Nike EYBL S1: E15 & E16 Saturday Storylines

April 23, 2023 by Tony McNiff

Will Riley continues to shine bright at Session 1 for UPLAY

Will Riley has been a notable headliner through the first few days of action in Atlanta. He displayed his smooth offensive skillset while showcasing growth as a ball handler & playmaker. He was a consistent scorer who proved he has the versatility to score the ball from multiple levels. Riley’s blend of positional size, length, and developing skill make him a notable prospect in the 2025 class. The Canada native debuted at #22 in our rankings and he’s one of many prospects we’re keeping a close eye on this AAU season. 

Nightrydas trio leads the way

The #1 player in our 2025 rankings, Cameron Boozer left a lasting impact during Saturday’s action by capping it off with a 40 point & 17 rebound performance. There’s little that hasn’t been said about the five-star prospect, however it’s his ability to impact multiple facets of the game. His combination of positional size, skill, & feel for the game is something you truthfully don’t see too often at the high-school level. Boozer is a capable floorspacer and efficient face-up scorer whose comfortable scoring outside the paint as well. He’s made notable strides as a shotmaker given the array of pull-up jumpers he hit from behind the arc this weekend. After hearing about Flagg’s 52-point outing, it was clear that Boozer wanted to put up big numbers himself. 

Cayden Boozer debuted at #23 in our 2025 rankings and were notably higher on him than most. His two-way production was impossible to ignore and a big key with him has been the steady improvement. He’s taken strides as a shooter, however it was the decision-making growth that truly popped most with me. Boozer seemed to be more poised operating the pick & roll, plus he was highly selective about what shots he decided to take. He’s an explosive handler in the open floor who used acceleration bursts and his strength to create openings to the rim. 

Wimbley Jr debuted at #84 in our 2025 rankings, however he looks like a prospect that could be poised for a big spring and summer. He already holds a few Division-1 offers, plus his recruitment will only continue to expand in the near future. He’s a physically mature wing who thrived in a secondary creator role for Nightrydas thus far at Session 1. Wimbley Jr flashed some shotmaking inside the arc as well by converting a few pull-up jumpers. Defensively, his body strength gives him the ability to wall-off opposing slashers attempting to get downhill. 

ProSkills duo pops out during Session 1

Kayden Edwards debuted at #64 in our 2025 rankings and he’s another prospect we’re a tad higher on compared to most. He was highly productive on both ends of the floor and he led the scoring attack for this ProSkills group. He was also a pivotal reason why ProSkills was able to earn a 3-0 start in pool play. Edwards is a bursty creator who has the speed & handle to beat closeouts, plus he’s a flexible finisher at the rim with noticeable touch. He’s a highly efficient finisher with his dominant hand, plus he flashed his float game as well. Also, he’s a capable scorer from the perimeter whose comfortable settling into pull-up jumpers inside the arc. Defensively, Edwards is a pest on the ball between his blend of energy, instincts, and lateral quickness. 

It is undeniably shocking that Amari Reed doesn’t hold an offer yet, however that’s likely to change in the near future. He’s a highly productive and physical big man who plays hard regardless of the score, setting, or opponent. His motor, vertical pop, and physicality makes him a rebounding machine for this ProSkills group. Reed is a powerful finisher on the interior who has the verticality to throw down dunks, plus he has a knack for leveraging his frame to create space. He debuted at #149 in our 2025 rankings, however if he continues to perform at this level throughout the AAU season he will definitely see a notable boost in his stock + recruitment. 

Sam Funches continues to perform at a high level

Sam Funches debuted at #15 in our 2025 rankings, yet the astonishing aspect is that we may even be too low on the Mississippi product. He’s a long and mobile big who provides a budding two-way impact for this Alabama Fusion group. He’s nearly automatic with his left-hand in the paint given his high release point & soft touch. Funches is a reliable face-up scorer whose nearly impossible to block given his positional size & release point. He was productive scoring the ball, however it was his defensive impact that popped as well during Saturday’s games. He’s a rare, appealing prospect given his versatility & touch for a 6-foot-10 prospect who just turned 15 years old last month. 

Ashton Pierce looks poised for an uptick in his recruitment 

Ashton Pierce has been one of the notable headliners in the E15 division during Session 1’s action thus far. Hampton University officially offered him on Friday night, however more offers are certainly coming his way in the future. He’s a skilled guard who has demonstrated his shotmaking prowess, specifically from behind the arc. He’s a productive mid-range scorer whose comfortable taking self-created jumpers as well. Pierce has the burst to attack & beat closeouts, plus he has the wiggle in his handle to get to his spots on the floor. 

Prince-Alexander Moody is taking full advantage of the EYBL platform