The EYBL: A Year In Review (check out the video clip!)
NIKE’s inaugural Elite Youth Basketball League was a resounding success. The STL Eagles advanced to the championship game after going 12-2 in the regular season, and 5-0 in pool play at the Peach Jam/EYBL Finals. Check out the link below which gives a great video review of the league. The Eagles are featured prominently in the video clip:
Nike EYBL Promo from courtcred on Vimeo.
NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) Takes Off: Eagles Go 5-0 in Weekend #1
EYBL Is Changing Travel Basketball
Nike steps in to organize and provide championship for travel teams
By Christopher Lawlor (ESPN.com)
Leave it to Nike to revolutionize the travel basketball circuit. After bouncing around a simple concept for the past five years, the company with the trademark swoosh debuted the Elite Youth Basketball League this past weekend at the Boo Williams Invitational in Hampton, Va.
“We were looking to bring structure to the travel game,” said Jeff Rogers, the league commissioner and director of Nike Elite Grassroots Basketball. “We had a tremendous response even without having played a game. We hope this changes the way things are done.”
The EYBL is a first-ever league featuring 42 high-level, U17 grassroots teams playing for a championship. It culminates in July at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, Ga. The concept is simple. The teams, divided into four divisions, will play a predetermined schedule during three weekends this spring — in Hampton (Friday through Sunday), Houston (May 14-16) and Los Angeles (May 29-31). After the third event, the top five teams in each of the four divisions will automatically advance to the Peach Jam bracket, with four at-large teams added to round out the 24-team championship tournament. Teams that receive an automatic bid are guaranteed spots for 2011.
Read more about the Elite Youth Basketball League by clicking on the following link: NIKE EYBL.
STL EAGLES SHINE IN THE EYBL OPENING WEEKEND
By Reggie Rankin ESPN Recruiting
The first session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League was held at the Boo Williams Sportsplex this past weekend in Hampton, Va.. The games were intense and the energy level was high the entire weekend. Here are five things we learned as we evaluated players.
1. Marquis Teague has stepped up his game…..
2. Ben McLemore is no longer an unknown. The fresh face on the St. Louis, Eagles made it very clear he will be a force to be reckoned with this spring and summer. Ben McLemore (Wellston) had the fans saying “Who is that kid?”. This long, athletic wing played power forward for his high school team last season before being moved to the perimeter this season and his game has blossomed. McLemore is very athletic. When he dunks, it looks like he is doing a chin-up on the rim. He has a quick first step and is an explosive leaper. He has hits midrange jumpers and 3s with ease. When he has the ball in his hands don’t look away, you might miss something spectacular. He has not even scratched the surface on how good he could become.
3. Shabazz Napier is the real deal…..
4. The 2011 class is full of outside assassins. Shooting has become a lost art over the years but Bradley Beal (Chaminade. / St. Louis; St. Louis Eagles, Committed to Florida) Trevor Cooney (Sanford/Wilmington, Del.; Team Final) Kentavious Caldwell (Greenville, Ga./ Greenville; Georgia Blazers) and Jabari Brown (Oakland, Calif./ Oakland; Drew Gooden Soldiers) can flat-out shoot the ball. All four have great size and pretty strokes. They all deliver the ball smoothly and effortlessly. They can shoot the spot-up deep ball, come off screens or attack the defender and knock down the midrange jumper. Opposing defenses must know the scouting report on these quick-trigger assassins because they can change the scoreboard and put the game out of reach in a hurry.
5. The Nike EYBL is a great idea. This concept of a running club league makes every game much more valuable. The 35-second shot clock was a welcomed addition. This league allows the teams to compete and earn the right to play for a championship in July at the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. Expect the intensity of the games and the competitive fire of the coaches to heat up as we get closer to July. This could be considered the March Madness of high school travel team basketball.
