Tag Archives: Nike EBYL

NBA Draft, NBA Draft recaps, 2022, 2022, 2022, Video, Basketball

Ochai Agbaji SG/SF-Cleveland Cavaliers: 2022 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 14th overall

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Agbaji, yet another Mokan Elite AAU product to star at Kansas, earned 2022 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. The 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year improved his three-point percentage each season while on campus, finishing at a 41-percent clip from behind the arc this past year. His 6-foot-10-inch wingspan complements a 6-foot-6-inch, 217-pound frame.

Agbaji heads to an improving Cavaliers roster that already sports quality personnel on the wing. He could share minutes with Isaac Okoro, who we spotlighted prior to the 2020 NBA Draft. Okoro produced four straight double-digit scoring games in December 2021 and had two 20-point efforts this March. In addition, he improved his shooting from behind the arc by nearly six percentage points from his NBA all-rookie campaign. The pairing provides insurance in case they are unable to retain the services of 2023 free agent Caris LeVert, who was picked up in a midseason trade this past season.

NBA Draft, NBA Draft recaps, 2022, 2022, 2022, Video, Basketball

Christian Braun SG-Denver Nuggets: 2022 NBA Draft, 1st Round, 21st overall

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Former Kansas shooting guard Christian Braun starred for the Mokan Elite AAU basketball squad before becoming a second-team All-Big 12 guard. Over the course of his career, Braun was active on both ends of the floor.

He stood out during athletic testing of the 2022 NBA Combine, posting a 40-inch maximum vertical jump and 3.13-second time in the NBA shuttle. His athletic prowess should come as no surprise. Braun -who hails from Kansas and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2019- has had an entire family play college basketball. His brother, Parker, is currently a 6-foot-10-inch forward for Santa Clara.

NBA Draft, NBA Draft recaps, 2022, 2022, 2022, Video, Basketball

Jaden Hardy G-Dallas Mavericks (via Sacramento): 2022 NBA Draft-2nd Round, 37th overall

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Hardy, the 2020-21 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, led the NBA G League Ignite in scoring this past season. The No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2021 by some recruiting outlets, Hardy starred for the Vegas Elite Basketball Club in the 2019 Nike EBYL.

The third of three NBA G League Ignite 2022 draftees, he was taken in the second round of this year’s draft by the Sacramento Kings for the Dallas Mavericks, who gave up two future second round picks to acquire his services.

The Mavericks recently lost guard Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks in free agency, so the addition of Hardy along with injured guard Tim Hardaway, Jr. could help alleviate some of the pressure off of Luka Doncic.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, Video, Basketball

Josh Christopher SG-Arizona State: Houston Rockets, 2021 NBA Draft, 1st Rd, 24th overall (video)

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Josh Christopher’s NBA-ready frame complements a tough work ethic and competitive drive. After starring at Mayfair High School (Calif.), Christopher took his talents to Arizona State. While at the prep level, he earned McDonald’s All-American honors and was ranked as high as the nation’s eighth overall recruit by 247Sports.

Josh Christopher SG-Houston Rockets
Christopher (pictured for Vegas Elite AAU in 2019) has shot 81.3% from the free throw line for Arizona State in 2020-21 (as of 1/22/21).

He went on to average over 14 points and nearly five rebounds per game for the Sun Devils in 2020-21. We go inside the talented Houston Rockets first-round pick’s game while playing for Vegas Elite AAU in the 2019 Nike EBYL.

NBA Draft, 2021, 2021, 2021, Video, Articles, Basketball

Can Mann end Florida’s NBA Draft hiatus (video)?

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Mann, a former four-star recruit, took a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore season and earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches. He improved his field goal percentage by nearly 10 percentage points (.356-to-.459), his three-point percentage by nearly 13 percentage points (.275-to-.402) and averaged nearly 15 more minutes per contest.

