Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Explained

Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL)
Pixels:150
Organiser:AAU
Country:United States
Most Champs:MOKAN Elite, Team Takeover
American/Canadian:yes

The Nike Elite Youth Basketball League,[1] [2] also known as Nike EYBL, or simply EYBL, is a basketball circuit for teams of players aged 17 and under. The circuit was founded in 2010[3] and is composed of AAU travel teams.[4] Both boys and girls play in the EYBL in their respective categories. The EYBL is considered one of the top youth basketball circuits in the United States,[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] and includes one Canadian team.[10]

History

The EYBL circuit was established in April 2010 with the aim of uniting AAU travel teams and establishing a national championship for youth teams.[11] The EYBL is played in different sessions in different cities across the United States.[12] 42 teams played in the first edition, including the league's singular Canadian team, CIA Bounce.[13] In later editions, other classes such as 16U (for players aged 16 and under) were created.[14] NBA player Chris Paul signed up his AAU team, CP3 All-Stars, for the EYBL;[15] Russell Westbrook also has his team, Team Why Not? Other teams include Team Thad, owned by Thaddeus Young, Team Melo (Carmelo Anthony), and Team (Kevin) Durant. [16]

In May 2018, player James Hampton of Team United of North Carolina collapsed and died during an EYBL circuit game in Hampton, Virginia.[17]

EYBL circuit

The EYBL comprises the top 40 high school basketball circuit teams in America,[18] [19] including one Canadian team.[10] The Peach Jam basketball tournament is played each July, serving as the annual EYBL circuit finals.[20] [21] The Peach Jam is played at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, South Carolina[22] Founded in 1996 as the Peach Basket Classic, the pre-existing tournament became the Nike Peach Jam in 1997,[23] and has been included in the EYBL circuit since 2010.

Peach Jam tournament champions

YearWinnerScoreRunner-up
2010Team Takeover70–62St. Louis Eagles
2011BABC84–67Memphis YOMCA
2012Oakland Soldiers51–50CIA Bounce
2013E1T1108–102CP3 All-Stars
2014NJ Playaz85–83Team Penny
2015Georgia Stars104–77St. Louis Eagles
2016Mokan Elite93–65PSA Cardinals
2017[24] Oakland Soldiers70–63Team Takeover
2018[25] Team Takeover96–78Team Why Not
2019[26] Mokan Elite85–84Team Why Not
2021Team Final64-61Brad Beal Elite
2022Mokan Elite53-52Team Takeover
2023Team Takeover76-61Vegas Elite

