'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The No. 1 Armenian prospect Anto Balian is set to display his skills as his team, Pilibos Eagles, of Los Angeles, California, is set to lock horns with the Bulldogs at Pasadena High School. The Class of 2025 senior also represents the Armenia national basketball team.
As a freshman in 2021, Balian was ranked 327 in his state and as a sophomore, his rank decreased to 355, in 2022. However, the Armenian improved his game in the next year.
Trending
The 6'2" guard ranks at the 149th position in the state and helped the Pilibos Eagles to a 21-8 record in 2023. His father Sako Balian has been the head coach and the athletic director of the Eagles for the last 27 years. He also played junior college and Division 2 basketball but had to leave the sport early.
He commented on his son's work ethic by saying:
“He just works real hard at his craft,” said his father Sako Balian. “He puts in a lot of work on his own.”
According to Yahoo Sports, he also coached his oldest son, Kevork, who led his team to the Division 4A finals before graduating in 2021.
How good is Anto Balian?
For his country, Balian became the youngest player to be selected in Armenia's men's national team, as a 16-year-old.
Balian has been at Pilibos since preschool. As a 14-year-old, Balian averaged 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in his freshman year. His potential going into his Sophomore year was seen by all his teammates.
The Armenian averaged 27 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3 assists and scored a season-high 48 points against Glendale.
When asked about his teammates at the Pilibos Eagles, this is what Balian said:
“You’re more than friends,” Anto said. “You know them like your parents. It becomes a family, especially in the Armenian community, where everyone knows each other.”
In his junior year, Anto Balian played 27 games and scored 30.1 points, grabbed 9.9 rebounds, dished out 5.7 assists and stole the ball 1.9 times per contest.
He also said that he wants to win the CIF for his dad and receive recognition from Division 1 schools. For this, he started playing basketball at the Nike EYBL to compete against better players.
“It’s teaching me what I have to look forward to in the coming years,” he said.
The Armenian is on the rise and has worked extremely hard to be where he is today. What do you think the future holds for Anto Balian?
