With the 2013 HS recruiting class’ top prospect Jabari Parker out of action this Summer, nursing an injury, the attention this offseason has focused on the “other” top tier prep prospects that will soon be household names in college like Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle.
With several of the nation’s top AAU teams in action at the annual Nike EYBL Championship at the Peach Jam in South Carolina, the nation’s top ranked senior (Randle) and junior (Wiggins) squared off as their teams clashed in an epic tilt that came down to the final second.
Wiggins, universally regarded as the best HS player in any class plays for Canada’s CIA Bounce, alongside fellow top flight recruits like Tyler Ennis of NJ’s famed St. Benedicts HS and Xavier Rathan Mayes who loves to break ankles. The 6’8 Randle reminds many of NBA MVP Lebron James and stars for the Texas Titans alongside one of the nation’s best sophomores Mickey Mitchell.
In the exciting matchup, Wiggins was phenominal, tallying 28 points and 18 rebounds, while Randle finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists, but fouled out with 3 minutes remaining in regulation. The Titans led for most of the game until Rathan Mayes drained 4 consecutive treys to send the game into overtime where Wiggins took over, leading the Bounce to a 1 point win 81-80. CIA Bounce advanced to the event final before the Oakland Soldiers, led by Blake Griffin clone Aaron Gordon, bested Wiggins squad to win the EYBL Championship.
Check out top HS prospects Wiggins and Randle at the Peach Jam:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
