2025 Boys AAU Season

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

All 3 major circuits are playing today and coaching staffs can be present so we should get more indications over the next couple of days of who the staff is truly prioritizing in the '26 class.

More from yesterday's 3SSB. 

From Samad Hines - NBA scouts have been all over Bruce Branch III the last few months and it showed why tonight — a 6-foot-7+ with a 3-and-D archetype, utilizes his long arms and athleticism, and an elite 3PT shot maker.  28 points; 44% FG; 6 threes and 6 boards tonight

Paul Biancardi on Branch - Bruce Branch III was impressive and efficient, scoring 28 points: 8/18 FG, 6/11 from three-point range, and 6/6 from the free-throw line for the Compton Magic. Game Analysis: He possesses excellent positional size, with a long frame measuring 6’7” and a 7’1” wingspan. His triple-threat ball skills feature fluid movements. He scores within the flow and rhythm of the possession. He is gaining confidence and demonstrating elite scoring tools, including shooting range, accuracy, touch, footwork, a controlled handle, and passing ability.

 

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Nice Wednesday 3SSB summary from Andershock

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/longformarticle/indiana-hoosiers-recruit-basketball-watching-adidas-3ssb-palmetto-road-notebook-251639448/#2668678

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/article/indiana-basketball-recruiting-iu-coach-darian-devries-and-his-staff-are-on-the-road-as-the-first-july-evaluation-period-begins-today-251641593/

[Demo]

 

Not suggesting it’s indicative of anything, but whenever you see pictures of DDV at these events he’s always sitting up straight. Woody, like most HC’s, was always as reclined as he could get with the legs crossed. Curious if DDV’s Dad was military?

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Nice update from Andershock on who we watched at the EYBL event yesterday,

https://247sports.com/college/indiana/longformarticle/indiana-hoosiers-basketball-recruiting-july-evaluation-period-notebook-thursday-nike-eybl-251664538/#2668951

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Selected 3SSB highlights from Wed. and Thurs.  As I mentioned before, 3SSB isn't providing individual game box scores so what's below is collected from various twitter accounts.

Allmond - 13p and a 17p  8r game

Anderson - 27p on 9-17 FG

Barnes - 14p  5r  6a and a 16p  2r game

Branch - 28p on 8-18 FG; 6-11 on 3s; 6-6 FT and 6r

Diane - 22p on 8-11 FG; 6-6 FT; 13r and 20p on 5-7 FG; 13r

Gardner - 24p and a 27p game on 11-13 FG with comments that he couldn't be stopped in the lane.

Kinney - 18p 

Lyons - 14p on 5-9 FG; 4-4 FT; 4r; 3a

A. Thompson - 16p and 35p on 10-12 FG; 2-8 on 3s; 6r

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Selected highlights from day 1 of the EYBL event

Cloer - 22p on 9-13 FG; 2-6 on 3s; 2-2 FT; 2r; 4t

Hampton - 18p on 6-13 FG; 0-1 on 3s 5-11 FT; 5r; 1a; 1t; 2s

Howard - 21p on 8-12 FG; 2-4 on 3s; 3-5 FT; 6r; 3a; 3t; 1s; 2b

Moody - 7p on 3-8 FG; 1-2 on 3s; 0 FT; 1r; 3a; 0t; 2s; 0b

J. Smith - 14p on 4-8 FG; 6-7 FT; 5r; 2a; 3t; 3s; 0b

L. Smith - 14p on 4-15 FG; 2-8 on 3s; 4-6 FT; 8r; 1a; 0t; 1s; 0b

Spears - 18p on 6-12 FG; 1-2 on 3s; 5-6 FT; 13r; 3a; 3t; 0s; 2b

Taylor - 12p on 5-7 FG; 1-6 on 3s; 2-2 FT; 6r; 6a; 1t; 2s; 0b

D. Thompson - 15p on 6-14 FG; 1-6 on 3s; 2-2 FT; 6r; 6a; 1t; 2s; 0b

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

A rare report from the Pro16 circuit.  Gavin Placide with a double-double in a 52-48 win.  18p;  11r;  2a

EYBL and 3SSB  make game results and player info available at no charge, albeit 3SSB could do a better job.  Even UAA provides game info usually later rather than sooner but at least they make the info available at no charge. Puma  Pro16 which is basically a start-up venture on the AAU shoe circuit expects me to pay for that kind of information.  Guess again Puma.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Selected Friday EYBL highlights

Meanstreets EYBL 2027 Guards •Jaxson Davis & •Davion Thompson combined for 47 Points - 9 rebounds - 6 Assists to get the 80-76 Overtime win to give Indy Heat their 1st EYBL loss this season.

'26 Cole Cloer 29 points in the first half tonight playing only 19 min. the entire game.  8-14 FG;  5-8 on 3s;  8-8 FT.

'26 Austin Derdak 13p on 6-11 FG;  8r

'27 Ryan Hampton - 26p on 10-18 FG;  11r

'27 Isaiah Hill struggled with foul problems both Thurs. and Fri. and getting limited playing time as a result.

