EJ Dampier, a 6‑foot‑7 forward from Madison‑Ridgeland Academy, has become a cornerstone of the United States’ U17 men’s national basketball team as it prepares for the quarterfinal round of the FIBA U17 World Cup in Turkey. The squad, which boasts a perfect 51‑0 record in tournament history, is riding a four‑game winning streak that includes decisive victories over France, Japan, Italy and Cameroon.
A Promising Talent in Turkey
Coached by a staff that includes his father, former NBA center Erick Dampier, the team has outscored opponents by wide margins, averaging more than 100 points per game while holding rivals to under 70. Their flawless start underscores a depth of talent that has placed the United States at the top of the competition’s all‑time standings.
Ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2028 by ESPN and honored as the 2026 Tatum and Wade/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Player of the Year, Dampier is already drawing attention from powerhouse programs. In five tournament games he is posting 4.75 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per contest, numbers that hint at a broader skill set beyond his modest scoring output.
Family Ties and Future Prospects
Dampier’s lineage is steeped in athletics; his mother, Yolanda Dampier, earned a basketball scholarship at Jackson State after excelling in track and field at Callaway High School. His father, Erick Dampier, a former Mississippi State and NBA player, now serves as an assistant coach at MRA, while cousins and siblings also compete at the school.
The young prospect has already secured offers from a dozen major programs, including Mississippi State, Southern Miss, Jackson State, Alabama, Kentucky, Florida State, Purdue, USC and San Diego State. With a strong support network and a clear pathway to the next level, many analysts expect Dampier to remain a focal point of recruiting conversations for years to come.