State of the Union. Team Canada Basketball. (FIBA Americas Aug.31-Sep.15)

[frumble]

So, the Canadian Pipeline to NCAAD1 seems to be due for a slowdown in the next couple of years....

NO Canadians in the EXPN100 for 2016.

And only 1 CDN in the EXPN60 for 2017 ---- O'Shea Brissett. This dude:

Waiting for 2018, I guess??

In the meanwhile, who can fill me in on O'Shea?

Justin Jackson is #29 on the ESPN list for 2016. He is also around 30 per Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports.

Nolan Narain and Eddie Ekiyor have been b/w 50 and 100 on most lists. I see they are not on latest ESPN, but are on Rivals, Scout, and 247. Narain is higher on each, but Ekiyor has had a good summer and will probably move up when the lists are updated).
Howard Washington was around 50th a few months ago, but has slipped.

Re 2017, Isaiah Jasey, a C in Texas, is 24th on ESPN. I believe his mother is Canadian, but I don't believe he has ever played for Canada at the cadet level, or even repped Canada at an Adidas or Nike tourney.

As you mention, Brisset is also ESPN top 60.

Draft express has a scouting report on him from the Nike Global Hoops Summit earlier this month.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/O-Shae-Brissett-90157/

They also have reports for Ekiyor, Washington, Kigab, Washington, Christian David, and **** from the Summit.

It would not surprise me if Kigab and/or Lyndell Wigginton were in the top 50 by next year.

[SharoneWright]

ty

[frumble]

Wolstat has his roster predictions in today's Sun. Assuming no Thompson and Murray, he has:

Joseph Pangos Mullings

Stauskas Heslip

Wiggins Doornekamp Ejim

Nicholson Powell

Olynyk Bennett


This seems reasonable. He has the eight that we have as definites a few posts above - Joseph, Stauskas, Heslip, Wiggins, Nicholson, Powell, Olynyk, and Bennett.

For the four open spots, he has:

Pangos as the backup PG. If he is available, it would not surprise me at all if he gets the nod over Anderson.

Mullings as the 5th guard. I would be o.k. with Mullings here instead of English or Rautins. As Buddha noted, Mullings brings a different skill set than Stauskas and Heslip, and might therefore be more useful than having English or Rautins in this spot.

Doornekamp as the back-up SF. As discussed above, I also think this is very likely.

Ejim as the 5th big. I think they would be better off with a true C like Sacre. Someone with some height and bulk in case they need that matchup.

But all in all, Wolstat's list is very similar to what we have discussed.

The other thing of note in Wolstat's column is Triano suggesting that only 14 will be in camp.

[NBACommissioner]

So, the Canadian Pipeline to NCAAD1 seems to be due for a slowdown in the next couple of years....

NO Canadians in the EXPN100 for 2016.

And only 1 CDN in the EXPN60 for 2017 ---- O'Shea Brissett. This dude:

Waiting for 2018, I guess??

In the meanwhile, who can fill me in on O'Shea?

Justin Jackson is #29 on the ESPN list for 2016. He is also around 30 per Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports.

Nolan Narain and Eddie Ekiyor have been b/w 50 and 100 on most lists. I see they are not on latest ESPN, but are on Rivals, Scout, and 247. Narain is higher on each, but Ekiyor has had a good summer and will probably move up when the lists are updated).
Howard Washington was around 50th a few months ago, but has slipped.

Re 2017, Isaiah Jasey, a C in Texas, is 24th on ESPN. I believe his mother is Canadian, but I don't believe he has ever played for Canada at the cadet level, or even repped Canada at an Adidas or Nike tourney.

As you mention, Brisset is also ESPN top 60.

Draft express has a scouting report on him from the Nike Global Hoops Summit earlier this month.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/O-Shae-Brissett-90157/

They also have reports for Ekiyor, Washington, Kigab, Washington, Christian David, and **** from the Summit.

It would not surprise me if Kigab and/or Lyndell Wigginton were in the top 50 by next year.

