BasketballBuzz

Breaking Down the Future of Canadian International Basketball

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:07:57 -0400

The talent pool is getting so deep that Steve Nash, the national team's general manager, actually has real depth to work and mold a roster with. As unreal as it would have been even 10 years ago, the Canadians could have an actual chance to medal in the 2016 Olympics for the first time since the first Olympics with basketball in 1936, when Canada lost to the United States in the gold-medal game. The Canadians have never finished better than sixth place in the FIBA World Championships. As you start to break down what Nash's roster could look like, the Canadians have a realistic shot next summer in Spain at making the world take notice. Guards Talent Pool: Cory Joseph, Tyler Ennis, Brady Heslip, Myck Kabongo, Kevin Pangos, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Nik Stauskas Wings Talent Pool: Andrew Wiggins, Kris Joseph, Melvin Ejim, Kyle Wiltjer Forwards Talent Pool:Joel Anthony, Anthony Bennett, Khem Birch, Andrew Nicholson, Kelly Olynyk, Robert Sacre, Tristan Thompson, Trey Lyles

Little-known Elfrid Payton emerges as the surprise of USA Basketball U19 Tryouts

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:44:09 -0400

The most surprising player to earn a spot on the U.S. U-19 team Monday night needed a late plea from his head coach just to earn the chance. Louisiana-Lafayette's Elfrid Payton wasn't on USA Basketball's radar as recently as a few weeks ago when Ragin Cajuns coach Bob Marlin dialed Billy Donovan and urged him to consider inviting the 6-foot-3 rising junior to tryouts. The 12 members of the U.S. U-19 World Championship team "I told him, 'I don't sell my guys but Elfrid is really good and might be able to help,'" Marlin said. "I told him he could call Richard Pitino or Tom Izzo because Elfrid really played well against both their teams. He said, 'I don't need to call those guys. You and I have known each other a long time. If you say he's good enough, he's good enough.'"

