The AZ Unity EYBL basketball program is absolutely loaded with elite-level talent from top to bottom, and at all age groups. With their 15U and 16U teams already qualified for the Nike EYBL Peach Jam, after very strong play on the Nike EYBL circuit, the AZ Unity 17U team is now looking to earn their spot in this year's Peach Jam, after the team finished with a 3-0 undefeated record over the weekend in Indianapolis, Indiana @ the Indiana Pacers Sports Complex.
AZ Unity 17U struggled some early on in the Nike EYBL circuit to win games, as they put together a new group of elite prospects, but the team has now gelled nicely and each of their talented performers now look to be working together nicely. It showed this weekend in their performances that I observed in big wins against Mean Streets (IL), and also one of the nation's elite Nike-sponsored programs, Mokan Elite (KS). Mokan Elite are the defending Nike EYBL National Champions, and AZ Unity came up big as a team in the contest - leading Mokan Elite pretty much from the start to the narrow finish.
AZ Unity 17U has an absolutely loaded team this club season, but what is most impressive is that this group is led by the play of many 2026 prospects, as each prospect is playing up at the 17U level this EYBL season. Imagine this team on the 16U level. This group of young elite prospects came together this weekend, and looked very impressive. The team is led by the superb overall play of superstar 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Brandon McCoy, who is as good a player as there is in America's 2026 Class - regarded by many as the nation's top overall prospect. McCoy was terrific in AZ Unity's win over Mokan on Saturday, as he scored almost at will and created off the dribble at a high level. McCoy resembles a young Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), and is one national prospect that Nike will like to see at their Peach Jam event in July.
While McCoy holds the highest national ranking for this year's team, 6-foot-6 gifted sophomore Cameron Holmes and 6-foot-4 high-scoring sophomore Kaden House are not far behind, as both prospects are ranked among the nation's Top 20 prospects for the 2026 Class as well. Rarely do you see such a team, with numerous different prospects with such a high national ranking, and they often are not able to play well together. That was not the case this weekend for this group, as each star performer complimented the other. Cam Holmes had a very strong performance throughout the weekend, before injuring his knee on Saturday evening. While it turned out to be a minor injury, it caused him to miss much of the Mokan ball game, a game in which his team still was able to win. Holmes was very strong in his play throughout the weekend and was considered as one of the top overall performers in this weekend's EYBL event. Look for much more college recruitment to follow.
Kaden House played very well this weekend in a different role for himself, and he adjusted nicely - handling and distributing the ball, while also scoring and knocking down shots. House was big defensively, as he competed hard, as he always does. He was a big part of his team's success this weekend. Brother, 6-foot-3 sophomore guard Kalek House also had a big weekend, as he played in a back-up role and did not miss a beat - making shots consistently with range and a quick release, and also creating and scoring off the dribble against bigger defenders in the lane.
Canyon International Academy 6-foot-7 junior Jaion Pitt has been highly regarded for some time among basketball scouts and media. Currently ranked as the nation's #56 overall prospect in America's 2025 Class, Pitt lived up to his billing this weekend, as he scored inside and out and played very big, as a result of his extreme wingspan and athleticism. Pitt has excellent versatility as a player and he is a nice recruiting target for the right college program this recruiting season.
Hillcrest Prep's 7-foot junior post Maper Maker is a tremendous talent as well, and has been highly regarded by myself for several years now, since first emerging in Arizona. Since then, he has traveled to different high school programs and looks to now be situated at Hillcrest Prep. Maker is a sure-fire future pro-talent as a result of his extreme size, length, athleticism and versatility. The sky is the limit for him, and he is just beginning to realize his potential as a player. Every college program in America needs to take a hard look at Maker, as he is a rare and unique prospect. Maker is currently ranked as the nation's #81 overall prospect in America's 2025 Class.
This team also features numerous other top-rated prospects from outside the state of Arizona, such as versatile and top-rated 6-foot-10 junior Dallas Washington, so this team is primed and ready to make a big run for another Nike Peach Jam for the AZ Unity program.
It is almost surreal watching this loaded team of national prospects compete under the Arizona umbrella at the Nike EYBL events annually, as the program, led by BJ Letcher and Mike George, has certainly exceeded all expectations as a club program - bringing loads of national respect to our state, even if numerous players on their roster are from other states and even countries. For the many Arizona prospects that are in this program, they have achieved serious success and recruitment, which ultimately drips down to other lesser known prospects in the state of Arizona. Keep doing what you are doing AZ Unity, and good luck for the remainder of the Nike EYBL season.