Isaiah Jasey said happy Canada day on his Twitter and nothing about July 4th. Also, What about guys like DIllon Brooks, Montaguq Gill caesar, Xavier Rathan Mayes they could all be going in those years depending on their play.

[frumble]

Also, What about guys like DIllon Brooks, Montaguq Gill caesar, Xavier Rathan Mayes they could all be going in those years depending on their play.

I think SharoneWright was asking about guys in high school now - the pipeline to NCAA - rather than guys in NCAA now.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Wolstat has his roster predictions in today's Sun. Assuming no Thompson and Murray, he has:

Joseph Pangos Mullings

Stauskas Heslip

Wiggins Doornekamp Ejim

Nicholson Powell

Olynyk Bennett

Ejim as the 5th big. I think they would be better off with a true C like Sacre. Someone with some height and bulk in case they need that matchup.

The other thing of note in Wolstat's column is Triano suggesting that only 14 will be in camp.

That's a pretty good and versatile team. I like the idea of Pangos as the backup PG actually. I think he's got the right game and mentality for the role.

I agree completely on Sacre over Ejim (although I like Ejim and would take him over Doornekamp, but that's probably not happening). Olynyk and Nicholson are going to be focal points of the offence. I wouldn't want to see them getting worn out against a bigger center if we could put Sacre in for 10 minutes a game to take on some of the burden.

If 14 in camp - English and Sacre the other two maybe?

[Patman]

So, the Canadian Pipeline to NCAAD1 seems to be due for a slowdown in the next couple of years....

NO Canadians in the EXPN100 for 2016.

And only 1 CDN in the EXPN60 for 2017 ---- O'Shea Brissett. This dude:

Waiting for 2018, I guess??

In the meanwhile, who can fill me in on O'Shea?

Justin Jackson is #29 on the ESPN list for 2016. He is also around 30 per Rivals, Scout, and 247 Sports.

Nolan Narain and Eddie Ekiyor have been b/w 50 and 100 on most lists. I see they are not on latest ESPN, but are on Rivals, Scout, and 247. Narain is higher on each, but Ekiyor has had a good summer and will probably move up when the lists are updated).
Howard Washington was around 50th a few months ago, but has slipped.

Re 2017, Isaiah Jasey, a C in Texas, is 24th on ESPN. I believe his mother is Canadian, but I don't believe he has ever played for Canada at the cadet level, or even repped Canada at an Adidas or Nike tourney.

As you mention, Brisset is also ESPN top 60.

Draft express has a scouting report on him from the Nike Global Hoops Summit earlier this month.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/O-Shae-Brissett-90157/

They also have reports for Ekiyor, Washington, Kigab, Washington, Christian David, and **** from the Summit.

It would not surprise me if Kigab and/or Lyndell Wigginton were in the top 50 by next year.

Not bad, but still not better than years past. We might have already peaked in terms of producing NCAA stars at one time. Most of those guys will be recruited in D1 if they stay on the right path, but I don't see these guys leaving early and getting drafted, or even having a decorated 4-year career like a Pangos. Chances are less than half of the guys you mentioned will ultimately be NBA players, though they will at the least have solid careers internationally. A few of these guys might even benefit from going the Doornekamp route and staying in Canada and be a big fish in a smaller pond, rather than getting lost in the shuffle in the NCAA.

[frumble]

Latest re Murray and need to be at UK during FIBA Americas.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2015-07-28/jamal-murray-canada-john-calipari-kentucky-olympic-trials

Murray’s presence for FIBA Americas previously did not seem to be essential, and that was a good thing because the University of Kentucky begins fall semester classes on Aug. 26. If he is selected to represent Canada through the end of the tournament, then he could potentially miss two weeks of classes. But after he played so well in the Pan Ams, it’s possible Canada would not be able to field its best team without him.

Kentucky coach John Calipari told Sporting News he provided Canada Basketball officials with a "drop-dead” date Murray would have to arrive on campus to begin the fall term and be eligible to compete in NCAA basketball for the full season.