2013 Canadian Junior Men's National Team Roster Finalized + Players Analysis & More

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:14:06 -0400

Toronto, ON - (BasketballBuzz) - Head Coach Roy Rana and his staff have announced the names of the final twelve young Canadians that will be tasked with the responsibility of bringing home a medal at the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. Led by 2014 Top prospect Trey Lyles and Syracuse Orange Freshmen Tyler Ennis, the 2013 Canadian Junior Men's National team has the potential to come out of a tough Group A, where it will play Spain, Korea, Croatia and potentially challenge for a medal. The finalized roster is well rounded with talent at the point guard position, multiple options on the wing, that can attack, shoot it, and get at it defensively. The forwards offer up an interchangeable group that features enough finesse, athleticism and raw talent to clean up the boards and compete with world's more experienced teams. You would be hard pressed to find a better staff to lead this group of players. Head Coach Roy Rana is amongst, if not, the hottest coach in Canada right now, and with his Ryerson Rams (CIS) program on the rise and his growing international experience, there's little doubt that he is the right man for the job. Assisting Rana will be Jamie McNeilly, Student-Athlete Development Specialist at Marquette University and Scott Morrisonof the 2013 CIS Men's Basketball finalist, Lakehead Thunderwolves. Mentoring this extremely talented group of young coaches is Steve Kolchalski, Canada's Coach "K" and former Head Coach of the Senior Men's National Team. Below is an individual look at each member of the roster, broken down by their respective positions including some additional insights regarding the exemption of a CIS based players. 2013 Canadian Junior Men’s National Team Final Roster Point Guards Tyler Ennis - (Guard/6-2, 180lbs, Brampton, ON - Freshmen, Syracuse Orange) Pure point guard with natural instincts, Ennis has played at the highest level of American High School basketball and has been throwing lobs to Andrew Wiggins for the past two years on the AAU circuit. Solid rebounder with the necessary vision to find the open man on the break or take it to the tin for tough baskets. Kaza Keane - (Guard/6-2, 185lbs, Ajax, ON - Sophomore, Illinois State Redbirds) Keane will be the first logical choice off the bench to replace Ennis at the point guard spot. Keane comes from basketball family and his natural flair for the game and a pass first mentality is evident. Look for Keane to run the offense when Ennis is out or in foul trouble. Solid PG who will play more minutes this upcoming season with the Redbirds. Guards Duane Notice - (Guard/6-3, 195lbs, Woodbridge, ON - Freshmen, South Carolina Gamecocks) Proven player at all levels of play. Tremendous energy with the ability to impact the game on the defensive side of the ball. Notice was the MVP of the Red & White game with 16 points and eight rebounds and should challenge for most minutes played each night. Xavier Rathan-Mayes - (Wing/6-4, 180lbs, Scarborough, ON - Freshmen, Florida State Seminoles) Rathan-Mayes is a volume shooter that can change the outcome of a game with his shooting, leave him open and he will knock it down, eventually. Like Tyler Ennis, Rathan-Mayes has gone against the best in the AAU circuit and played alongside Wiggins at Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Manroop Clair - (Guard/6-2,170lbs, Vancouver, BC - Sophomore, Seattle RedHawks) The best pure shooter on the roster, Clair is the only west coast selection and will be called upon to shoot the ball, where his unlimited range could be a key asset in the international game. Needs to improve physically and show more commitment on the defensive end, but overall, a guy like Clair is a must have for this type of competition. Wings Joe De Ciman - (Wing/6-5, 190lbs, Regina, SK - Sophomore, Colorado State Rams) A physical specimen of the Wing, De Ciman should challenge for a starting spot, and should be in the mix and play a significant role for Canada, specially when Coach Rona decides to go to a smaller defensive oriented united unit. De Ciman was amongst the standouts in the Red & White Game12 points and five rebounds. Mikyle McIntosh - (Wing/6-6, 230lbs, Pickering, ON - Freshmen - Illinois State Redbirds) Talented wing player who loves to get to the rim and is not afraid of contact. McIntosh will most likely have to show his improved shooting touch against FIBA rules and could be a solid contributor for the Canadians specially against less athletic teams in the preliminary rounds. Forwards Trey Lyles - (Forward/6-10, 210lbs, Saskatoon, SK - Senior, Arsenal Technical HS) Mr. Indiana basketball player of the year in 2012 will anchor the Canadians both inside and out. Lyles is currently one of the most highly recruited players in the Class of 2014, and for good reason. At 6-10 he has the finesse to hit the mid-range jumper and has the athleticism to get to the rack from the elbow as well. He put up 13 points and 9 rebounds in intra-squad scrimmage and was right up there with the best players in the world at the U18 championships where he and Wiggins help Canada qualify for the event. Denzell Taylor - (Forward/6-9, 215lbs, Brampton, ON - Freshmen, Old Dominion Monarchs) Hardworking forward who quietly goes about his business. Taylor fits in nicely with this group and will be counted upon to be active on both ends of the floor. Agunwa Okolie - (Foward/6-8, 205lbs, Ajax, ON - Sophomore, Harvard Crimison Tide) Okolie played sparingly for Harvard during his freshmen season and will look to take his NCAA March Madness experience and high basketball IQ to Prague in hopes that it will pay dividends for Canada. Great shot blocking ability for his size. Marko Pirovic - (Forward/6-7, 215 lbs, Bolton, ON - Freshmen, Maine Blackbears) Pirovic has the ability to knock down the outside shot which will be key for a Canada as they space the floor and allow Lyles to operate inside. The Maine BlackBears freshmen can also contribute on the glass thanks to his wide frame but will be in a tough battle for minutes at the forward position. Chris Egi - (Foward/6-8, 205lbs, Markham, ON - Junior, St. Andrews College, HS) The youngest selection, at only 15-years of age Chris Egi won't just be going to these games to watch. Egi is raw, as expected, but plays with hunger and intensity which will earn him the opportunity to further develop his skills and cash in on a few more NCAA scholarship offers. Potential Starters PG - Tyler Ennis SG - Xavier Rathan Mayes SF - Duane Notice PF - Mikyle MacIntosh C - Trey Lyles 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship Schedule Canada opens up the championships against Spain on June 27th, Croatia on the 28th & Korea on the 29th. Surprises No CIS representation? Does this clearly state that Canadian University Basketball (CIS) players aren't good enough to play at this level? Specially, when you have two of the countries top Canadian University coaches making the calls? With all the NCAA Canadian talent in the pipeline, will we ever see a CIS player on the Canadian Junior National Team? A closer look at 2013 CIS Men's Basketball Freshmen Awards list reveals only two names which perhaps would at the very least warrant an invite, Shaquille Keith (13.3 points 3.3 assists/Cape Breton Capers) & 2013 Freshmen of the Year, Deontay Smith who averaged 17.7 rebounds, 7 rebounds and 4.4 assists for the UPEI Panthers. Regardless, if they we were both invited to training camp they wouldn't have made the team. Specially when you have Andrew Wigginsopting not to play and the 2012-13 ACC Freshmen of the Year Olivier Hanlan also not in the mix as he decided to focus on school. Overall Thoughts Canada will need a top three finish in Group A in order to advance to quarter-finals. In order to accomplish this it will most likely need to beat Spain and/or Croatia. The game against Korea won't be easy but should go Canada's way. The keys for the Canadians will be how well they control the defensive boards and their limitation off turnovers. Outside shooting will definitely be a deciding factor as well.

