The Top 5 Storylines And Matchups At Nike EYBL Session I

View All EYBL 17U Session I | 2018 Nike EYBL (Dallas)
Top 5 EYBL Storylines and Matchups

By Adam Zagoria

The Nike EYBL series kicks off the April live period this weekend in Dallas and FloHoops will have you covered with live-streaming of all the games.

Here are some of the top recruiting storylines and matchups to watch as the three-day event gets underway Friday.

Top 5 Recruiting Storylines

1) Who will land James 'Big Ticket' Wiseman?

The 7-foot power forward is playing with the Bluff City Legends (TN) and is the subject of one of the most interesting recruiting battles in recent memory. New Memphis coach Penny Hardaway coached Wiseman both at Memphis East High School and with the Team Penny AAU squad. Kentucky coach John Calipari has never coached Wiseman at all. Yet both coaches recently had in-home visits with Wiseman, the No. 2 player in the class of 2019. Will he ultimately chose his old coach who's never coached a single college game but was an NBA star or the one who has produced dozens of NBA players?

2) How many coaches will Flo40 No. 1 Vernon Carey attract?

The 6-10 power forward from Team Florida figures to attract a slew of coaches wherever he goes this spring and summer. UNC, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, and Miami are all involved and recently had in-home visits. Duke, Michigan State, and Miami are the favorites. Carey Jr.’s father, Vernon Carey, was a standout on Miami’s football team in the early 2000s. Team Florida also includes 2020 wing Scottie Barnes and 2020 point guard Noah Farrakhan, among others.

3) Who's in the mix for Flo40 No. 4 Cole Anthony?

The 6-3 point guard from the PSA Cardinals is the son of former NBA point guard Greg Anthony and is the highest-ranked guard in the class of 2019. Coaches from Duke, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Louisville, Oregon, Michigan, and Villanova all passed through historic Briarwood (NY) Archbishop Molloy High School in recent days to spend time with Anthony, who's always been enamored with Duke but ostensibly remains wide open.

4. What's the latest on Flo40 No. 28 Kofi Cockburn?

The 6-10 center from the NY Rens is one of the many talented players in the class of 2019 from the New York/New Jersey area and recently played for the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit. This week coaches from UConn, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Cincinnati watched him at Christ the King High School, while St. John's, South Carolina, and Georgetown are also among those involved.

5. What's up in the Wendell Moore Sweepstakes?

Flo40 No. 17 Moore and Team CP3 make their 2018 EYBL debut on Friday vs. Athletes of Tomorrow in a rematch of last year's U16 Peach Jam championship game. Duke and North Carolina have been hot on the trail for Moore, the 6-5 wing out of Concord (NC) Cox Mill.

Top 5 Matchups To Watch

Check the full schedule for all matchups. Click here to WATCH LIVE. (All Times Central)

PSA Cardinals vs. Bluff City (Saturday, 8 AM)

The aforementioned Cole Anthony will go up against Zion Harmon in a big matchup. "Cole doesn't function on individual matchups," PSA Cards director Terrance "Munch" Williams said. "He simply wants to come out with the team and win every time out."

Team WhyNot vs. Oakland Soldiers (Saturday, 5 PM)

Sierra Canyon (CA) shooting guard Cassius Stanley will match up against his high school teammates Kenyon Martin Jr. and Scottie Pippen Jr. in an intriguing showdown.

Team Takeover vs. Bluff City (Sunday, 8 AM)

John Calipari and Penny Hardaway could be on hand to watch James Wiseman and Bluff City meet up with fellow 7-footerHunter Dickinson and Takeover early on Sunday. Dickinson is being courted by the likes of Stanford, Maryland, Purdue, and North Carolina.

NY Rens vs. Albany City Rocks (Sunday, 2 PM)

This matchup will feature two showdowns between big men Kofi Cockburn of the Rens and Isaiah Stewart of City Rocks and guards Jalen Lecque of the Rens and Joe Girard of the City Rocks. All are being recruited at the highest levels.

Team Florida vs. Everyone

With Vernon Carey Jr., Scottie Barnes, and Noah Farrakhan on the roster, there should be plenty of coaches watching this team all weekend and through July.

Adam Zagoria is a basketball insider who runs ZAGSBLOG.com and contributes to The New York Times. Follow Adam on Twitter.