Air Time Presents: Road To Peach Jam | Episode 3

Kansas City is next, but it ain't just another stop on the map. This is the Jordan Brand stage, where every possession carries weight, and every name gets tested. The country's best pull-up was something to prove. Some are fighting to protect their name, while others are trying to make it work. In Kansas City, reputations get checked, and the next chapter writes itself. When you walk in this gym, you can feel it. It's a little bit different. You can feel that energy. You can feel the presence of some of the star players out here, and then you can feel that hunger from some of the kids that are waiting for their chance. So, when you walk in, you know it's about time. Take me back in time, where I remember standing around the court, you know, games going on, and everybody at one game, like, you kind of make you feel like, you know, it's a prime time game. When I was coming out here, everybody asked, why are you going to Kansas City? I'm just going to watch basketball, man. Attack! We're at home field. There's 10 courts. There's seating upstairs. It's not a live period. There aren't any coaches. There aren't any NBA scouts. So, for this session, it's all about the players on the court. We're going to see some NBA guys filtering through in their off-season, and I just can't wait to see who shows up. Session three, this is where you start to separate yourselves from the rest of the pack, and then the teams will have a month off before session four in Las Vegas, and this is the last push to try to solidify yourself at the top of the pack for the chance at Peach Jam. Nike EYBL isn't just about talent. It's about toughness and being tough. Every possession is a test, and every matchup is against someone chasing the same dream. Pressure is relentless, and only with players with the grit, the resilience, and that relentless dog mentality find a way to stand out. To be a dog, it's just coming out there and trying to win every single drill, every single line drill, every single game, everything. It's a mindset, really. Either you got it or you don't. I feel like a lot of our players on our team have that, so if we've got a whole bunch of dogs, we're going to go out there and play like some dogs and see where it gets us. People think they're better than me, of course I'm going to try to go out there and show that I'm better, but in my head, I'm just trying to make sure that my team wins, no matter what. Coming out and doing whatever I can, leading my team, making sure we get the win. That's what I was focused on, I would say. To be a dog on the court is bringing energy on both ends of the floor, asserting your dominance and your resiliency to win games. This guy is just a maestro with the ball in his hands. We got a big one tomorrow. If you don't feel like you gave everything that you could get today, bring it tomorrow. We've got plenty of star power in this one, including one of the most skilled guards in the game, in Caden Daughtry. Just being in the live sessions and just having all the eyes on me, it just means a lot coming out here and just being able to prove my point in the biggest stadium. You guys know how I am, you guys know how I play, but I need everybody to know. He can really score the basketball, just terrific at reading the game and letting it come to I come out every single time and I try to prove to everybody I'm not no regular guy. Caden Daughtry, 37 points. Absolutely outstanding the entire game, complete, complete game. Completely dynamic with the ball in his hands, Caden Daughtry is the story. The Florida Rebels, and they own Kansas City. They just didn't go 4-0. They sent the message to Team Mellow, Team Takeover, Team Final, and Team Durant. Every team failed. The Rebels won by an average of more than 18 points a game, turning one of the most toughest spots on the EYBL circuit into a showcase of complete domination. Heading into Las Vegas, they're the team everyone's chasing. Some players are taught to compete, and some, they got that dog. But Navarro Bowman Jr., it's in his blood. One of the toughest competitors on the EYBL circuit. He plays with an edge you just can't coach and a mentality that never backs down. That fire comes naturally. His father, Navarro Bowman Sr., built his own name as one of the fiercest linebackers in his generation, earning four first-team all-pro honors through relentless toughness and physicality. Now, that same grit shows up on the EYBL stage. Navarro Bowman, out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, five-star prospect and the composite-ranked top 25 player. If there was one person I would have to listen to, it would be my dad, because of the accomplishments he made in his life. So, when he's telling me something, I just listen. He emphasized wanting to be a winner. He wasn't a loser. He wanted to win, and he just molded that on me as I got older. Bowman getting downhill. Lightning's nets on fire. He's a player that impacts winning. No matter if he has the ball or if he doesn't, he loves getting his teammates involved. He loves letting the game come to him. When you learn how to do that, basketball's going to be so much easier, no matter how old or how far down the road you play this game. You're going to know how to play the game the right way. The EYBL circuit, what makes