Canadian Daniel Mullings Goes Lebron James On Chinese Defender With Massive Throwdown (VIDEO)

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:33:29 -0400

Daniel Mullings (Toronto, ON) a Junior guard with the New Mexico State Aggies picked off a pass in the backcourt and raced down the other end to throwdown a massive Lebron James like one-hander on the Chinese defender. Mullings is a 6'2, 175 lbs shooting guard who is coming off his best season with the Aggies averaged 13.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54k54SOmJ-s&feature=youtu.be Canada's U23 Developmental team has found success overseas by going a perfect 8-0 on their Four Nations China Tour. In the process, Head Coach Jay Triano has guided his troops to a perfect start with two solid wins against the United States, China. Mullings has a history of showcasing his raw athleticism in games, as evident by this impressive 360 in-game dunk earlier this year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ee7H6TTu4

Danny Green sets NBA Finals record for three-pointers vs. Miami Heat

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:53:37 -0400

Green’s fourth three-pointer of Game 5 against the Heat on Sunday marked his 23rd three-pointer of the series, moving him one past Heat guard Ray Allen, who made 22 in seven games as a member of the title-winning Celtics against the Lakers in 2008. The record-breaking three came with 9:39 remaining in the third quarter and gave San Antonio a 66-60 lead. “I’m keeping focus on playing basketball,” Green said on Saturday, according to the Sun-Sentinel. “I’m not worried about catching any records. I’m worried about helping my team and playing well and helping us win a game. The numbers are things I don’t like to reflect on or look back on. I don’t want to jinx it, but at this point numbers really don’t matter.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHZTgaX_fvQ&feature=player_embedded

Canadian Jabari Craig 6'11 PF, Class 2014 Spring Mixtape (VIDEO)

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:48:45 -0400

Nice little mix on rising Canadian Big men Jabari Craig (Toronto, ON) Most Canadians basketball fans finally got a chance to see Craig at the 2013 RED & White where the 6'11 power forward showed his raw ability, battled hard down lown and ran the floor extremely well. Craig finished with 3 points and four rebounds and blocked shot. The spring Mixtape shows Craig in the AAU circut with Toronto's Northern Kings program. Blocked shots, Dunks, Soft touch and face up game? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7mNqXAzV4Y&feature=youtu.be

Canada Outlasts Puerto Rico To Claim Bronze Medal At 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championships

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:52:14 -0400

Maldonado, Argentina - (BasketballBuzz) - Canada's Cadet Men's National Team rebounded from a heartbreaking loss in the Semi-finals and defeated Puerto Rico 62-50 to win the Bronze Medal at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championships. Unlike the previous game against Argentina, three Canadians reached double-figures, once again led by Jamal Murray's 15 points and three rebounds and four steals. Koby McEwen (Toronto, ON) and Nolan Narain (Hamilton, ON) both came of the bench to give Canada a lift with 12 and 10 points respectively. Eddie Okiyor (Ottawa, ON) was once again active on the glass and pulled down a team high 11 rebounds. Puerto Rico which fell to Canada in the opener of the tournament came out ready to play and led 25-21 at the break and closed out the third-quarter on a 8-0 to take a 39-38 after three-quarters. With team Puerto Rico leading 48-45, Canada went on 17-2 to close out the game while limiting their opponents two just two points in the last 6:00 minutes of the contest to take the Bronze. Arnaldo Toro earned a tough double-double with 15 points, a game-high 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots in the losing effort. Canada wraps the 2013 FIBA Americas Championships with a record of 5-1, the only defeat coming the hands of Argentina.

