Fresh off an offer from Ohio State, Massillon Jackson and King James rising senior forward Kyle Young played like a man on a mission at Session 3 of the Elite Youth Basketball League last weekend. Torching opponents for 23.8 points per game in four contests in Hampton, VA, Young put up scoring performances of 28 points, 26 points and 24 points, while shooting an impressive 53.9 percent from the field.
Young did more than just score, however, as he also averaged 11 rebounds per game, putting up double-doubles in his last three games. Young's best performance of the came against We All Can Go (TN), in which Young went for 24 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 9-of-14 from the floor.
Talking with Eleven Warriors about his Buckeye offer a week ago, Young showed why many feel he is the most versatile player in Ohio's class of 2017. Lighting the EYBL on fire thus far through 11 games, Young has shown the signs of being a player ready for the big stage of Big Ten hoops.
Who else performed well last weekend? Let's take a look at how Ohio State's top targets and commitments fared.
Markell Johnson (6'2 PG / King James / 2017):
Despite only playing two games this past weekend, Johnson was stellar in those performances, putting up 22.5 points per game. Johnson's weekend-high came on Saturday, as he poured in 33 points against We All Can Go (TN). Shooting 51.4 percent from the floor, Johnson was spectacular in his limited time on the floor, as the state's top guard has continued to put up big numbers. While it is still unclear whether Johnson will end up in the 2016 or 2017 class, one thing is for sure - the East Tech product is a star in the backcourt.
Nojel Eastern (6'7 SG / Meanstreets / 2017):
While Young and Johnson were stellar this past weekend, Eastern had a more than forgettable session, averaging just six points per game on 33 percent shooting. Going for a weekend-high of nine points vs. CIA Bounce on Saturday, Eastern continued a slump that has lingered on for awhile now, as the recent Buckeye offer hasn't scored more than 12 points in any game since Session 1 in early April.
Tim Finke (6'6 SG / St. Louis Eagles / 2018):
Playing up a grade level in the 17U EYBL isn't easy for anyone other than maybe Gary Trent Jr. For Finke, it has been a tough transition, as the Champaign, IL native also averaged just six points per game on a less than stellar 23 percent shooting from the floor. While on a good St. Louis Eagles team, Finke doesn't have to force the issue offensively, but the rising junior wing certainly had his fair share of struggles, going for a weekend-high of eight points against The Family (MI) on Sunday. For most underclassmen, the EYBL is a tough stage to compete on, as we expect Finke to be one of the league's better performers next spring.
Kaleb Wesson (6'10 C / All Ohio Red / 2017):
Ohio State's lone commitment in 2017, Wesson was solid once again for All Ohio Red, averaging 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. After a decent three-game stretch to start the weekend, Wesson saved his best performance for last, going for 26 points and 16 rebounds over Seattle Rotary on Sunday. Shooting 60 percent from the floor, Wesson has been one of the more efficient big men in the EYBL, as he has shot 77.6 percent at the line and 77.8 percent from three this spring.
