Tyson Commander’s Star Continues to Rise as ACC Schools Show Interest

Tyson Commander Team Melo 2022 and VaTech Head Coach Mike Young

Team Melo, the Baltimore based NIKE EYBL program has consistently produced several high major prospects year in and year out. Their newest star is 2022 Shooting guard Tyson Commander, who attends John Carroll High School in Bel Air, Md.; and has spent a good portion of the last year picking up offers from elite basketball programs across the nation.

Commander who is also a finalist for the Sport Majors Player of the Year as a sophomore and one of the top scorers in the very competitive MIAA conference spent this past weekend on campus at perennial ACC power Virginia Tech on a unofficial visit. Commander spent time with both Associate Head Coach Chester Frazier and Head Coach Mike Young.

Tyson who holds multiple Division I offers already is a scoring guard who is a threat at all three levels. At 6’3 we like his positional size, length, and a build that surely will blossom in a college weight room. He has a very advanced scoring package for his age that has been honed on the EYBL stage along with a firm understanding of how to create his own shot - he moves without the ball well, has good use of both hands, along with good footwork.

He's an especially efficient scorer around the lane who is finishing at the rim along with a full assortment of pivots and spins at his disposal, shoots at very high percentage on two-point field goals, and goes right into contact to get himself to the free-throw line in high volume.

Commander is a sneaky athlete who rebounds well for his size, particularly on the offensive end, where he'll fly at the glass from the perimeter. He moves well enough laterally to be a solid defender and may even have some potential versatility to guard bigger guys as he builds up his body.

Commander is one of the elite scoring guards in the area and is expanding his national profile each time he steps onto the floor. By his senior year expect Commander to one of the most recruited and sought after guards in America.

WHY YOU LION, WHY YOU ALWAYS LION - The Shot Heard Around the Basketball World

Within the elite high school and summer basketball apparatus, the whispers coming out of Hampton, Virginia this weekend seemed to be pure hyperbole. 

 

Not only did we hear that a seventh grader was proceeding to dismantle what is widely known as one of the top AAU programs in America; we proceeded to hear that on a team with multiple high major recruits, a 6’7 McDonalds All-American candidate and a dominant 6’10 post man that the 5’7 seventh grader grabbed a rebound with seconds left on the clock and hit a buzzer beater game winner over the aforementioned players and team to win the game.

Personally I will never forget a weekend years ago in a league boasting some of the top talents in the nation – one that will ultimately make claim to several future professional basketball player. A diminutive guard by the name of Zion Harmon playing a “single” year up would average 42 ppg over a five game stretch.  The heart and ferociousness it took to battle players often a foot taller whose only purpose was often simply to stop him and to still succeed on the highest level was nothing less than legendary in the world of youth basketball. 

 
If Harmon’s team(s) were coming it was the goal of each opponent to beat them to in some way say or share in saying “they” or “them” beat the best there was.  If he attended a camp Harmon was sought out by any player looking to make a claim as the best this or the best that.  The Zion vs Blank Youtube videos are endless yet "The Lion" always remained standing.  “Normal” strategies aside; resorting to bringing in ringers, physically attempting to intimidate or injure, and heckling were all normal and eventually common place to somehow take a youngster down a notch or two – to lessen the mystic, to say that the young man simply wasn’t as good as everyone else said that he was.

He made no apologies for who he was, and played with an unbridled hunger, joy and emotion that was so refreshing. The fearlessness that was wrapped up in his diminutive physical package was extraordinary and was a primary factor in what turned him into a Youtube sensation ~ a celebrity of sorts with over a million views by various people literally from all over the world.  What many didn’t know is that this “child star” didn’t and hasn’t lived a life style of a child at all; by choice due to a burning desire to succeed.  

When offered ice cream or a trip to an amusement park – his reply?  "Ice cream isn't healthy and I don’t want to put that in my body"…amusement park?, "I can do that later right now I need to use every moment to work on my game".  A elementary student who independently awakened in the morning to run several mile before school, only to end the school day back in the gym staying until the light were turned out and then often finding a court outside that may or may not have lights to continue working, simply wanting to get off a few more shots.  Watching him on road trips use a basketball as a pillow; you wondered what the dreams inside this young mans’ head consisted off.  

His spontaneous creativity on the floor, every time you witnessed it, was awe-inspiring, like watching an artist perform their craft.

 

His swag alone, was beyond compare to anyone in muddle school or high school in some cases; but what was it that drove, pushed, motivated him? Was he angry, driven by his naysayers, the locals in his area who questioned the validity of each of his accomplishments – the national persons and experts that would impede his social media threads to tell him what he was accomplishing meant nothing because at the end of the day, they could not currently and in all likelihood would never be able to duplicate the success he had in 14-years before ever stepping into High School in their lifetimes.

