There have been two main occasions in the highschool and faculty basketball recruiting world over Memorial Day weekend: the USA Basketball U18 Coaching Camp and Trials in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after which the Kansas Metropolis cease for the Nike EYBL, the premier grassroots basketball circuit.
Whereas a number of the high-end prospects who often carry out on the EYBL circuit had been in Colorado making an attempt out for Crew USA, there was no scarcity of expertise within the Metropolis of Fountains as gamers and groups fought for a spot in July’s Peach Jam.
However let’s begin with USA Basketball. On Tuesday, the 12-member crew, a mixture of rising faculty freshmen and sophistication of 2025 stars (rising seniors) was introduced. It was chosen from 28 members who took half within the five-day coaching camp.
The 2024 USA Basketball Males’s U18 Nationwide Crew consists of Darius Acuff Jr., Nate Ament, Mikel Brown Jr., Jeremiah Fears, Shelton Henderson, Daniel Jacobsen, Jasper Johnson, Morez Johnson Jr., Nikolas Khamenia, Trey McKenney, Patrick Ngongba II, and Derrion Reid.
Motion begins shortly for Crew USA.
The 2024 FIBA U18 Males’s AmeriCup begins June 3 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Listed below are some standout notes from the 2024 U18 USA Basketball Coaching camp together with two main highlights from Kansas Metropolis EYBL through 247Sports Nationwide Basketball Director Eric Bossi.
Purdue middle signee Daniel Jacobsen shines, earns rankings enhance
The participant who made the largest impression in these first three days of USA Basketball tryouts, particularly relative to expectations, was undoubtedly Daniel Jacobsen. So, it was no shock to see his identify on the ultimate roster even when 5-star prospects like Jayden Quaintance did not make the ultimate lower.
The 7-footer who’s dedicated to Purdue has all the time been an intriguing prospect due to his mixture of dimension and ability.
This week in Colorado Springs, we did not see the tallest participant on the ground drift out to the 3-point line or be reluctant to claim himself within the paint like now we have generally prior to now. We noticed the alternative. We noticed Jacobsen assert himself on the rim on each ends of the ground from the beginning of the occasion. Defensively, he put his physique in entrance of drivers and contested performs on the rim, significantly when rotating from the weak facet of the ground. Offensively, he was making an attempt to dunk every part. And even when he could not, he confirmed fast ending capability across the paint. He labored for deep catches when enjoying together with his again to the basket after which elevated into his child hooks. He additionally made a few spectacular fast passes from numerous spots on the ground.
Jacobsen arrived in Colorado Springs because the No. 149 total participant within the 2024 class. However following a standout efficiency competing towards the nation’s greatest, Jacobsen moved as much as No. 86 total and is now the No. 15-ranked middle.
Shelton Henderson’s inventory continues to rise
One other standout from the primary few days of USA Basketball tryouts was Texas product Shelton Henderson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound wing within the 2025 class. Henderson found out the way to stand out with much less offensive quantity, albeit in numerous methods. He confirmed defensive versatility, banged with larger guys within the publish, and flew on the glass as a rebounder.
In Colorado Springs, Henderson was opportunistic as a finisher when given alternatives and even combined in a few passing flashes. Henderson got here into the spring ranked No. 51 within the nationwide class however has regarded poised to rise by way of three periods within the EYBL, and backed that up right here.
A reputation that’s getting hotter and warmer because the summer time ramps up and recruiting strikes are made, Henderson spoke with 247Sports’ Travis Branham earlier than USA Basketball trials started to element his recruitment.
Henderson says he hears essentially the most from embrace Houston, Louisville, LSU, and Texas, and primarily based on his efficiency on the EYBL circuit (and now USA Basketball), he’s now receiving curiosity from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and USC.
Scouting report following first cuts at USA Basketball U18 trials
The objective for the gamers on the USA Basketball trials is to make the ultimate 12-man lower, however the coaching camp can also be a measuring stick for the nation’s elite. It is 5 days of comparability. How do these gamers stack up towards one another? It is the very best vs. the very best.
