Despite loss to AJ Dybantsa, Oakland Soldiers, Team Thad's 'unknown' recruits open some eyes
On one bench, inside a sweltering Memphis Sports & Events Center Saturday evening, there was AJ Dybantsa and Tyran Stokes.
The headliners for a loaded Oakland Soldiers AAU team at the first session of the 2024 Nike EYBL season, Dybantsa is rated the No. 1 Class of 2025 player in the country by 247 Sports Composite and Stokes is the top-ranked player in the 2026 class.
On the other bench: Team Thad – the Memphis-based outfit whose connection to the Bluff City mostly revolves around its homegrown program director Norton Hurd IV and his coaching staff. A team whose roster features Jasper Johnson (the 11th-ranked 2025 recruit in the nation) but is filled out by “a bunch of hard-playing dudes,” according to Hurd.
“Everybody was saying we were gonna get run out of the gym, and I was going along with (the underdog narrative),” Hurd said. “I’m like, ‘You’re right, we don’t (have a chance). We’re praying.’ “
Instead, the standing-room only crowd that surrounded Court 2 and drew onlookers such as NBA Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon was treated to a classic, down-to-the-wire nailbiter. Team Thad led by as many as 12 points, but the Oakland Soldiers broke a 64-64 tie with less than a minute to play. Dybantsa, who scored a team-high 21 points, secured a key rebound and delivered a key dunk late for a 69-66 victory.
As much as Hurd and his squad wanted to win, all was not lost despite the outcome of the game. Because, even though Hurd freely admits most of the players on his roster don’t get much exposure, he is adamant that they deserve more than they receive.
Dybantsa took notice.
“The whole team (impressed me),” said the smooth 6-foot-8 forward. “Kudos to No. 12 (DeAndre Lewis). He was guarding me the whole game and gave me a tough game. Some teams play more physical than others. But that was definitely one of the more physical teams.”
Take Jamarion Davis-Fleming, for example. Sure, the 6-8 forward from Canton, Mississippi, might have scholarship offers from Alabama, Mississippi State, LSU and Wake Forest. But Davis-Fleming is currently ranked 185th in the Class of 2025.
“I’m unknown,” Davis-Fleming said. “I think because I’m from a small town, don’t nobody come out there and check us out. So, I’m trying to fix it. That’s why I love these opportunities, to try to show the country who I am.”
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After the first two days of Nike EYBL play, the baby-faced big man might be doing just that. He scored 13 points and had six rebounds in Friday’s win over Bradley Beal Elite. On Saturday – going up against the bigger, sturdier Stokes – Davis-Fleming dropped 12 points, four rebounds and two blocks despite dealing with a lower leg cramp and battling foul trouble.
Friday’s performance prompted national recruiting analyst Travis Graf to label it a “stock-rising showing.”
“Really nice flashes and quality frame on the interior,” Graf posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Intriguing prospect to monitor the rest of the summer.”
Hurd responded, saying Davis-Fleming will be “top 50 real soon.” After Saturday’s game, he doubled-down. At the same time, though, Hurd said he hopes his players continue to get overlooked.
“That helps me coach,” he said. “I don’t know what I would do if I coached No. 1 players. I can’t tell a No. 1 player, ‘Oh, you gotta do this!’ I would have to change my whole style.
“Like Ja (Morant says), stay on that side – we’ll come see you.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or follow him @munzly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Nike EYBL stage paying off for 'unknown' Team Thad recruits
