NCAA Canadian Watch List 2020-21

Hair Canada · Post #101 » by **Hair Canada** » Tue Jan 5, 2021 3:48 pm

BrianRay88 wrote:Its critical Elijah Fisher gets involved with Canada Basketball to get accustomed to the program and the feeling of representing his country while still young and hopefully experiencing success.

In principle, this seems to be true. Though it didn't quite work well for Andrew Wiggins.

Anyway, so far, Fisher and his handlers seem to be quite preoccupied with class rankings and I've never heard them even mention playing for team Canada. The one time he had a chance to play with a Canadian national youth team, in the Summer of 2019, he opted out. Also didn't play with the Ontario young teams in the Canadian nationals. Maybe it's a strategy?

mtr15 · Post #102 » by **mtr15** » Tue Jan 5, 2021 4:50 pm

Hair Canada wrote:
BrianRay88 wrote:Its critical Elijah Fisher gets involved with Canada Basketball to get accustomed to the program and the feeling of representing his country while still young and hopefully experiencing success.

In principle, this seems to be true. Though it didn't quite work well for Andrew Wiggins.

Anyway, so far, Fisher and his handlers seem to be quite preoccupied with class rankings and I've never heard them even mention playing for team Canada. The one time he had a chance to play with a Canadian national youth team, in the Summer of 2019, he opted out. Also didn't play with the Ontario young teams in the Canadian nationals. Maybe it's a strategy?

If the prep high school season is cancelled (OSBA in Ontario, NPA nationwide), I wonder if Fisher and other top HS prep prospects playing in Canada (eg. Enoch Boakye of George Harris Prep in Brampton) can take part in the FIBA AmeriCup qualification next month. I'm guessing Canada Basketball will have to get creative in forming a team if players playing pro ball overseas can't come to Canada for training camp.

Hair Canada · Post #103 » by **Hair Canada** » Tue Jan 5, 2021 7:06 pm

Interesting idea. Assuming the AmeriCup actually happens (quite a big IF given the current situation), I think that would be nice. SGA played a couple of games with the SNT as an 18yo. So did Barrett and Nembhard. But they were mostly end-of-rotation players (except for Barrett). Fisher is not yet 17, so we'll see.

Hair Canada · Post #104 » by **Hair Canada** » Thu Jan 7, 2021 4:14 am

AJ Lawson didn't open the season very well and then South Carolina went on a nearly month-long COVID hiatus.

But he's come up with a couple of really strong games. 25 points a couple of days ago and a career-high 30 points today in a beat-down of Texas A&M. Could have had even more but twisted his ankle with 6 minutes to go and had to leave the game. AJ still has a tendency to jack up some shots and so he doesn't shoot that well. But these are strong numbers. Consistency has always been his Achilles' heel so we'll have to see if he can sustain this.

On the other side, Emmanuel Miller with a career-high of his own -- 28 points. He's been really awesome so far and the picture of stability and production. But he's just too small to play only in the paint as he does now. His 80% from the line this year suggests he can perhaps do more, but he's yet to score a 3 (took very few) and also doesn't really shoot from the mid-range. I think he'll have to do that to really be considered an NBA prospect.

mojo13 · Post #105 » by **mojo13** » Thu Jan 7, 2021 5:40 pm

Hair Canada wrote:AJ Lawson didn't open the season very well and then South Carolina went on a nearly month-long COVID hiatus.

But he's come up with a couple of really strong games. 25 points a couple of days ago and a career-high 30 points today in a beat-down of Texas A&M. Could have had even more but twisted his ankle with 6 minutes to go and had to leave the game. AJ still has a tendency to jack up some shots and so he doesn't shoot that well. But these are strong numbers. Consistency has always been his Achilles' heel so we'll have to see if he can sustain this.

On the other side, Emmanuel Miller with a career-high of his own -- 28 points. He's been really awesome so far and the picture of stability and production. But he's just too small to play only in the paint as he does now. His 80% from the line this year suggests he can perhaps do more, but he's yet to score a 3 (took very few) and also doesn't really shoot from the mid-range. I think he'll have to do that to really be considered an NBA prospect.

