MEMPHIS – The transfer portal is just about done and a few big NBA Draft decisions await. You might think that should give college basketball coaches some time to plop on a couch and take a breath. Last weekend, however, was the first live period of the new recruiting cycle, so coaches were allowed to attend events featuring high school players.
One of the prime events of the weekend was in Memphis, site of session two of the Nike EYBL circuit. Some of the top players in the country were on the court at the Memphis Sports and Event Center and were trying to prove themselves against tough competition. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero was there watching and so was his teammate Anthony Black, supporting his younger brother, Beckham, who had a fantastic weekend.
Here’s a roundup of the top performers from the weekend, with an eye toward where those players might end up next season.
Beckham Black, 2027 point guard, AB Elte
Every high-major coach made Black a priority over the weekend. Dan Hurley (UConn), John Scheyer (Duke), Nate Oats (Alabama), Mike Malone (North Carolina), Dusty May (Michigan), John Calipari (Arkansas) and Sean Miller (Texas) were all present during his games. His older brother, Anthony, played one year at Arkansas for Eric Musselman before being the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Black separated himself at the No. 1 point guard in the class and is making a real case for the No. 1 overall prospect in the incoming senior class with his shot-making ability, court vision and the way he gets downhill. Black is averaging 22 points and 5.1 assists per game over seven games and AB Elite is currently 5-2 in the EYBL.
Marcus Spears Jr., 2027 forward, Drive Nation
Spears is the No.1 player in the 2027 class and had something to prove after a quiet first session in Atlanta. He came out and was incredible, first with the game-winner against the defending Peach Jam champions Indy Heat, and then with 35 points against a tough JL3 Elite team.
Spears’ father played football at LSU and then eight seasons in the NFL and is now an ESPN football analyst. His mom played basketball at LSU and was the No. 7 pick in the WNBA Draft in 2003 by the Washington Mystics. Spears is a 6-foot-9 forward and is averaging 19.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He has taken an official visit to LSU and his latest offers are Michigan, Arizona, North Carolina and Villanova.
JJ Crawford, 2029 guard, North West Rotary
Crawford is playing up for the second year in a row and is the No. 1 option on the U-16 NWR team. His father, Jamal, is the head coach and has been instrumental in the development of JJ as he hits the grassroots national scene. Jamal played at Michigan and was the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. He played 20 years in the league and is considered one of the best sixth men to ever play the game.
JJ put on a scoring clinic, going 4-for-4 from three-point range and scoring 19 points in a half, ultimately finishing with 30 points and 4 assists against Drive Nation. Michigan head coach Dusty May was sitting courtside with an assistant, and coaches from Tennessee, Duke, UConn and Arkansas were present as well. JJ is a 6-foot-6 point guard and holds offers from Kansas, Oregon, USC, Michigan, Louisville, Memphis and more. He’s averaging 17 points while shooting 65 percent from behind the arc on five attempts per game.
Cayden Daughtry, 2027 point guard, Florida Rebels
Daughtry was incredible this weekend as the driving force in leading the Florida Rebels to 6-1 start in the EYBL. Daughtry is undersized as a 6-foot guard but plays bigger than his listed size and is so good at getting underneath the defense anytime he gets downhill. He started off the weekend strong and had 37 points, 5 assists and 3 steals against Nightrydas Elite and carried that scoring instinct through the weekend. He’s averaging 23.6 points and 4.4 assists over two sessions and is a must-watch guard for any high-major coach.
Coaches from Florida State, Iowa, Miami and Michigan were all watching him this weekend and he has recent offers from LSU, Texas, Kentucky and Providence.
AJ Williams, 2028 wing, CP3
Williams is the No. 1-ranked incoming junior and elected to play 17U with CP3 after dominating 16U with Georgia Stars during session one. CP3 is at the top of its division with a record of 6-1 and adding Williams to the team helped them significantly. He was leading all players at the 16U level prior to playing up, and over the weekend he averaged 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Williams has great positional size and has added 10 pounds of muscle since the fall. His midrange game and the way he finishes through contact jump out right away, but it’s his potential as a three-level scoring threat that has college coaches and NBA scouts intrigued.
Williams has taken visits to Duke, Auburn and Georgia and holds recent offers from Miami, Maryland, Tennessee and Oregon.
Lewis Ovwo, 2027 center, Nightrydas Elite
This is Ovwo’s first time playing AAU basketball and he is the biggest stock riser of the spring. Ovwo is a 6-foot-11 center and a menace at the rim. In a game against CP3, he had eight blocks and eight points and played with so much joy on the court. Ovwo’s name was buzzing amongst coaches seeing him play for the first time,; right now he’s a top-90 prospect but will make a major jump once rankings are done again, probably into the top-30 range. He’s leading the EYBL in blocks, averaging 6.1 per game, and adding 9.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Prior to the EYBL season, he held offers from BYU and UCLA, but that list is expected to grow exponentially over the next few weeks and into his senior season, when Ovwo will be playing at powerhouse Prolific Prep.
DeMarcus Henry, 2027 wing, Vegas Elite
Henry is a 6-foot-7 wing and the No. 11 player in the incoming senior class. He was a spark this weekend and a lot of coaches made him a priority as they watched him as a complementary piece alongside fellow five-star Aden Diggs. Henry is one of the best players in the country with his quick decision making off the wing and the way he finishes through contact. Vegas Elite finished the weekend 3-1 and Henry was the No. 1 option on offense each possession. Henry’s averaging 19 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game.
He has recent offers from Kansas, UConn, Arkansas, North Carolina and Kentucky and every head coach from those programs were on the baseline watching Henry play in Memphis.
Colton Hiller, 2028 wing, PSA Cardinals
Hiller is playing up a division at the 17U level and is a top-three player in the 2028 high school class. His combination of shot creation and size makes him an intriguing prospect, and he has a natural feel for the game. Hiller is leading his team in scoring and averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from three on six attempts per game. He has great positional size as a 6-foot-6 shooting guard and has no problem with the physicality of playing up a division.
Hiller holds 21 offers, including Oregon, UCLA, BYU, Duke, Alabama, Auburn and Indiana, and head coaches from Duke, Alabama, Michigan, Arkansas and Kentucky made him a priority this weekend.
Kager Knueppel, 2027 forward, Team Herro
The younger brother of Charlotte Hornets star Kon Knueppel showed promising signs as a high-major prospect during session two. Kon was not present in the stands, but Kager’s three younger brothers were there all supporting him and Team Herro. Kager has a different game than his older brother, but he’s still an efficient scorer and has a high IQ. He’s leading Team Herro in scoring, averaging 16 points per game and shooting 50 percent from three-point range. Team Herro is first in its pool with a 6-1 record after playing some tough teams this weekend.
Head coaches from Duke, UConn, Michigan State, Louisville, Texas and Arizona were all watching Knueppel this weekend. He holds offers from Purdue, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Duke, with more offers likely to come after a strong showing this weekend.
TJ Jamison, 2027 point guard, JL3 Elite
Jamison is a 6-foot-1 point guard and a top-50 player in the 2027 high school class. He had tough assignments this weekend but looked great against Beckham Black and Marcus Spears Jr. His quick decision off the switch and the way he’s able to split the defense was on display all weekend. He’s so good in transition and always makes the right read with the ball in his hands. Jamison is averaging 20.9 points and 4.9 assists per game and the team is 4-3 over two sessions.
Head coaches from Baylor, Alabama, Louisville, Miami, LSU and Arkansas were all present to watch Jamison play. He took official visits to Iowa and Maryland during the high school season and Oklahoma State and SMU round out his top 10 list of schools.
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