Manek: 18.7 points, 9 rebounds
Jarred Vanderbilt: 17.7 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals
PJ Washington: 17.3 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists
Tremont Waters: 17 points, 5 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals
Mohamed Bamba: 15.3 points, 15.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks
Mitchell Robinson: 15 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks
DeAndre Ayton: 13.3 points, 12 rebounds
Nick Richards: 13 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks
Jordan Goodwin: 14 points, 10 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Quade Green: 13.7 points, 10.3 assists, 1.7 steals

Division A
Albany City Rocks (NY) 3-0
Team Takeover (DC) 3-0
Southern Stampede (GA) 2-1
King James (OH) 2-1
Team CP3 (NC) 2-1
Meanstreets (IL) 2-1
Mac Irvin Fire (IL) 1-2
Georgia Stars (GA) 1-2
California Supreme (CA) 1-2
All Ohio Red (OH) 0-3

Division B
Howard Pulley (MN) 3-0
E1T1 United (FL) 2-1
Nike South Beach (FL) 1-2
Seattle Rotary Style (WA) 1-2
Boo Williams (VA) 1-2
CIA Bounce (Can) 1-2
Houston Hoops (TX) 1-2
Pro Skills (OK) 1-2
Team Griffin (OK) 1-2
We All Can Go (TN) 0-3

Division C
PSA Cardinals (NY) 3-0
The Rens (NY) 2-1
Expressions Elite (MA) 2-1
Phoenix Phamily (AZ) 2-1
Las Vegas Prospects (NV) 1-2
Oakland Soldiers (CA) 1-2
RM5 Elite (TX) 1-2
BABC (MA) 1-2
Team United (NC) 0-3
The Family Michigan (MI) 0-3

Division D
Team Final (PA) 3-0
Mokan Elite (OK) 3-0
Playaz Basketball Club (NJ) 3-0
St Louis Eagles (MO) 2-1
Team Penny (TN) 2-1
Spiece Indy Heat (IN) 2-1
Elfrid Payton Elite (LA) 1-2
Arkansas Wings (AR) 1-2
Alabama Challenge (AL) 1-2
New York Lightning (NY) 0-3

Schedule:
Session 1: Brooklyn, NY April 16-17
Session 2: Indianapolis, IN April 22-24
Session 3: Hampton, VA May 13-15
Session 4: Atlanta, GA May 28-30
Peach Jam: North Augusta, SC July 6-10

Statistical Leaders

Points Per Game:
1. Collin Sexton 30.7
2. Trae Young 24.7
T3. Michael Porter Jr 21.7
T3. Kevin Knox 21.7
T3. Tyger Campbell 21.7
6. Charles O’Bannon Jr 21.3
7. Gary Trent Jr 21.0
8. Lonnie Walker 20.0
9. Brian Bowen 19.3
10. Jaylen Nowell 19.0
11. Brady Manek 18.7
T12. Hamiadou Diallo 18.3
T12. Jarrett Culver 18.3
T12. Kyle Young 18.3
T15. Jarred Vanderbilt 17.7
T15. Jaren Jackson 17.7
T15. Rayshaun Hammonds 17.7
18. PJ Washington 17.3
T19. Tremont Waters 17.0
T19. Marvin Bagley III 17.0

Rebounds Per Game:
1. Mohamed Bamba 15.7
2. Mitchell Robinson 15.0
3. Jarred Vanderbilt 14.0
4. DeAndre Ayton 12.0
5. Anthony Gaines 11.0
6. Nick Richards 10.7
7. Daniel Gafford 10.3
T8. Brian Bowen 10.0
T8. Jordan Goodwin 10.0
T8. PJ Washington 10.0
T11. Macos Santos-Silva 9.3
T11. Chris Agbo 9.3
T11. Billy Preston 9.3
T14. Brady Manek 9.0
T14. Silas Adheke 9.0
16. Victor Enoh 8.7
17. Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree 8.3
T18. Melo Burrell 8.0
T18 Kimani Lawrence 8.0
T18 Simi Shittu 8.0
T18 Amadou Sow 8.0

Assists Per Game:
1. Quade Green 10.3
2. Jordan Walker 6.7
3. Tyger Campbell 5.7
4. Trae Young 5.3
T5. Tremont Waters 5.0
T5. Leondre Washington 5.0
T5. Howard Washington 5.0
T8. Markell Johnson 4.7
T8. Jordan Goodwin 4.7
T8. Aaron Thompson 4.7
11. Jose Alvarado 4.3
T12. Justin Mazzulla 4.0
T12. Chris Hawkins 4.0
T14. Daejon Davis 3.7
T14. Kristers Zoriks 3.7
T14. Remy Martin 3.7
T14. Zach Cooks 3.7
T18. Alonzo Verge 3.3
T18. Nelly Cummins 3.3
T18. Sylvain Francisco 3.3