The premier AAU event of the spring, the
Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) pits 48 of the top club teams in the
nation against each other in a two month, four session extended tournament. With
four stops already played and the Peach Jam right around the corner, Zagaholic introduces a few new faces to the Gonzaga recruiting scene, and takes a look at how all of our recruits have fared.
Xavier
Rathan-Mayes (CIA Bounce ’13) – Possibly no player
has raised their stock more over the circuit than XRM. Previously a fringe top 100 ranked
player, Rathan-Mayes has been bumped up to 20th by ESPN due to his
play. Every scout who saw him came away raving about his advanced offensive
repertoire. He is one of the top shooters in the class of 2013, but can beat
you in multiple ways. Athletically he is good, but not great; however his skill
level is through the roof and makes him a truly special talent. With Gonzaga’s
chances in the Zach Lavine sweepstakes looking slim, Rathan-Mayes should undoubtedly
become the number one priority for the 2013 recruiting class.
Roschon
Prince (ICP Elite ’13) – The 65th ranked player in
Rivals 2013 class, has been having a breakout spring on the EYBL. Prince caught coaches attentions by scoring 16 points per game and getting to the line a tournament leading 9.5 times a game.
Standing at 6’5, Prince uses his elite athleticism and strength to get to the
rim with ease. While not a shooting threat from distance at this point, he is
able to terrorize opponents by getting into the paint. As well, Prince plays
with a high level of energy and is a good rebounder on the wing. He holds
offers from most of the PAC 12, and according to MaxPreps was recently offered
by Gonzaga.
Goodluck
Okonoboh (BABC ’13) – Not much has been heard about
Okonoboh’s recruitment since it was reported July of 2011. He was widely
speculated to be Big East bound, but fans liked that the staff had decided to
pursue a highly touted East Coast player. Watching the 6’9 center, it’s easy to
be reminded of last year’s ESPN number one player, Nerlens Noel. One of the top shot blockers in the nation
(2.4 BPG at EYBL), Okonoboh’s defense has never come into question. On offense
however, his progression has been very underwhelming. Still extremely limited
on the block, he has averaged a measly 3.2 points per game on the EYBL circuit,
and most of those come of dunks and putbacks. While Okonoboh certainly has all
the physical characteristics to look for in a prospect, he is still a big
project player.
Kameron Chatman
Kameron
Chatman (ICP Elite ’14) – The other small forward
for ICP Elite, class of 2014 Kameron Chatman, out of Portland, has been putting
up some very impressive numbers at the EYBL. Playing on a team that’s full of
D1 talent, Chatman has locked down a starting position and is averaging 12.3
points a game (second on the team to Prince). A somewhat under the radar
prospect, Chatman has been turning lots of heads on the circuit and will be
attending Long Beach Poly (a top high school team) next year. At 6’5, and still
growing, Chatman is in the process of making the transition from guard to wing.
All seems to be going smoothly, as the combination of his guard skills, size,
and athleticism make him a tough defensive assignment for anyone. Chatman shows
good mechanics on his shot, and has confidence in his ability, but as of right
now it isn't his strong suit. Gonzaga was one of the
first high majors to offer, but many more are in the hunt now. Expect to see
Chatman’s stock skyrocket as he gains exposure.
Jordan
Matthews (California Supreme ’13) – A 6’3 shooting
guard playing for California Supreme, Matthews exploded onto the scene with
some big time scoring performances at the EYBL. Right now he is primarily a
scorer (averaging 14.5 points at the EYBL) who can light it up from deep or take
it to the rim but he needs to improve his playmaking ability. Gonzaga along
with Kansas, Indiana and Oregon have all shown interest.
**All stats are updated through the fourth session**
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