Chicago, IL – Today kicked off the beginning of the NIKE EYBL Invitational and the NIKE Tournament of Champions; two dynamic tournaments being played at the same time, under one roof. Over 500 teams from all across the country rolled into Chi-Town to put on a show for the colleges and universities that were sitting on the sidelines. Game after game showcased some amazing talent from every class. Here are a few stand-outs that we had the pleasure of watching.
#3 Jazmine Young 2018 5’7” Guard Midwest Elite 15u EYBL (IL)
As soon as Young stepped on the court, you could see in her eyes she was ready to play. She confirmed it the very first play after the tip by driving to the basket, shooting a pull-up, missing, getting her own rebound and then scoring a layup. This scenario pretty much describes her play for the remainder of the game. Jazmine hustled on every play, got to the hoop, is a solid one on defender and a vocal leader. She was a fun player to watch.
#13 Mallory McCartney 2019 5’7” Guard Michigan Select 15u
When McCartney got the ball in her hands, the first thing you would hear from the other team is “SHOOTER!”, and I couldn’t agree more. Not only is she a pure shooter, but a smart one too. She knew when to shoot and when to keep the offensive play going. She runs the court well in transition and did a great job playing the lanes on defense.
#23 Zayla Tinner 2020 5’9” Wing Hoop 10 (TX)
While watching Zayla, I assumed she was a sophomore or junior. She has a very strong solid frame and made her presence felt on both ends of the court. Well I was wrong. Not only is she not a sophomore or junior, but she has yet to play one game of high school basketball. Her size and IQ are beyond her years. With the right guidance and skill development, Tinner has the potential to be one of the top players in the class of 2020.
#14 Alexandria Scruggs 2019 5’10” Guard Carolina Flames EYBL (NC)
Scruggs was the silent assassin for the Flames on Day 1. She did all the little things her team needed her to do; crashing the boards to help rebound, running the floor in transition, and playing great defense. On offense, she knocked down five 3’s in one game, quietly finding her shot within her team’s offense and making the defense regret leaving her open.
#23 Jordan Hurston 2019 6’0” Guard All Ohio EYBL
Long, quick, athletic and confident are just a few words to describe this very talented young player. Standing a legitimate 6’0”, Jordan’s main role today was at the point guard position. Her length was definitely an advantage on both ends of the court. Her long arms allowed her to drive to the basket and keep the ball far above her opponents reach and finish strong at the rim. On defense, Jordan used her wingspan to alter shots, deflect passes and block the vision of those she guarded. As her game matures, look for Jordan to make a name for herself on the EYBL circuit and across the country.
