AAU season is formally up on us. Whereas there have been various excellent unbiased AAU occasions all through the nation to get issues going this spring, the circuit actually begins when the shoe corporations start having their occasions. Whereas Adidas, Below Armour, New Stability all have important quantities of expertise on their respective circuits, there may be one league that’s often on a totally completely different stage: Nike EYBL.
Held simply outdoors of Phoenix on the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa, EYBL Session I provided rising seniors the prospect to solidify their reputations in a single ultimate AAU go-around. Not like most different AAU occasions, gamers performed one sport a day, making it tough to determine which video games to look at at occasions with such an unlimited quantity of expertise within the constructing. Fortunately, the Ballislife workforce was rolling deep with Ani Umana, Ronnie Flores, and myself all manning completely different courts to take a look at the motion.
What made the rising junior class (2027) in attendance at EYBL was the overwhelming majority of prospects performed their very own age group at 16U. Most years, you will note gamers who’re sitting close to the highest of the nationwide participant rankings enjoying a yr or two up in AAU. For essentially the most half, the group of 2027 performed their very own age, which created no scarcity of hyped matchups. In reality, 4 consensus top-10 recruits (CJ Rosser, Ryan Hampton, Marcus Spears Jr., and King Gibson) all went at it in a hyped Staff United vs Drive Nation 16U sport that had the overwhelming majority of NBA Scouts forgetting most of the most interesting gamers within the 2026 class have been enjoying close by.
Listed below are just a few of the highest 2027 performers who caught our eye at EYBL Session 1:
C.J. Rosser, 6’9, SF/PF, Staff United 16U
So far as long run prospects are involved within the class of 2027, the controversy begins with C.J. Rosser and what makes it scary is that his manufacturing is beginning to mirror his potential. The freakishly lengthy ahead has a robust decrease physique, strikes with distinctive fluidity, and is knowing tips on how to make the most of his dimension to create an impression on each ends of the ground. Although anybody may see Rosser passes the look check, it is the impression he had on the sport that has actually improved. Averaging 20 factors whereas taking pictures 45 p.c from 3-point vary, you notice that he is beginning to flip the proverbial nook along with his growth and has definitely put himself proper there for the No. 1 spot within the class of 2027.
Marcus Spears Jr., 6’8, SF/PF, Drive Nation 16U
After simply wrapping up an impressive highschool season with Dynamic Prep (Dallas) that noticed this 5 star recruit embrace his function off the bench, Marcus Spears Jr. embraced his function as extra of a focus for Drive Nation within the EYBL. The lefty ahead is a swiss military knife on each ends of the courtroom, guarding just about each place on the hardwood as a sport altering defender with a motor. The son of former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman and present ESPN analyst Marcus Spears additionally confirmed his offensive sport through a feathery contact, nice cuts and flashes, plus a excessive stage of exercise that has made him a lock for a prime 5 spot in 2027.
Paul Osaruyi, 6’9, PF, Arizona Unity 17U
A participant who we have been fairly conversant in at Ballislife is 6-foot-9 Canadian ahead Paul Osaruyi. Making the FIBA World Championship 16U All Event workforce at simply 14 years previous, we knew that there was a critical prospect we had on our fingers. Since then, Osaruyi made the transfer to Phoenix to attend CIA Bella Vista and his growth was on show. Whereas his 10 factors, 4 rebounds, and a couple of blocks a sport on the 17U stage could not stand out straight away, it is what he does that does not present up within the field rating that takes him to a different stage. Osaruyi is a bodily monster with freakish athleticism, is a succesful 3-point shooter, and is absolutely beginning to play with a motor on each ends of the ground. There is definitely been an adjustment course of for the sophomore, however so far as long run potential is anxious, he is up there with nearly anybody within the class of 2027.
Ryan Hampton, 6’6, SG, Drive Nation 16U
The apple does not fall removed from the tree, and that is seen with the newest Hampton to achieve prime 5 standing, 6-foot-6 wing Ryan Hampton. The youthful brother of former first spherical decide R.J. Hampton is taller than his large bro, however possesses an analogous physique sort with loopy size and fluidity for a much bigger guard. He was in a position to rating the ball with restricted dribbles, used his dimension to offer a presence on within the paint with robust finishes, and produced at a excessive price all through the weekend. The 21.7 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport that he averaged all through session one definitely stamped his status as one of many prime gamers within the class of 2027.
O’Neal Delancey, 6’4, PG/SG, Florida Rebels 16U
After profitable a state title at Gibbs Excessive College (Fla.) and placing on a present at Dinos Trigonis’ Pangos Improbable 40 final yr in Miami, O’Neal Delancey made everybody on the EYBL know he is way over only a title within the panhandle state. Averaging 18 factors, 7.7 assists, and 6 rebounds per sport throughout session I, the sophomore confirmed appreciable progress as a playmaker whereas sustaining his fixed risk as a scorer when he has the rock in his fingers. He’s a critical shooter who can even make performs off the bounce, however has developed as a facilitator, particularly out of decide and roll play. After his excellent efficiency at EYBL, O’Neal finds himself sitting at No. 35 in ESPN’s newest 2027 rankings.
