It is that time of the year to give out some awards and recognize some outstanding performances from this travel season.  The first category is Most Outstanding Player in each age group (17U, 16U, & 15U).  The MOP is simply based on who performed the best regardless of team success.

17U – Cayden Daughtry, FL Rebels 17U: Though only a rising junior at Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, the 6’0 Daughtry was Florida’s most successful player at the 17U level.  After playing 15U last year, Daughtry jumped up a level and excelled.  Regardless of whether it was in the EYBL, at USA Basketball or other high-level individual events, he stood out and received national recognition.  Daughtry never failed to make less than third-team All-EYBL in the sessions he attended and twice was chosen as the Underclass MVP for the 17U level for an EYBL session, one of those at the prestigious Peach Jam.  He was one of the EYBL’s top statistical leaders, averaging 20.6 points a game, knocking down 46.5% of his three-point attempts, had a positive assist to turnover ratio and put in work on defense, coming up with two steals per game.  National media gave him accolades at USA Basketball, the Pangos All-American Camp, and the NBAPA Top 100 Camp, all praising not only his incredible shooting ability by high hoops IQ and ability to run a team.

16U – Oneal Delancy, FL Rebels 16U: The 6’4 rising junior heading to Montverde put up good numbers in the EYBL and was a key component to leading the Florida Rebels to the championship game.  His play in the first EYBL session in Phoenix was such that he earned national notice despite not playing on the 17U level.  For the EYBL season, Delancey averaged 19.5 points per contest to go along with 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.  He had a near 2:1 assist to turnover ratio, which is solid for someone that has the ball in his possession a great deal of the time.  Delancey was considered one of the top 25 prospects at the national Pangos’ All-American Camp, showcasing elite scoring skills.  When we watched him play in person this spring and summer, we came away impressed Delancy ability score as well as distribute, to go along with his intensity and effort on both ends of the floor.

15U – Bamba Tourey, Tre Mann 15U: A 7’0 rising sophomore at IMG Academy, Tourey impacts the game at both ends of the floor.  He is much more aggressive and physical that his contemporaries from the African continent yet has excellent length and athleticism.  He impacts the game defensively with his ability to help and recover quickly, switch out on ball-screens, and essentially negate shot attempts near the basket.  Tourey gets to rebounds out of his area, gets the ball quickly to teammates to start the transition game, and sprints the floor in transition.  At the offensive end, he is a great lob and offensive rebounding threat.  Tourey has also shown some basic but reliable post moves to score inside as well the ability to face up and knock down shots from ten feet or so or take advantage of over-eager defenders, dribble once, and score over the rim. Multiple outlets praised his play for Tre Mann Elite on the Puma NXT PRO circuit.