'26 Bryson Howard 36p on 13-18 FG;  5-6 on 3s;  7r;  3a;  4s;  2b;  2t

'26 Jordan Smith 19p on 9-19 FG; 13r;  5a;  3s;  1b;  2t

'27 Marcus Spears 15p on 5-13 FG; 12r

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Selected Friday 3SSB highlights

'26 Latrell Allmond 22p on 8-12 FG; 8r;  2s

'27 Bruce Branch 17p;  8r  5a;  2s

'26 Arafan Diane 22p;  16r;  4a

'26 Caleb Holt 16p;  5r

'26 Tay Kinney 16p  5r;  3a

'26 Deron Rippey 15p;  3r;  8a;  3b

'26 Anthony Thompson 30p;  6r; 5a;  4s    [scored 35p in Thursday's game]

'26 Cam Williams 16p  8r

 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

35 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Selected Friday 3SSB highlights

'26 Latrell Allmond 22p on 8-12 FG; 8r;  2s

'27 Bruce Branch 17p;  8r  5a;  2s

'26 Arafan Diane 22p;  16r;  4a

'26 Caleb Holt 16p;  5r

'26 Tay Kinney 16p  5r;  3a

'26 Deron Rippey 15p;  3r;  8a;  3b

'26 Anthony Thompson 30p;  6r; 5a;  4s    [scored 35p in Thursday's game]

'26 Cam Williams 16p  8r

 

Almond, Thompson, Diane, (Kinney/Rippey) and be done with it.  
 

seriously though we have offered a ton of kids.  I think it’ll be a 5 man class. We don’t seem to be fully pursuing Thompson from what I see though. Am I off on that?

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

37 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Almond, Thompson, Diane, (Kinney/Rippey) and be done with it.  
 

seriously though we have offered a ton of kids.  I think it’ll be a 5 man class. We don’t seem to be fully pursuing Thompson from what I see though. Am I off on that?

Reports I've seen suggest we haven't missed a Thompson game.  In fact, he goes up against Latrell Allmond's team this morning and 247 reported KJ staked out a front row seat before the teams even took the floor.  Admittedly, it could be more for Allmond, but the fact is, he's got a front row seat which Thompson won't miss.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

EYBL Saturday selected highlights

'26 Cole Clear - 21p on 8-18 FG;  5-10 on 3s; 5r; 3a; 3t

'26 Aiden Derdeck -18p on 3-11 FG; 0-5 on 3s; 4r; 1a; 3s; 1b; 1t

'27 Ryan Hampton - 22p on 8-16 FG; 6-6 FT; 4r; 1a; 3s; 4t

'26 Bryson Howard - 17p on 5-14 FG; 2-5 on 3s; 5-9 FT; 6r; 5a; 2s; 2b; 1t

'26 Alex Moody - 8p on 4-9 FG; 4r; 2a; 2b; 1t      I read on another site that Alex is how he's typically referred to.

'27 L. J. Smith - 20p on 7-23 FG; 4-13 on 3s; 2-2 FT; 4r; 2a; 3s; 1b; 2t

'27 Davion Thompson - 14p on 5-13 FG; 1-4 on 3s; 3-4 FT; 8r; 6a; 3t

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

3SSB Saturday selected highlights

'26 Latrell Allmond - 16p on 5-7 FG; 6-9 FT; 6r; 2s

'27 Martay Barnes - 18p; 4r

'26 Arafan Diane - 19p; 9r; 3a

'27 Jason Gardner - 24p; 8a

'26 Caleb Holt played 2 games on Saturday - 24p; 11r; 2s and 15p; 8r; 5a

'26 Tay Kinney - 16p 6r; 7a

'26 Deron Rippey - 16p on 4-10 FG; 2-4 on 3s; 6-6 FT; 2r; 7a; 2s

'26 Anthony Thompson played 2 games on Saturday - 12p; 3r; 3a; 4b and a 33 point game.  This was his third 30+ game of the weekend.

'26 Cameron Williams - 18p; 10r; 3a; 5b

 

[Demo]

Really fun  EYBL game this afternoon if anyone’s interested. Team Takeover(Prince Alexander Moody, Jordan Smith, Qayden Samuels) against NY Rens. Rens have a 6’10” 250lb post kid named Najai Hines, who the staff has watched but not offered, and he is 1 of the leading shot blockers in the EYBL. Will be really interesting to see how Moody and Smith, who didn’t play yesterday so maybe he’s nicked, as kids who really like to get into the paint attack a rim protector like Hines. Also, they’re  1st and 2nd in their division, so important from a competitive perspective. Been looking forward to this one.

https://nikeeyb.com/livestream-session4

3:30EDT on court 2.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

2 hours ago, Demo said:

Really fun  EYBL game this afternoon if anyone’s interested. Team Takeover(Prince Alexander Moody, Jordan Smith, Qayden Samuels) against NY Rens. Rens have a 6’10” 250lb post kid named Najai Hines, who the staff has watched but not offered, and he is 1 of the leading shot blockers in the EYBL. Will be really interesting to see how Moody and Smith, who didn’t play yesterday so maybe he’s nicked, as kids who really like to get into the paint attack a rim protector like Hines. Also, they’re  1st and 2nd in their division, so important from a competitive perspective. Been looking forward to this one.

https://nikeeyb.com/livestream-session4

3:30EDT on court 2.

What I saw as the reason Smith sat out was he just needed a break.  He'd played overseas in the FIBA event came back and immediately jumped back into AAU.  Probably a combination of being a little nicked up and just plain tired.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

In a story by Dushawn London '26 Ethan Taylor and '26 Junior County apparently indicated we're among the schools currently recruiting them the hardest.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

That day off did wonders for Jordan Smith.  In the first half of this afternoon's final game he has 11p; 7r; 2a; 2s in front of DDV, KJ and Clark.

[Demo]

9 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

That day off did wonders for Jordan Smith.  In the first half of this afternoon's final game he has 11p; 7r; 2a; 2s in front of DDV, KJ and Clark.

And 2 steals where kids were trying to throw hit ahead passes over him maybe 5 feet from him and he just went up and caught’em. Athletically, that kid is rare.

[Demo]

8 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

'26 Anthony Thompson played 2 games on Saturday - 12p; 3r; 3a; 4b and a 33 point game.  This was his third 30+ game of the weekend.

 

And finished off the event with 35 on 17 shots today according to Rabby. Kid had a monster week.