Canada's U16 Team Loses Heartbreaking OT Semi-Final To Argentina At 2013 FIBA Americas

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:53:20 -0400

Maldonado, Argentina - (BasketballBuzz) - Canada's Cadet Men's National Team (CMNT) fought hard but couldn't contain a much physical and stronger Argentina team and dropped a heartbreaking 65-64 overtime semi-final decision at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championships. Jamal Murray did all he could to try and put the Canadians in the Gold medal game with a game-high 27 points (11 in the third-quarter) and six rebounds. No other Canadian reached double-figures as Eddie Okiyor (Ottawa, ON) nearly missed a double-double before fouling out in overtime with 9 points,eight rebounds and three blocks. Justin Jackson was the top rebounder for the Canadians with 10 to go along with 6 points. The always tough Argentinians jumped all-over the Canadians by opening the game on 9-0 run and led 18-10 after one-quarter and 35-23 by half-time. The Canadians turn it up a notch in the second-half by outscoring their South American counter-parts 15-10 in the 3rd quarter and 18-11 in the final quarter to force overtime. Argentina scored the first five points of the extra session and held on to the one point victory as Nolan Narian's desperation baseline three-pointer came up short at the buzzer, ending Canada's hopes of reach the Gold Medal game. Christian Boudet's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds paced Argentina who also got 13 points from Lucio Delfino. Canada shot a miserable 12-22, 55% from the free-throw line, while Argentina was even worse shooting 10-24 for 42%. The battle on the glass went to Team Argentina 46-39. Argentina (4-1) will now advance to face the USA (5-0) in the Gold Medal game. While Canada (3-1) will play Puerto Rico (3-2)in the 3rd place game. The Canadians opened up the tournament with being defeating the Republicans 76-63 in a hard fought game. A bronze medal would be considered a great achievement by these young men, however Canada has to be disappointment by lost specially, since most expected a USA/Canada Final. The results at the U16 level are usually a good barometer of the where a countries development lies. For Argentina, its still clear that the golden generation of Manu Ginobli, Luis Scola etc may have left but its also evident that the this new generation has bright future ahead of them. Canada also qualified for the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championships by finishing in the Top four of the Annual Americas competition.

Andrew Wiggins still keen on Canada Basketball

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:19:21 -0400

Nice write up confirming that Andrew Wiggins is still committed to the Canadian National Basketball Program. Wiggins father Mitch has confirmed that his son is truly committed to the organization which now employees him as Scout. "Up until this year, he's played in all of Canada's tournaments," the senior Wiggins said of his son, who has been involved in the national program since he was 14 and has never before hesitated to represent his country. "The last couple of years have been very taxing on him," Mitchell said, referring to the snowballing media storm that peaked (for now) with last month's decision to attend the University of Kansas. "We talked to [national senior men's team general manager] Steve Nash and [Jayhawks head coach] Bill Self and we tried to come up with a program that fits everybody, but also gets Andrew some rest because, at the end of the day he's 18. He's a talented kid, but he's 18." Wiggins will attend summer school at Kansas and take advantage of what's widely considered to be one of the best fitness programs in the NCAA, in terms of player development. "The biggest thing was having Steve, Canada Basketball and coach Self on the same page," Mitchell told me. "He's committed to the Canadian national program, but we just felt this was best route for him to go." The scenario does beg the question though: If this summer requires Wiggins taking a step back to catch his breath and prepare, what will next summer -- when he's expected to go No. 1 in the NBA Draft -- bring? Will his pro team, whom he will have yet to play a minute for, frown upon him suiting up for Canada in an even bigger tournament -- the FIBA world championships -- should they get there? As it stands now, Wiggins will not be taking part in the qualifying for that either, the FIBA Americas tournament in Venezuela this August. His father, who, it should be noted, is now employed by Canada Basketball as a scout, says historically jaded fans have nothing to worry about. "I think the route he's chosen to go is the right way because, after this year, things will change," he said. "After this year, he's not going to have a lot of [down time]. He'll be playing on the national team and, hopefully, in the NBA ... he's going to be fresh, he's going to be healthy and his commitment is there as far as Canada Basketball."

2013 NBA Finals: LeBron, Wade Show remind Spurs how devastating duo can be

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:20:46 -0400

It was an epic performance by LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. Staring them in the face was the potential of a 3-1 series hole against the San Antonio Spurs. LeBron James who struggle mightily through the first three-games of the series responded with game-high 33 points and 11 rebounds to even the series at 2-2. Dwayne Wade also written off my many erupted for a vintage 32 points in the crucial game. "Tonight," Shane Battier said, "was a Big Three night." Mostly, it was a Big Two night. The LeBron and D-Wade Show makes worthy opponents seem irrelevant. It makes them look silly. James and Wade combined for 65 points on 50 shots. They had 24 rebounds -- more than the entire San Antonio starting five. They had eight steals, three blocks and one turnover. Wade looked like one of the five best players in the world, not the hobbled man he has been lately. ("Of course he's hurting," James said. "He's been playing with a bum knee all year.") Wade was all over the floor, stealing passes, contorting for layups and looking healthier than he is.