“We’ll see if there’s any way he can do both, because that’s what I want,” Calipari said. “The kid absolutely wants to play for the national team, and we want that. But the NCAA has really clear guidelines on this.

“This kid is so much for his country, I can’t begin to tell you. Whatever we can do, we’re going to do.”

[jonny three time]

See, I told you guys. They want him there too, it just comes down to more NCAA fine print bull****. The idea that school is more important in frickin August and September is ridiculous, but if some weird NCAA rule has it risking his eligibility then it obviously won't happen. Let's just hope they can find a way around it and we can solidify our backup PG spot.

[frumble]

Not bad, but still not better than years past. We might have already peaked in terms of producing NCAA stars at one time. Most of those guys will be recruited in D1 if they stay on the right path, but I don't see these guys leaving early and getting drafted, or even having a decorated 4-year career like a Pangos. Chances are less than half of the guys you mentioned will ultimately be NBA players, though they will at the least have solid careers internationally. A few of these guys might even benefit from going the Doornekamp route and staying in Canada and be a big fish in a smaller pond, rather than getting lost in the shuffle in the NCAA.

I guess it depends on what you mean by NCAA stars, and how guys develop over the next few years. A lot of guys who are not ranked now could end up being NCAA stars. Pangos wasn't even ranked by US recruiting services coming out of HS, whereas Theo Davis was ranked 36th.

In any case, in terms of top 100 HS rankings, it is about the same as it has been for the past 10 years.

Here is how many top-100 RSCI recruits we have had every year since 1999 (as far back as the RSCI index goes):

1999 1
2000 0
2001 0
2002 1
2003 1
2004 0
2005 2
2006 0
2007 0
2008 2
2009 1
2010 3
2011 3
2012 2
2013 3
2014 1
2015 1 (would be 2 if RSCI included Murray)

So for the past eight years, we have had 1 to 3 top 100 recruits each year.

Still a year to go before the final 2016 rankings are out, but we will have at least 1 top 100 guy (Jackson), and there is decent chance that we have two more (Narain and Ekiyor).

And for 2017 it is very early to speculate, but as of now Jasey and Brissett would be top 100.


In terms of elite guys (let's say top 20 RSCI), we may never match the 2010-2014 period, when we had 8 guys in 5 years (TT, Joseph, Birch, Kabongo, Wiltjer, Bennett, Wiggins, and Lyles) (and 9 in 6 years if you count Murray). We probably won't have a top 20 in 2016 or 2017, but Shi-ttu could be there for 2018 and Barrett for 2019.

[SharoneWright]

Great summary frumble.

[NBACommissioner]

Canada should bring back Dalembert for this Tournament we got no rim protector.

[frumble]

See, I told you guys. They want him there too, it just comes down to more NCAA fine print bull****. The idea that school is more important in frickin August and September is ridiculous, but if some weird NCAA rule has it risking his eligibility then it obviously won't happen. Let's just hope they can find a way around it and we can solidify our backup PG spot.

The issue is not whether Calipari wants Murray to play at FIBAs, but whether Murray is allowed (by NCAA) to play at FIBAs.

Its not that weird a rule, at least in the context of other NCAA rules.

In any case, does anyone know when the drop-dead date referred to by Calipari is? I think its a pretty safe bet that it falls somewhere between Aug 31 and Sep 12, or he wouldn't bother bringing it up.

If Murray is on the roster, but has to leave partway through to get to campus by this drop-dead date, we would be looking at playing the latter games, probably including the all-important semifinal, with an 11-man roster. Would you rather have Anderson for the whole tournament, or Murray for the beginning of the tournament and an empty roster spot for the end?

Canada should bring back Dalembert for this Tournament we got no rim protector.

I think that ship has sailed. But, yeah, he could have helped a lot the last 8 years, and actually could still help now. Arguably would be better than Sacre or Anthony getting 10 minutes a game in a true C role.

If 14 in camp - English and Sacre the other two maybe?

