MEMPHIS, Tenn. — For the second straight year, some of the best high school basketball players from around the country descended on Memphis for the first stop of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (Nike EYBL).
For three days, 38 teams compiled of future stars like Bryce James, the Boozer twins and Kiyan Anthony, balled out in front of the stars. For Kiyan that meant having his Dad, 10x NBA All-Star, Carmelo Anthony, sitting courtside.
"When he comes to support, that's a great feeling so just happy to have him here and keep pushing me," Kiyan said.
For Memphian Norton Hurd, seeing basketball at this level in the Bluff City is something he and former high school teammate and NBA veteran Thaddius Young dreamt of when they formed Team Thad back in 2012.
"Me and Thaddius we come from humble beginnings," Hurd said. "Continuing to help kids and give back it's an awesome feeling and it's rewarding."
Team Thad is the only local team in the Tournament but this year they don't have any local players in the lineup, but they do have a few potential future Tigers.
"I love Memphis man, Penny Hardaway is a great coach," Team Thad Centre Jamarion Davis-Fleming said. "I like their playing style so yeah I'm definitely keeping in touch with Memphis,"
"You know coach Penny, player/coach he's been there before in my position that I want to be in," No. 8 recruit in the Class of 2025 by ESPN Jasper Johnson said. "He knows the basketball side would be good but he wants me to build my brand and help me with that, hopefully have an 8, 9 month plan if I were to go there and be a pro like him."
Team Thad won game one on Friday, 69-55 over BBE but lost game two on Saturday 69-66 to the top team in the country that has the No. 1 recruit by ESPN for both the class of 2025 and 2026.
Memphis is the first of four stops in the NIKE EYBL before it all culminates at the Peach Jam in July.