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UNC Basketball: Nike EYBL cancels all 2020 events

By Blake Cockrum

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 21: The Nike logo is displayed on a window at a Nike store on March 21, 2019 in San Francisco, California. Nike will report third quarter earnings today after the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 21: The Nike logo is displayed on a window at a Nike store on March 21, 2019 in San Francisco, California. Nike will report third quarter earnings today after the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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Nike EYBL cancels remainder of 2020 events amid coronavirus pandemic

A number of current and former UNC basketball players have participated in Nike EYBL events en route to their time spent on the North Carolina campus. In fact, it’s in those events that many of them were noticed by Roy Williams and his coaching staff prior to receiving a scholarship offer to the school.

That won’t be happening this year, though, as Nike EYBL announced on Saturday that it has canceled all of its remaining scheduled events for 2020 amid a number of health concerns involving the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

"“This was not a decision taken lightly, but the health and safety of our athletes, families, fans and employees is our top priority,” Nike announced. “We look forward to bringing the EYBL back in 2021. We understand EYBL has provided a platform for intense competition, showcased some of the sport’s greatest talent, and gathered a strong community to celebrate their shared love for the game. To fill the void of play, we are creating an access-only, online portal of game footage for coaches, launching in June. The 2020 EYBL athletes will always be part of the EYBL family.”"

Among the events cancelled are the Nike Tournament of Champions and Peach Jam. The former was set to take place in two sessions at the Indiana Convention Center. Peach Jam, widely considered the top recruiting event of the summer, was set to begin on June 21 in Nashville, Tennessee.

This is just the latest in a series of cancellations that includes virtually every sport and all recruiting efforts. It’s unknown at this time when things will resume, but it’s a good sign that a number of football and basketball programs will begin returning to campus in the month of July.

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