Searching for basketball’s next unicorn at Nike EYBL’s Hampton event

In the modern basketball vernacular, the term “unicorn” has taken on increasing significance. From the litany of big men who have expanded their games out from the low block like Kristaps Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns to freaky long wings like Giannis Antetokounmpo, finding players deserving of the moniker has become the dream of NBA front offices league wide.

It’s an understandable revolution. Unicorns combine outlier physical attributes with skill sets that aren’t usually found in players that size. If you have someone who is bigger, but can do the exact same things as someone smaller, it’s easier to win out in the long run. That’s why Joel Embiid was so captivating in the 31 games he played this season and and why Giannis has the Milwaukee Bucks positioned to be an Eastern Conference contender in the near future. These type of players are special.

College basketball, too, has seen its share of unicorns make pit stops in recent years on their way to the NBA. Ben Simmons was functionally a 6-foot-10 point guard for the LSU Tigers during his lone season in Baton Rouge and Lauri Markkanen was a 7-foot sharpshooter for the Arizona Wildcats in 2016-17. Both players were one-and-done, but others like Chris Boucher, a 6-foot-10 3-point shooting, shot blocking center for the Oregon Ducks or Ethan Happ, a 6-foot-8 do-it-all big man for the Wisconsin Badgers, stick around for a little bit longer. As NBA franchises search for the next unicorn, so to do college teams looking to win a national title.

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Last weekend, high school players across the country gathered in Hampton, VA for the first session of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League’s (EYBL) 2017 schedule. They competed across eight courts at the Boo Williams Sportsplex while flanked by college basketball coaches from every level of the sport looking to find the next talent who might use their program as a stepping stone to make the jump to NBA stardom.

A unicorn tends to stand out on a basketball court and several took the floor in Hampton.

A name you might hear sooner rather than later is Jontay Porter. The 6-foot-9 forward is the No. 31 ranked prospect in the class of 2018, but he is leaning towards reclassifying to play with his brother Michael Porter Jr., the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2017, at the University of Missouri next season. Their father, Michael Sr., is an assistant at the school.

Jontay isn’t likely to be an NBA player in the near future — he lacks the kind of elite athleticism that’s often necessary to compete at that level — but he could help the Tigers’ recent resurgence by suiting up for them in 2017-18. The 17-year old averaged 19.2 points and 13.0 rebounds per game for MoKan Elite this weekend as his squad jumped out to a 4-0 record during pool play. What sticks out about Porter’s game, though, is the way that he can help space the floor offensively.

Porter made 11 of his 22 3-point attempts last weekend. He has a quick and compact release that allows him to get his shot out even when a defender is closing out quickly. Given that the EYBL plays with the college 3-point line, it’s not hard to project Porter’s ability to make college 3s based on this information. Having a big man who can space the floor (and even occasionally attack close outs in a straight line) is highly valuable for modern offenses at either the college or the NBA level. While Porter may not be ready to take on the pros yet, he could have an immediate effect if he joins his brother at Missouri next season.

The name you’ll hear down the line is Vernon Carey Jr. This class of 2019 recruit is the son of former Miami Dolphins’ offensive lineman Vernon Carey. At 6-foot-9 and 245 pounds, he made an impression last weekend with this alley-oop finish:

https://twitter.com/overtime/status/856177692462297088

Carey averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for Nike Team Florida. The 16-year old feels like a player who is still grasping just how big and athletic he, is as he often let games come to him rather than try to take them over against older opponents. Carey is capable of grabbing a defensive rebound and pushing the ball up the floor. He also knocked down four of his nine 3-point attempts and got to the foul line frequently. Although he won’t join the NBA until 2020, the No. 2 recruit in the class of 2019 is a name to keep an eye on in the coming years. Carey’s an athletic monster with a developing game that just might eventually fit the unicorn profile.

There are other big men with unique skill sets that you’ll hear about in the interim. Class of 2018 center Bol Bol, the son of former NBA player Manute Bol, is a 7-foot-2 string bean who has the ability to handle the ball, block shots and occasionally knock down a jumper. The No. 17 recruit in 2018 is a player who will be better in the NBA than in college — trust me, he’s going to get called soft — once he’s able to add some actual strength to his incredibly thin frame.

Bol averaged 21.0 points and 8.2 rebounds per game alongside Shareef O’Neal, son of Shaquille, for Cal Supreme Elite in Hampton. He made 5-of-14 3-pointers and shot 13-of-16 from the free throw line. His jumper is somewhat awkward mechanically, but it seems to find its way into the basket with regularity. Bol wasn’t always aggressive inserting himself into the game, but he has a certain fluidity to his movement that is rare with players his size and his arms are able to engulf shots around the rim.

Bol’s most impressive moment came against Howard Pulley. He caught the ball slightly outside of the left block before facing his defender up. He ripped through, took one dribble to the right, then quickly spun back towards the left and finished with a baseline slam. It was a combination of skill and fluidity that is nearly impossible to find in 7-foot centers.

The crown jewel of the unicorns, though, is Marvin Bagley III, the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2018. While Zion Williamson has made waves with his highlight reel finishes, a few minutes of watching Bagley makes it understandable why he’s the top player in the class. The 6-foot-10 forward can do basically anything he wants on a high school basketball court. From posting up to playing point guard, Bagley is a jack-of-all-trades. At various points during the weekend, he nailed a turnaround jumper in the mid-range, hit a floater through traffic in the lane and nailed 3-pointers off the dribble.

He is comfortable with the ball in his hands either coming off of defensive rebounds or in the halfcourt where he occasionally ran pick-and-roll. Bagley is a willing passer who needs to work on his decision-making and accuracy, but could be the type of playmaking power forward that thrives in the modern NBA. He also showed off some nice leadership qualities as his team, Nike Phamily, struggled during the opening weekend.

It’s not uncommon for AAU benches to turn into Little League baseball dugouts with synchronized clapping or chants ringing out from those catching a breather. The Nike Phamily bench prefers to clap, but after starting flat in their 8:00 a.m. game on Sunday morning against Mac Irvin Fire, the energy died. Down 19-3, Bagley stepped up. He got vocal and urged the bench to get into the game.

The 18-year old didn’t just lead with his voice. He keyed a massive run to bring his team back within three before halftime by taking over like no other player I saw did all weekend. Bagley showed his off-the-dribble attack during the comeback, frequently getting to the line and finishing through contact at the hoop. His team didn’t get the job done in the second half, but Bagley finished with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and 20 boards in the losing effort.

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Bagley’s combination of size, leadership and basketball skill has him positioned to be the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. While several players seemingly fit the unicorn moniker to some degree, the 18-year old from Phoenix is the best of the lot and will be coming to an NBA franchise near you soon enough.