Nike EYBL Session 3 Preview
May 11, 2023 by Alex Walulik
Session 3 of the Nike EYBL tips off in Dallas, Texas this Friday and there are plenty of notable prospects to watch. Read below to see the list of players looking to make an impression this weekend, whether it be bouncing back from Session 2 in Phoenix or continuing to raise their national stock.
Boogie Fland, PSA Cardinals: Fland came alive late in Phoenix with a 22-point scoring outburst on Saturday, and followed it up with a 31-point and 8-rebound onslaught on Sunday against Houston Hoops. Fland is looking to carry that momentum into Session 3, as he and the PSA Cardinals will take on AZ Unity and Paul George Elite in what should be highly-contested matchups, among others. Fland went 6-21 on three-point attempts in Session 2, so being more efficient from deep will be a point of emphasis for him in Dallas. He’ll look to build on an impressive EYBL performance from his team, as well, who sit at 6-2 in the Pool B standings. Fland most recently picked up an offer from Michigan earlier this month, and considering his strong end in Phoenix, expect an uptick in interest as well as high-level shot-making on display in what should be a very impressive session for him. He’s a strong candidate to earn All-Circuit honors this time around.
Naas Cunningham, NY Rens: Another player that was late to the scene in Phoenix was Naas Cunningham. But, on Sunday against Phenom University, Cunningham had his best performance in EYBL so far, scoring 21 points in only 20 minutes. As a proven spot-up shooter and lengthy wing, Cunningham will look to display his 3&D skillset in Dallas as the NY Rens attempt to get back into the playing field on the Pool A standings. Cunningham’s assertiveness and multi-level scoring will certainly be critical for that to happen. Shot-selection and improved efficiency will also be something to track for Cunningham in Dallas. He last picked up an offer from Kentucky in January, and if he’s able to perform up to his usual standards in Session 3, he’ll start getting some more calls.
Tyler Betsey, NY Rens: Cunningham’s wing running mate, Tyler Betsey, is also due for a big weekend in Dallas after struggling to find his shot during Session 2. Betsey’s best performance in Phoenix came on Friday where he put up 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Expect his overall numbers, efficiency, and impact to be much better this weekend. The 6’8” wing is a highly-talented scorer who has the ability to score in a variety of ways which could be showcased this weekend in Dallas. Betsey’s pure talent and skill make him due for a string of major performances. With NY Rens struggling to find production on the wing, and the emergence of point guard Dylan Harper in Phoenix, Betsey fits the bill for a prospect to look out for.
Joson Sanon, Expressions Elite: Largely overshadowed by teammate AJ Dybantsa’s dominance in Phoenix, Joson Sanon is a prospect that has continued to produce at a very high level. Sanon averaged 14.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and an assist during Session 2 on fairly efficient splits from the field and behind the arc. He really caught fire on Sunday against the Indy Heat where he scored 19 points while shooting 6-14 from the field and 2-3 from deep, as well as causing havoc as a point-of-attack defender. That type of shot-making and ball pressure could very well carry over into Session 3 where Sanon could put his stamp on the field. While Dybantsa is clearly a force to be reckoned with, Sanon is what could put Expressions Elite over the top. Georgia Tech and Marquette were the latest to offer in April, but more could be on the way after this weekend in Dallas.
Morez Johnson, Meanstreets: Johnson has quietly been one of the most productive big men on the EYBL circuit so far. Johnson is a stat-sheet stuffer, and in Phoenix, he averaged 11.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and logged 6 stocks throughout the weekend. In Johnson’s most eye-popping performance, he put up 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds against JL3 to open Session 2 on Friday. And, he continued his interior dominance all the way through. Meanstreets are currently 5-3 in Pool A and looking to make a push in Dallas, and Johnson is a big reason why. After Johnson’s performance during Session 2 and the expectations he’s carrying into Session 3, Brad Underwood and the Illinois coaching staff must be pleased with what they’re seeing from Johnson.
Jalen Haralson, Indy Heat: Haralson went off for 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in the final game of the weekend in Phoenix. The 6’7” combo guard struggled to get going for much of the weekend, however, as he didn’t crack double-digits for three consecutive games. Expect that to change in Dallas. Haralson’s strong end in Phoenix is more than encouraging for a bounce back weekend during Session 3. Haralson picked up an offer from Wisconsin earlier this month following a visit to Michigan State back in November. A lot of eyes will be on Haralson this weekend in what is an important session for him.
