Mike Ellerbrook(2025) 5'11 guardWorcester Academy (MA)- Ellerbrook is new to WA. He knows how to score, and is not afraid to compete with players five years his elder. Plays AAU with Expressions Elite. But I also see lots of peril. They leafed through the scouting packet provided by OTE, which included information like the wingspan and hand width of each player plus advanced statistics on their performances during preseason scrimmages, whispering to one another about which ones they were excited to see. The latest recruiting news sent to your inbox weekly. Shot 50% from 3 as an 8th grader on Varsity this year. The total record sales of the artists who debuted on their show have exceeded 300 million copies. Gavin He is an improving defensive player, who can wreck havoc with his ability to pressure the ball. Still very young and plenty of physical growth and maturity ahead of him with a long horizon of NEPSAC and high level AAUcompetition with Mass Rivals. Plays AAU with Expressions Elite. Whats more, now that top prospects can sign lucrative sponsorship deals while at proven collegiate powers like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas, OTE may have to increase salary offers, further driving up its costs. Zoumana Traore(2025) 65, 190 lbs, forwardMillbrook School (NY)- Traore's older brother is playing at DI St. Johns. Hes hardheaded, Ausar says of his twin brother, who was sitting next to him during an OTE postpro day brunch of pancakes, shrimp, lobster, grits and potatoes, served at a Georgia Tech off-campus apartment complex that houses the OTE players. He is a match up problem in any role as he has the handle and vision to be a jumbo playmaker. Topps is producing trading cards for OTE players; Porter says that hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cards have already sold, and that they should start appearing in Walmart, and hopefully Target, in December or January. OTE is not live-streaming games yetPorter wants to create scarcity and buzzbut the content team is creating a mix of highlight packages and an episodic behind-the-scenes docuseries on the players. The brothers made clever dribble moves, before driving down the lane to throw down thunderous dunks. This looks scary, Porter admitted, eyeing the sandwich. OTE called right when my mind was going, O.K., Ive got to find a way to slow this thing down, says Troy. The sports landscape is littered with failed professional leagues. Gavin is a sharp shooter, who has a good shooting touch, and a quick release. He is a pass first guard, who runs offense well. Former NBA scout Matt McKay Jr says Expressions Elite Alum five-star big man Moussa Cisse will terrorize opponents at Memphis. & his family on his commitment to U. Miami. Thank you for trusting the vision & ALWAYS leading. I wouldnt eat it.. 3.5 gpa, Dean Hogans(2025) 6'4guardHotchkiss School (CT)- Hogans is a long, and powerful combo guard who is stillgrowing into his physical frame. At the end of the day, I can still be a doctor and make NBA money.. There area number of high potentialClass of 2025 student athletes planning to play high level NEPSAC basketball in the upcoming winter season. Stretch produced artist Lil Kims first single off of her platinum-selling debut album, collaborated with Jay-Z and Eminem, was the music supervisor for the filmBoiler Room,and made national television appearances on The Arsenio Hall Show and Conan OBrien. Congratulations to Aaron Cooley on his commitment to Brown University. Amen Thompson (#1) of Team OTE on the show court at the OTE arena. Avery good student and a great kid. Taylor And its shown to be proven., After a million conversations, says Amen, he was on board. South Kent | 2023 Their late-night program had a cult following in the art/fashion world and the streets alike. The company has hired experts like Ollie and the data scientists because the growth of OTEs business hinges on the Thompson twins, and others, achieving their basketball dreams. He had always dreamed of playing college basketball, even as a one-and-done player who enters the NBA draft after freshman year. With the loosening of name, image and likeness, or NIL, restrictions, Opendorse expects to quadruple its annual revenue in 2021 to more than $20 million. background:rgba(251,251,251,0.7) Expressions Basketball is a highly competitive basketball AAU program for boys in 4th - 11th grades. Ryan Hempfling(2025)6'6forwardLoomis Chaffe School (CT)- Hempfling is from East Moriches, NY. An athlete who creates opportunities for both scores and stops because of his activity, motor, and length. Owen Zabel (2025) 5'10 guardRye Country Day School (NY), AAU team: NY Rens - Zabel is a tough minded, high IQ lead guard. The coaching came across as high-level. Defensively, he communicates loudly and effectively. The ESPN Top 100. student athlete is one of the hardest workers & best leaders weve coached. Later, when some little kid spotted Williams wearing an Overtime shirt at an airport, the boy curved his hands into an Oa reference to the Overtime logoas if approving Williams youth cred. Taylor has such a strong potential with his game. They mightif theyre luckycompete in front of the local junior college scout. 