The 2025 grassroots season is in full bloom and we had an opportunity to evaluate all three days of the Nike EYBL Session I in Phoenix and the main theme of Session I was opportunity. There was plenty of opportunity for talented players to turn heads, make an impact and potentially move up in the credible national player rankings down the line.
Whereas last year, the focus was on the exploits of top talents such as Cameron Boozer and A.J. Dybansta, this year a few of the top rising seniors (2026) were notably absent and the young classes (2027 and 2028) don’t have slam dunks talents whose spot or status in their respective class cannot be supplanted. There are terrific underclass prospects, but no one prospect is head and shoulders above the rest.
That means there is plenty of opportunity to excel and be noticed on the EYBL circuit. This spring is wide open for players to move up.
We take a look at the status of each high school class, throw in some standouts in each and mention some young players to track.
2026
With Tyran Stokes of Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and Brandon McCoy Jr. of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) absent at the first EYBL session, it took some of the star power away from the top of the rising senior class in Phoenix. There is some chatter than Stokes could attempt to re-classify to the 2025 class and that McCoy will re-join the circuit.
McCoy nursed injury during his junior scholastic season and many scouts and media-types are eager to see him play. McCoy is focusing on his individual player development and getting his body right for the FIBA 19U World Cup tryouts. That event will take place June 28-July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Among the EYBL participants, it was difficult not to notice the play and intensity of Jordan Smith, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard for Team Takeover 17U/Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.). Smith is one of those rare elite talents that never takes a play off on both sides of the ball. In that sense, Smith evokes images of 1992 Mr. Basketball USA Jason Kidd. We are not calling Smith a future NBA Hall of Fame by any means, but that’s how he approaches the game in terms of maximum effort every play.
A comparison for Smith, one of the nation’s best 2026 performers and a good candidate for the 2024-25 All-American Elite Team, in terms of what he brings to the game and how he impacts winning is Marcus Smart, the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year who led Texas Assault to the 2011 Adidas Super 64 title. Smith guards the ball with abandon, can sky for rebounds, contest the shots of bigger players above the rim and is hard to stop when he gets downhill. Smith can also handle the lead guard spot and has a workable jump shot.
Team Takeover finished the week 3-0 and on Sunday Smith willed them to a 82-78 overtime victory over the Utah Prospects with contested baskets and effort plays. In a contest with 29 lead changes, he finished with 24 points, four rebounds, five steals and two blocks.
Another big reason for Team Takeover’s 3-0 start in the Merritt Division was the play of 6-foot-6 2026 Qayden Samuels of Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). The lefty wing with a vast array of offensive moves off the triple threat finished with 29 points. He is the co-scoring leader in EYBL 17U so far with a 25.3 ppg average, tying him with 6-foot-3 Jason Crowe Jr. of the Oakland Soldiers 17U/Inglewood (Calif.). The Soldiers are also 3-0 thus far.
Another player who has a great opportunity for the top spot in the final 2026 national class rankings is 6-foot-9 Christian Collins of Team WhyNot 17U/St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Collins evokes images of former high-flying forward Larry Nance, a three-time NBA All-Star and three time all-defensive team member. Colins covers ground on his drives and has an improved pull up and turn around game to complement his lively legs and instincts around the rim and on the glass. Collins has as much room for improvement and as high of a ceiling as anyone in the 2026 class.
From the point guard position, it was hard not to like the work and gamesmanship of 6-foot-5 2026 Dylan Mingo of PSA Cardinals 17U/Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.). Mingo is a pure play-maker who can score on the move as well as any guard in the country. Similar to Crowe, he knows how to draw contact and keep defenders off-balance. The difference between the two is Mingo’s length and horizontal game in terms of finishing around the basket. Mingo’s arsenal is similar to the things former NBA point guard Rajon Rondo could do in terms of variety of shots and finishing angles near the basket. Mingo also keeps his head on a swivel and delivers the ball.
We’ll have another report on some of the EYBL stock-risers in this class.
2027
A good place to start with this group is 6-foot-9 2027 Baba Oladotun of Team Durant 16U/Blake (Silver Spring, Md.). He is a deserving No. 1 prospect in the country with his upside and skill set at his size. Oladotun has a sweet looking jumper and can hit it off the catch and off the bounce. He is a fluid athlete and his game will expand as he gains strength and fills out. That will also help his blow-by ability, which shows flashes but is a work in progress.
Like many young prospects, Oladotun could work of simplifying his game off the bounce and getting to his sweet spots, instead of shooting contested shots or falling away. He has the ability to rise up over off-balance defenders and simply shoot it in their face over the top. We won’t be surprised if he develops those aspects of his game and maintains his pole position in this class.