From a scouting perspective, these 5 days permit us to get into the weeds on every participant’s weaknesses and strengths. It is extra nuanced since you are seeing gamers uncovered in a approach you possibly can’t see at the highschool stage and even on the AAU circuits.
You might be seeing gamers go head-to-head with extra on the road. It is a distinctive setting as a result of these gamers are used to being the very best gamers on their respective groups, whether or not that’s in highschool or on the spring and summer time circuit. At USA Basketball, it is about discovering a task, being an excellent teammate, and complementing the opposite gamers in a approach that can make the complete crew higher. The cream rises to the highest.
Following the primary lower, I put collectively basically what become scouting reviews on every participant who made the primary lower. It is a take a look at what I noticed, what I actually appreciated from the gamers, and what every one might do higher. In the event you’re fascinated by following the subsequent wave of American basketball expertise, think about it your cheatsheet shifting ahead this summer time.
Appreciating the greatness of Cameron Boozer on the grassroots circuit
From 247Sports’ Eric Bossi in Kansas Metropolis:
What Cameron Boozer has executed over the past couple of years on the grassroots circuit is solely outstanding and I do not assume we’ll totally recognize simply how nice he is been till we have had a number of years to mirror on it.
Having already led his crew to Peach Jam titles on the 15U and 16U stage over the course of the previous two summers, Boozer — after all, a son of Carlos Boozer — has performed a big position within the Nightrydas making it by way of the final month or so with a 14-1 report whereas positioning them to make an unprecedented run at three Peach Jam titles in three completely different age teams over the course of three summers.
Now main the EYBL in scoring and rebounding, the 6-foot-9 energy ahead is an absolute mannequin of consistency and effectivity. He performs the sport with an off-the-charts basketball IQ and dominates by making the correct play just about each time. He has a number of the greatest fingers I’ve ever seen, contact across the rim and he continues to point out increasingly enchancment as a faceup shooter and playmaker for others. I may very well be forgetting someone, however within the final 15 years the checklist of fours who’ve been as persistently dominant as Boozer on the grassroots stage is Anthony Davis, Julius Randle and Paolo Banchero and that is in all probability it. Will he grow to be an NBA All-Star like these guys? Solely time will inform however his monitor report says will probably be exhausting to wager towards him.
Whereas the pure assumption is that he’ll head to Duke together with his brother Cayden Boozer (who has additionally been remarkably constant and productive over the previous three years), Miami is true there whereas Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina and others make robust pushes. You possibly can just about guide him for 25 and 12 every time he takes the ground and it is exhausting to consider that this child would not flip 17-years-old till later this summer time.
AJ Dybantsa, 2025’s No. 1 participant, takes over
From 247Sports’ Eric Bossi in Kansas Metropolis:
Ever since shifting into the category of 2025 and taking excessive spot, AJ Dybantsa has confirmed to be among the many most dynamic wing prospects to hit the scene within the 247Sports period. At 6-foot-8, the current switch to Utah Prep does all of it. Actually, it is turning into more and more exhausting to seek out any holes in his recreation.
What I beloved about watching Dybantsa in Kansas Metropolis was seeing the strides he is taken not solely as a frontrunner however as a participant who is aware of the way to choose the correct spots to take over. I watched as he hit an extremely powerful three on the buzzer to ship a win on Friday night time, after which Monday morning his calm demeanor whereas making three straight threes from the highest of the important thing as his crew battled again from a sluggish begin actually illustrated his rising maturity.
He obtained by defenders off the dribble, he dunked, and he locked up on protection, all whereas enjoying with large vitality and management. He is formally visited Auburn and USC and may select his subsequent vacation spot. Arkansas is pushing fairly exhausting since John Calipari made his transfer, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see if Cal can land one other No. 1 recruit at his new job.