Hair - even if Miller doesn't show much of a shot don't you think he will still get NBA looks? He just seems so active, aggressive and athletic out there. He's seems a much better but similar undersized, non-shooting version of Jerimi Grant when he was drafted out of Syracuse in the early 2nd round. Heck- 6'7 Gerald Wallace shot about 17% from three this one year at Alabama. Not sure if those are great comparisons, but they popped into my head as undersized athletic 4s who couldn't shoot (in college at least)

Hair Canada · Post #106 » by **Hair Canada** » Fri Jan 8, 2021 6:27 am

Truth is, who knows re Miller. I love him as a player. But right now it's not just that he doesn't hit the threes. It's that he doesn't shoot them and also doesn't shoot the mid-range. And I can't see him managing to score in the paint the way he does now at the NBA. So what does he bring offensively to be able to stay on the court?

He's a very good athlete, but not a freak athlete like Gerald Wallace was. And both Wallace and Grant are significantly bigger. Wallace had a 7'1 wingspan and was significantly stronger (if I remember correctly, he was around 220, while Miller is around 200). Grant is 6'8 with a 7'3 wingspan. So both could cover the undersized PF position much better defensively, but could (can) also play above the rim on offense with ease, which Miller doesn't often do. Grant, of course, also improved his shooting tremendously over the years.

All that to say is that again, I can't be sure about it, but I think without at least the threat of a shot Miller will be hard-pressed to find a rotation spot in the NBA. Someone might take a two-way gamble on him, the way Toronto did with Brissett last year, but he'll have to show something more to justify his minutes. And I think that "something more" is the ability to space defenses with the threat of shooting it a bit, on top of being a plus on defense.

mojo13 · Post #107 » by **mojo13** » Fri Jan 8, 2021 4:24 pm

Sam Vecenie’s 2021 Mock Draft 2.0. The Canadians:
47. Chris Duarte
57. Marcus Carr
60. Quincy Guerrier

Guerrier’s strong run sees him crack the Top 60. Carr still being haunted by the doubt his game translates to the NBA. Duarte continues as the highest rated Canadian on most mocks.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Hair Canada · Post #108 » by **Hair Canada** » Fri Jan 8, 2021 6:46 pm

Vecenie is my man. Glad to see Duarte getting love. He's really been balling. His defensive STOCKS are great (not quite Matisse Thubulle-like, but he's getting close) and his offensive production is awesome. Guerrier had an off game yesterday, but nice to see him get some recognition. Mathurin I think is right on the verge. Thing is that as a freshman he'll need to get into the first-round conversation to consider putting his name for the 2021 draft. I think he's not far, but will need a couple more strong showings like the one he had this week.

On other news, it didn't take that long for Javonte Brown to decide he wants out of Uconn. didn't really get the opportunity. Remains a really interesting physical profile, but see what I wrote about him in the first post on this thread.

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Javonte-Brown-transfer-UConn-transfer-portal-158819575/

Hair Canada · Post #109 » by **Hair Canada** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:50 am

As I just wrote, Chris Duarte continues to look great. 25 today in a super-efficient game and a tough Oregon win over Utah. Whenever he left the court for a couple of minutes, Oregon immediately fell off the cliff and had to play catch with Utah.

How great has Duarte been so far? He's scoring 18.5 a game, shooting the lights off from all ranges for a 70% true shooting.
Oh, and he had 6 steals today (actually 7 but they didn't give him one of them) for a season average of 2.6, to which he adds 1 block per game.

Looks even better if we take just the last 5 games: 23ppg, 4 3-pointers per game shooting 50%, 3.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks.

Karanpal · Post #110 » by **Karanpal** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:45 pm

He's really good and working his way into a first round pick

OntZags · Post #111 » by **OntZags** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:35 pm

Hair Canada wrote:As I just wrote, Chris Duarte continues to look great. 25 today in a super-efficient game and a tough Oregon win over Utah.

I saw he has a DR connection, is he actually in Canada's pool of players? Or is this a TBD kinda situation ala Clarke? (though BC seems to be bought in)

Post #112 » by **Reeko** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 4:47 pm

OntZags wrote:
Hair Canada wrote:As I just wrote, Chris Duarte continues to look great. 25 today in a super-efficient game and a tough Oregon win over Utah.

I saw he has a DR connection, is he actually in Canada's pool of players? Or is this a TBD kinda situation ala Clarke? (though BC seems to be bought in)

He was raised in DR, no way he considers himself Canadian.

Hair Canada · Post #113 » by **Hair Canada** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:10 pm

I think it's similar to the Clarke situation. As far as I know, he was born in Montreal to a Canadian father who died at an early age. The family then moved to the DR and then to NY when he was a teenager. He didn't play with any youth National Team so it's really up to him to decide. But that's assuming he's good enough to play for the national team (just a reminder, he's already 23.5). In the meantime, he's (also) a Canadian regardless of whether he plays with the national team, just like Clarke.

