2025 Standouts from EYBL Session IV
MEMPHIS, Tenn.—The 2025 group was missing some of the top players during the Memphis stop of the EYBL circuit. The USA Basketball U16 trials took several stars to Colorado. In spite of that, some new faces hopped over to the brand from other circuits for the weekend, and plenty more shined as well.
Here are some standouts from what I was able to take in during my two days in Memphis.
I mean, come on. Flagg is putting up numbers beyond my ability on 2K. This could be a cop out inclusion because it’s so obvious, but I saw him, and he was unreal again. I didn’t even see his best games. More so than anyone in the country regardless of class, Flagg truly impacts the game in every regard. He almost had a quadruple-double with 12 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists and 12 blocks. How about 45 points, 14 rebounds, 8 assists and 6 blocks? It’s comical.
Coming to spend the weekend with Team Melo, Tyler Jackson made his EYBL debut and looked like one of the very best guards in the 2025 class. He has an electricity about him when he has the ball in his hands. A smooth, athletic guard, Jackson is a volume scorer. In his four games over the weekend, Jackson averaged 30 points per game. His offense is his calling card, but he uses his athleticism to help out on the glass. Jackson averaged over 5 boards per game.
Jones impressed early on Sunday in a win for the Team That 16U group. It was his activity and aggressive approach that led to a lot of his production. He has plenty of bounce that he used to his advantage to grab his 9 rebounds and swat his 5 blocks. A 6-foot-4 wing, went 10-14 from the field in that game and got a good chunk of his 20 points from offensive rebounds and assertive finishes at the rim.
New team, same Jacob Wilkins. Now running with the Georgia Stars, Wilkins helped lead this 16U group to a 3-1 weekend in Memphis. It was his athleticism that was on display again. He explodes off the ground and throws down camera-crew pleasing dunks. I got to catch a 21 point, 6 rebound game from Wilkins on Saturday. His recruitment is starting to round into form, and his June could be a catalyst for an even bigger July. This Stars group has some momentum behind them now, and Wilkins’ addition certainly doesn’t hurt that.
In his second weekend with the Georgia Stars 16U team, forward Amir Taylor put up numbers that could be an indication of a productive summer. He has good footwork, good hands, and a soft touch around the rim. Taylor got a lot of his production based on simplifying the game. He didn’t try to do too much, and he made sure that he got the two points, he made sure that he got the rebound. It worked for them as he led them with 14.8 points and 5 rebounds per game. Taylor is an excellent passer, and he’s shown perimeter skill in the past as well.
Josh Dixon had one of his more complete games on Saturday morning with 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He’s one of the better 2025 prospects in Georgia and has been a super scorer in the state. In that Saturday morning game, he kept them in it against Team Thad early on. Keep an eye on Dixon as a breakout candidate this June. He has the makings of a player that can pop during June evaluation periods.
Ruff is one of the more highly-touted guards in the 2025 class. He brings plus positional size and can play either spot well. He was primarily on the ball with WhyNot this weekend, and he showed off his offensive versatility. At times, he was dominant as a slasher. He got to the rim when he wanted. There were times when his shot was falling from deep, and he took advantage of that when he was feeling it.
One of the themes of the travel season has been the number of 2025s and 2026s thriving at the 17U level. This Expressions team was without 2026 star Aj Dybansta, but 2025 riser Joson Sanon stepped up and had some explosive games. When he gets hot, he gets white hot. He scored it well on all levels when he was operating at his best, but his jumper was his deadliest weapon. Sanon sees a big basket at times, and gets his 3-point shot going at a high clip in those situations.
Playing up, 2025 guard Trey McKenney helps make up a potent backcourt for The Family. He’s among the EYBL leaders in points and rebounds with 19.9 and 8.2 respectively. McKenney can hit tough, well-defended shots. Against NH Lightning, he had Tahaad Pettiford—a quality defensive guard—on him and routinely hit shots with a hand in his face or was able to create enough separation to get a clean look off. He plays either guard spot well and should maintain his status as one of the most highly-regarded guards in his class.
From one member of The Family’s backcourt to the other, Darius Acuff added another good weekend to his rapidly developing resume. When thinking about this spring, Acuff has to be one of the stories. His rise during the first two live periods put him on the radar as one of the best point guards in 2025 and landed him some blue blood offers and interest. He finished the spring on a good note and maintained his status as one of the five best scorers on the circuit. He had three games with 20 or more points, including the aforementioned against the NH Lightning that I was on hand for. He started slow in that one, but delivered in the second half to help lock up the win for The Family.
There’s no shortage of talent on this SFG 16U team. They’ll get plenty of love with Bryce James on the squad, but Brayden Burries emerged as the star for them this spring, and that was certainly the case in Memphis. He put up 23.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game while being one of the primary ball handlers in the backcourt. He looked to attack the basket often, and that led to him showcasing his bounce and his ability to convert though traffic.
