EYBL Session 1: California Standouts (Pt. 2)
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We weren’t able to physically be in attendance at the first live period session of the 2023 EYBL, but, thanks to live streams, we got the chance to follow all of the California teams at the event. Though the Southern…
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Continue ReadingWe weren’t able to physically be in attendance at the first live period session of the 2023 EYBL, but, thanks to live streams, we got the chance to follow all of the California teams at the event. Though the Southern California and Northern California-based club teams didn’t fair too well in the wins and losses column overall but there were still some standout performers.
Ibrahim Monawar Ibrahim Monawar 6'2" | SG De La Salle | 2026 State CA-N , 2026, Oakland Soldiers 15
Monawar flashed a bunch of different skills in his toolbox from knocking down the three-point shot, to getting into the lane for pull-up jumpers, to finding open teammates with a timely and accurate pass – all while turning the ball over just two times. The 6-foot-1 point guard led the Soldiers in scoring at 15 points per game for the Atlanta session and shot just under 41 percent from distance.
Julius Price, 2026, Team Why Not 15
Price will likely do the same thing his St. Joseph teammate, Tounde Yessoufou Tounde Yessoufou 6'6" | SF St. Joseph (Santa Maria) | 2025 State #20 Nation CA-S , did last season for Why Not and that’s have a breakout spring and summer on the circuit. The 6-foot-3 combo guard put himself on the national radar with a well-balanced performance of efficient scoring and impressive feel and IQ as a distributor. The freshman averaged 14.3 points per game, dished out almost four assists per game and shot a red-hot 55 percent from three-point range on 20 attempts.
Michael Lewis, 2024, Oakland Soldiers 17
Lewis was likely the biggest west coast stock-riser in the Atlanta session as he put on a scoring display that was rivaled by few others in the first live period weekend. Lewis leads the EYBL in scoring through the first four games as he torched the nets for 25.3 points per game on 49 percent from the field and 54 percent from three-point range. Lewis played aggressively on the offensive end but also showed that he’s a willing passer and good creator for others off the dribble as he handed out 13 assists to just four turnovers in 122 minutes of action. One of Lewis’ most interesting stats was his ability to get into the lane and to the free throw line. The senior-to-be shot 34 free throws in his first four games.
Tajh Ariza, 2026, Team Why Not 15
Ariza had a big freshman year at St. Bernard so it comes as no surprise he got off to a quick start for Team Why Not in the EYBL. The key words with the 6-foot-5 wing are smooth and versatile as he moves effortlessly on the floor while impacting the game in a variety of ways. Ariza scored in double-figures in three of his four games on the weekend but it was his 21 rebounds and 12 assists and 13-for-14 from the free throw line through those four games that told the story of how impactful he can be across multiple stat categories.
Trent Perry Trent Perry 6'4" | PG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #70 Nation CA-S , 2024, Vegas Elite 17
If there’s one thing college coaches value over any statistical category it’s how a player impacts winning and Perry, who did that all season long at Harvard-Westlake, continued his winning ways in the EYBL. The 6-foot-3 point guard led Vegas Elite to a 4-0 weekend while bouncing back from a rough opening game against JL3. Over his final three games, Perry shot 58 percent from the field, 67 percent from three-point range, and dished out 11 assists to just three turnovers in 70 minutes of action.