Notable players

These players have appeared in at least 1 NBA game.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Don Showalter Returns As USA Basketball U16 National Team Head Coach. https://web.archive.org/web/20150129014100/http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/01/2015-mu16-coaching-staff-announced.aspx. dead. January 29, 2015. January 26, 2015. usab.com. May 8, 2020.
  2. News: NIKE ELITE YOUTH BASKETBALL LEAGUE TIPS-OFF 2ND SEASON. Slam. March 10, 2011. May 8, 2020.
  3. News: EYBL may change travel basketball. Lawlor, Christopher. ESPN.com. April 8, 2010. May 8, 2020.
  4. News: Sources: Nike EYBL sets spring and summer schedule. Daniels, Evan. February 12, 2020. 247Sports.com. May 8, 2020.
  5. News: NCAA bans college coaches from meeting with recruits due to concerns over coronavirus. Lexington Herald-Leader. Roberts, Ben. March 13, 2020. May 8, 2020.
  6. News: Ranking the Most Impressive CBB Recruits on the Nike EYBL Circuit so Far. Bleacher Report. Phillips, Scott. May 8, 2020.
  7. News: Prestigious Nike EYBL brings star power to Emerson. Greenberg, Jason. The Daily Tribune. April 27, 2019. May 8, 2020.
  8. News: Four-star guard Jalen Coleman impressed by Michigan's player development. Burkhardt, Dylan. May 5, 2014. umhoops.com. May 8, 2020.
  9. News: Vikings will have big decisions coming up regarding 2017. The Star Tribune. May 20, 2016. Hartman, Sid. May 8, 2020.
  10. News: Gillespie . Kerry . Basketball CIA Bounce gives young Canadian hoopsters nice head start . 13 November 2022.
  11. News: Nike EYBL brings top-flight grassroots basketball to Hampton. Daily Press. May 12, 2016. Yanchulis, Kate. May 8, 2020.
  12. News: Five observations from EYBL Minneapolis. Phillips, Scott. May 26, 2015. nbcsports.com. May 8, 2020.
  13. News: Baldwin . Stephen . Canadian hoop dreams grow with Toronto-area program . 17 November 2022 . CBC . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 13 August 2013.
  14. News: Coach K watches LeBron James' 14-year-old son Bronny James play against older competition. Joseph, Andrew. April 30, 2019. USA Today. May 8, 2020.
  15. News: Darnell Rogers proved he belonged this summer. The Herald. McCormick, Bret. August 1, 2015. May 8, 2020.
  16. News: Star power: With every year, Peach Jam fills with more famous faces. Aiken Standard. Russell, Eric. July 16, 2018. May 8, 2020.
  17. News: N.C. hoops player dies after collapsing during Nike EYBL game. Jordan, Jason. May 26, 2018. USA Today. May 8, 2020.
  18. News: Krusz . Tyler . Maine United gets off to a hot start in Nike EYBL circuit . 15 November 2022 . foxbangor.com . FOX Bangor/ABC 7 News . 14 April 2022.
  19. News: Profiles of the 40 teams at this weekend's Nike EYBL basketball tournament . 15 November 2022 . DailyPress.com . Daily Press . 25 April 2012.
  20. News: What we learned from the Peach Jam. LaPlante, Mike. Biancardi, Paul. July 15, 2011. May 8, 2020.
  21. News: A Comprehensive List Of Every Peach Jam Championship Team. flohoops.com. Goldner, Jaki. June 23, 2017. May 8, 2020.
  22. News: Nation's best battle in Peach Jam. Stovall, John. ESPN.com. July 12, 2010. May 8, 2020.
  23. News: History, growth of the Peach Jam. Meyer, Rick. July 14, 2014. May 8, 2020.
  24. News: Oakland Soldiers become first program to win two Peach Jam championships. July 16, 2017. USA Today. May 8, 2020.
  25. News: Peach Jam: Team Takeover dominates its way to the title. July 15, 2018. Jordan, Jason. USA Today. May 8, 2020.
  26. News: EYBL Peach Jam Official Basketball Box Score -- Game Totals -- Final Statistics Team WhyNot vs MoKan Elite. July 14, 2019. May 8, 2020.
  27. Web site: Top performers from EYBL: Bamba, Bagley, Porter shine. Peek. Krysten. April 20, 2016. rivals.com. May 8, 2020.
  28. Web site: EYBL: 2019's top player RJ Barrett in no rush with his recruitment. Bossi. Eric. May 14, 2017. rivals.com. May 8, 2020.
  29. Web site: Stephenson . Creg . Moss Point's Devin Booker begins junior season squarely in basketball spotlight . The Mississippi Press . November 7, 2012 . December 12, 2014.
  30. News: Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles III highlight Nike EYBL Peach Jam First Team. USA Today. July 21, 2015. Schneidman, Matt. May 8, 2020.
  31. Web site: Five things we learned from EYBL Finals. Biancardi. Paul. July 16, 2010. ESPN.com. May 8, 2020.
  32. Web site: 1st Team All-EYBL. July 2, 2015. D1 Circuit. July 2, 2015.
  33. Web site: 7'5 center Tacko Fall is your new favorite College Basketball recruit. O'Donnell. Ricky. July 25, 2014. sbnation.com. May 8, 2020.
  34. Web site: Tyler Herro to back Nike travel program. Fisher. Chris. August 5, 2019. 247sports.com. May 11, 2020.
  35. Web site: Jackson using EYBL play as springboard to five-star status. Bossi. Eric. May 15, 2016. rivals.com. May 8, 2020.
  36. Web site: Zagoria . Adam . Bronx Native Jalen Lecque Becoming Breakout Star on EYBL Circuit . ZagsBlog . May 14, 2019 . April 29, 2017.
  37. Web site: EYBL 2016 standouts Tatum & Maker. Meyer. Jerry. May 2, 2013. 247sports.com. 247 Sports. May 8, 2020.
  38. Web site: Nike EYBL: 2016's Jayson Tatum, Malik Monk lackluster in latest clash. Roberts. Ben. April 25, 2015. kentucky.com. May 8, 2020.
  39. Web site: Ben Simmons says there are no friends when it comes to EYBL. Jordan. Jason. April 10, 2015. USA Today High School Sports. May 8, 2020.
  40. Web site: Big game for 4-star Swanigan at EYBL. Carson. Chad. May 24, 2014. 247sports.com. May 8, 2020.
  41. Web site: Dennis Smith to EYBL this weekend. Slater. Andrew. May 9, 2014. 247sports.com. May 8, 2020.
  42. Web site: What to watch for headed into Nike EYBL Minneapolis. Jordan. Jason. May 22, 2015. USA Today High School Sports. May 8, 2020.
  43. Web site: Five-star wing Gary Trent Jr and the Panthers are unbeaten in the competitive Nike EYBL. Jordan. Jason. May 14, 2016. USA Today High School Sports. May 8, 2020.
  44. Web site: Jarred Vanderbilt has championship goals in third EYBL season with Houston Hoops. February 5, 2016. USA Today High School Sports. May 8, 2020.
  45. Web site: Brandon Miller and Nick Smith Jr. Reunite in Charlotte after dominating AAU competition . 14 July 2023 .