AAU season is formally up on us. Whereas there have been quite a lot of excellent unbiased AAU occasions all through the nation to get issues going this spring, the circuit actually begins when the shoe firms start having their occasions. Whereas Adidas, Below Armour, New Steadiness all have important quantities of expertise on their respective circuits, there’s one league that’s often on a very totally 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. In contrast to most different AAU occasions, gamers performed one recreation a day, making it troublesome to determine which video games to observe at occasions with such an unlimited quantity of expertise within the constructing. Fortunately, the Ballislife staff was rolling deep with Ani Umana, Ronnie Flores, and myself all manning totally different courts to take a look at the motion.
That being mentioned, here’s a extra in depth have a look at quite a lot of the highest 2026 gamers who caught my eye on the 17U stage:
Tajh Ariza, 6’8, SF, Staff Why Not/St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
In my eyes, there wasn’t a participant who solidified their fame extra at EYBL Session 1 than Tajh Ariza. The son of longtime NBA vet Trevor Ariza is similar to his father in that he’s a 6-foot-8+ two approach wing, however the youthful Ariza has an much more superior offensive recreation on the similar level. The lithe swingman was a beast of a finisher in transition, was just about unstoppable on straight line drives to the rack, and confirmed excellent contact together with his finishes within the paint. A well-known commodity for fairly a while on the West Coast, Ariza is definitely cementing himself as a consensus prime 5 participant together with his play on the EYBL.
J. J. Andrews, 6’6, SG/SF, Brad Beal Elite/Little Rock Christian Academy (Ark.)
A staple of consistency, J.J. Andrews is a kind of wings who is consistently in assault mode that you simply simply completely hate to have the duty of guarding. The highly effective lefty is aware of the way to rating successfully with restricted dribbles, bodily punished smaller defenders within the paint together with his 220 pound body, and stopped on the dime for pull ups together with his mid-range recreation. When you toss in his 19.7 level per recreation scoring common and talent to protect a number of positions, it is easy to see why Andrews is approaching 5 star standing.
Christian Collins, 6’8, SF, Staff Why Not/St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
There aren’t many gamers who’ve exploded extra up to now 18 months than Christian Collins, and that ascension does not look like stopping any time quickly. The ahead is so remarkably proficient that he makes the sport look extremely simple on the ground, whether or not it’s scoring off screens or creating buckets for himself. He possesses nice contact taking pictures from the perimeter, is remarkably coordinated for a creating participant his measurement, and makes use of his measurement to complete excessive of defenders within the paint. Forming the very best duo within the EYBL with Tajh Ariza, each ought to possible discover themselves as top-5 gamers by just about each scouting service sooner relatively than later.
Jalen Montonati, 6’7, SF, MoKan Elite/Owasso (Okla.)
It wasn’t essentially the very best weekend for Jalen Montonati numbers clever, however the influence that he provided as a plug and play swingman was evident in Phoenix. The large wing confirmed off easy vary nicely past the 3-point arc, had a launch excessive sufficient to get his shot off over just about any defender, and retains you sincere sufficient as a scoring menace with placing the ball on the ground a couple of occasions and scoring excessive by way of a comfortable contact. Oklahoma’s greatest participant positively performs the sport at his personal tempo as nicely, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenders on the perimeter.
Katrelle Harmon, 6’4, PG/SG, Vegas Elite/Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah)
Having performed varsity since he was an eighth grader in Seattle with BFL Prep, Katrelle Harmon has been producing at a excessive price for fairly a while now, and whereas he has at all times been referred to as a scorer, his growth as a playmaker for others has been enjoyable to observe. Sustaining his scoring presence to the tune of 24.7 factors per recreation with Vegas Elite, Harmon additionally displayed his capability as a catalyst for Wasatch Academy, main the EYBL Scholastic League with 6.2 assists per recreation. Harmon performs the sport with an ideal change of tempo, is elite getting at drawing fouls (shot 39 free throws in 3 video games at EYBL), and is wanting like he will be the subsequent in line from the vastly underrated Pacific Northwest.
Marcus Johnson, 6’2, PG, Spiece Indy Warmth/Garfield Heights (Ohio)
Arguably the very best particular person shot creator within the class of 2026, Marcus Johnson confirmed his capability to create separation towards anybody within the opening session of the EYBL. The lefty from Cleveland is excellent utilizing his footwork and easy vary to get to his step-back soar shot. He has additionally improved as a finisher to the purpose he retains you sincere together with his potential to assault the rack. The reigning Ohio Mr. Basketball (his father, Sonny, additionally gained Ohio Mr. Basketball) is the point of interest of coach Jake Diebler’s new look Ohio State Buckeye recruiting class.
