Yoeli Childs’ first season with the Kobe Storks couldn’t have gone any better.
The big man from BYU was named Player of the Year in Japan’s B.League this past week, after having led the Storks on a convincing league championship run.
In addition to Player of the Year honors, Childs was named Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Import of the Year, and Forward of the Year in the B.League.
our guy is the Japan B2 League MVP and Player of the Year 👏 pic.twitter.com/X8yQdZdb5E
— BYU Men’s Basketball (@BYUMBB) June 1, 2026
The Storks finished the regular season with a record of 55-5, where Childs averaged 21.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.9 combined blocks and steals per game.
Childs posted 39 double-doubles, scored 30 or more points eight times, and shot 54% from the field and 41% from 3-point range.
In the playoffs, Childs leveled up to average 26.6 points per game with 11.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists, while making a sizzling 58% of his 3-pointers.
Kobe is Childs’ sixth professional team. He played for both the Erie Bayhawks and Salt Lake City Stars of the NBA G-League, Ludwigsburg and Hamburg Towers in Germany, and Saga in Japan prior to being a Stork.
Since turning pro in 2020, the South Jordan native and Bingham High product has averaged 16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists across his professional career.
During his time at BYU, Childs became one of the most productive players in program history, earning All-WCC first-team honors three times and averaging 17.1 points and 8.8 rebounds. He ranks first all-time for the Cougars in career rebounds (1,053), sixth in points (2,031) and fifth in blocks (159).