Lebron Jhames Daep, a 6-foot-7 rising star from Legazpi City, Albay, is officially the best talent there is in #NCAA100 juniors basketball, as his name was called for the MVP trophy on Sunday. 

He posted averages of 15.4 points, 8.33 rebounds, 1.33 assists, 1.78 steals, and a block per contest to become the second straight juniors MVP to hail from Perpetual. He was also named to the Mythical Five selection and the All-Defensive team. 

Daep, a graduating senior from the star-studded stable of Coach Joph Cleopas, had been the obvious shoo-in to win the coveted award all season long.

He led his team to a first place finish with eight wins and a loss in very dominant fashion.

His towering presence has been integral to the Junior Altas’s redemption campaign, as the 18-year-old Bicolano is equally effective both on offense and on defense. 

As of the latest statistical rankings updated last April 13, Daep is eighth in the league in points and second in rebounds.

The 6-foot-7 MVP is the son of former professional hooper and 5-time NCAA champion Rommel Daep, whom the younger Daep credits honing his skills without much unnecessary pressure. 

According to a report by GMA News Online’s Justin Kenneth Carandang, Lebron Jhames was not pressured into playing competitive basketball by his ex-pro athlete father.

The veteran Junior Alta describes basketball in his early childhood as “chill," saying he was not forced nor deliberately compelled to play hoops by his father until he himself organically liked playing the sport. 

He then turned to the older Daep for guidance sometime in 4th grade, said the report. 

Lebron Jhames also placed second overall in the nationwide ranking of high school basketball players by the National Basketball Training Clinic (NBTC). 

Before moving on to the collegiate ranks, the Legazpi City, Bicol pride looks to conclude his stint in NCAA juniors basketball as a champion, a chance to redeem the Junior Altas' heartbreaker last season where they bagged silver next to champions Letran.

Catch the do-or-die Game 3 of the #NCAA100 Juniors Basketball Finals tomorrow, April 15, 2025, 2:30 PM, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre, airing on GTV and Heart of Asia (HoA), and livestreaming on NCAA Philippines and GMA Sports PH’s social media pages.