To read more about the opening weekend, click on the following link: EYBL @ Boo Williams
7 Eagles Selected for All Metro Team…including 5 on the 1st Team!
STL Post-Dispatch: All-Metro Prep Basketball Boys Team (4/4/2010)
FIRST TEAM
Bradley Beal Chaminade Jr. 6-3 Guard: Beal committed to Florida before the season, adding to the expectations heaped upon him after leading the Red Devils to the state championship in his sophomore season. The Metro Catholic Conference player of the year, now a two-time first-team All-Metro selection, averaged 29 points as Chaminade went 21-6.
Shaquille Boga McCluer Jr. 5-11 Guard: The graduation of some talented seniors left the Comets in Boga’s hands, and he responded by averaging 21.6 points and leading McCluer to its first league championship since 2005-06. The Suburban North Conference player of the year averaged 5.4 assists and 4.2 steals per game.
Eric Clark Cardinal Ritter Sr. 6-3 Guard: Cardinal Ritter was the strongest team in the area the last few weeks of the season, which culminated with the Lions winning the Class 3 championship. Clark, the player of the year in the AAA conference, averaged 20.1 points and 7.5 rebounds for the season and scored 59 points in the final two games at Mizzou Arena.
Roosevelt Jones O’Fallon Jr. 6-3 Guard: Jones was a do-everything swingman for the Panthers, who finished fourth in the Illinois Class 4A tournament. He averaged 19.3 points, 12.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.3 steals and had two monster games at Carver Arena: 22 points and 19 rebounds vs. Simeon and 26 points and 13 rebounds vs. Waukegan.
Ben McLemore Wellston Jr. 6-5 Forward: The final season of the Wellston basketball team concluded with a 3rd-place finish in Missouri’s Class 2, thanks in large part to the junior standout. McLemore averaged 28.3 points, 12.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.3 blocked shots
THIRD TEAM
Another Eagle Lands in the PAC 10: Jesse Perry Commits To Arizona
Jesse Perry (Gateway Tech HS, John A Logan CC)
Phoenix (March 29, 2010)—On his official visit to Arizona, 6-foot-8, 210-pound, John A. Logan Community College power forward Jesse Perry chose to commit to Arizona. Jesse Perry averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game this season.
Perry, who played for Albert Thomas at Gateway Tech HS, played for the STL Eagles from 2005-2007. He is the 9th player from that outstanding team to earn a Division I scholarship. During his time with the Eagles, Jesse was a versatile forward who earned an invitation to the prestigious NIKE Hoop Jamboree in 2006. He was a tough player who played through a lot of injuries and pain during his time with the Eagles. In choosing Arizona, Perry’s relationship with Archie Miller was a key factor in his commitment. Perry wants to come in right away and earn a starting spot.
“The real reason I decided was because I felt Arizona was the place that could make me better,” Perry said. “I created a relationship with Coach Sean and Archie Miller, the other guys on the staff, and the players that are there. That’s a place I can go play and be a big impact player.” (For a complete interview, visit www.pointguardu.com)
The SIU-E Cougars Add Another STL Standout
Abel Tillman
Edwardsville (March 28. 2010)—Former McCluer South-Berkeley High standout Abel Tillman gave a verbal commitment to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. An athletic shot blocker and post player, the 6’7” Tillman played his sophomore year at Highland Junior College in Freeport, Ill. for coach Ronnie Dean. As a sophomore, Tillman averaged 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 54 percent from the field. He led the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 4 in blocked shots with 103. He helped lead Highland to the Arrowhead Conference title and a 23-10 record.
Abel was a member of the 2007 STL Eagles 17 & U team, and is the 8th member of that class to sign with a Division I school. During his year with the STL Eagles, Abel was a tremendous defender and one of the best shot blockers ever to put on an Eagle uniform.
Tillman chose SIUE over SEMO, Fresno State, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Tennessee Tech and Oral Roberts.
The Latest Mizzou Tiger: Kony Ealy from New Madrid!
Kony Ealy Signs with Mizzou!