Hair Canada · Post #114 » by **Hair Canada** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 6:04 am

Ben Mathurin with another career night. This time 31 points with a wonderful shooting night (6 of 7 from 3).

For the season, he's now at 49% from 3 (nearly 4 shots per game) and 83% from the line.

Tonight was Ben's first game as a starter. But I imagine he's going to start from now on, and not only because of how he played tonight. Arizona's leading scorer, SG Jemral Baker, broke his wrist and is out for the season.

When will Mathurin start getting some first-round looks from draft boards? With his athleticism, shooting, and age (only 18.5), it's bound to happen soon enough if he continues to shoot like this.

Of note, Primo is also starting lately for Albama, getting more minutes and playing quite well.

mojo13 · Post #115 » by **mojo13** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 4:48 pm

Hair Canada wrote:I think it's similar to the Clarke situation. As far as I know, he was born in Montreal to a Canadian father who died at an early age. The family then moved to the DR and then to NY when he was a teenager. He didn't play with any youth National Team so it's really up to him to decide. But that's assuming he's good enough to play for the national team (just a reminder, he's already 23.5). In the meantime, he's (also) a Canadian regardless of whether he plays with the national team, just like Clarke.

I will say DR has been chasing him for much longer (not sure if Canada ever has) and that he is unofficially in their "pool". They were attempting to get him to play on their WC Qualifier teams and in then in the WC.....but it didn't happen to the DR fanbases disappointment. I don't know the reasons behind him not playing (could be many), but if I had to bet I'd say the odds of him playing for DR are higher than Canada. The DR fanbase seem to think he is theirs....but we know that can easily change depending on which way the wind is blowing.

Hair Canada · Post #116 » by **Hair Canada** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 8:09 pm

Jon Rothstein with his midseason all-American picks. Carr and Duarte on the third team. Not bad.

https://collegehoopstoday.com/index.php/rothstein-files/midseason-all-americans-for-the-20-21-season/

Hair Canada · Post #117 » by **Hair Canada** » Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:21 am

Moncrieffe with a career game: 22 points on good shooting and 12 rebounds in a big win over Iowa State. Following up on another good game against Baylor with 13 and 10.

If only he could shoot a little... So far, he didn't shoot a 3-pointer. From the line, he's around 45%.

aminiaturebuddha · Post #118 » by **aminiaturebuddha** » Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:03 pm

Ben Mathurin left last night's game with an ankle sprain. Apparently, x-rays were negative for a break, so at least it's not too serious, but it's still unfortunate timing as he'll probably miss some time and was just starting to get rolling.

Hair Canada · Post #119 » by **Hair Canada** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 3:22 pm

A couple of notable performances yesterday:

AJ Lawson continues his solid season with another 20+ game, this time in a quality win over Florida. South Carolina has not been very good this season and Lawson, as usual, had a couple of weak performances. But overall, he's been better this year, with almost 18 points per game and 20ppg over his last 8. Could be a second-round pick in the coming draft.

Matthew-Alexander Moncrieff has also been very good lately. In his last 4 games he's starting and getting more than 30 minutes per game (previously he did not play more than 25 in any game) And he has 16 points and 9.5 rebounds, with improved field goal percentage (58%) and even better accuracy from the line (62% compared with 45% before that). It's a short stretch, but it seems like he's finding his footing at the college level. Next year will be crucial for him, as he'll have to start showing that he can at least pose some threat from the perimeter (did not shoot a 3 so far) to be considered an NBA prospect. Wouldn't be easy.

Finally, Jahvon Blair continues his solid senior season at Georgetown, with almost 18 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds, showing some improved shooting (still not great). Yesterday Georgetown upset #15 Creighton and Blair was very good with 22 points and 7 assists. Europe is calling.

mojo13 · Post #120 » by **mojo13** » Thu Feb 4, 2021 5:42 pm

Latest Tankathon has Duarte now in the first round #28) and AJ Lawson in the last e second (#58).

Still no Ben Mathurin which is surprising, as he is still outperforming 1st round prospects with similar profiles.
I've been looking for Primo and Guerrier to show up somewhere too...but nothing yet.

Edit: Guerrier was 60, Carr 57 and Duarte 47 on Sam Vecenie's last Top 60 (Jan 8).