6'10" | C Evan Mitchner, Jr(2025)6'3combo guardRocky Hill Country Day School (RI)- Michner is a two-way player able to score on all 3 levels - including above the rim. An Overtime-branded league could keep personalities in the companys ecosystem and give the startup a valuable piece of intellectual property. Cooper is a versatile player, who can do a little bit of everything. background-color: transparent; This information allows the coaches to better control wear and tear. He currently serves as a brand consultant via his Music Dept platform and contributes a column on cassette culture toMedium.comsCuepoint. NYCs Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987 (Testify Books). Cushing coach, James Cormier says that Okoriehas some of the best basketball instincts that he hashad in the program. Papa Ollie was unhappy with this teams effort at the first practice after pro dayand let the players know it. OTEs showcase court, which hosted its first set of games on Oct. 29, features LED lights and a Jumbotron. Still very slight, but heady and understands game situations and those playing around him very well. Veteran educator Marcus Harden, OTEs senior administrator for academics and development, admits he worried that these high school juniors and seniors with healthy bank accounts and pro basketball ambitions would tune out classwork. Its like were getting to fast-forward their dreams, says Troy, who works in security. Plays AAU with New HeightsRTB profile. Ryan Bewley of OTE scores during the inaugural night of games at the Overtime Elite arena in Atlanta on Oct. 28, 2021. Porter points to OTEs late-October opening weekend of games as a sign of the leagues promise: he says OTE content generated 23 million views, and 8.8 million total engagements, across social media. Nash is gifted and smoothed. Anton Marshand, a scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers, expects to make frequent trips to Atlanta this season. Plays AAU with Expressions Elite RTB profile. Long athlete who plays hard. A skeleton stands in a common area: the science teacher is reviewing anatomy. As the leagues coaching staff led players through NBA-style drills, the scouts eyed Amen and Ausar Thompson, a set of rangy 6-ft. 7-in. In June, the Supreme Court captured these shifting assumptions concerning athletic amateurism in a ruling that prevents the NCAA from capping education-related benefits. Griffiths Joel Nash(2025) 6'0 guard Greens Farms Academy (CT), AAU Team: Black Ops Cadets -Nash secured the starting varsity point guard role as an 8th grader. Amen was looking forward to chasing another high school state title. These teams participate in local, regional and national AAU basketball tournaments during the fall and spring seasons. As his jump shot continuesto prove from the outside, Antoinecontinues to prove why he will be one to look out for thisyear and years to come in the NEPSAC. @PrepHoopsNext @EvanMitchner @ExpressionsBall https://t.co/3NB5dnZOhF, RT @TMarkwith14: 2024 G Nick Petronio has picked up recent offers from Illinois, Toledo, and Fairfield. Check out his website at www.koolboblove.com. Good defensive principles and uses his length to his advantage. Kool Bob Love, as he is known on the basketball playgrounds, produces his Full Court 21 All World Tournament across four continents. Class sizes are small: the student-teacher ratio rarely exceeds 4 to 1. It could spawn copycats across sports (with the unintended consequence of further igniting the hyperspecialized, hypercompetitive $19 billion youth sports feeder system that often offers parents a false sense of their kids pro potential). #siteContainer { - McCleeryis a very good shooter with deep range. The operation has financial backing from an All-Star investor lineup, which includes Jeff Bezos Bezos Expeditions fund, Drake, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and a slew of NBA players like Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Trae Young. Ebuka Okorie(2025) 6'0,150lbs, guardCushing