MEMPHIS, Tennessee. – The first session of the 2024 Nike EYBL season unfolded in the Volunteer State over the weekend and brought with it plenty of star power and impressive efforts.
National rival analyst Rob Cassidy was present at the action on Friday and Saturday, and is now handing out some prizes based on the most outstanding performances he witnessed.
More from Memphis: Saturday Recruiting Rumors | Friday buzz
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2024 Rankings: Rivals150 | Team | Position
2025 Ratings: Rivals150 | Team
2026 rankings: Top 100
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PHYSICAL PROOF: Tounde Yessoufou
Yessoufou has yet to become a more reliable long-range shooter, but being one of the county’s most physically imposing and athletic players helps him significantly impact games even when his shot isn’t falling. Yessoufou, who handles the ball incredibly well for his size, spent the weekend depriving defenders of rebounds and finishing off the shelf.
He’s also a reliable, motivated rebounder who creates extra possessions on the glass and shows an A-plus motor on the defensive end. His upside is tempting, especially if he becomes an average 3-point shooter.
Recruitment: washington, Lime, UCLA It is Kansas are among the programs involved with Yessoufou.
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TOTAL DOMINATION: Cameron Boozer
The No. 2 prospect in the 2025 Rivals150 was asked to do a lot for his Nightrydas Elite team over the weekend, and the 6-foot-9 forward answered the call. Playing the first game of the event on Friday night, Boozer put up an impressive 31 points and 16 rebounds in the victory.
The competition managed to showcase the development of the attacker’s passing skills as well as his physical abilities. Boozer shot 50 percent from the floor in the contest and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. This type of performance is becoming typical of Boozer, who remains in the conversation for the top spot on Rivals150.
Recruitment: Boozer is considered a Duke slim but also looks serious about Miami. He says he plans to make another visit this spring, but declines to say where the destination will be. Said that, Arkansas‘ João Calipariwho heavily recruited Boozer in Kentuckyrecently contacted, so Fayetteville seems a logical guess.
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DO IT ALL: Maleek Thomas
Everyone loves a long, hyper-athletic point guard and Thomas is exactly that. He has the length, athleticism and passing ability to impact games even when he’s not posting flashy point totals, so when he scores at will, as he did on Saturday afternoon, he becomes one of the most dynamic prospects in the class.
Thomas racked up 20 points and nine rebounds along with a number of crafty assists in his New Heights Lightning team’s victory over the NY Rens on Saturday. He displayed a type of vocal leadership that is rare in young players, constantly motivating and coaching his teammates. Watching Thomas operate is an absolute joy on most occasions, as he is as witty and confident as he is effective.
Recruitment: Thomas is seriously considering programs like Auburn, PittArkansas, Penn State, UConn It is Indiana.
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KEEPING THE MOMENT: Kayden Mingo
Mingo is coming off a junior season at Long Island Lutheran High School and has carried that momentum into his junior season, where he plays for the PSA Cardinals organization. On Saturday, Mingo did his share of scoring, scoring 23 points in Friday’s game against the NJ Scholars.
It was his defensive and motor effort, however, that set the 6-foot-2 point guard apart. Mingo won’t surprise anyone with any aspect of his game, but he has developed into a well-rounded prospect with few real holes in his skill set.
A winning player and midfielder on the court, Mingo, who plays both guard positions, is capable of playing different roles depending on his team’s needs.
Recruitment: Mingo continues to accumulate offers. For now, though, Penn State, Awake Forest It is Notre Dame seem more involved.
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SIR. UNIQUE: King Kendrick
Kendrick is truly ambidextrous and not only holds the ball smoothly with either hand, but can also comfortably shoot it with both his left and right. The 2026 standout is no sideshow, however, he has real game and a real engine that has allowed him to get off the page playing against elite competition with All-Ohio’s 16U group.
Ideally, the 6-foot-2 Kendrick would add some length and significant muscle along the way, but his ability to shine in transition, shoot from distance and take defenders off the dribble is unmistakable. He’s a bit limited on defense for now because of his size, but his engine never stops working, which helps him terrorize passing lanes.
Kendrick finished Saturday’s game against Team Melo with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting and a trio of assists.
Recruitment: Kendrick holds advance offers on shows like Dayton, Cincinnati, State of ArizonaOhio, Texas A&M and a handful of others.
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IMPROVED EFFICIENCY: Darius Acuff
Efficiency isn’t usually the first word that comes to mind while watching Acuff’s volume breakdown, but one Saturday afternoon game saw the five-star shoot about 80 percent from the floor en route to an 18-point performance for the Family against Team CP3. Everyone has long known that Acuff is a true three-tier scorer, capable of posting gaudy point totals and taking control of games, but his battle has been with shot selection.
On Friday, he showed poise and stealth while making a big impact in the scoring column through pull-up jumpers and crafty finishes in the rack, which was encouraging for a prospect who can sometimes be reckless when It’s about throwing. Acuff is one of the most explosive scorers in the 2025 class and can improve his stock even further if he continues to play offense and make smart shots like he did on Saturday.
Recruitment: Michigan, Kansas It is Arkansas feel like the three main players to get Acuff. He recently visited the Jayhawks, has been in close contact with the Wolverines’ new team and plans to make an official visit to Arkansas on May 10.
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GENERAL FLOOR: Jalen Reece
Reece has added significant muscle over the past year. His increased size serves him well on both ends of the floor, as Reece is a tougher defender and more efficient at shooting through contact on the offensive end.
He led his Florida Rebels with 21 points in a Saturday morning game against the All-Ohio Red, but it was his court vision that really jumped off the page during the contest. Reece became comfortable throwing the ball on the floor and putting his teammates in good positions without being careless with the basketball.
Reece is a complete lead guard who can hurt you in a lot of different ways, and he showed that ability by leading his team to a 3-0 weekend in Memphis.
Recruitment: Cincinnati and UCF I feel particularly involved with Reece, but AlabamaIllinois, Missouri It is Kansas State also worth monitoring.
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RANKING CRASHER: Parker Robinson
One of the most pleasant surprises of the weekend, Robinson is currently unranked but won’t stay that way for long. The 6-foot-1 wing has a versatile offensive game and is capable of scoring at all three levels when he’s doing well, which he did while playing for Team Melo’s 16U group on Saturday morning.
Robinson finished a win over the All-Ohio Red with 21 points on just 13 shots and hit two deep 3-pointers in the process. Although still young and slight, Robinson has the structure to strengthen in the coming years and can add another dimension to his game. He is already a talented finisher at the basket.
The Maryland-based prospect is certainly one to watch in the future, as he will join Rivals150 in the next update.
Recruitment: Robinson holds advance offers on programs like East CarolinaTowson and Old Dominion.
