Early 2025/26 EBAL Predictions

[eaastbayhoops]

Never too early to discuss EBAL hoops for the upcoming season. Here are my predictions:

1. Amador Valley - Jaylen Smith (offers from Weber State, Montana, New Mexico, and LMU) has been tearing it up this summer on the 3SSB circuit with Team Lillard and is poised for a huge junior year. Add Cade Krueger (currently holds a D2 offer to Cal State Dominguez Hills and a D1 offer from High Point), Dante Ventura and Biruk Menna - very solid group and should contend for the top of EBAL. Jaylen Smith is early frontrunner for EBAL MVP.

2. California - Brayde Kuykendall (signed with Santa Clara), transfer from Dublin Jaiden Jones, Emeka Ifediora, Juremi Ejuwa and Logan Weger - all varsity returners, should also contend for the top of EBAL after qualifying for NCS open division last year.

3. Monte Vista - returns most of their starters from last year including Juniors Ian Desai, Gavin McMillan, Max Nishikawa. Incoming freshman Ryan Fierolli has been playing well for them this summer and should contribute at the varsity level. Coach Jones will have his squad ready for a big season.

4. De La Salle - After riding the tails of Alec Blair the last few years, it's going to be a down year for DLS unless they get some transfers. Ibrahim Monawar, Davit Pachulia, and Mariano Aarden-Lopez have been playing well this summer and look to have a solid upcoming season.

5. Dougherty Valley - returners Rylan Sevilla, Alonzo Walker and Rashad Cotton will look to anchor this DV squad that desperately needs a big man to help them compete in EBAL. Coach Hansen will have them playing hard as usual but it will be tough to replicate what they have done the last few seasons.

6. Dublin - losing Jaiden Jones to California is a big loss for Dublin. They return big man Cam Anderson (offer from Montana) who will have a huge season. Besides Cam, they will struggle.

7. Granada - Coach Johnson is back this season on the sidelines. Incoming 11th grader Brandon Hahn has been having a big spring and summer and 12th grader Damien Miles also played well this summer.

8. SRV - returning no starters from last season. Incoming 12th grader Tyler Smith will have a big role, but it will be a down year for SRV.

9. Livermore - Amari Chandler and Dylan Wherry will be big contributors this year. I predict Livermore will get their first league win in over 10 years.

10. Foothill - will not win a league game this year

 

[kiddman32]

Wow... I didn't know about Amador... Didn't see them in the June scrimmages, didn't see Dublin either.

But even without that info, I was already saying a banner year was coming for the EBAL. And it's already a consistently terrific league!

 

[eaastbayhoops]

Summer records obviously don't tell the whole story but here is a sample of how EBAL teams did at Cali Live and Section 7

Amador 4-0 at Cali Live and won the Passport Bracket
California 4-0 at Cal Live and won the SCIBCA Bracket
Monte Vista did not participate in Section 7 or Cali Live
De La Salle 2-2 at Section 7 and 2-2 at Cali Live
Dougherty Valley 2-2 at Cali Live
Dublin 0-4 at Section 7
Granada did not participate in Section 7 or Cali Live
SRV 2-2 at Section 7 and 2-2 at Cali Live
Livermore did not participate in Section 7 or Cali Live
Foothill did not participate in Section 7 or Cali Live

 

[Streak One]

Feels like a transition year for the EBAL while remaining one of the better leagues in NorCal. Dublin gets hurt by transfers as much of anyone among the top teams in NorCal.

 

[ankleassassin2]

Jaylen Smith and Brayde having offers is wild. neither looks the part, but they have been put in good spots.

it looks like the coaches will have to get their teams some big wins because they appear to be lacking the talent. the young gun coach at amador better get ready to earn it. being the hunted is a whole diff story

 

[SPSV Bruins]

Cal will be a major player for EBAL title this year

 

[eaastbayhoops]

Cal will be a major player for EBAL title this year

I agree Cal should be a major player for EBAL title this year. After receiving the final open division bid last year for NCS and not being competitive in either open game, the 2 returning starters (Kuykendall and Ifediora) will be eager to erase that memory.

 

[eaastbayhoops]

My frontrunner for EBAL MVP, incoming 11th grader Jaylen Smith has picked up 2 more D1 offers - Pepperdine and Univ. of San Diego.