Academy (MA)-Okorie hails from Nashua, NH. His skill set and strength give him the abilty to create shots. He plays AAU for Team Spartan. You cant beat that, says Bryson Warren, a would-be high school junior from Arkansas whos eligible for the 2024 NBA draft. He is 610 and has the skill set like a guard. Joe Harris(2025) 62 guardLawrence Academy (MA)- Harris is currently a catch-n-shoot specialist asa young palyer. Some NFT initiatives are sure to follow. Plays AAU with New Heights. Players are placing their futures in the companys hands, which puts the onus on OTEs basketball development staff to ensure that, at worst, each player receives at least a lucrative pro offer overseas. Im going to be in the gym, says Ausar. TAYLOR BOL BOWEN: HIGHLIGHTS OF EXPRESSIONS VERSATILE 68 WING @ 2022 EYBL, BUZELIS, BOWEN & GRIFFITHS LEAD EXPRESSIONS @ 2022 EYBL-KANSAS CITY, EXPRESSIONS ELITE HIGHLIGHTS @ 2022 EYBL: LOUISVILLE, MATAS BUZELIS: HIGHLIGHTS OF SUPER-SKILLED EXPRESSIONS WING @ 2022 EYBL: LOUISVILLE, NEW ENGLAND BASKETBALL LEAGUE: HIGHLIGHTS FROM SESSION 1, JUJU RAMIREZ: 69 BIG/WING LEADS NEW HAMPTON TO A WIN OVER STM @ 2022 NEBL SESSION 1, DESMOND CLAUDE: TOP-75 PROSPECT IN 2022 COMMITS TO XAVIER, KYLE HICKS: MID-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW HAMPTON'S DYNAMIC PLAYMAKER, GAVIN GRIFFITHS: HIGHLIGHTS OF SUPER-SKILLED 67 WING @ 2021 ZG PREP CLASSIC, BOWEN BOYS, BUZELIS LEAD BREWSTER TO A BLOWOUT WIN @ 2021 ZG PREP CLASSIC, JARED TERELL,TREMONT WATERS, JERMAINE SAMUELS, KIMANI LAWRENCE, MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI, NICK RICHARDS, TRE MITCHELL, This website is powered by SportsEngine's. For decades, talented teenagers in fields like acting and music could monetize their unique gifts by signing lucrative, life-changing financial agreements. He has huge upside for a rising 9th grader. But by betting on the popularity of high school basketball players, Overtime is taking a more radical, and potentially transformative, approach. And the experience of another early Overtime star, current Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, opened Porters eyes. Alum Marcus Zagarowski of Creighton University has put up solid numbers throughout his career & continues to get better and better. He can score it in bunches from all three levels and certainly isnt shy when it comes to inserting his will when he has the ball in his hands. When Porter came to visit the academic session, a couple of players were unafraid to point out to him that the flimsy boxed roast beef and cheese sandwiches served for lunchthey may have fit it at the Fyre Festivalwere subpar nourishment before practice. He is a high level talent, and he is a player who college coaches should take note of. Success has potential to create economic empowerment and more options for young, mostly Black athletes who for far too long have been funneled into a system that mostly enriches white coaches and administrators, but not them. Troy believes them. He shoots it well with good range and will keep getting better. Emmanuel Maldonado, Ryan Bewley, Bryce Griggs, Jalen Lewis of Overtime Elite taking a quick break from warm ups at the practice courts at the OTE arena. We told kids when we recruited them, says OTE director of scouting Tim Fuller, our national championship is when you shake [NBA commissioner] Adam Silvers hand.. Brown got a steal in this hard working fiery leader who always brings passion to the floor. Diallohas the potential to be a high level defender and college recruit. They wanted it on demand, on their mobile devices, specifically on the social media platforms that spoke best to them, like Instagram. Magazines, Washington, D.Cs. border: 0px; State 23 Zayden High (JL3) Joson Sanon (2025): 6'5 wing Vermont Academy- Incoming repeat freshman. Cameras atop each shot clock on the OTE practice courts can show, for example, how far to the left or right players are missing their shots. Started varsity as an 8th grader at Rye Country Day School. Much worse, this disruptive idea could derail dreams. Warren Keel Jr (2025)5'9 guard Springfield Commonwealth Academy (MA) - Keel plays beyond his years,already playing 17uAAU with Mass Rivals, hehas made his presence felt right away with his ability to score and run a offense on such a high level. Thisisnt something you see from a 14yr old kid on the 17ucircuit.. Keel already has several D1 offers including offers from TCU and Bryant. NYC native Adrian Bartos, aka Stretch Armstrong, is an internationally known DJ with an incomparable career. This scolding didnt stop some of the players from lining up near a