Jerry Easter II Dominates EYBL Scholar League as a Junior;
All-League Omission Fuels AAU Season
By Deon Cash
Jerry Easter II, arguably the top junior in the Midwest, has seen a lot of hate on his way to a Top 20 ranking in the Class of 2025.
Despite these accolades....
🏀All State Selection as a Freshman
🏀1st Team All-State Selection, District Player of the Year and a legit candidate for Mr Basketball as a Sophomore in Ohio
🏀Top 5 Scorer and Top 10 Steal Leader in the top tier EYBL Scholar League last season as a junior. (This league has Cooper Flagg, Tray Johnson, VJ Edgecombe and nearly all of the elite hoopers you see on the National Stage)
🏀Leading La Lumiere to a Top 6 National Ranking and as high as number 4 last season.
🏀Top Scorer on La Lumiere last season (22ppg)
🏀A leading candidate for a spot on the USA National team.
🏀A sure fire McDonald's All American selection.
🏀Has a 4.0 accumulative GPA throughout his High School career.
🏀Over 40 offers, including the likes of top tier teams such as Baylor, UCLA, Ohio State, Michigan, and others.
However, there are still detractors who feel a certain way about Easter II.
Why do people feel this way?
Let's dissect the topic a little further on why Easter II hasn't been lauded like the way other elite hoopers in the Midwest area have.
(1) Maybe it's the Way he Plays The Game
When you watch him, there is a thought that the game is "Too Easy" for him. It seems as if he is playing at his own speed. Sometimes it makes you feel like he's not "playing hard" or "giving his all." The game is not too easy for Easter. It's just he has worked on all facets of his game, and it's apparent the more you watch him. He brings a lot to the table, and his pace is unlike any other players that you see.
(2) Maybe it's the Fact that he had Disagreements with Coaches.
He was having a incredible career at Emmanuel Christian in Toledo before the Head Coach started catching feelings and it turned into a circus. But let's make no mistake here.
The Coach at Emmanuel Christian didn't want all his records broken, and Easter was well on his way to doing that. After some back and forth issues, Easter II would leave Emmanuel Christian and head to La Lumiere to help lead them back to promience.
(3) Maybe he Doesn't "Work Hard"
At La Lumiere, there have been no reports of issues with the coaches. But last season a coach said that Easter wasn't working quite hard enough, which was relayed to some D-1 coaches.
However, one D-1 coach and a pro scout stated.
"Every time we see Easter play, he is giving 110% effort."
While coaches will always give their take on issues with their players, there is no doubt that Easter works hard on his game, and on his body as well.
Jerry Easter Sr, a former hooper and boxer, and Trena Easter, a former basketball Michigan alum, has instilled hard work and a rigorous off season regimen that keeps Easter in tip top shape in the off season.
The results are undeniable, as Easter is a sculpted 6'5 point guard who's game is comparable to a Shay Gilgeous-Alexander, who has quietly risen to the top of the NBA ranks with a deadly mid-range game to go with his excellent knowledge and all around skillset that has elevated his game each and every year.
(4) Maybe it's the Politics
While Easter remains quiet, his camp knows that he has been slighted for way too long.
Last year he went to La Lumiere and absolutely lit up the Scholar League, as he was 4th in scoring and in the top 10 in steals, all the while leading his team to a Top 5 finish.
Easter was the only scorer in the top 5 who did not make a all-league team, which is quite baffling.
When you look at his numbers, they scream all Scholar League.
However with some high profile stars on his team such as Darius Adams and others, Easter was listed as a secondary star and slightly overlooked.
Despite that, he was the unquestioned leader of the team by the end of the season. He's a quiet leader, and will grow into his voice this year, as some projects are coming for Easter to show his personality more.
(5) Maybe it's his Personality
Easter II is a cool kid, normal vibes, and he loves Tik Tok and Instagram, just like the regular high school kid. He is reserved, but he is a quiet assassin on the court.
While some players celebrate every single shot or move, Easter doesn't. He will give you some juice on certain "Wow" moments, but for the most part, he's low key until he needs to turn up. And even then, he's even more silent than before.
Just this weekend he started the AAU Season with his new team as they defeated his old team All-Ohio Red. Easter blistered his old team with 28 points and a all around game that showed why Easter is a top 10 player in the class.
Easy.
So whoever is making the rankings for ESPN or any national ranking, stop disrespecting Jerry Easter II.
He is a top-10 hooper in the class of 25.
And this season, you will see it clearly. No matter if you are a hater or a lover.
Easter was just in Memphis and had a dominant weekend there, so stay tuned.
Follow S.E.Live 365 and Jerry Easter II on his journey.