it so great, is it provides a platform and opportunity for a player like Lil' Duo to really rise. And we saw that in Session 1. He followed that up with Session 2. It was fantastic. Session 3, averaging over six blocks per game. It's fun because, you know, I get to play with the top players in America. I just have fun playing with people that are, you know, as good as me and, you know, way better than me. Because, you know, if you play with people way better than you, you get better every day. Off the court, I'm always smiling, always the happy guy, always the energy guy. On the court, I'm also the happiest guy on the court. About three years ago, Louis Uvo never played organized basketball. The game found him at 14 years old, when he began sharpening his craft at NBA Academy Africa before betting on himself with the move to the United States. Not long ago, few people were talking about this kid. But now, the 6'10 Nigerian has become one of the most fastest rising prospects in the class of 2027, jumping from 181 to the top 10. At first, I didn't know anything about basketball. I'm always walking down the streets and people, you know, always asking me, yo, you don't play basketball? You don't play? And I'm like, nah. Then it got to the day I was like, like five people asked me in like 30 minutes. I was like, you know what? I'm going to go start playing basketball. The bright smile and positive energy makes Uvo the type of player that motivates everyone around him, bringing confidence and enthusiasm to his teammates every time he steps on the floor. Selfless, unselfish, and always putting his team first, Uvo embodies what it means to be the ultimate teammate. He's always in good spirits, always a good guy. Like, even if the energy is down, like, he's the guy to joke, to bring that life into the group. And you need that, right? Like, especially in this league, it's tough, right? It's not always pretty. You have ups and downs. And when you have somebody that energetic, it just spreads, you know, in a good way across the team. On defense, I'm a self-expressing. I'm not going to lie. I want to get that block. I want to get 10 blocks in the game. But offensively, I don't care. I'm a team player. If I see my man free under the basket, I'll pass it. I don't even care if I'm free. I'll pass it to my guy just going. The NBA stars pull up this time. Bradley Beal, my man Paulo Banqueiro, and Chris Paul from my hometown. And this is where it all began. This summer, these stars are back with the EYBL teams from their own hometowns. St. Louis, Seattle, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Not for the spotlight, but to pour into the next generation. Coaching, mentoring, and sharing the lessons they've learned with the next generation. To make better players on the court and better men off of it. Keep him out here, right? Don't let him walk you back down, right? Stay physical with him. He tries to walk me down, it's not happening. For years, Brad has always said it's my job to raise up the next level. The next level of players, the next great ones. If I can touch them, I'm going to touch them. And so he's just a unique guy. I tell everyone that I run across when they ask about his level of involvement. Does he really care? Like, why is he doing this? It's really something you can't put into words because it's so unique. A lot of guys love the game. A lot of guys play the game. A lot of guys give back to the game. But he is fully invested, totally connected to these young people. Y'all got a game today. Y'all didn't play well last weekend. I mean, did y'all look at y'all stats or no? I know y'all did. Tough love is one of the, man, one of my strongest attributes, I'd say. And it definitely comes from my foundation. Like, my mom and dad, that was their mantra, like, growing up. We didn't get a lot of, like, coddles and hugs and all that. It was like, no, we need more. Like, this wasn't good enough. Here we go, BBE. One, two, three. Chris, man. I always wore J's. Every time I put them on, I was like, I'm gonna die. As a kid, everybody had J's. Everybody wanted J's. So, to one, be an athlete under the jump, man, you know, brand was surreal to me. But then when they were like, you're like, we wanna go all in with these grassroots programs. Like, that, that's gonna keep me here forever. Go. Attack. Head up. I'm not the tallest person in the world. I'm not the biggest person in the world. I'm not the fastest. So, it's just a matter of having, how much heart do you have? How much hard work are you willing to put in? Like, I'm a living flesh, living testament that you can make it, right? If you just continue to put in the work and take advantage of every opportunity you have. Hey, you good. Keep your head in it. You don't go back in there. That's, hey, that's on the coaches, bro. That's on the coaches. That's not your fault. Each kid is on his own journey. So, we're just trying to do what we can to help. And if they can learn one thing from me that, you know, takes them on, help them in their high school season or through the rest of their careers, you know, that's a win in my book. So, just trying to give them as much advice and as much game as I can. We ain't got no driving lanes because everybody's trying to get each other safe. I had a college coach that said, it's a team game played by