EYBL Semifinal Game Wreckers

The EYBL Semifinals took place for most, if not all age levels competing for an EYBL National Title. Each of these contests had prospects step up and standout as game-wreckers. They played their role, they made the most of what they were given, and in the end they left it all out on the floor - no matter if they moved forward to the Championship or not.   Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!    Amaya Manuel is always her team's leader when she competes or at least that's what I've seen the last three days. Manuel was vital in her team's semifinal win to make it to the 17U EYBL Championship. Offensively, she hit shots from deep, got to the basket to finish, and created for others all at steady rate. Her top notch communication skills stood out as being a huge reason why her team was as prepared as they were overall. If you aren't careful this is a team that could mess around and win it all for the 17U level during our last day. They have all the pieces to close this thing out but it's all going to start with the play of Manuel at the PG position, just like it has the last few days.     Birmingham was one of her team's best players throughout their Semi-final matchup against the Cal Stars. Right from the tip off it was a dominating performance by the AIA 16U EYBL group as a whole. They went up early and never looked back. At halftime they took their lead to about 15 points and that was because of their offensive efficiency mixed with their stifling defense. Birmingham hit one or two three's to kick things off and then she worked to get to the line off the bounce from there. In the second half it was much of the same. A whole lotta buckets from this Attack team. In general they had several other individuals step up to hit shots from deep throughout, which did help bring some pressure off of Birmingham as a whole while she was trying to do her thing. Today the AIA 16U will compete for an EYBL National Title, attempting to go back-to-back after winning 15U last season with an identical group of hoopers.     This is our first time seeing Carib Morris live and she is as good as advertised. Not only is she someone who stands at 6'3 with impressive skill, coordination, and athletic ability - she also has a SNIPER from deep off the catch. It doesn't take a lot of time or space either. When she sets her feet and she is determined to get the shot up, it's going up and it's going to have a chance to fall every time. Her Elite started off things HOT against Missouri Phenom 17U EYBL and Morris was a big reason for that. She started off with hitting 3 three pointers early on and that set the tone of the rest of the ball game. When the final buzzer sounded Her Elite fell just short of moving onto the 17U Championship but it wasn't due to the lack of effort.     You have to love the type of game that Jayla Forbes plays with. At her height of 6'7 she could take the easy way out and just stand next to the hoop on both ends but in reality she does so much more than that and that's why every P4 school in the Country is interested in her. Frobes had a noteworthy performance in the Semi's last night. She played the middle of their interior, controlling all the action moving by her on offense and defense. When Phenom moved to a zone, Forbes moved to the middle and played the high-low game with her teammates for easy assists down-low. She also had a few power players under the bucket where she finished through contact with a chance to go to the line for a three point play or two. Forbes is one of the most dominant players I've seen at the 17U level over my scouting career. She reminds me a lot of Audi Crooks and how she dominated the state of Iowa before eventually taking her talents to Iowa State and now Oklahoma State.     If Missouri Phenom ends up bringing home at 17U EYBL National Title this season then they should be giving a lot of the credit to Katie Muller and her ability to make shots on the offensive end. Muller has been NAILS all weekend long for her last AAU tournament of her high school career. She hasn't been starting but she has been coming in, setting screens, and popping for deep shots behind the three point line. She even had a few moments where she stepped inside the three point line to hit a few midrange jumpers when her team needed it during the end of the contest. University of Missouri is getting a Killer following this Winter. This is a 6'3 CG, that can play and produce at multiple positions. What a steal.     One of the biggest mismatches of the weekend as a prospect came in the form of Tamaiah Gary of CyFair Elite EYBL. Gary is 6'1 with the muscle to pair along with it that makes her trouble for oppositions on a consistent basis. She has the strength to move anyone that might be weaker out of the way but she can also attack from the midrange and get to whichever finish she would like to in that moment. We saw Gary do work in her Semifinal contest time and time again. She stepped up and was someone that the other team had to focus on because if not - she would have killed them at an elite rate.     Syniah Coachman did her best at making the most out of situations within the semifinals against Her Elite 17U EYBL on Sunday night. Coachman was relentless going towards the hoop on the offensive end, attacking the teeth of the defense at every possible moment. She didn't force any unneeded action but she stayed aggressive as she looked for her opportunities to strike. Defensively, she did more than hold her own as she disrupted. She kept her matchup in front of her and that helped her team pull off the victory to move onto the 17U Championship on Monday.     Thomas stepped onto the court for her team's semifinal matchup with vengeance on the mind. I'm not sure why or if she always competes with that chip on the shoulder mentality but CT can make big plays and she isn't afraid to let you know about it. She led the entire contest in scoring to start the first quarter in this matchup making shots from the outside, within the midrange, and all the way near the bucket. She also demonstrated that she is a willing passer whenever she would get down hill and attract more attention than just her individual defender. This Exodus group has some ballers and Thomas is definitely in that conversation.

The EYBL Semifinals took place for most, if not all age levels competing for an EYBL National Title. Each of these contests had prospects step up and standout as game-wreckers. They played their role, they made the most of what they were given, and in the end they left it all out on the floor - no matter if they moved forward to the Championship or not.