The model of “circuits” have taken over and by many’s opinions, have saturated the AAU space. However, it isn’t quite the same thing with elite high school level competition. Logistically, it is insanely expensive for elite basketball schools to consistently travel for one single game and also creates nightmares as far as missing class time is concerned.
Leagues such as The Grind Session and EYBL Scholastic have provided platforms for teams to meet in one destination, get three or so games in throughout a weekend, then head home to recover for the remainder of the week. While that’s great for Nike programs and those already involved, there wasn’t anything for relatively newer, emerging programs.
Enter the Elite International Basketball Conference (EIEIBC)
With the second annual finals being held in Phoenix at The Phhacility by host PHH Prep, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas, Texas) ultimately beat CIA Bella Vista EIBC (Ariz.) to be crowned the second ever EIBC Champions. Barry Jones, Chris McBride, and the rest of the EIBC Staff brought in competition ranging from Florida to California, so Oak Cliff had to win four games in four days to take home the crown.
After winning four state championships amidst some controversy with the girls program (there were multiple penalties imposed to both the team and coaches), the South Dallas school decided to completely disband from the University Interscholastic League (UIL) in Texas for all sports and play its own national schedule. It seemed like a pretty bold move and while the team took some bumps early in the season, Faith Family ultimately ended the season on a 10-game winning streak and as EIBC Circuit championship.
Here are a few of the standouts from the second ever EIBC Championship:
Tasheim Gary, 6’1, PG, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Tex.), 2025
The MVP of the EIBC Finals simply controlled the game on both ends of the floor, posting 17 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists in the South Dallas program’s comeback victory. Gary constantly got to his spots on the floor, always had his head on a swivel, and was the team’s catalyst on the defensive end with the pressure he put on the rock. Surprisingly still unsigned, Gary put himself on the national map as one of the better unsigned point guards at the EIBC.
Lyris Robinson, 6’5, SG, CIA Bella Vista (Ariz.), 2027
As far as sophomores in the EIBC are concerned, no one was better than Lyris Robinson and it showed against Oak Cliff Faith Family. The sophomore single handedly busted Oak Cliff’s zone via a number of deep threes, flashes for mid-range jumpers in the middle, or quick rips to the rack on the weak side. The Canadian swingman played with the utmost confidence and was the focal point offensively for an uber talented CIA Bella Vista team, pouring in 29 points on 11-17 FG (3-5 3PT). Robinson already holds no shortage of D1 offers and his play in the EIBC will certainly gain him more.
Lamont Hartfield, 6’5, SF, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Tex.), 2025
A player who I wasn’t familiar with going into the event, I walked away from the EIBC Finals being one of Lamont Hartfield’s biggest fans. The lefty power wing is a powerful athlete who can guard all over the court, has a great pull-up jumper, and brings infectious toughness to the hardwood. He had 16 points (6-10 FG, 3-5 3PT), eight rebounds, four assists, and the game winning 3-pointer to give Faith Family the EIBC crown. Heading to Florida Southwestern, Hartfield has the chance to be amongst the first group of players to take advantage of the NCAA’s new JUCO rules when transferring D1.
Mouhamed Sylla, 6’10, C, CIA Bella Vista (Ariz.), 2025
The best big man in the EIBC struggled a little offensively (4-15 FG) in the championship game, but the impact that Mouhamed Sylla had on the game went far beyond the 10 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks that he posted. The four star recruit was a constant lob threat, which opened the lanes for his teammates to drive to the rack because he was such a threat on drop off passes or for offensive rebounds…and he still had six. On the defensive side, Sylla was an imposing shot blocker whose impact as a rim protector can’t be described in numbers. Heading to Georgia Tech next year, Mouhamed will continue the Senegalese pipeline that fellow countryman star Baye Ndogo started.
King Grace, 6’4, SG, Oak Cliff Faith Family (Tex.), 2025
There wasn’t a player who I saw play with more composure in tight games at the EIBC than King Grace. The Mississippi State recruit had an outstanding demeanor, had a number of tough takes to the rack in crunch time, and made countless essential plays on the defensive end in the second half of the championship game. It wasn’t the best shooting night (8-19 FG and 3-11 3PT), but the 19 points, four assists, and three steals that Grace had were imperative to Oak Cliff Faith Family winning the EIBC Championship.
