Built on the Move Judah Van Ewijk’s Basketball Journey
4 minute read
By Andrea Aruino
6’0 guard Judah Van Ewijk just finished up his freshman year of high school and varsity basketball at Archbishop Riordan High School, one of the best basketball programs in the Bay Area. Ewijk helped contribute to a successful season while gaining valuable experience competing against some of California’s top talent. While his freshman year marked a major milestone in his basketball journey, his path to Riordan began years earlier in Sonoma, CA.
Van Ewijk first started playing basketball through CYO before making the jump to AAU basketball in third grade. Looking for stronger competition and more opportunities to develop, he joined North Bay Basketball Academy (NBBA) in Marin, where he often competed against players older than him. As he continued improving, he moved through several respected AAU programs, including Arsenal, before eventually finding a home with the Oakland Soldiers, one of the nation's premier grassroots basketball organizations.
Growing up in Sonoma presented challenges when it came to exposure. While the area has a strong basketball community, it is not always a place where college coaches and recruiters frequently travel. Instead of allowing that to limit his opportunities, Van Ewijk and his family committed to traveling throughout the Bay Area to compete against stronger competition and put himself in front of more coaches.
“If I would have stayed in Sonoma and played more just out there, I feel like I would have had a different outcome. There are a lot of good players out there, but being able to get out to Marin, Oakland, and the city definitely opened up my books. It gave me opportunities to play against better competition, get seen by more people, and really test where my game was at,” Van Ewijk said.
The experience of consistently playing against older and more talented players helped prepare him for the jump to high school basketball. By the time he arrived at Riordan, he already understood the value of competing outside of his comfort zone.
As a freshman, Van Ewijk quickly found himself surrounded by talented teammates and coaches who challenged him every day. The transition to varsity basketball brought a new level of competition, but it also provided an opportunity to learn from experienced players within one of the state's premier programs.
“Being at Riordan was a great experience. Every day in practice you're competing against really good players, and that pushes you to get better. As a freshman, being around older guys who have already been through it helped me learn a lot about what it takes to win,” Van Ewijk said.
Basketball has always been a significant part of Van Ewijk’s life, largely because of the influence of his older brother, Ezra Manjon. A former standout at UC Davis and Vanderbilt, Manjon built a successful Division I career before continuing professionally overseas. Watching his brother's journey gave Judah a firsthand look at the level of commitment required to succeed.
“Just seeing how hard he works definitely taught me a lot. He’s always been someone I could look up to. Watching everything he did to get to where he is now definitely put me in the right direction for my success and showed me what it takes if you want to play at a high level,” Van Ewijk said.
As Van Ewijk's profile continued to grow, he signed with WME Sports, one of the most influential agencies in basketball who features a variety of athletes including Serena Williams, Luka Dončić, and so many more. Through that relationship, he was connected with UPBasketball and Coach Packie Turner. While he was already familiar with Turner through Ezra, training at UPB allowed him to experience firsthand why so many high-level players trust Packie with their development. The opportunity to learn from a coach who has worked with NBA players such as Jalen Williams and Christian Braun made UPB an easy choice while scouting from a pool of talented coaches.
“His rep is what made me want to work with him, just like knowing how good he's trained others and how he's got other people. It's better that he's starting to train with me now than if I were to start training with him as an NBA player because he can implement all the things I need to do.”
Training at UPB with Coach Donovan Washington and Ben Ruelas has helped Van Ewijk improve not only his skill set, but also his mental approach to basketball. As a point guard, he understands that leadership often comes down to how players respond when adversity strikes.
Now preparing for another AAU season with the Oakland Soldiers and his sophomore year at Riordan, Van Ewijk continues working toward bigger goals. From traveling outside Sonoma in search of opportunity to compete on the varsity level at Archbishop Riordan as a freshman, his basketball journey has been defined by growth, hard work, and a willingness to challenge himself. Along with helping his teams win, he hopes to continue earning national exposure, compete in elite camps, and eventually represent Team USA. While he still considers himself early in the process, he has already built a strong foundation for the future and continues taking steps toward achieving his long-term goals.