basket afterward, to show off their leaping ability for Overtimes ubiquitous cameras. Given the supply of global talent chasing that dream, and the precious few spots available, elementary math suggests such an outcome is all but impossible. Still, former NBA player Len Elmore, a Harvard Law School grad and current senior lecturer at Columbia Universitys sports management program, worries that even if the players who get injured or dont pan out do return to college, they still might be worse offsavings accounts notwithstanding. Expressions Basketball is not an "equal playing time" program. Gavin Griffiths , Class 2023, HT 610, Position F. Papa is another very high level prospect from Expressions. He is currently ranked #1 overall player in the class of 2025 in the State of Rhode Island. , Class 2023, Position SG, HT, 67. //]]>, DANA TATE MARCUS ZEGAROWSKI, ENOCH CHEEKS DYONDRE DOMINGUEZ, MOUSSA CISSE TERRENCE CLARKE, RT @UchidiunoAdrian: Blessed to receive an offer from Binghamton Univeristy https://t.co/n9vAg4AOAr, RT @CoachMitch_2: Head down keep working. He has good size and will be one of the best players in his class hailing from New Hampshire. Theyre kind of building the parachute after they jumped out of the plane here, says Dr. Marcus Elliott, founder and director of P3, a southern California-based sports science institute that provides advanced biomechanical analyses of elite athletes. But members of Overtime Elite, the new professional basketball league for 16-to-19-year old stars, arrive in style, to play before a far more influential audience. Dad hardly ever gets a phone call.. } University of Kentucky & Expressions Elite Alum Terrence Clarke is a scorer in the truest sense of the word. Jamari Antoine(2025) 5'7,140lbs guardThayer Acdemy (MA)-Antoine is a young floor general. I see the potential of this disruption to lead to a much more just and better world for these young athletes, says Elliott. Plays AAU with Expressions Elite, instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Started varsity as an 8th grader at Rye Country Day School. Video highlights, Ryan Altman (2025) 63 swing Rivers School (MA) Altman is quick and has an effortless stroke from 3, a good pull up game and a high basketball IQ. Here are profiles on some of those players: Xavier Abreu(2025) guardPhillips Academy Andover(MA)- Abreu is a smooth, talented young guard. Expressions Basketball has regional programs in northern New England (North), Boston, Southcoast and Rhode Island. Playing time is earned through demonstration of hard work, commitment and performance during practices and games. Stretch and Bobbito brought a unique audience together and created a platform that changed music forever. We would be negligent if we sent them out into the world with fake diplomas, says Harden. The OTE offera six-figure salary, plus the emphasis on player development in an academy settingsounded attractive. And so the fact that their DNA has nothing to do with development, thats concerning.. This 1990s hip-hop legend programmed The Stretch and Bobbito radio show, which received high praise from theNew York Timesand was recognized as The Best Of All Time by TheSource magazine. Under current NCAA rules, athletes with OTE contracts are classified as professional players who have forfeited any eligibility to play college basketball, an enterprise that, despite all its flaws, is a proven path to lifelong educational benefits and the NBA. Max Knight(2025)6'6centerRocky Hill Country Day School (RI)- Knightis young with lots of potential and will keep growing. Most high school hoops players across Americaif theyre luckytravel to their games in a yellow school bus. Bowen The players entered the brand-new 103,000 sq.-ft. facility built by Overtime, a five-year-old digital sports media startup that developed a huge following after posting Zion Williamsons high school dunks on Instagram. Heplays AAU basketball for BABC. Jack Bailey(2025)6'6forwardLoomis Chaffe School (CT)- Bailey is from New York City, has good size and the ability to make shots. If you are an ESPN or a traditional publisher, you cant appeal to a young audience with a bunch of traditional sports programming, says Porter. But the high stakes arent limited to Overtimes bottom line. He is working hard to develop the rest of his offensive game as a very young player. Best of luck on the upcoming senior campaign and more. He can jump out of the gym, and plays above the rim. Everyone would loyally tune in for the offbeat humor just as much as for the exclusive tunes. Stretch and Bobbito brought a unique audience together and created