Tyler Herro‘s AAU team secured a narrow 79-75 victory over the Oakland Soldiers in a competitive EYBL game on Monday, demonstrating their strength in youth basketball. Vaughn Karvala, a four-star small forward ranked No. 126 by 247Sports, led Team Herro with an impressive all-around performance that eclipsed the efforts of two five-star opponents from the Soldiers.

Vaughn Karvala Shines Against Highly Ranked Opponents

During the Nike EYBL Circuit, Karvala has been gaining considerable attention with his standout play, especially in this latest matchup against the Oakland Soldiers, who featured top prospects Tyran Stokes (No. 1) and Jason Crowe Jr. (No. 5). Karvala finished the game with 24 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block, proving critical to Team Herro’s victory. Only one player on his squad failed to score, while four teammates reached double digits.

Supporting Karvala, Jayden Moore contributed 18 points and four rebounds, and Joshua Manchester added 17 points and four rebounds off the bench. Yusef Gray Jr. posted 10 points and four rebounds, while Mahamadoun dit Tiefing Diawara made an impact defensively with six points, eight rebounds, and three blocks.

Oakland Soldiers’ Top Prospects Deliver Impressive Performances

Despite falling short, the Oakland Soldiers were propelled by the efforts of their elite recruits. Jason Crowe Jr. led all scorers with 34 points, alongside five rebounds and two steals. Tyran Stokes contributed 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block. In total, only five Soldiers players scored, showing the concentrated offensive load carried by their stars. The loss left the Soldiers with an 8-3 record, placing them third in the standings, while Team Herro sits ninth at 6-5.

The Rising Interest in Vaughn Karvala Spurs Iowa Hawkeyes Offer

Karvala’s strong showing in the EYBL Circuit has caught the attention of major programs, culminating in a scholarship offer from the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday. This marks one of the first significant recruiting moves by Iowa’s new head coach, Ben McCollum, who has been active in adding talent through the transfer portal. Recently, McCollum secured guard Bennett Stirtz from Drake, who posted solid stats last season with an average of 19.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 2.1 steals.

Alongside Iowa, several other prominent schools such as Syracuse, Ole Miss, Marquette, and Arizona State have expressed interest in the versatile 6-foot-6 small forward. Karvala’s recruitment is gaining momentum as he continues to build his reputation on the Nike EYBL stage.