Takeaways, standouts from EYBL Session Two in Memphis
HawgBeat basketball analyst looks at players the Arkansas coaching staff watched in Memphis with scouts and updates.
The Arkansas coaching staff is hot in pursuit of several top 2026 prospects, many of whom were on display in Memphis on the Nike EYBL circuit this past weekend.
Arkansas head coach John Calipari and assistant coach Chin Coleman were both on the sidelines in Memphis, getting an up-close look at recent commit JJ Andrews, as well as plenty of other top recruits.
Over the course of the weekend, teams played four games, giving coaches a decent sample size of what these players could do against tough competition.
HawgBeat analyst Jackson Collier has a list of players the coaching staff was keeping an eye on, as well as brief scouting reports from those players' performances.
*Note - all the names listed are of players Arkansas' staff saw in person, but it is not an exhaustive list.*
JJ Andrews - 2026 Arkansas commit
Each time Andrews stepped on the court this past weekend, he looked like the best player on the floor. Calipari and Coleman were on hand to watch him on more than one occasion, and the in-state product showed out.
Over the course of four games, Andrews averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals with efficient shooting splits. He shot 53.8% from the field and 50.0% from the three-point line. His best performance came on Saturday night, when the four-star scored 32 points and added eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while shooting 13-of-21 from the field and 4-of-5 from three.
It was more than just his offensive prowess that impressed this weekend, though, as his defense looked phenomenal. Andrews gave the impression of one of the best and most versatile defenders in his class, complete with next-level defensive instincts and fundamentals.
With the first two EYBL Sessions behind him, Andrews is pushing for his fifth star and a top-20 ranking.
Click here for a more in-depth scout on the Razorback commit.
Tyran Stokes - Class of 2026
Calipari and Coleman were present for five-star Tyran Stokes as he caught a lob off balance and slammed it home. That sort of playmaking ability is why many consider Stokes the best player in the 2025 class. He made his EYBL debut this weekend for the Oakland Soldiers after sitting out of the first session, but quickly made his presence known.
The forward struggled to shoot from deep, but excelled in all other aspects of the game. He thrived as a primary scoring option or a secondary option when teammate and fellow five-star Jason Crowe Jr. took over, and was relentless with his effort.
One of the things that stood out the most about Stokes was his aggressiveness on the glass. He averaged 10 rebounds per game over his four games in Memphis, with 8.5 of those coming on the defensive glass.
Given Stokes's versatility, ball handling skills, aggression, and overall talent, there is no question he's one of the best players in the class. His volume tends to negatively impact his efficiency, but he's also the type of player who makes winning plays, so coaches and teammates are more than happy to live with some forced shots and some missed shots.
Stokes plans to take a visit to Arkansas in the future.
CONTINUE READING HERE