There is many in line to challenge, and a few were on display in Phoenix. One player who is big-time already and makes a huge impact on 16U games is 6-foot-7 2027 Marcus Spears Jr. of Drive Nation 16U/Dynamic Prep (Dallas). Spears plays with an edge and is a locked in players in terms of affecting the game on both sides of the ball. Spears knows how to get in a stance on the wing and up front and can beat players to the spot. Offensively, he has a variety of moves and finishes around the basket to complement his lefty triple threat game.
One of the highlights of the weekend was his matchup with 6-foot-9 2027 C.J. Rosser of Team United 16U/Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, N.C.). Rosser is longer than Spears and is oozing with upside because of that length and scoring ability. Rosser also has good defensive timing and just needs to add strength in order to keep lesser defenders from getting him off balance. The verdict of the matchup was Spears is better now and will be a terrific high school player the next two seasons, while Rosser could be the one to challenge Oladotun for the top spot There was more than one veteran coach and scout who said he could be the best long term prospect of any player in attendance.
Rooser’s teammate King Gibson, a 2027 6-foot-4 shooing guard from Montverde Academy (Fla.), also turned heads with his steady game and scoring ability. He was more than solid all weekend long. Spears’ teammate on the Nike EYBL and in the scholastic ranks, 6-foot-6 2027 wing Ryan Hampton, is highly-regarded but needs to work on his efficiency and shot selection.
He may not reach the rankings height of some of the previously mentioned in this class, but 6-foot point guard 2027 Cayden Daughtry of the Florida Rebels/Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) must be mentioned for his standout play. He puts pressure on defenses with his scoring drives and crafty moves and ability to rise up for a quality jump shot. Daughtry doesn’t have a lot of wasted motion in his game and can score at a high rate around the basket. He also can score in bunches or facilitate equally well.
2028
It’s still early for this class and the major recruiting networks have not yet placed a pecking order for it, but a few already have a national name in this class, including the ones not on the EYBL circuit. Few top 2027s and 2028s are playing up on the EYBL, so it will be a while before we create a pecking order or anoint someone the player to catch in this class.
A good place to start is 7-foot 2028 Bamba Touray of Tre Mann Elite 15U/IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on the Pro16Circuit. He has all the makings of a top prospect, but there are plenty that already have made a bigger impact on the scholastic ranks.
Among those who are in the range of Touray include 6-foot-7 A.J. Williams of Georgia Stars 15U/Dutchtown (Hampton, Ga.), 6-foot-4 Adan Diggs of All In Elite 17U/Williams Field (Gilbert, Ariz.) on the UAA Circuit, 6-foot-5 Miles Simpson of Brad Beal Elite 15U/Webster Groves (Mo.) and 6-foot-1 Machai White of City Rocks 17U/St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.).
All four of them made a big impact on the scholastic level and we’ll be tracking their game all spring and summer.
Williams averaged 19 ppg for Georgia Stars and White 3.5 ppg for City Rocks in Phoenix. Obviously Diggs and White may take their lumps on 17U, but they also will benefit down the line from the experience.
More often than not, we think the elites benefit from playing at the 17U level and get the benefit of the doubt over those dominating at the 15U level.
Youth Is Served
We focused on the 17U and 16U games in Phoenix, but did catch some younger level games and here are five players that caught our eye.
Shilou Brown, Gen Basketball 14U (Toronto, Canada) 2029 5-9 PG
A terrific guard prospect who can score from deep and make pin-point passes with either hand. The games comes easy for Brown in terms of instincts and if he continues to grow physically, watch out.
Quali Giran, Paul George Elite 14U (Carson, Calif.) 2029 6-1 SG
This PGE club has plenty of well-known players, and Giran stood out in the matchup with Gen Basketball. He had some athletic finishes and is competitive with a nose for the ball. Giran loves to compete.
D.J. Hunter, Paul George Elite 15U (Las Vegas, Calif.) 2029 5-7 PG
One of the quickest and best play-makers we saw all weekend was this dynamo from Sin City. Hunter changes direction like a seasoned high school player and obviously has learned the game well from his father, former UNLV player Demetrius Hunter.
Myan Walker, Vegas Elite 13U/Team Holiday (Gardena, Calif.) 2030 5-6 PG
Scored plenty by breaking defenders down in the game we evaluated and has an advanced feel at his age. Walker also has a competitive edge and good instincts.
Will Fox, Vegas Elite 13U/Team Holiday (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) 2030 5-7 PG
Walker’s teammate can effectively play on or off the ball and knows how to move and get to his spots.
Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
