High School Basketball, Scouting and Recruitment

“Elijah & Olujimi Popoola: 6’6” Twin Wings Emerging as High-Major Prospects (Class of 2027)”

Posted by Kim Muhammad on

Elijah and Olujimi Popoola are not just twins with talent — they are the total package. Size, skill, basketball bloodlines, and toughness all come together in their early development. Both stand at 6’6” and have begun to show flashes that make evaluators take notice.

Their spring started off quiet, flying under the radar, but as the months progressed both Elijah and Olujimi came into their own. It’s difficult to spotlight one without the other — each is talented in his own right, yet together they form a unique tandem that immediately jumps off the page.

At The Hoop Gods Junior All-American Camp in Las Vegas, the Popoola twins unleashed their full arsenal. They dominated the floor with smooth mid-range jumpers, decisive drives to the basket, and highlight-reel finishes above the rim. They didn’t just participate — they were the attraction.

College programs across the country are beginning to take notice. Their blend of size, skill, and untapped upside puts them in the category of players evaluators must track closely over the next few years. The Popoolas are proving they aren’t just prospects to watch — they’re young men capable of shaping the conversation about Las Vegas basketball’s future.

OJ Popoola

Dual Scouting Report — Elijah Popoola & Olujimi Popoola

Player ID Cards (for recruiters):

Roster/Status note: The twins transferred from Arbor View HS (Las Vegas, NV) to Palisades Charter ahead of the 2025–26 season, per team/coach reports and public posts. Prior HS listings at Arbor View are still visible in MaxPreps archives. Unit 1 Hoop SourceMaxPreps.com+1

Executive Summary (Dual Evaluation)

At 6’6” with long wingspans, EJ Popoola and OJ Popoola bring real pop to the floor—explosiveness off the bounce, dribble penetration with control, and the frame/length to impact both ends. They already flash floor-spacing potential, sound shooting mechanics, and next-level slashing that plays in transition and in the halfcourt. What separates them most today: explosiveness off the bounce—the first step and vertical pop that put continuous pressure on the rim.

EJ Popoola

Strengths (Both — with role nuances)

🎯 Scoring Arsenal & Mechanics

  • OJ: Smooth mid-range pull-up; confident rise with balance and a soft release.
  • EJ: Attacks the rim with purpose; uses strength and body control to finish through contact.
  • Both: Clean shooting mechanics and improving range/spacing profile; comfortable facing up on the wing.

⚔️ Off-the-Bounce Explosiveness

  • Both: Elite slashing traits; quick first step to create advantages vs. set defenders.
  • OJ: Uses rhythm dribbles into the pull-up; can snake into mid-paint spots.
  • EJ: Straight-line power to the cup; draws help and collapses the lane.

🚀 Transition Threat

  • Both: Extremely effective in open-floor, up-tempo settings; cover ground fast, finish above the rim, and apply pressure early in the clock.

🧱 Defensive Tools

  • Both: 6’6” with length—projectable multi-positional defenders; flashes of on-ball lockdown using wingspan, chest angles, and verticality at the rim.

🧠 Foundation & Feel

  • Both: Early understanding of spacing; slasher-to-shooter pipeline is forming. Competitive habits and growth curve point upward.

Areas for Growth (Both — prioritized for development)

🔁 Defensive Instincts & Disruptiveness

  • Anticipation, hand activity, and lateral movement—becoming more disruptive will uncap their defensive ceiling.

▲ Off-Ball Impact

  • Sharpen cutting, relocation, screening, and crash rules to affect games without the ball and maximize twin synergy.

▼ Court Vision & Playmaking

  • Improve live-dribble reads and outlet decisions in transition; rep more advantage passes off paint touches.

⭐ Perimeter Consistency

  • Continue repetition for catch-and-shoot 3s and pull-up balance to stabilize spacing gravity.

Player-Specific Notes

Elijah “EJ” Popoola — 6’6” Wing/Guard — Palisades Charter HS (Los Angeles, CA), 2027

Profile: Power slasher with body control; downhill pressure creator who finishes through contact.

  • Best Tape Traits: Purposeful rim attacks, absorbs contact, converts at speed; willing straight-line driver who forces low man help.
  • Defensive Outlook: Tools to check 2–3 positions; next jump comes from hip mobility + slide efficiency and earlier tags as a helper.
  • Skill Focus (6–12 months): Pocket-pass reads off drives; catch-and-shoot volume from the corners; transition advance passes.

Olujimi “OJ” Popoola — 6’6” Wing/Guard — Palisades Charter HS (Los Angeles, CA), 2027

Profile: Rhythm scorer with a mid-range pull-up; composure getting to spots, balanced lift.

  • Best Tape Traits: Two-dribble pull-up, hang dribble into 15–17 feet; patient footwork into rise; can sequence pull-up → rip thru.
  • Defensive Outlook: Length to contest on the wing; needs more anticipation and contain footwork vs. jitterbug guards.
  • Skill Focus (6–12 months): Relocation 3s, flare-screen usage; connector passing (one-more, skip vs. nail help).

Projection

With continued gains in defensive instincts, lateral movement, off-ball impact, and perimeter consistency, bothproject as high-major Division I wings with professional upside. Their twin dynamic compounds value—two long, explosive wings who can pressure the rim, defend multiple spots, and scale into spacing roles.

Unit 1 Hoop Source — Editorial Disclaimer

This scouting report is based on firsthand evaluations, film study, and verified information. It reflects an honest and professional assessment designed to inform coaches, scouts, and basketball insiders.

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