HAYWARD, CA – The fourth and final session of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League opened last Friday night with Jabari Parker of Chicago heavily touted as the top player in the class of 2013.
It wrapped up on Monday afternoon with Parker suddenly having some challengers for that unofficial crown.
The Simeon High and Mac Irvin performer drew his share of oohs, aahs and nods of appreciation from the crowds during his six games.
But so did Julius Randle and James Young.
Randle (Plano, Texas) and Young (Troy, Michigan) impressed me enough that I think that all three should be considered on the same tier as “leading contenders for national senior of the year” this coming season.
Then, again, all three could be looking up – figuratively – by the end of the summer at junior-to-be Andrew Wiggins (from Toronto by way of Huntington Prep in West Virginia) for the moniker of “best player – period”.
The 6-foot-7 Wiggins closed with a 30-point, seven-rebound effort Sunday night (the CIA Bounce team departed early Monday morning) against Houston Hoops while the 6-8 Randle had 33 points and 23 rebounds in a win over Nike Team Florida Monday morning.
Here are my 30-player selections for “all-tournament” based upon their play over the weekend – not just on “potential as prospects”.
I’ve also chipped in with lists of best shooters, rebounders, defenders and passers:
FIRST TEAM
*Stephen Clark (5-10/2013/Athletes First/Oklahoma City, OK, Douglas)
*Nigel Hayes (6-7/2013/All-Ohio Red/Toledo, OH, Whitmer)
*Tyus Jones (6-1/2014/Howard Pulley Panthers/Apple Valley, MN, Apple Valley)
*Nicholas King (6-7/2013/Bluff City-Team Penny/Memphis, TN, East)
*Kendrick Nunn (6-2/2013/Mean Streets/Chicago, IL, Simeon)
*Jabari Parker (6-7/2013/Mac Irvin Fire/Chicago, IL, Simeon)
*Julius Randle (6-8/2013/Team Texas Titans/Plano, TX, Prestonwood Academy)
*Sindarius Thornwell (6-5/2013/Team United/Mouth of Wilson, VA, Oak Hill)
*James Young (6-6/2013/The Family/Troy, MI, Troy)
*Andrew Wiggins (6-7/2014/CIA Bounce/Huntington, WV, Huntington Prep)
SECOND TEAM
*Anthony Barber (6-3/2013/Boo Williams/Hampton, VA, Hampton)
*Andrew Chrabascz (6-6/2013/BABC/Portsmouth, RI, Cushing Academy)
*Rondae Jefferson (6-6/2013/Team Final/Philadelphia, PA, Neumann-Goretti)
*Matthew Jones (6-4/2013/Team Texas Titans/Desoto, TX, Desoto)
*Shadell Millinghaus (6-3/2013/Albany City Rocks/Buffalo, NY, Williamsville North)
*Stanford Robinson (6-4/2013/Team Takeover/Fairfax, VA, Paul VI)
*Johnathan Williams (6-8/2013/Bluff City-Team Penny/Memphis, TN, Southwind)
*Kameron Williams (6-3/2013/Baltimore Elite/Baltimore, MD, St. Joseph)
*Nigel Williams-Goss (6-3/2013/California Supreme Elite/Henderson, NV, Findlay Prep)
*Duane Wilson Jr. (6-3/2013/Wisconsin Playground Warriors/Milwaukee, WI, Dominican)
THIRD TEAM
*Trevon Blueitt (6-5/2014/Indy Spiece Heat/Indianapolis, IN, Park Tudor)
*Rene Castro (6-2/2013/BABC/Milton, MA, Worcester Academy)
*Derrick Griffin (6-6/2013/Houston Hoops/Rosenberg, TX, Terry)
*Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5-7/2014/California Supreme Elite/Los Angeles, CA, Loyola)
*Dakari Johnson (6-10/2014/E1T1 Elite/Montverde, FL, Montverde Academy)
*Jahil Okafor (6-9/2014/Mac Irvin/Chicago, IL, Whitney Young)
*Theo Pinson (6-6/2014/CP3 All-Stars/Greensboro, NC, Wesleyan Christian)
*Bobby Portis (6-9/2013/Arkansas Wings Elite/Little Rock, AR, Little Rock)
*Bryson Scott (6-1/2013/Indy Spiece Heat/Fort Wayne, IN, Northrup)
*Troy Williams (6-6/2013/Boo Williams/Hampton, VA, Phoebus)
BEST SHOOTERS
*Stephen Clark (5-10/2013/Athletes First/Oklahoma City, OK, Douglas)
*Matthew Jones (6-4/2013/Team Texas Titans/Desoto, TX, Desoto)
*Nicholas King (6-7/2013/Bluff City-Team Penny/Memphis, TN, East)
*Jaren Sina (6-0/2013/Team Final/Lake Hopatcong, NJ, Gill St. Bernard)
*Kameron Williams (6-3/2013/Baltimore Elite/Baltimore, MD, St. Joseph)
BEST PASSERS
*Tyus Jones (6-1/2014/Howard Pulley Panthers/Apple Valley, MN, Apple Valley)
*Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5-7/2014/California Supreme Elite/Los Angeles, CA, Loyola)
*Kennedy Meeks (6-9/2013/Team United/Charlotte, NC, West Charlotte)
*Kendrick Nunn (6-2/2013/Mean Streets/Chicago, IL, Simeon)
*James Young (6-6/2013/The Family/Troy, MI, Troy)
BEST REBOUNDERS
*Nigel Hayes (6-7/2013/All-Ohio Red/Toledo, OH, Whitmer)
*Dakari Johnson (6-10/2014/E1T1 Elite/Montverde, FL, Montverde Academy)
*Julius Randle (6-8/2013/Team Texas Titans/Plano, TX, Prestonwood Academy)
*Johnathan Williams (6-8/2013/Bluff City-Team Penny/Memphis, TN, Southwind)
*Dominic Woodson (6-9/2013/Texas Pro/To be determined/Austin, TX)
BEST DEFENDERS
*Jordan Bell (6-7/2013/ICP Elite/Long Beach, CA, Poly)
*Trevon Blueitt (6-5/2014/Indy Spiece Heat/Indianapolis, IN, Park Tudor)
*Marques Lee (6-8/2013/Cal Supreme/Antioch, CA, Deer Valley)
*Shadell Millinghaus (6-3/2013/Albany City Rocks/Buffalo, NY, Williamsville North)
*Stanford Robinson (6-4/2013/Team Takeover/Fairfax, VA, Paul VI)
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