If it is possible to transcended youth basketball and become a counter-culture icon that defines as well was transcends the growth and popularity of basketball to the fan at the middle school level. His irresistible authenticity and maturation, and basketball sensibilities fused with perhaps the illest crossover, natural scoring acumen, and ability to raise his level play to perform his best when it mattered most, when the lights were at its brightest, and the the stage the biggest made him one of the most charismatic players to ever cross the threshold of our national sporting consciousness - I challenge you to think of another prior to High School.

He is barely 5’7 and had he proven his doubters right - that his exploits would never go beyond middle school he would STILL have a lifetime of magical memories that many would never have in three lifetimes as it pertains to the game of basketball at the highest level or any level for that matter this is how significant and special what is happening and it should finally be fully appreciated and understood for what it is.

Well, the “Pound for Pound” best player in the country has given the basketball world the proverbial middle finger by creating a perfect storm and scenario that only a movie script could duplicate.  Seventh grader leaves his state due to non-acceptance and negativity regardless of his innocent efforts to succeed; after his older brother was labeled, black-balled, and sabotaged by a local AAU giant who is recruiting all the top kids in his area to his program.  Said seventh grader plays high school varsity basketball; averages 18ppg, and it’s stated the competition is inferior. Player enters the non-disputed top league in the county; the NIKE EYBL at the 15U level and due to a set of circumstances is propelled into action at the 17U level against players who will be in high major colleges before he steps into high school.  His first game?  Well, that’s against the very hometown team and national power that shunned his brother and they happen to be top ranked team in the league – and his team? They have 1-win and they are in last place.

We all know how this story is supposed to end, but this movie preview says the seventh grader scored 19-points, dished out 6-assist, shoot 6-13 from the field, and 4-9 form the 3-point stripe, 3-4 FT – plays the entire second half AND hits the game winning shot.  So of course as you continuing reading the back of movie cover you say to yourself “who wants to watch this?” something like this would never happen in “real life” and if it did the mere mention of it would become celebratory by the locals in his hometown - the reality is mentioning it would result is accusations of classlessness and disrespect by the creators of those very characteristics!!!!!

Finally IF by some strange and “impossible” chance this did happen; it would of course be fluke, a lucky game, stars aligned, and it couldn’t be done again if ever; certainly not in the same weekend – well this movie says less than 24-hours later against another top national program the seventh grader would score 27-points dish out 6 more assist and average 18pts and 6 assist after 3 games.   Would you rent it or buy it?; well I guess if you are into fairy tales it might be of interest; maybe if you were a dreamer who needed a feel good pick me up story a tear jerker….

The description sound a little grandiose? Well DMV Preps has found the trailer below; maybe watching will catch your interest…I’m sure it’s not worth watching to many as nothing like this could ever happen in “real life”; Siskel & Ebert wouldn’t even consider reviewing it but DMV Preps gives it two thumbs up, 5-Stars, and we can’t wait to see the sequel.  

That's how you get it done 👊🏾. @its_zionharmon and @malikburnett23 are game changers for @WACG_Stars #EYBLHampton pic.twitter.com/PNe5hrOjPa

— Overtime (@overtime) May 14, 2016

Team Melo Makes Power Moves - Takes Over the Future of the DMV

With the national high school summer season heating up across the country,  with all the major shoes brands NIKE, Adidas, & Under Armor all opening their circuit play. Attention in the DC Metro area, as well as all over American has shifted slightly to the high school arena. 

There have been numerous rumors and rumblings in the DMV area regarding a shift in the balance of power at the middle school ranks and it deals directly with the NIKE circuit.  At the collegian level 44 of the 65 BCS institutions don the NIKE swoosh and historically their circuit houses the largest stable of the nation’s top players.

For several years the DMV area has been dominated by the Team Takeover program led by Keith Stevens.  Stevens and the TTO brand have consistently attracted the top area players to the circuit and have established its program and players as a premier competitor each year at multiple age levels.   In what may turn out to be one of the most strategic moves locally and nationally; program Dwayne Wise and Kirk Lee who represent NIKE Team Melo has partnered with national middle school guru Coach Francis to fully load their entire middle school grassroots program.