Yeah, or maybe no Sacre but Cadougan? Either way, it seems a 14-man camp may mean Staff is not expecting any more than one of Thompson, Hanlan, Rautins, Pangos, Sacre, Anthony, Shepherd, etc., and the only spots to be determined are two of:
Mullings/English
Anderson/Cadougan
Ejim/Sacre?



In other tournament news, the Dominicans have released their camp invitation list. Horford declined the invite, and Villanueva and Towns are among the invited players who have not yet confirmed their participation.

Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez lead the group of players who secured their presence in the pre-selection, which also features Eloy Vargas, Victor Liz, Edgar Sosa, James Feldeine, Orlando Sanchez, Gerardo Suero, Manuel Fortuna and Edward Santana. Luis Flores, Rigoberto Mendoza, Ronald Ramon, Juan Miguel Suero, Dagoberto Pena, Juan Jose Garcia and Kelvin Peña, also confirmed their presence at Atlanta.

See more at: http://www.fibaamericas.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=044131BB9CB843A5B1DD6F6A3CC2A4C8#sthash.N3ecyqkj.dpuf


Argentina will be without Delfino (committed, but got injured).


And it seems the issue with respect to Brazil's dues has not yet been resolved, their automatic qualifying spot may still be taken away, and therefore they may be competing for a spot at the qualifier. Given how well they played at PanAms with their B squad, this is significant.

[CrookedJ]

Latest re Murray and need to be at UK during FIBA Americas.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-basketball/story/2015-07-28/jamal-murray-canada-john-calipari-kentucky-olympic-trials

Murray’s presence for FIBA Americas previously did not seem to be essential, and that was a good thing because the University of Kentucky begins fall semester classes on Aug. 26. If he is selected to represent Canada through the end of the tournament, then he could potentially miss two weeks of classes. But after he played so well in the Pan Ams, it’s possible Canada would not be able to field its best team without him.

Kentucky coach John Calipari told Sporting News he provided Canada Basketball officials with a "drop-dead” date Murray would have to arrive on campus to begin the fall term and be eligible to compete in NCAA basketball for the full season.

“We’ll see if there’s any way he can do both, because that’s what I want,” Calipari said. “The kid absolutely wants to play for the national team, and we want that. But the NCAA has really clear guidelines on this.

“This kid is so much for his country, I can’t begin to tell you. Whatever we can do, we’re going to do.”

It seems unlikely given that KAT wanted to play for the Dominican last year, and Cal seemed ok with it, and it didn't happen.

From the same Sporting news piece you linked....

Kentucky had a similar situation last fall with freshman center Karl-Anthony Towns, who is a part of the Dominican Republic national team program and played for Calipari in 2011 and 2012, when he was the head coach. Dominicana qualified for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, which ran Aug. 30-Sept. 14. Towns did not participate. Calipari said, “With Karl, we couldn’t make that happen.”

[mojo13]

In other tournament news, the Dominicans have released their camp invitation list. Horford declined the invite, and Villanueva and Towns are among the invited players who have not yet confirmed their participation.

Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez lead the group of players who secured their presence in the pre-selection, which also features Eloy Vargas, Victor Liz, Edgar Sosa, James Feldeine, Orlando Sanchez, Gerardo Suero, Manuel Fortuna and Edward Santana. Luis Flores, Rigoberto Mendoza, Ronald Ramon, Juan Miguel Suero, Dagoberto Pena, Juan Jose Garcia and Kelvin Peña, also confirmed their presence at Atlanta.

See more at: http://www.fibaamericas.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=044131BB9CB843A5B1DD6F6A3CC2A4C8#sthash.N3ecyqkj.dpuf


Argentina will be without Delfino (committed, but got injured).


And it seems the issue with respect to Brazil's dues has not yet been resolved, their automatic qualifying spot may still be taken away, and therefore they may be competing for a spot at the qualifier. Given how well they played at PanAms with their B squad, this is significant.

Thank goodness Horford is not playing...that is a huge relief as he would be the best player in the entire field. Now if the Raps could just hold Luis (Canada Killer) Scola out, we'd be looking pretty.

