The fourth and final Nike EYBL Session of 2018 takes place in Hampton, Virginia, on May 26-27. TheSabre.com will be on hand for coverage of University of Virginia men’s basketball prospects. Topping our coverage list is the Cavaliers’ lone class of 2019 commitment at this point, 4-star guard Casey Morsell (pictured above).
The 6’2”, 175-pound Morsell has played a steady brand of basketball through the first three EYBL Sessions, averaging 11.5 points per game while making 47.6% of his field goals, 37% of his 3s, and 78.4% of his free throws while helping Team Takeover (D.C.) to a 12-0 record so far. Heading into Hampton, Team Takeover is the only unbeaten team in EYBL play and is in great shape to enter the 2018 Peach Jam (EYBL’s Championship) as the no. 1 overall seed.
Morsell, a product of St. John’s (Washington, D.C.), plays alongside class of 2019 post Armando Bacot, class of 2020 point guard Jeremy Roach, and class of 2020 center Hunter Dickinson — all of these players have been offered by head coach Tony Bennett. Team Takeover kicks off its Hampton Session with an 11 a.m. matchup against Team Final (PA) on Saturday. Keith Stevens’ squad also faces the Las Vegas Prospects (Saturday, 6:30 p.m.), the New York Lightning (Sunday, 8 a.m.) and Expressions Elite (Sunday, 5 p.m.) this weekend.
Virginia currently has one open scholarship spot for the 2019 Class. The primary focus is on a tall, lengthy wing with scoring ability … a player who fits the mold of a De’Andre Hunter in providing defensive versatility and scoring punch.
Team Takeover’s first opponent, Team Final (PA), features 6’6”, 190-pound Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, PA) rising senior Seth Lundy. Lundy is on Virginia’s radar but has not yet been offered by the Hoos. The 4-star prospect has the size and he has shown the ability to score, averaging 14 points per game this EYBL season. A possible hang-up for the Hoos could be shooting, as Lundy has made only 40.6% of his field goals and has gone 22-of-74 (29.7%) from beyond the arc on the AAU circuit this season.
Wing prospects Kahlil Whitney and Patrick Williams are squarely on Virginia’s sights, having received scholarship offers from Bennett within the past month. Both are expected to play in Hampton this weekend. In fact, their respective teams are set to face-off during the 12:30 p.m. wave of games on Saturday, and we’ll be on hand.
The 6’6” Whitney, who attends Roselle Catholic in New Jersey but is a native of Chicago (IL), has averaged 22 points (51% FG, 43.9% 3PFG) per game for the Mac Irvin Fire. The 6’7″ Williams, a product of West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.), is averaging 14.8 points (48.1% FG, 48.8% 3PFG) and 5.2 rebounds per game for Team United (N.C.).
I’m also interested in watching Drive Nation (TX) class of 2019 post Drew Timme. Now, Virginia offered the 6’10” Texan before taking 7’0” Argentinian Francisco Caffaro in the class of 2018. I’m interested in watching Timme, who has been a scoring and rebounding force this EYBL season, but I’m also hoping to speak to him to gauge Virginia’s interest. Is Virginia still in hot pursuit?
Headlining our class of 2020 coverage is Butler (PA) point guard Ethan Morton, who plays for The Renaissance (N.Y.) on the EYBL circuit. Virginia has offered the 6’5” prospect, who has said elsewhere that he plans on visiting Charlottesville this spring or summer.