Not everyone was on board with his increased production, and the fact that the Gators have not had a player drafted since 2013, when the Chicago Bulls selected Erik Murphy in the second round, leaves some to wonder if Mann will sneak into the first round.

After measuring in at 6’4 (w/shoes) and 177 pounds during the 2021 NBA Combine, has Florida guard Tre Mann’s stock begun to fall?

The extra muscle he added during the 2020 offseason resulted in an increase of 2.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore. After the untimely loss of Keyontae Johnson early in the 2020-21 campaign due to a medical ailment, Mann stepped up to fill the scoring load with similar efficiency.

Mann has an outside chance of hearing his name called in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, but should definitely go at some point during the draft’s proceedings in late July.

Video, 2020, 2020, Articles, Basketball

DraftNasty spotlights Kentucky PG Tyrese Maxey

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During his time at the prep level for South Garland HS (Tex.), Maxey filled up the stat sheet. The consensus five-star recruit finally ended up signing with the Wildcats and earned second-team All-SEC honors in 2019-20. Maxey averaged 14 points per game and shot an impressive 83.3-percent from the free throw line. Known for his clutch play during his brief stay in Lexington, Maxey has a solid chance to hear his name called in the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. We caught our first glimpse of Maxey’s diverse game during his days on the Nike EBYL circuit with the Houston Hoops AAU squad.

NBA Draft, NBA, DraftNasty Throwbacks (Videos, Photos, Articles), Video, 2018, 2018, Basketball

Atlanta Hawks PG Trae Young: DraftNasty’s 2018 NBA Draft preview

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DraftNasty went inside the game of former Oklahoma point guard Trae Young during the 2016 Nike EBYL Peach Jam. Along with fellow 2018 NBA Draft prospect Michael Porter, Jr., Young helped lead Mokan Elite to the championship. For his efforts, he earned Co-MVP honors with Porter, Jr.  During this past season at Oklahoma, he earned consensus All-American honors after leading the nation in points per game (27.4) and assists per game (8.7). Along the way, he shot 42.3-percent from the field, 36.1-percent from three-point range and 86.1-percent from the free throw line.

Video, 2018, Basketball

DraftNasty spotlight: Arizona C Deandre Ayton, 2018 NBA Draft preview

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Arizona’s Deandre Ayton became the Wildcats first consensus All-American in nearly two decades.  The 7’1, 260-pound center averaged 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots per game.  Blessed with a soft shooting touch, long arms and excellent footwork, he is widely regarded as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.  We went inside the 2017 McDonald’s All-American’s game during the summer of 2016 while competing for California Supreme Elite’s AAU squad at the Nike EBYL Peach Jam.

 

Video, 2018, Basketball

DraftNasty spotlights Kentucky SF Kevin Knox: 2018 NBA Draft

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Before Knox averaged 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Kentucky Wildcats in 2017-18, he was tearing up the Nike EBYL circuit for his E1 T1 United AAU squad. The former Wildcat star has nearly a 7-foot wingspan and 9-foot standing reach while standing 6-foot-8. He is a certain first-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

 

NBA Draft, NBA, DraftNasty Throwbacks (Videos, Photos, Articles), Video, 2018, 2018, Basketball

DraftNasty spotlights Texas C Mohamed Bamba: ‘As the World Turns’

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Former Texas center Mohamed Bamba brings an underrated game and 7-foot-10-inch wingspan (the longest ever recorded ) to the NBA.  The former Westtown School (Pa.) product stood out  for the PSA Cardinals in his matchup with current Kentucky center Nick Richards during the 2016 Nike EBYL Peach Jam.  The performance was only a sign of things to come.  As a freshman for the Longhorns, Bamba averaged 12.5 points, 10.9 rebounds and finished second in the nation in blocked shots per game (3.7).  Along the way, he shot 54.1-percent from the field.  We went inside the game of the 2017-18 1st team All-Big 12 defender during our visit to check him in July 2016.