EYBL Session II: Saturday’s CA Standouts
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MESA, Ariz. — The NIKE EYBL circuit doesn’t come this far west very often, so when a short drive to see some of the top prospects from across the country presented itself, we had to make the most of the…
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Continue ReadingMESA, Ariz. — The NIKE EYBL circuit doesn’t come this far west very often, so when a short drive to see some of the top prospects from across the country presented itself, we had to make the most of the opportunity.
Session II of the EYBL tipped off Friday evening at Legacy Sports Complex just outside of Phoenix and the teams and we were in attendance for the 12-plus hours of games on Saturday night. Below we detail the California-based players who turned in standout performances.
Amare Campbell Amare Campbell 6'0" | PG Etiwanda | 2024 State CA-S , 2024, Oakland Soldiers
Campbell might be the least recognizable California name on the EYBL but the Etiwanda point guard is playing a crucial role off the bench for the Oakland Soldiers. The 6-footer scored 11 points on 5-for-5 from the field in a morning session win for the Soldiers and is a good steadying force as a back-up ball handler and decision-maker.
Austin Maurer Austin Maurer 7'0" | C Cascade Christian | 2024 State #209 Nation OR , 2024, Team Why Not
Why Not picked up two much-needed wins Saturday and Maurer’s presence inside was a big reason for those W’s. The 6-foot-10 forward/center scored nine points but grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked five shots to help Why Not pick up an afternoon win over JL3. Maurer, who plays high school ball at Cascade Christian in Oregon, is a multi-skilled five-man on the offensive end who is improving his abilities as a rim protector.
Brayden Burries Brayden Burries 6'4" | SF Roosevelt | 2025 State #13 Nation CA-S , 2025, Strive For Greatness 16
We were able to take in one Strive For Greatness 16u game – its win over Howard Pulley – and Burries was a key cog in that victory. The 6-foot-5 wing scored 15 points and flashed his multi-level scoring ability with off the bounce jumpers, strong drives and finishes at the rim and fluid pull-up three-point shots.
Elzie Harrington Elzie Harrington 6'5" | PG St. John Bosco | 2025 State #25 Nation CA-S , 2025, Strive For Greatness 16
Harrington makes an impact every time he steps on the floor because of his basketball IQ. The 6-foot-5 point guard is a guy who commands the position well, gets teammates involved and always seems to be making the right basketball plays when the ball is in his hands. Harrington continues to show that he can add scoring punch to his distributing abilities as he scored 17 points on 7-for-9 from the field in SFG’s win over Howard Pulley.
Jason Crowe, Jr., 2026, Team Why Not
Crowe is one of just a handful of freshmen – or class of 2026 prospects – playing up at the 17u level on the EYBL and he’s more than holding his own. The 6-foot-3 guard oozes self-confidence, skill as a scorer and passer, and a feel for the game that is unmatched among his fellow SoCal classmates. Crowe had a banner year at Lynwood High where he was among the state’s leaders in scoring average and showed off his creativity when breaking down defenders and getting into the lane for layups or creating space for jumpers.
Tounde Yessoufou Tounde Yessoufou 6'6" | SF St. Joseph (Santa Maria) | 2025 State #20 Nation CA-S , 2025, Team Why Not
Yessoufou’s versatility at the three/four spot was on full display in both of Why Not’s wins on Saturday. The 6-foot-6 forward is a grab and go type of defensive rebounder who can push the break for driving baskets or advance the ball up the floor to guards to get offense initiated quickly. Yessoufou scored 16 points with 6 rebounds in Why Not’s morning win and his presence on the offensive glass was paramount to that result.
Trent Perry Trent Perry 6'4" | PG Harvard-Westlake | 2024 State #70 Nation CA-S , 2024, Vegas Elite
Vegas Elite is one of two remaining undefeated teams among 17u teams and Perry is a big reason why. The 6-foot-3 point guard is one of the better signal callers on the west coast and he could be proving that statement can be applied to the entire country, as well. Perry has developed his ball skills, feel and decision-making in both half-court and transition settings to a point where he’s being courted by power five schools.
Tyran Stokes Tyran Stokes 6'7" | SF Prolific Prep | 2026 State CA-N , 2026, Vegas Elite
Like Jason Crowe, Jr., Stokes is one of a handful of 2026 prospects playing up at the 17u level and he most certainly belongs. The 6-foot-7 forward has a versatile and do-it-all skill-set that allows him to rebound the defensive glass, push the break and make decisions off the dribble. The Napa Prolific Prep product is a great passer in the half-court setting where he can post and find shooters on skips or face-up on the perimeter and hit cutters. His scoring ability is well-balanced, as well, as he can knock down perimeter shots and get to the cup and finish above the rim or through contact.