Previous reports had Francis and some of the nation’s top talents at various age groups affiliating themselves with quickly floundering Team Durant brand; that presumable has lost some of the country’s top team faster than they had gotten them.  The demise of Durant was epic, as in some cases never having any top elite players put on uniform to represent the brand at all.  In speaking with an anonymous source familiar with the situation it was stated that “…the Team Durant group made a lot of promises they either were unwilling or unable to keep – they let down a lot of people in the area and hurt a lot of kids. “  Additionally the source revealed, “What the top guys at Durant have done is an embarrassment that will dramatically affect their ability to compete in the future if ever”. 

 

Not Pictured: Montez McNeil '20, Odell Dickinson '19 & Cameron Byers '20

Team Melo immediately went to work this weekend; putting their “new”  2019 product on the floor for the first time and was very impressive in winning the Spring Jam Fest Championship in the 2018 age group playing up a year.  The most valuable piece of them all may be the nationally renowned “Terror Squad” (class of 2020) who many recognize as the #1 7^th grade team in the country and the former Durant coo at the 2021 level, the former Team Glory leader requires no introduction – Team Melo now boast undisputed national #1 player Zion Harmon as part of their future construct. The building blocks for the future positions Team Melo to be the top high school program in the area in very short order.  

Standout performers from the 2019 championship group from this weekend who will garner immediate national attention and become household names in quick order with the construct and coaching infrastructure in place are as follows:

Che Evans ( 6’6 Wing/Forward) – Five position players has begun to come into his own while showing a whole new package of tools and intangibles.  Evans played freely & w/ passion never seen before making an impact on both ends of the courts.  Defensively his length paid tremendous dividends as he played the passing lanes, worked the glass, and both altered & blocked shots.  Offensively he passed well and showed vastly improved court vision, while working exceptionally well in the mid-range with pull ups and floaters – but was special when attacking the backboard and finishing with both hands; even looking to dunked missed shots.  Rumors have been confirmed & Evans will be reclassing which will position him as a top national prospect and the Melo program the home of country’s #1 team.

Jason Murphy (6’7 Center) – Jason Murphy has improved so dramatically in recent months that he very well be the bests back to the basket bigman in the entire DMV area. Murphy has the size, strength, and length to dominate – literally he is trying to duck everything at the rim and when he does; he is doing so with authority.   Showed great dexterity around the rim and finished with both hands; as well as a jump hook with both hands that make him truly difficult to find and answer for on the block.   He post up strongly and is able to establish block side position and his strength allows him to hold it.  A surprisingly good passer off the post – he understands the value of the kick and repost process; and he is very unselfish focusing on winning the game.  Where Jason is next level and dominant is on the boards and as a shot blocker; he changes shots and blocks the ball on the release at its highest point the definition of an elite shot blocker.

Cameron Byers (6’6 Forward) – Byers has come into his own in the last few months by staying in constant rotation against high level talent.  His confidence is at an all-time high and watching Byers play with another premier post has put on display an entirely different skill set.  Known as a power big; Byers has diligently worked on this face up game and he is able to cause havoc with a face up game that few can rival.  An above average ball-handler for his size spacing him away from the basket has accentuated his ability to put the rock on the floor and finish.  Rebounding continues to improve and he love to defend and block shots.  When Byers is engaged and focused there are not many in his league; dominated for long stretches even at the 9^th grade level – and even with him playing with Melo 2019 Byers is a 2020 kid.   

  Mahki Long (6’4 Wing Guard) – The wildcard of the bunch, we hadn’t seen much of the lanky wing this season, but with the Team Melo group he played major minutes and was a major producer.  Somewhat of a hybrid at this juncture, Long looks to be long-term a big two who can guard multiple positions – operating with a unbelievable motor he made a difference in virtually every possession.   Long grabbed boards, blocked shots, guarded the primary offensive threat, and still had energy to get in out on the lane on the break and showed he is an elite level finisher.  Good vision and unselfish he is the ideal teammate for this ultra-talented bunch.  An underrated shooter, Long knocked down a few jumpers from distance, but is comfortable and at his strength attacking the paint – the beauty is that it simply may be a confidence issues as the shot mechanics look solid.  A summer with the ball in his hands could dramatically change the rankings in the area as Long will make a bigger impact at the high school then he ever did in middle school.

When Team Melo played the above players together they made up one of the biggest teams in the country across the board and it isn’t just size is talent and a diverse grouping of skill and talent.  There is no longer an invisible boarder between Maryland, DC, & Virginia.   The best kids clearly want to play with the best kids regardless of zip code – and parents have finally figured out that it makes no sense to watch someone else play when you can have an opportunity on the same circuit; as parents look out for the best interest of their kids opposed to the best interest of the program the climate is quickly changing  and right now the winner is NIKE Team Melo.