Amier Ali, TSF: Amier Ali is yet another big wing that is probably not garnering enough attention for his output during Session 2. He scored 10-plus points twice and averaged 5.6 rebounds per game throughout the weekend. He just made the switch to TSF for the rest of the summer and we're assuming he'll have the ball in his hands much more often. He’s a high motor prospect that has great energy on both ends of the ball, and coupled with developing multi-level scoring ability, he’ll be a player that could breakout more in Dallas. He has a plethora of high-major offers, and recently cut his list down to eight schools. Therefore, expect Ali to carry the momentum into Dallas this weekend.
Larry Johnson, Team Thad: Johnson possesses the prototypical size at 6’5” to be an impactful 2-guard at the next level. And, despite not putting up eye-popping numbers, Johnson’s talent is clearly evident. Johnson is a point-of-attack pest, and he had 5 steals during Session 2, making him one of the more impressive perimeter defenders heading into Session 3. Team Thad is full of notable prospects such as Jayden Quaintance and Derrion Reid, just to name a few. But, Johnson always finds a way to put his stamp on the game. Right now, Johnson has six offers, notably from programs such as Missouri and Virginia who have been the latest to offer. If Johnson’s production continues, and the scoring output increases, Johnson could be hearing from a lot more programs after Dallas is wrapped up.
Aiden Sherrell, Vegas Elite: Anchoring the only remaining undefeated team in EYBL, Aiden Sherrell has been incredibly productive, and his play following Session 2 could make for a giant step forward during Session 3 in Dallas. Despite only appearing in two games in Phoenix, Sherrell left his mark by scoring 23 points and swatting 7 shots. Opposing teams simply could not score with him in the interior, nor could they slow him down as a rim-runner in the open court. Sherrell is poised for a major weekend in Dallas, and with being offered by Florida State earlier this week, Vegas Elite could look to cement themselves as a powerhouse on this circuit.
Austin Swartz, Boo Williams: Swartz continued his monster spring during Session 2, notably by putting up a 30-ball on Saturday afternoon against Drive Nation. Swartz will look to continue the trend in Dallas, and all signs are indicating that he will after averaging 17.5 points in Phoenix. Swartz isn’t just a scorer, either. He’s more than capable of making plays for his teammates and is an above average rebounder for his position. The next step for Swartz is cleaning up the efficiency in Dallas, as he shot 27-68 from the field and 8-31 from deep during Session 2. There are a lot of areas to improve in for Swartz, but he’s flashed high-level scoring ability which is enough to be excited about. Performing well and building upon his last performance is going to be critical, and there will be plenty of people in the building to see if he does so.
Some Matchups to Watch
AZ Unity vs. PSA Cardinals (Friday, May 12 at 7:00 PM)
Team Takeover vs. Team Thad (Friday, May 12 at 7:00 PM)
Team Melo vs. Team Final (Saturday, May 13 at 11:00 AM)
NH Lightning vs. Mokan Elite (Saturday, May 13 at 12:30 PM)
Team Final vs. Houston Hoops (Saturday, May 13 at 5:00 PM)
Vegas Elite vs. NJ Scholars (Sunday, May 14 at 9:30 AM)
Livon vs. Oakland Soldiers (Sunday, May 14 at 11:00 AM)
Current Standings
Pool A:
Vegas Elite (8-0)
Team Thad (7-1)
NJ Scholars (7-1)
Team Takeover (6-2)
Brad Beal Elite (6-2)
Meanstreets (5-3)
JL3 (5-3)
Florida Rebels (5-3)
Phenom University (4-4)
Team United (4-4)
Team Griffin (3-5)
City Rocks (3-5)
Team WhyNot (2-6)
New York Renaissance (2-6)
NW Rotary Rebels (2-6)
All Ohio (2-6)
Proskills (1-7)
Pool B:
NH Lightning (7-1)
Team Final (7-1)
Team CP3 (7-1)
PSA Cardinals (6-2)
Team Melo (6-2)
Expressions (5-3)
Mokan Elite (5-3)
Livon (4-4)
Team Durant (4-4)
Paul George Elite (4-4)
The Family (4-4)
Houston Hoops (4-4)
Oakland Soldiers (4-4)
AZ Unity (3-5)
Boo Williams (3-5)
Drive Nation (3-5)
Nightrydas Elite (2-6)
Indy Heat (1-7)
The Skill Factory (1-7)
Georgia Stars (0-8)