I highly doubt Karl Towns plays entering his NBA rookie year, but I'll keep the fingers crossed on that.
C'mon Brazil...Pay your dues...

[Raps Maniac]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/626451801504661504[/tweet]

[frumble]

Thank goodness Horford is not playing...that is a huge relief as he would be the best player in the entire field. Now if the Raps could just hold Luis (Canada Killer) Scola out, we'd be looking pretty.

I highly doubt Karl Towns plays entering his NBA rookie year, but I'll keep the fingers crossed on that.
C'mon Brazil...Pay your dues...

Yeah, kind of crazy that our chances for qualifying for Olympics are being affected by a Brazilian late dues issue. Maybe Canada and Argentina should offer to cover some of the amounts.

Re Scola, FIBA says:

The expected additions of Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni and Selem Safar, just to name a few players, will strengthen the squad for the FIBA Americas Championship, where the two finalists will clinch spots in the Rio de Janeiro Games. - See more at: http://www.fibaamericas.com/en/noticiasread4.asp?r=A35206F34C2B46B382733ED05BE3657D#sthash.VAZyO61T.dpuf



Re Murray, Triano was interviewed by Adam Zagoria and Josh Newman today. I don't think the podcast (Four Quarters) is up yet, but Newman and Zagoria have been tweeting some info from it.

largely stuff we already know - Ennis out with surgery, Thompson still to be determined, and Wiggins confirmed. Re Murray, still trying to work it out.

Big takeaways from Jay Triano: Confirmed Andrew Wiggins will play at FIBA, Tristian Thompson is TBD, hopes to work out Murray situation

[aminiaturebuddha]

In other tournament news, the Dominicans have released their camp invitation list. Horford declined the invite, and Villanueva and Towns are among the invited players who have not yet confirmed their participation.

Francisco Garcia and Eulis Baez lead the group of players who secured their presence in the pre-selection, which also features Eloy Vargas, Victor Liz, Edgar Sosa, James Feldeine, Orlando Sanchez, Gerardo Suero, Manuel Fortuna and Edward Santana. Luis Flores, Rigoberto Mendoza, Ronald Ramon, Juan Miguel Suero, Dagoberto Pena, Juan Jose Garcia and Kelvin Peña, also confirmed their presence at Atlanta.

And it seems the issue with respect to Brazil's dues has not yet been resolved, their automatic qualifying spot may still be taken away, and therefore they may be competing for a spot at the qualifier. Given how well they played at PanAms with their B squad, this is significant.

The Dominican team is certainly much less scary without Horford and Towns than it will be in future events (although they'll be far from an easy out in this tournament regardless).

Agreed on Brazil, they'll be a tough team no matter what, so if they don't have to qualify it makes the road much easier for Canada. Argentina will still be tough, I think Puerto Rico's time is mostly past with that group of players, and Mexico will give a fight on their home soil (along with the traditional favourable reffing for the home team in FIBA events).

All in all, I think it's very likely we will finish Top 5 and at least get a slot in the play-in tournament next year (which is always tough with the next best European teams), and still look to have decent odds to finish top 2. Without knowing the full rosters yet, I think it's likely we'll field one of the strongest squads, along with Brazil and Argentina, although as we all know, one little slip-up in these tournaments is dream killing.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Regarding Wiggins, I'm obviously ecstatic that he'll be there, but I hope the team doesn't try to rely on him too much, particularly on the offensive end. We have to remember that he's just played one season in the NBA for a team that didn't win much at all, and was horribly disorganized on the offensive and defensive end. He still has a lot to learn about playing team ball.

I really hope Triano runs the offence primarily through Olynyk and Nicholson, with Wiggins, Stauskas, Bennett and Joseph as secondary options. Of course, I've been dreaming about Olynyk/Stauskas pick-and-rolls for Team Canada for a year and a half now. I think that should be a bread-and butter play for the team.

[Syd-TK3]

Hopefully Tristan plays