Forgot to add in my earlier post that incoming 10th grader Amare Chandler of Livermore holds a D1 offer from Nevada.

 

[Anon1753371639]

Never too early to discuss EBAL hoops for the upcoming season. Here are my predictions:

1. Amador Valley - Jaylen Smith (offers from Weber State, Montana, New Mexico, and LMU) has been tearing it up this summer on the 3SSB circuit with Team Lillard and is poised for a huge junior year. Add Cade Krueger (currently holds a D2 offer to Cal State Dominguez Hills and a D1 offer from High Point), Dante Ventura and Biruk Menna - very solid group and should contend for the top of EBAL. Jaylen Smith is early frontrunner for EBAL MVP.

2. California - Brayde Kuykendall (signed with Santa Clara), transfer from Dublin Jaiden Jones, Emeka Ifediora, Juremi Ejuwa and Logan Weger - all varsity returners, should also contend for the top of EBAL after qualifying for NCS open division last year.

3. Monte Vista - returns most of their starters from last year including Juniors Ian Desai, Gavin McMillan, Max Nishikawa. Incoming freshman Ryan Fierolli has been playing well for them this summer and should contribute at the varsity level. Coach Jones will have his squad ready for a big season.

4. De La Salle - After riding the tails of Alec Blair the last few years, it's going to be a down year for DLS unless they get some transfers. Ibrahim Monawar, Davit Pachulia, and Mariano Aarden-Lopez have been playing well this summer and look to have a solid upcoming season.

5. Dougherty Valley - returners Rylan Sevilla, Alonzo Walker and Rashad Cotton will look to anchor this DV squad that desperately needs a big man to help them compete in EBAL. Coach Hansen will have them playing hard as usual but it will be tough to replicate what they have done the last few seasons.

6. Dublin - losing Jaiden Jones to California is a big loss for Dublin. They return big man Cam Anderson (offer from Montana) who will have a huge season. Besides Cam, they will struggle.

7. Granada - Coach Johnson is back this season on the sidelines. Incoming 11th grader Brandon Hahn has been having a big spring and summer and 12th grader Damien Miles also played well this summer.

8. SRV - returning no starters from last season. Incoming 12th grader Tyler Smith will have a big role, but it will be a down year for SRV.

9. Livermore - Amari Chandler and Dylan Wherry will be big contributors this year. I predict Livermore will get their first league win in over 10 years.

10. Foothill - will not win a league game this year

De La Salle better than people thought in April and they are better than people think in July.

Dublin seems to have a habit of losing star players. Jones sit out til Christmas ?

De La Salle better than people thought in April and they are better than people think in July. Amador is right there in the mix. It’s a three-way battle. You could argue cal is a step ahead of Amador and De la Salle.

Of course, predictions are based off health and no big move roster changes.

cal high
De La
Amador
Dublin
Srv/Dougherty ?
Monte Vista
Granada

 

[Anon1753371639]

Wow... I didn't know about Amador... Didn't see them in the June scrimmages, didn't see Dublin either.

But even without that info, I was already saying a banner year was coming for the EBAL. And it's already a consistently terrific league!

Salesian head and heals better than any Ebal team. Ebal will have three open teams. Branson will be seeded either #2 or 3 in open. CVC is the other open team. That’s your six. Keep everyone healthy

* watch for university

 

[eaastbayhoops]

Salesian head and heals better than any Ebal team. Ebal will have three open teams. Branson will be seeded either #2 or 3 in open. CVC is the other open team. That’s your six. Keep everyone healthy

* watch for university

I agree about Salesian. They are the best team I've seen all summer. I think EBAL will only have 2 teams in open though.

Salesian
Branson
CVC
Liberty
EBAL team
EBAL team

 

[eaastbayhoops]

Cam Anderson (Dublin) picked up another D1 offer today from University of Idaho

 

[kiddman32]

Just took a look at Liberty on MaxPreps... I didn't realize until now how young that 26-4 team was... I only saw one senior listed.

In addition, their JV squad went 25-0; I'm pretty sure that any help they may need for this season can come in from that team.

Could be a banner year for the Lions!