Grassroots Summer Recap: Premier Basketball Club EYBL 17U
This past summer was a good one for the Premier Basketball Club EYBL 17U team. This roster is loaded with many of the state’s top players every summer and this summer was no different. These girls shined everywhere they went.…
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Continue ReadingThis past summer was a good one for the Premier Basketball Club EYBL 17U team. This roster is loaded with many of the state’s top players every summer and this summer was no different. These girls shined everywhere they went. Let’s take a look at some of highlights from their summer season.
Tournament Highlights
Overall Record: 30-8
Non-EYBL Event Record: 22-1
EYBL Event Record: 8-7 with one Platinum Division Finish – top 8 Teams in Nike Girls EYBL – and one Gold Division Finish – top 16 Teams in Nike Girls EYBL
- Coaches Classic, Denver – Boys 9th/10th grade division winner
- Nike EYBL Session 1, Hampton, Va. – Platinum division finish with wins over Philadelphia Belles EYBL, Kentucky Premier EYBL and Tree of Hope EYBL
- Desert invitational, Phoenix, Ariz. – 1st place
- Rocky Mountain Showcase, Salt Lake City, Utah – 1st place with wins over NWBA Adidas and Idaho
Flash Red - Nike EYBL Session 2, Louisville, Ky. – Gold Division finish with wins over Atlanta Team
Elite EYBL and All-Ohio EYBL - Nike Ballin’ in the Ballroom – 1st place with wins over Cal Sparks EYBL, Nike Team
Northwest EYBL
Individual Standouts
Lauren Betts, 2022, 6-7, F, Grandview HS
The near consensus No. 1 player in the United States in the Class of 2022 had a monster summer on both the Nike Girls EYBL Circuit and for the U16 USA National Team where she was the team’s leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. Betts is being heavily recruited by UConn, Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA, Louisville, Oregon, Oregon State, Baylor, Colorado and more.
Addison O’Grady, 2021, 6-4, F, Grandview HS
On the Nike Girls EYBL Circuit, O’Grady emerged as one of the top front line players in the United States and is currently in the Top 40 in her class. She showed her improved versatility and proved herself to be a knockdown 3-point shooter in addition to her already proficient post play. Widely considered to be one of the best passers for a front line player in the Western United States. O’Grady is being actively recruited by schools such as Iowa State, Stanford, Utah, Gonzaga, Florida, Iowa and others.
Jada Moore, 2020, 5-11, PG, Regis Jesuit HS
* Kansas State commit
Committed to the Wildcats, Moore is a dynamic guard who can dominate on the defensive end. She also showed dramatic improvement in her ability to lead a team with poise and tempo this summer. One of the best defensive guards on the Nike Girls EYBL Circuit, Moore has a ton of upside and has plenty of room left to reach her immense potential at Kansas State.
Hannah Simental, 2020, 5-8, G, Pueblo West HS
* Northern Colorado commit
Hannah is among the best shooters in the entire state of Colorado and had an outstanding season on the Nike Girls EYBL Circuit. The Pueblo West senior proved she can be effective at both the point guard and shooting guard positions and is an absolute menace at the defensive end of the floor. Expect a monster senior year from Simental.
Elli Garnett, 2020, 6-0, G/F, Golden HS
* Northern Colorado commit
Premier executive director Keith Van Horn thinks Garnett is the most underrated player in Colorado, which makes sense because the UNC commit can do it all. Garnett shoots it well, is an outstanding passer, a great rebounder and anticipates well on the defensive end. Arguably the best 2/3 combo player in Colorado’s 2020 class, Garnett should have a big impact at UNC.
Notes on the Team
- The U17 EYBL CO Premier Team has been dominant in the Rocky Mountain Region over the past three years going a combined 32-1 vs. girl’s teams in Colorado/Utah and this season they climbed into the upper echelon of Nike Girls EYBL Teams with a Platinum Finish at Boo Williams EYBL Session 1 and a Gold Finish at Louisville EYBL Session 2, all without Kindyll Wetta (Valor Christian HS) running the point because she was out with an injury.
- All the seniors from the team have gone on to receive Division-I scholarships with several moving on to play in BCS conferences. This was a tight knit group that loved playing together and it showed.
- Moving into next year, this team will return three Top 50 posts, will have Wetta back
from injury, and have added Marya Hudgins from Team Elite EYBL Atlanta (Grandview HS) who is expected to quickly establish herself among top the 2022 guards in Colorado. This, along with the exceptional players moving up from the CO Premier U16 EYBL Team could make this one of the strongest teams Colorado has seen in a long time.