NEW MADRID (Feb. 4, 2010) – Kony Ealy, a 6-5, 230 pound senior, signed his national letter of intent to play football at the University of Missouri on Wednesday morning. Kony is a true 2-sport star. Kony was also a key player for the NMCC basketball team the past 3 years, and was a starting power forward for the STL Eagles from 2007-2009. As a member of the STL Eagles, he was selected to the prestigious NIKE Hoop Jamboree in 2007, and led them to 6 tournament titles in 3 years. He was an extremely committed player, having to travel over 2 hours each way to get to practice. He rarely missed a practice and never missed a tournament. He was a competitive player whose loyalty to his teammates and coaches was second to none.
Ealy is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 3 football player in the state of Missouri and is one of the nation’s top 250 high school players. Rivals.com also has Ealy labeled as a ‘four-star’ football recruit and a strong mid major basketball recruit
Ealy turned down football offers from such Division 1 schools as Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Arkansas, Kansas and Mississippi, among others. He also turned down Division I basketball offers from mid major schools in the Ohio Valley and Missouri Valley Conferences. Ealy is a part of the 23 signed recruits on Wednesday that make up the nation’s 21st-best recruiting class. This is considered to be the highest-ranked recruiting class in Mizzou history according to scouting experts.
David Lee: 1st STL NBA All Star Since 1977!
David Lee (Chaminade HS, U of Florida) was selected to the 2010 NBA All-Star Game to replace Allen Iverson. David is the first St. Louisan to participate in this prestigious contest since JoJo White of the Boston Celtics. For the full NY Daily News article about his All-Star experience, read more…
Tyler Hansbrough: NC Jersey Retired @ Duke-NC Game
Tyler Hansbrough & Roy Williams
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) (2/10/10)
Tyler Hansbrough nearly did it all after four years at North Carolina
Then came the capper: Having his jersey No. 50 raised to the Smith Center’s rafters.North Carolina retired Hansbrough’s number on Wednesday night,honoring the leading scorer and rebounder in the history of one of college basketball’s winningest programs.
Hansbrough was presented with a framed jersey during a 10- minute ceremony at halftime of the Tar Heels’ game against rival Duke, which marked the Indiana Pacers forward’s first visit to Chapel Hill for a game since his career ended last spring.
If you want to learn view the entire AP article that was carried in the NY Times read more…
Rich Gray to Coach Team USA at the NIKE Hoop Summit
Rich Gray, President STL Eagles
Rich Gray, STL Eagles Founder and President, was selected to coach the USA Junior National Team in the Annual NIKE Hoop Summit. The Nike Hoop Summit, one of the country’s premiere basketball games, features America’s top male high-school-age players taking on a World Select Team comprised of the top international players, 19-years-old or younger. The 2010 game returns to the Portland Rose Garden, and will be played in front of a nationally televised audience.
Rich Gray coached Team USA in the 1997 NIKE Hoop Summit. That game, which ended in a 97-70 victory for Team USA, featured St. Louisan Larry Hughes against a world team led by a young German named Dirk Nowitzki. Two years later, Coach Gray assisted the USA North Team in the 1999 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. Rich’s coaching resume includes a National AAU Championship in 1996 and another national title at the 2002 AAU Supershowcase.
For more information about Rich Gray and his selection to coach Team USA, read more…..
Missouri Valley Conference Lands Another STL Eagle
Karl Madison Makes it Official:
Karl Madison (Springfield Lanphier HS) announces his decision to attend Drake University in 2010. Karl was a 3 year starter for the STL Eagles Basketball Club (2007-09). He is a tremendous leader, who made an amazing commitment to play here in St. Louis. He made nearly every practice and every tournament, despite the 200 mile round trip drive. Karl was also a 2-time NIKE Hoop Jamboree participant, and earned multiple All Tournament awards during his three years with the Eagles. Karl is an outstanding student who received recruiting interest from Stanford, DePaul, Northwestern, Ball State, Missouri State, and Illinois State.
For more information about his commitment decision, click on the following link: