Written by Harrison Paulichuk
Photo taken by Ludwig Bernardo
Last year, Jasper Place put on an absolute show for their 40th anniversary Rebels Early Bird tournament, so naturally, 41 had to live up to its predecessor. Thanks to a fully loaded draw which included two teams from the States, three from across the country, and a final that ended up being a rematch from the 4A Alberta Provincial finals last year (St Mays vs St FX), Jasper Place delivered! This was an incredible spectacle just as last year was, and I was incredibly thankful to be a part of this year's 41st Anniversary REB.
For those who read the article last year, the format will be the same and just as stocked with incredibly talented athletes. I will have three "All Tournament" teams which will feature five athletes on each. Highlighting only the top fifteen athletes from a tournament of this calibre was no easy task. So many players made a case to get on a team, but unfortunately, I could only choose the best of the best. While I will mention some of these players' past performances in this article, no past notes or opinions impacted who made these teams. These players made their respective teams based strictly on their play throughout the final two days of the tournament that I was scouting. I was there for twelve hours on both days of the tournament, and to make it fair, I viewed each team twice. With that being said, I unfortunately had no time to get around and make any solid scouting notes on the girls or JV side of the draw. This is a massive tournament and I covered as much as I could from the guys' side of the draw. I would much rather get good solid notes on one bracket than some vague quick opinions on every team out there.
These teams do not discriminate against players based on their team’s performance either. A team being on the bottom half of the bracket should be a reflection of the team as a whole, not of individual athletes on that team. I cared about consistency for these all-tournament teams. If a player showed a spark over one or two stretches but couldn't keep it up, I would make note of it, but would not consider them. Rather, the ones who were chosen had to display exceptional play consistently throughout both their Friday and Saturday games. These athletes also had to include at least a passable defensive ability. Any player who went out and gave their team 20+ points but allowed twice as many defensive breakdowns didn't even get a consideration from me for these awards. The third most important trait for a player is what they did off the ball. Were they able to effectively play a role, run a play, and make a difference on the court every time they stepped on the court no matter what they were doing? These are the traits that make a winning difference on a team, and if done at an elite level can get players recruited to a post-secondary institution.
All-REB First Team
The players who were able to earn a bid to call themselves all-tournament first-team players were the best of the best throughout the REB. They imposed themselves on both ends of the floor and made themselves stand out amongst the herd of athletes that I saw in two days of basketball. These are the athletes who played like the best athletes in the tournament. This is written in no order in particular so just because one player is listed first, doesn't mean that they are better or worse than the player next to them. These were all great athletes and imposed themselves on the game more than anyone else in the tournament. They were able to get buckets, defend and show how well they knew the game on the highest of stages. All of these players stood out to me and made it hard for anyone to ignore their incredible play throughout this elite-level early-bird tournament.
#3 | Jacob McLellan | 6'4 | G | St Mary's | C/O 2026
The first player on here is one of the only players on this list that left this tournament with the REB championship trophy. From Calgary, Jacob McLellan was the grade 12 captain of St. Mary's. The way McLellan charged to the paint with a combination of both force and finesse again and again, finishing through almost anyone who got in his way was a joy to watch. McLellan wasn't afraid of anything when he was out on the court in Edmonton this weekend. He kept such a confident composure while he sliced through defences, could embrace contact, and still put the ball through the hoop with some of the most athletic moves I've seen at this level. A sound strategy against a slasher as tough as this would be to make them shoot though right? Not with McLellan. Whether he was way outside the three-point line or making a pretty turnaround jumper just outside the paint, this guy could score the ball from anywhere on the court and it's no wonder he led his team to a victory in a game that could have gone either way. This kid is a true three-level scorer and was able to not only score in volume but also was willing and able to do what his team needed to win the game. He showed so much heart and hustle out on the court that led directly to scoring opportunities many times. His hustle and intensity were showcased on the defensive end many times. McLellan’s 6 '4 stature and athletic build allowed him to maneuver seamlessly through the defensive positions. In a finals game where his teammate was the one who was feeling it offensively, McLellan was comfortable spacing the floor and distributing the ball rather than getting his own. This guy is a true hooper with a skill set that could translate to any situation that he finds himself in.
#3 | Elijah Thomas | 5'10 | PG | St FX | C/O 2027
On the other end of the finals matchup was an elite prospect in St FX's Elijah Thomas—an athlete with a similar playstyle to McLellan. Thomas has a phenomenal IQ and ability to control the pace of the game. Having this ability and skill in only eleventh grade is a great sign for the future of the Rams as having someone like this run your offence is invaluable. Besides that, his heads-up vision and ability to manipulate the ball both down the lane and at the rim, allowed him to create tons of looks for himself and occasionally dish it off to an open teammate if he found an opening. It was evident that he worked on his shooting in the offseason which took his game to the next level. This was a skill that was not as strong for him in the past, and in a finals game that was neck and neck, he hit two dagger threes from deep to keep them in the game. On the other end of the floor, Thomas was often left to defend the opposing team's main offensive threat on the perimeter and at only 5 '10 he answered the call as well as anyone could. His elite lateral movement and footspeed for his size led to many defensive stops on the ball. When he was off ball his defensive IQ to cut off lanes forced many turnovers for the opposing team. The combination of both offensive consistency and defensive discipline from a younger point guard is something that you don't come by often at this level. He stood out as one of the best players in this tournament and still having two seasons left in high school, his growth is going to be something you may want to watch. I know I will be.
#10 | Tarun Saroya | 6'5 | G | Kelowna Secondary | C/O 2026
The next prospect stood out as one of the most well-rounded players at the REB this year. This player came out last year with Kelowna Secondary as well but did not make any of my all-tournament teams. For his senior year, Tarun Saroya made enough of an impact that no one could miss his incredible play on both ends of the court. As a 6 '5 guard Saroya was a ball hawk who found some way to get a hand in every possession; Whether it was a rebound, assist or score, he had his fingerprints all over the Owls gameplan. He showed elite-level rebounding skills and was always crashing the glass hard, often outrebounding big men or people who outsized him. Saroya showed a level of effort and intensity that was awesome to watch and it came through on the defensive end of the court as well. I can't count the number of times that he positioned himself into the right place at the right time and was able to pick off a pass or would come over on help defence and pressure someone on ball with the possession ending in a bad shot or a block. The game sense and IQ on this kid was phenomenal on both ends. It never felt like he had to force anything offensively and was able to let the game come to him and take what he could get. With this said, he could also shoot the lights out from beyond the arc. Being a tall lanky guard with a high release point made him almost impossible to contest. Having someone like Saroya on your lineup creates a nightmare matchup for any team to play against.
#7 | Lucas Tan-Ngo | 5'10 | G | Vancouver College | C/O 2027
Sticking to West Coasters for the fourth addition to the All-REB first team, this player had to be the best defender in the whole tournament. Lucas Tan-Ngo from Vancouver College may not have been on everyone's radar but immediately stood out to me as a defensive stopper. A 6'0 guard who plays big and makes scoring impossible for any matchup that tries to take him on. Quick foot speed and a truly elite ability to read opponents made this kid a fast-break killer on multiple occasions over the weekend. With an athletic build and an ability to block shots and steal the ball, this kid might have been the smartest defender in the whole tournament. Besides a truly elite defensive skill set, Tan-Ngo was a knockdown shooter from the perimeter. Every time the Fighting Irish called his number he was there, especially in clutch situations when the game was tight. Regardless of where the defence was, this kid needed no room at all to get a shot off and put three on the board. If the defence was closing in tight, then Tan-Ngo was very comfortable putting his head down and driving to the rim, looking to draw contact, which he did multiple times in the bronze medal game to fuel a small run against Mount Vernon. As an efficient, defensive beast, Tan-Ngo placed himself firmly on the first team after this weekend and I am sure he will have a great season out in BC this year.
#2 | Tavien Tyler | 5'7 | G | Mount Vernon | C/O 2026
The last player on this team will be the first American I write about here. Mount Vernon from New York brought a very evenly dispersed group…besides their go-to option who stood high above the crowd, in his skill level that is. Coming in at 5'7 Tavien Tyler was a scoring machine all weekend putting up buckets in numbers. No one was able to effectively stop him as was able to get it going from anywhere on the floor with ease. He shot and made multiple threes from well beyond the three-point arc and took advantage of any space he was given. When the defence was smothering him, Tyler was great at creating enough separation to get a shot off against even the best of defenders. Whether it was a quick step back, a crossover into a drive to the hoop or a head fake into a give-and-go, this guy reminded me why basketball can be considered a form of art. With that in mind, his passing ability was another skill that stood out to me over the two games that I saw. He made himself such a threat as a scorer that it opened up the floor for his teammates. Whether defences doubled up and left a perimeter player open or he drove and found someone in the paint rolling to the rim, every pass he made, even off the dribble, was crisp and on point. Tyler is a smart player and though he can get his own from anywhere on the court, he was more than willing to share the rock and make his teammates around him better.
All-REB Second Team
The second team is consistent with the next five players who stood out during the REB to me. Just because they didn’t make the first team doesn't mean that they are not good players. The first team had some truly elite performances on it. The second team guys were likely just as good talent-wise, just may not have shown as much as I wanted them to to earn a top bid. They may have just not had as good of a weekend, it happens to the best of athletes and is no knock on their overall talent. Remember that these teams were all tournament-based performance awards, not player skill tiers. The level of play that came out of this team is still elite, and after hearing about it, you will see why. I did not have an easy time differentiating all the athletes between their respective teams.
#9 | JW Wuor | 6'7 | C | All Saints | C/O 2026
The first player on this list will be a familiar name for those who read my piece last year. All Saints' JW Wuor made my ‘Got Next’ team last year and blew my expectations out of the water already this season. A 6 '7, super athletic, forward/Centre who can play on the perimeter with ease. Where else can you find a guy like that? One of the first plays I saw from him this weekend was a quick step back corner three at the buzzer that splashed in over the top of a defender. Being able to move like this does not come easy for most, especially a big man. While he may not have been as shifty as a guard, his ball handling was shifty and the way he moved combined with his length made shot creation look easy. No one could even come close to contesting his shot, especially from the perimeter. Besides his jumper, this is an athlete who shows his athleticism in multiple ways throughout a game. He can get up and poster someone, finish athletically around defense or just purely outsize people down low. With this size and athleticism, Wuor altered tons of shots down low and even on the perimeter. He could move effectively as an on-ball defender on the perimeter and could create opportunities for him or others to come in and steal the ball or pass as his wingspan would overwhelm most players when he was right up on them. With this type of defensive presence on the court, Wuor played as a defensive anchor most times and led some great defensive sequences that started a break for his team off of a forced turnover. His leadership qualities truly showed in times like this where he would play some true team ball and do what he could to win the game rather than forcing up bad shots to get his numbers up. After watching how much he developed in a season, I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for this guy's senior year.
#12 | Nathan Yamba-Yamba | 6'5 | F | St FX | C/O 2027
As far as potential goes, this next player quite possibly has the talent to be the best player in Alberta by the end of the season. Being only grade 11, Nathan Yamba-Yamba has shown how much of an impact player he can be when he is on the court. I saw him develop from last season to now, and he has already made a greater jump than I hoped he would. Within the first quarter of the Finals matchup, Yamba-Yamba had three blocked shots under the rim for St FX. These were not all the same player or situation either, one was a help defensive rotation, one was on the fast break and one was from him being the on-ball defender. As a 6'5 stretch forward, this guy may have been one of the best defensive players in the whole tournament. Fitting with the Ram's identity he possesses an elite ability to guard on the perimeter and a high defensive IQ for his age. Using his length he clogged lanes off the ball and cutting off sloppy passes with ease was a common occurrence for him this weekend. Typically these would lead to fastbreaks down the court and an easy transition basket for his team. When he wasn't playing elite defense he was finding ways to put the ball in the net on an elite level. This is the definition of a well-rounded athlete. He can score from anywhere he wants to. From deep I saw him hit more than a few threes from well beyond the arc. As a lanky forward, much like others I have mentioned, his jumper was nearly impossible to block and effectively contest. If he imposed himself more during the games I saw this weekend, Yamba-Yamba would have been a no-brainer to make the first team. When he wanted to, he could put the ball to the floor and drive to an easy bucket inside, or stop on a dime and pull up from either a three or mid-range jumper. An extremely deep bag for a player this age and the composure to use it, even when the game was on the line to get buckets. This kid will be a two-way player that you should get familiar with if you follow any Edmonton basketball.
#9 | Paul Omofoma | 6'5 | F |St Mary's | C/O 2026
The next player to earn a bid to the second team played against Yamba-Yamba in the finals and imposed himself on the game to allow St Mary's to come out front for the final buzzer of the 41st REB. Paul Omofoma, St. Mary's starting Center was an absolute force in the final game of the tournament. Grabbing a ton of offensive boards and getting much-needed second-chance points in a tight match proved to be invaluable. The sheer size at 6 '5 and the strength that he showed during the tournament made him a nightmare for even the toughest centers to guard. He made it his job to get out and rebound the ball all weekend, using his sheer size and athleticism to muscle his way into a ton of boards, offensively and defensively. I knew he was a big athletic guy, but I didn't realize how dominant he could be until the final when he decided to call his number again and again down low and take advantage of a team that had no answer for him. Whether he was taking a hard drive through contact and getting the call at the rim, putting a pretty post finish over traffic or just simply muscling through, Omofoma looked unstoppable. Defensively he was no slack either, when a guy of this size gets down low it clogs the paint and forces players into shots they normally wouldn't take. I watched him single-handedly shut down the opposing centers in both of his matchups during the final two games of the REB. This created such an advantage for the Saints whenever he was on the floor. Having a guy like this roaming the paint and then chasing hard for every rebound is every coach's dream for a grade 12 big man.
#11 | Lincoln Kosinski | 5'11 | SG | Jasper Place | C/O 2026
Now to switch gears for our next guy who was one of the standout shooters in this tournament. Jasper Place should be very familiar with this name as this is their very own, Lincoln Kosinski. Every time this kid got the ball I was sure he was going to make a shot no matter how far out he was. When the Rebels needed a bucket, they were calling on Kosinski. He was willing and able to make the room to find his shot where he was most comfortable on the floor. When he was hot there were sequences that I watched on multiple occasions when he single-handedly went on a run of a couple threes back to back with a drive to the hoop, creating a quick eight-point swing in just three possessions. When the ball wasn’t getting shot at a high clip by Kosinski, he could drive to the rim over and over again and use his tough finishing ability to create contact and draw a foul without missing a beat. Keeping his head up all while moving the ball made him a great on-ball general when the team needed him to slow things down. For a 5 '11 guard (The program had an error on this) to be this comfortable creating both space or contact whenever he wanted to is an elite skill to have and is one that allowed him to be a star whether the ball was in his hands or not. When the ball wasn't in his hands there wasn’t a second when he was standing around and just filling space. You could always see him either hustling to chase down loose balls, pick off lanes or moving to find an open look. This guy was a great teammate to have and someone who always fills whatever gap he needs to help his team thrive. Being one of the ones who made my “Got Next” team last year, I can say that I am very impressed with what an impact player has become as a senior in this Jasper Place squad.
#1 | Andres Garcia | 5'10 | G | Vancouver College | C/O 2026
For the final addition to the second team, I want to introduce Vancouver College's starting point guard, Andres Garcia. This was a player who may not have been on many people's radar, but to me, was one of the biggest impact players in the tournament. He may not have been the flashiest of athletes out there, but he made his team better and was someone who did what he had to do at an elite level. Garcia is an extremely shifty 5'10 guard who was able to score consistently down the lane. Whether it was with a simple runner over the defence or a flashy reverse layup he always seemed to be the one to slow the game down from his team and get a bucket when they needed to get back on track. The scoring is just a small part of what Garcia brings to the table though. The ability to settle his team down when they need it and to go out and make the right play down the line whether this meant making a quick pass or taking it to the hoop when they were on a bad run is a sign of a type of leadership that you don't see often in high schoolers. Helping his team did not only come through his confident demeanour, he was also an elite passer off the dribble. While driving to the rim this guy could use the gravity of his drive to redirect the ball into an open player's arms and often created wide-open looks for his teammates. There were multiple times when he drove and found a look that I didn’t even think was there. When he got a look from outside he could get hot in a hurry as well. I saw a couple of runs where he made a couple of threes and quieted the opposition right away. In the bronze medal game, he hit back-to-back threes against a tough defensive team and made this look effortless. Not your typical all-star player but one who made an outstanding impact for his team.
REB 'Got Next' Team
The third and final team that I've put together for the 41st REB is the ‘Got Next’ Team. This team consists of younger players who came out to the tournament and showed more than a little bit of potential. Most of these guys stood out to me in multiple ways and will be poised for a big jump next year or even earlier. Some of these athletes may have already shown flashes of elite-level gameplay for their squads. Like the other teams, making an immediate and visible impact for the team mattered, but the difference will be that these kids have another year or two in high school to sharpen these skills and expand their game even more. Lots of them were simply role players who were able to go on stretches that proved how high their ceiling could be. Two players from last year's ‘Got Next’ team are on the All-REB teams this season and others who were not in attendance at the REB this year that I have been following, and have become stars on their teams. For the sake of the name, these are the ones who have got next.
#13 | Bilal Ama | 6'7 | C/F | Ross Shepard | C/O 2028
The first time I saw this first prospect I assumed there was some kind of typo or error in the program. A 6'7 center who packs some size behind him and looks like a senior who spent all summer in the weight room. After talking to a few coaches I found out that this kid is only in grade 10, and goes by the name of Bilal Ama, from Ross Sheppard. A new addition to both this team, and the sport of basketball, he has only one season of experience under his belt but was already outmatching seasoned veteran big men down low both on the battle of the boards, and offensive/defensive matchups. Ama appeared to have a great athletic IQ and was able to not only use his size but could also create the right strong positioning for boards, especially on the offensive side of the ball. He had a good touch in the paint to finish big and strong through defences and could make even big guys look small. I was shocked at his ability to defend the ball as well. He had an athletic build and moved well in the post and laterally. Most big men are not so mobile when they are as big and strong as Ama. This led him to get many stops off guard who assumed they could break the big man and instead, hit a brick wall. From what I've heard, this kid is a workhorse, which means he will only get better from here. So the fact that he was turning heads already is an indictment of what kind of potential he has already. I can’t wait to see him once he gets another season under his belt.
#2 | Mayen Atem | 6'5 | SF/G | All Saints | C/O 2027
The next athlete to make this team has high potential as a two-way player, but his defence is the thing that stood out to me in the first place. A lanky 6'5 point-forward with an eye for the game on defense. All Saints Mayen Atem was able to pick off lanes easily and even strip weaker guards right off the dribble with ease. This kid was a force out there defensively. As an eleventh grader, Atem had an eye for the game that was better than most. He could read defences and find lanes off the drive to create looks in the paint that he made look easy. Even when the game was on the line and his team was behind Atem would fearlessly take the ball inside and use a plethora of finishing moves in the paint. With a great handle on the ball and a high game IQ, this guy could create any look that he wanted off the dribble. He had an extremely tight grip on the ball as well when he was creating and seemed poised to be the premier playmaker for this team in the not-so-distant future as he always kept his head on a swivel even when he was slashing to the paint. These traits highlight what high potential a kid like this has. I was slightly disappointed to see him get kicked out of the final game of the REB this year for supposedly yapping too much early in the third. Times like these are where his maturity did show, but I believe this will come as a lesson and learning experience heading into the new year for him. With how much of a jump his teammate JW Wuor made from last year I have nothing but faith that Atem will follow this growth schedule and be a standout by next season. Atem has another year to develop and sharpen up his talents before he is a senior and can truly take the reins of the team.
#6 | Sammy Lagao| 6'0 | G | Bishop McNally | C/O 2027
For the next Calgary addition to this team, I wanted to introduce Sammy Lagao from Bishop McNally. Another player who looked much more composed on the court than most players his age. A 6 '0 guard with a great IQ and eye for the game defensively. This guy cut off so many lanes off-ball and when he was on-ball, imposed another level of pressure. Being quite possibly one of the fastest players in the tournament and having the versatility of this footspeed was a standout ability for Lagao. Moving and smothering opponents, not giving up an inch of space when his matchup had the ball and closing off passing lanes with ease off ball. If he even saw an inch of space or a chance to get the ball he would take it, poking balls loose and hustling to every loose ball once he got a hand on it. When he did get the ball out in the open court there was no one catching him. Even when there was some pressure placed on him, Lagao proved to be a great slasher through the lane and could finish through contact. Besides the athletic talents he possessed, Lagao was a flamethrower from deep and able to knock down threes in bunches. Having an extremely quick release that made blocking or even contesting him a challenge when he was given space. Being only grade eleven and playing big minutes, I believe this guy is going to see himself with the ball in his hands much more as the season progresses.
#5 | Justice Arciaga | 5'9 | G | St FX | C/O 2028
This next prospect came up on my radar at the last tournament that I covered and just showed me how much potential he truly had during the REB. Justice Arciaga, the third player that I am writing about from St FX shined as an offensive option and secondary playmaker for the Rams. As a team that already has a talented starting lineup, Arciaga was often the beneficiary to defences sagging off to play help on some of the other scorers on FX. With this opportunity, he showed me how much of a sharpshooter he can be from beyond the arc. Even in the tournament finals on the biggest stage, this kid went out and shot like no one was watching. Besides the shooting, he often acted as a secondary initiator and ball handler for the Rams. Against stronger defenders, he didn't even hesitate to bring the ball up and run the offence. He was able to use this composure to either take a hard drive to the hoop and finish smoothly at the rim, or find a good look for an open teammate. Filling this kind of role usually comes from veteran players on a high school roster, but Arcuiaga, a standout role player so far this season, is only in grade 10 now. Standing at 5 '9 I think that he still has room to grow as well and will only improve as his eye for the game and ball control is much much higher than most players his age. I was very impressed with what I saw from this kid during a high-stakes game and am extremely excited to see what he is capable of once he expands his game down the line.
#11 | Davion Moore | 5'11 | G | Valley View | C/O 2028
For the fifth and final player on my ‘Got Next’ team this year I will be writing about a player from across the border who showed a ton of potential. Davion Moore from the Valley View Eagles was an all-around solid-looking prospect who seemed like he had skills to offer across the board. Being a grade 10 in the starting lineup, he was not a very high-usage player for most of the tournament. What he did show in that limited showing though, was his defensive pressure and high IQ for the game. Moore may not have been the biggest or strongest player on the court at all times standing at 5 '11 but the way that he perceived the game made it look easy for him. He had great vision when he had the ball and was able to find open players even when he had defensive pressure on him. When he wasn't finding an open look off the dribble, Moore was spreading out the offence and spotting up from three, where he excelled as a catch-and-shoot guy. He played a very good team game and filled whatever role his team needed him to. On the defensive end, his IQ shone through as well. When he took a defensive assignment on ball, he would often smother players and was even able to make players uncomfortable (without fouling) to the point where they would throw bad passes or lose the ball. With this much potential, I truly hope to see this kid return to the REB in the future.
That is all I have for this year's REB coverage. I had a blast chatting with different coaching staff and watching this high-intensity gameplay. For those who stuck around and read this whole article, I want to thank you so much. This took countless hours to put together but for me, seeing the growth and effort year after year from each athlete during the REB makes doing so worthwhile. Covering this tournament is a treat and I look forward to making this an annual event for myself after a phenomenal two years. I have included a link to the REB program and website below if you want any more info on the players or the event itself. If you would like to see me cover your event after reading this please feel free to reach out and send me a note!
REB Website - https://sites.google.com/epsb.ca/reb-invitatational
My Contact Info - hpaulichuk@gmail.com