The BABE Tournament: Early Standouts From Montreal's Season Kickoff
- david-harmon
- May 7
- 5 min read
Written by Marc
The BABE Tournament kicks off summer ball in Montreal, bringing together programs from all over Quebec and giving a first look at the next wave of talent. It’s a competitive setting that has historically revealed most of Québec’s top prospects long before they became U SPORTS or NCAA players. With travel AAU teams often playing up an age group to test themselves early, the weekend becomes a real evaluation window. Across the U16, U18, and U22 groups, a few players stood out through their habits and impact. Below are the ones who made the clearest impressions.
U22 Division
(2027) 6'6 Kenan Dikamba Red Rush National
Kenan’s tools were on full display. He’s long, explosive, and able to cover ground in a way few wings at the event could. He defended at a high level (arguably the highest of the event), using his length and mobility to bother drives, pick ball‑handlers’ pockets, and switch across positions. He consistently got to the paint with his footwork and ability to create shots in various ways. He didn’t really show the three‑point shooting, leaning more into midrange attempts where he looked more comfortable, but he stayed aggressive and kept pressure on the rim by rising up for dunks and finishes both on and off the ball.
(2027) 6'6 Tresor Janel St‑Foy
Tresor brought one of the highest motors in the group, seeking and playing through contact, attacking the glass, and creating second‑chance opportunities on multiple trips. His strength and defensive versatility let him guard multiple spots, and offensively he consistently found ways to get to the rim and finish. His movement and free‑throw touch are still developing, but his effort level covers a lot of gaps, and he even flashed some ball‑handling comfort when the floor opened up. His rebounding presence, hustle, and physical style represent the St‑Foy culture well.
(2027) 6'4 Sekou Kabba Red Rush National
Sekou played with a smoothness that stood out immediately. The feel, the pace, and the way he flowed into shots made everything look effortless. He scored at all three levels, finishing with either hand and knocking down threes both off the catch and off movement. His reads and timing gave Red Rush a steady creator whenever they needed a bucket. The next step is continuing to build consistency, but the skill base is already advanced. With his touch and natural feel, he profiles as one of the more polished scorers in the group, and it will be exciting to see how that continues at Cégep Montmorency next year.
U18 Division
(2029) 6'6 Ezekiel Ifejeh Dropoff Elite
Ezekiel’s physical presence set the tone all weekend. He played through contact, lived in the paint, and used his size and mobility to create his own lanes. His handle in tight spaces and overall feel stood out even more when you account for his size and strength, and he showed some comfort spotting up for open threes on a couple of occasions. The shooting consistency, especially at the line, is still developing, but he makes up for it with his force, rebounding on both sides of the floor, and an edge / “bully” mentality that shows up in every matchup.
(2028) 6'0 Wesle Parlo Fils Red Rush National
Just coming off an injury, Wesle played with the command aU16 Divisionnd poise of a lead guard. He was vocal, steady, and skilled enough to create offense at all three levels. His timing as a finisher and shot‑maker gave Red Rush a reliable option whenever the possession stalled, and he carried himself like the organizer of the group. There were moments where the rust showed compared to his usual self, but if you’ve never seen him play before, it would be hard to tell because his confidence and competitiveness covered most of it. As he gets fully back into rhythm, the combination of leadership and skill should make him one of the more polished PGs in his class.
(2029) 6'3 Chriss‑Matteo Anovil Red Rush National
Matteo brought a physical, extremely versatile presence to the floor, defending multiple positions, often bigger ones, but he competed by using his strength, physicality, and mobility to create advantages on both ends. He showed real advanced skill with his footwork and ability to create shots in the midrange, and his ability to play through contact and move without the ball gave him a steady scoring base, whether attacking mismatches or working within the flow of the offense. He didn’t show much three‑point shooting, and his body language could be a bit more positive, but the tools and versatility are clear. With his blend of defense, rebounding, and on‑ball creation flashes, he has a foundation that should translate well to Cégep Ahuntsic next year.
U16 Division
(2030) 6'2 Gabri‑EL Disanka Lu Dort Elite
Gabriel‑El showed deep three‑level scoring, playing with pace and using his athletic tools on both sides of the floor. Great mover that mixed drives, midranges, and confident 3-pt shooting in all kinds of ways. At times he leaned into tougher looks, but that’s part of being an aggressive scorer still learning when to pick his moments. What stood out just as much was the competitiveness on both sides, as he even took on top matchups defensively.
(2030) 6'0 James Lavictoire Dropoff Elite
James carried a big creation load for Dropoff, using his footwork and touch to generate shots from all levels. He was the player they trusted to start and finish possessions, and he embraced that responsibility. The playmaking piece still has room to grow; adding a bit more distribution will open up the scoring tools he already has. Even so, he competes on both ends and stays engaged defensively.
(2030) 7'0 Armaan Downes Dropoff Elite
Armaan’s size immediately changes the floor, but what made his weekend interesting was the skill he flashed around it. He protected the rim, finished plays inside, and even stepped into some outside shots and made a couple. The most surprising part was the two coast‑to‑coast takes he had late in a game (up by 10+), pushing the ball in transition and getting all the way to the rim. Some areas are still developing, like the lateral mobility, the hands, and the left‑hand usage, but with his touch and willingness to try more than just finishing, there’s a lot of upside to build on
The BABE Tournament was the first real checkpoint of the summer, and now the next stretch of events will give an even clearer picture of how players build on what they showed this weekend. Local tournaments like the Hoopville events, the Crossover Challenge, and the Montreal Invitational are all coming up, each bringing together different programs and levels of competition. At the same time, many of the province’s top AAU teams will be on the road, including Lu Dort Elite, Red Rush National, MTL Prospect, Montreal Elite, Bluehounds, and others competing on various circuits. I’ll be tracking it all on my socials down below with breakdowns, clips, and updates as the summer unfolds.
Full Weekend standouts : https://x.com/QChoopslover/status/2051585473374474358?s=20
Contact Info: https://linktr.ee/qchoopslover
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