HOUSTON — Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum arrived in Texas this weekend with reputations firmly in place as two of the three or four best high school basketball players in the Class of 2016.
And their performances Saturday in the MI-3 Center only serve to enhance those reputations.
*The 6-foot-9 Giles (Winston-Salem, NC, Wesleyan Christian) averaged 26.0 points (hitting a combined 21 of 34 from the field) and 14.0 rebounds per game as CP3 collected wins over MOKAN Elite and Seattle Rotary in the second day of the third weekend of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League at the MI-3 Center.
*And the 6-8 Tatum (St. Louis Chaminade) was an even more productive scorer, going for 30.5 points (16 of 28 from the field and 29 from the free-throw line) and 10.5 rebounds in St. Louis Eagles’ wins against Houston Hoops and Elfrid Payton Elite.
It seems likely a serious challenger to Giles as the best “power forward/4” in 2016 is going to arise. If that was to occur, it probably would have already sometime this spring.
And only Josh Jackson (who plays for 1Nation on the Under Armour circuit) appears to be on the same 2016 tier as Tatum resides as top candidate as the No. 1 “wing/small forward-type” in the country.
*New to the EYBL this scene this weekend has been 2016 guard Dennis Smith (Fayetteville, NC, Trinity Christian) for Team Penny.
Smith (who plays on the adidas circuit; adidas wasn’t in action this weekend) was just OK – by standards – in the first two games this weekend, averaging 7.5 points with just one assist as Team Penny its games with the St. Louis Eagles and Expressions (of New Jersey).
But he erupted Saturday night (at least as a scorer) with 29 points, five rebounds and two assists as Team Penny (coached by former NBA player Anfernee Hardaway) held off All-Ohio Red.
Smith has already long been penciled in as nothing short of possible Top Five (and certain Top 10) status in the Class of 2016.
*Another Team Penny performer, 6-7 P.J. Washington (Frisco, TX, by way of Henderson, NV, Findlay Prep), spent Friday and Saturday offering ample proof as to why he is one of the best “power forward-types” in the Class of 2017.
He averaged 16.0 points and 8.7 rebounds.
*Gary Trent Jr. appears well on track to join Duke standout guard Tyus Jones (at least he was for one national title season) as the next McDonald’s All-American out of Apple Valley High in Minnesota.
The 6-5 son of the former NBA performer is certainly one of the best “scorers” (especially as a jump shooter) in the Class of 2017, as he has shown while averaging 36.3 points – via 43-, 33- and 33-point efforts – for Howard Pulley.
*And Jonathan Isaac (IMG Academy in Florida) has continued on his path to Top 10 status in the Class of 2016 this weekend.
The oh-so-slender (190 pounds, maybe?) 6-9 forward has averaged 15.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in Each1Teach1’s three games with a best effort of 22 points (including four 3s) Saturday night in a win over Team Takeover.
The action wraps up Sunday, with five games tipping off at 8 o’clock.
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