NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — As the week progresses at the country's biggest high school basketball showcase, debates about the top player in the Class of 2022 continue to percolate. The two names at the top — No. 1
Jalen Duren and No. 2
Emoni Bates — each showed flashes of brilliance on Thursday but ultimately one definitely emerged superior on Day 3 of the Nike EYBL Peach Jam.
Although NBA scouts have been in attendance since day one of Peach Jam play, college coaches lining the sidelines tomorrow will be sure to bring some added pressure to under-the-radar players looking to attract college offers this weekend.
In all, 60 of the top
100 prospects in the Class of 2022 and
54 of the
top 75 prospects in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports composite rankings, are scheduled to compete.
Here are highlights from Day 3:
Bates explodes for 31 in second half comeback
Ever since losing the top-spot in the Class of 2022 rankings, questions have surrounded the development of Bates' game. The ultra-talented, long and rangy 6-foot-8 wing has struggled to find consistency since the start of his junior season. Wednesday was no different, although he definitely found it in a big way during the second half, leading his Bates Fundamentals' squad to a 59-58 win over Mokan Elite.
Bates, who has nine college offers including defending NCAA champion Baylor, Kentucky, Michigan and Michigan State, started ice cold, going 0-of-7 from the field in the first half while making just 2-for-4 at the foul line. His squad trailed by 15.
An entirely different player was unleashed the second half when Bates poured in 31 points on nine field goals, including two 3-pointers. He also cashed in at the foul line, going 11-for-11 including the final three with 10 seconds left, lifting his team to the improbable comeback victory.
Duren developing in the mid-range
Although Duren
was saddled with foul trouble throughout today's contest, the 6-10
center showed development in his offensive game, drilling all three of his mid-range attempts. Despite just 20 minutes before fouling out, the nation's No. 1 finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, leading Team Final to a 63-55 win over Uplay Canada.
Duren looked comfortable operating in the
mid-range area as all three of his mid-range makes were around 12-15
feet from the basket. The 6-10 center is averaging 14
points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in just 19 minutes per
contest through three games.
Under-the-radar prospects
For the second consecutive day, unranked
KyeRon Lindsay thrust himself into the spotlight going for 24 points (12-of-17 from the floor), 12 rebounds and two blocks leading Pro Skills to an 83-65 win over BABC. Lindsay, a 6-7 forward, has led his team to a 3-0 start.
* After receiving a scholarship offer from South Carolina Wednesday,
Brice Sensabaugh backed up the offer by going 7-of-13 from the floor and scoring 16 points in just 14 minutes, leading Each 1 Teach 1 to an 89-50 win over NJ Scholars. The 6-6 wing is ranked 255th nationally from the Class of 2022. Expect that ranking to rise significantly.
Stat lines of the day
Terrance Arceneaux continued his excellent play, becoming the first 30-point scorer of the showcase. The 6-6 wing for Beaumont United (Texas) went off for 30 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists, leading JL3 to an 85-74 win over Team Griffin. Arceneaux made 11-of-18 from the field and was 6-for-8 from the foul line. He's the second leading scorer of the event, averaging 22.7 pointers per his three games. The nation's No. 67 senior overall has 12 college offers, including Baylor, Houston and LSU.
* Nobody played more efficiently Thursday than
De'Ante Green, as the four-star prospect had 23 points, four rebounds and three steals in just 19 minutes, leading CPC to a 74-56 win over Livon Fleur DiLis. Green, a 6-9 power forward and No. 1 senior recruit from North Carolina, made all 10 of his field goal tries. In three games, he's averaging 14.7 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 79 percent from the floor.
Emoni Bates scored all but two of his 33 points in the second half in Nike EYBL Peach Jam play on Thursday.
File photo by Scott Hasse