a platform that changed music forever. Bryce Griggs and TJ Clark leave the locker room on to the OTE practice courts in Atlanta. The boys, who were based in Florida, had traveled to Illinois, Wisconsin, Arizona, Missouri and Georgia during this swing. var recaptchaSiteKey = "6LePJx8TAAAAACXrjU21ZdxvkXD_rh3yzhSeoJ0a" Overtime has spent millions on a school, a coaching and basketball operations and performance staff rivaling that of NBA teams, not to mention salaries and housing for its players and a massive new structure. Plays AAU with Bay State Jaguars. Gavin has a lot of upside to his game. Become a sponsor for The Hoop Hustle and support youth in your area. Both companies have prominent signage at the 1,100-seat OTE Arena, which is also part of the 103,000-sq.- ft. structure in Atlanta. Not often you find the combination of skills, and size that Papa has. And now you expect them to go to a college that they were recruited by, or that they could have been recruited by, and enroll and go to class and watch other guys playing college basketball, knowing that they could have done that? I just chill in my room and watch basketball. Amen and Ausar have talked to each other about backup careers; they both believe theyd be solid hoops commentators. Julian Chatman(2025) 58 point guardMacDuffie School (MA)fromSpringfield, MA - Chatman is a young super skilled guard,very smart and a gym rat. Can also catch and shoot off screens. Plays AAU with NY Lightning. He is a very consistent shooter, and shoots a high percentage. Kante #130 Overtime already had a compelling core business, and Stern knew from experience the hassles of running a sports league. The players do have impressive tools at their disposal. Plays AAU with Mass Rivals . RTB profile. He should be a lock as a future D1 player. Those restrictions are now going the way of the peach basket. OTEs academic head, Maisha RiddlespriggerWashington, D.Cs. Sees the floor well. Thank you for trusting the vision & ALWAYS leading. He ultimately thought he had outgrown scholastic competition. Nation He is also a fantastic student with an A average. 23 Layden Blocker (BBE) Enjoy your special day. The total record sales of the artists who debuted on their show have exceeded 300 million copies. OTE has also hired teachers and academic administrators so that players can secure their high school diplomas. Come on, were talking about 17- and 18-year-olds who now have fizzled out at their dream, says Elmore. You probably couldnt find a more fitting phrase to encapsulate the year 2021 in sports media and culture. They can adjust accordingly. The OTE bench watches the game at the show court at the OTE arena. He is humble and hard working. 25 Joson Sanon (, RT @TonyMcNiff2: Some Peach Jam Standouts As an award-winning filmmaker, Garcia has directed two documentaries, Doin It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC and Stretch and Bobbito: Radio that Changed Lives. When asked where they both see themselves in two years, neither brother hesitates. Because, guess what? Drew Brander(2025)61 guardBradford Christian Academy (MA) - Branderplays above the rim, can defend, and has a great act for scoring the ball in many ways. Im like, Thats good for you, but thats not very good for me, says Porter. maxwidth: 1100px; And those are challenging and sophisticated blueprints to put together. Ranked as one of the top returning NCAA players this season. Plays AAU for the City Rocks. Its a pro environment.. In Atlanta, the Thompsons mention to TIME that they have just missed their final high school homecoming. Cam Hailey(2025)59 guardLawrence Academy (MA)- Hailey is a slick point guard with excellent ball handling skills and court awareness. Troys twin sons, Amen and Ausar, had just played nearly 30 games over five weeks on the AAU circuit, where overuse injuries are becoming more common. There is much growth still to come for this young man. Write to Sean Gregory at sean.gregory@time.com. Seyphon Triplett, Class 2023, Position CG, HT 61, Seyphon is one of the more athletic guards I have seen this spring. Read More: Why The NCAA Should Be Terrified Of Supreme Court Justice Kavanaughs Concurrence. For us to be able to evaluate them now and see their growth over time, thats the key, says Marshand. Tim Derdenger, a professor at the Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business, estimates that the NIL market for college athletes alone could reach more than $1 billion in five years. Chris Bianco(2025) point guardSt Andrews School (RI)- Bianco is an explosive offensive player capable of both scoring and running the team.