individuals. And if you really understand that, if your team wins, everyone's going to win. Go, corner, corner bird, man. The best teams have all the people at their games, all the coaches, all the things. And then, as you progress and you make a defeat jam, the teams that are the better teams, you know, they keep going up. Hey! Trying to give back to the kids and obviously on a stage like this, trying to, you know, show them that basketball stretches a long way. We got to find a way that we approach every game like we did today. We all was out there looking sad. So, now you guys responded. We got to give you guys a lot of credit because that's not easy to do. Like you said, that was a good team. Y'all just played. Together on three. One, two, three. Good. Step up, step up, yo. This organization means the world to me. As a 15-year-old, 16-year-old, 17-year-old kid, I played in this organization. And the guys that coach me are still around. And so, for me, it's a labor of love. There's a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of effort. There's no other place I'd rather be than pouring back into these young men to help them earn scholarships, to change their lives, to change their families' lives. And so, it really is a family. When our kids say CP3 family, it's real. It's really a family. And it's about showing the power of community. It's always great to see NBA coaches on the sidelines, bringing their experience and championship pedigree into the game. Coaches outside the NBA deserve just as much as a recognition. They pour their hearts into every practice, every timeout, and every conversation. They embrace the grind, not for the spotlight, but for the opportunity to shape teenagers and the young men. Teaching accountability, discipline, and character both on and off the court. Long after the final buzzer, that's the impact that lasts. Coaches, at the end of the day, are teachers. They're mentors. You have to figure out what works for what particular kid. Y'all gotta shoot the floor. You have to shoot the floor. If they skip that, we can go and close out for that. When the ball comes back, you gotta be there already for the screening. We try to teach our guys not to focus on the result. It's a super process focus, right? Each and every single small detail in every possession. Share that basketball, all right? Play with a ton of desperation. By yourself, by yourself. Hut, hut, hut. I know it pushed you, but you can't let it happen. Oh man, you missed that one. We're better than this. We pissed away a day. We f***ed away a day. Make no mistake, this is a waste of everyone's day. Give us something when you get on that floor. AB Elite went 4-0 in Kansas City, capping the weekend with a tough win over the New York Reds, a team that was leading the EYBL standings after session one. Now, with only the Florida Rebels ahead of them, AB Elite has firmly established itself as a peach jam contender. Talk to each other. If you know this guy's supposed to back cut, talk to him early. While others have grabbed the headlines, Team CP3 has spoken quietly about its business, stacking big wins in both Memphis and Kansas City with a close win versus Team Final in KC. And CP3 has the size, the toughness, and the discipline to beat anyone on the circuit. One of the biggest surprises of the Nike EYBL season has been Team Hero. Entering the year under the radar, and quickly emerged as having a chance to win it all at Peach Jam. Led by Duke commit Cade Knipple, younger brother of Con Knipple, Team Hero has proven it can win the biggest games. Kansas City, they picked up impressive victories over Mean Streets and New York Lightning, showing the poise and toughness of a championship caliber squad. In the heart of Kansas City, one team started to turn heads. Knight Riders arrived with something to prove, and left undefeated in KC. Four wins, four games, taking down Vegas Elite, Utah Prospects, Team United, and Team Fast. While the spotlight shines on the favorites, Knight Riders is reminding everybody that the road to Peach Jam is wide open. Not just competing, they're building a name, and the rest of EYBL is starting to take notice. No shortcuts, no easy wins. Team Why Not is built for the fight. After a gritty two and two run in Kansas City, the statement wins over Mean Streets and Indy Heat. Every game becomes a battle. The mission is simple, earn a spot at Peach Jam. After three sessions, the race to Peach Jam is far from decided. The Florida Rebels sits atop of the EYBL standings at 10 and one, but the pressure's building. Team Hero, Team CP3, and AB Elite are right behind at nine and two, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. And don't count out the teams lurking just behind the leaders. Programs like PG Elite and Mocan Elite are still very much in the hunt and have a golden opportunity to shake up the standings with a big showing in our final regular season stop in Las Vegas. I'm so excited for session four in Vegas, and I'm really excited to see what sort of adjustments they make in this month off with this rest and going into session four in Las Vegas. I mean, it is going to be the place to be. You got NBA Summer League. You got session four for the EYBL. It's going to be hot outside, but also red hot in the gym with the matchups that we have heading into Peach Jam.