Nike EYBL: Saturday's Standouts & Storylines
April 22, 2023 by Tony McNiff
Cooper Flagg goes off for 52 points
Our #2 player in the 2025 class erupted for 52 points during opening day’s action tonight in Atlanta. There’s little that hasn’t been said about Flagg, however it was his constant impact on the game that really popped out. Despite a ridiculous scoring outing, it was his defensive instincts, switchability, and feel for the game that all popped as well. Flagg’s a polished handler at 6-foot-9 who was comfortable taking and making self-created jumpers. It’s clear he has his eyes set on the #1 ranking and tonight he simply looked unstoppable.
Dylan Mingo leads PSA Cardinals comeback
Mingo is a guard who could very well see his recruitment & stock take off this spring + summer on the EYBL platform. He’s a quick-twitch creator who has the speed to get downhill, yet he flashed his pull-up touch inside the arc as well. He finished with craft and touch, plus I was highly impressed with his body control against a big Nightrydas frontcourt. Mingo popped on the defensive end with his lateral agility and instinctive hands when defending the ball. The New York native is certainly a noteworthy prospect to look out for in the coming months.
Jermal Jones & Caleb Gaskins pop off for Nightrydas
Loved what I saw in today’s viewing of 2026 guard Jermal Jones in Atlanta. He’s a highly productive lead guard who popped as a playmaker and scorer in Atlanta. His explosive first step allows him to beat closeouts, plus he used his burst to create advantages by providing paint touches at a high volume. Jones was a dangerous handler in the open floor due to his speed, acceleration bursts, and physicality off the bounce. Defensively, he put together some notable spans of play while leveraging his athleticism + speed to force turnovers.
It’s easy to see why Gaskins has generated plenty of buzz despite being just 14 years old. He’s a well-built athlete for his age given his build, power, and explosive verticality. He was a proficient slasher today who used long strides and minimal dribbles to attack the rim. Gaskins flashed his spot-up shooting value by converting a couple jumpers from behind the arc during today’s action. He was a capable pull-up scorer who demonstrated plenty of fluidity & comfortability shooting off the bounce. Defensively, he was a switchable defender who had the lateral quickness to defend in space, plus he was able to contain opposing forwards around the rim.
#1 ranked freshman holds his own at the 17U level
Our #1 ranked freshman AJ Dybantsa put together a strong showing today while playing in the 17U division. Like Flagg, there’s little that hasn’t been said about Dybantsa, however it’s clear he’s made some notable strides in his game. He’s a physically gifted athlete given his blend of positional size, disruptive length, and appealing fluidity. Dybantsa is a high-level slasher who showed off an improving handle & enhanced ball security. He appeared to be much more comfortable with the ball in his hands which is a strong sign moving forward. Also was impressed with his improved comfortability shooting the ball off the bounce from the perimeter.
Underrated sophomore creates some buzz with a huge outing
2025 wing Jaylen Harrell certainly generated some buzz for himself after finishing with a double-double during opening day’s action. He’s a polished wing prospect who showcased a highly skilled and deep offensive arsenal. He was a fluid self-creator who had the handle to create off the bounce, plus he was highly efficient from the field as well. Harrell was highly physical on the glass and his motor simply outran his opponents which allowed him to reel in rebounds at a high volume. He’s a noteworthy prospect to track in the Northeast and his recruitment could certainly see an uptick this AAU season.
Quincy Wadley guides Team Takeover to an opening day win
Wadley is a highly energetic and athletic wing who showed off some noticeable improvements in his game. His explosive first step gives him the ability to attack closeouts, plus he’s certainly developed more touch at the rim. He’s becoming more comfortable as a ball handler while improving his decision-making skills in the process. Wadley has the physical tools, motor, and energy to provide a lasting defensive impact as well. The DMV product is continuing to make strides in his game and his recruitment could be due for an uptick soon.