Team Canada Basketball Thread

[aminiaturebuddha]

Found a lot of good material over the last day relating mostly to March Madness...

Q&A with Rowan Barrett regarding our Canadian's in March Madness - nice little story featuring Shai.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/qa-canada-basketball-assistant-gm-canadians-march-madness/

The Ringer Article on Shai - nice read.

https://www.theringer.com/college-basketball/2018/3/15/17122176/shai-gilgeous-alexander-kentucky-calipari

SB article on "All-Canadian" NCAA teams. Crazy to think how far we've come where we now have articles like this.

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/3/10/17099034/take-a-look-at-the-2017-18-ncaa-all-canadian-college-basketball-teams

Thanks for these. I had seen the Ringer one, but not the others.

I'd have to take issue with the All-Canadian teams not including Koby McEwen somewhere, but aside from that, pretty cool.

[aminiaturebuddha]

He looks much better in this video than the past ones I watched. He plays very controlled but he has a deceptive first step. I want to see if he can do this in the NBA. Kentucky only played 8 guys that game.

Please tell me you meant to write "game" and you haven't been calling him a bust solely based upon a few videos.

[Hair Canada]

Found a lot of good material over the last day relating mostly to March Madness...

Q&A with Rowan Barrett regarding our Canadian's in March Madness - nice little story featuring Shai.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/qa-canada-basketball-assistant-gm-canadians-march-madness/

The Ringer Article on Shai - nice read.

https://www.theringer.com/college-basketball/2018/3/15/17122176/shai-gilgeous-alexander-kentucky-calipari

SB article on "All-Canadian" NCAA teams. Crazy to think how far we've come where we now have articles like this.

https://www.midmajormadness.com/2018/3/10/17099034/take-a-look-at-the-2017-18-ncaa-all-canadian-college-basketball-teams

Really nice, thanks. Good to see that Barrett is so involved and passionate about these kids. I know it's his job, but there've been questions about it -- whether he's only in it for his son.

[TooBad]

He looks much better in this video than the past ones I watched. He plays very controlled but he has a deceptive first step. I want to see if he can do this in the NBA. Kentucky only played 8 guys that game.

Please tell me you meant to write "game" and you haven't been calling him a bust solely based upon a few videos.

I've watched him live several times. My comment was based on his highlight video tonight though.

[mojo13]

Little bit of bad news here. Pitt fired their coach and now all the players are looking to leave including Marcus Carr and Shameil Stevenson.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22792196/eight-pittsburgh-panthers-basketball-players-asking-release-wake-coaching-change

If they go, they need to sit a year right? Nothing special about asking for and receiving a "release" from the school.



Some discussion here on Bennett maybe getting a call up with all the injuries in Boston:
https://www.ridiculousupside.com/2018/3/13/17117242/devin-williams-boston-celtics-maine-red-claws-nba-gleague
Would be a great story if he can get back to the NBA and carve out a role.


Khem Birch's minutes are starting to bounce back by taking minutes away from Biyombo (at some by playing PF next to Vuc). He had a pretty good game the other night sort of containing Giannis. At least he was the only one that did anything to slow him down.

[Hair Canada]

Little bit of bad news here. Pitt fired their coach and now all the players are looking to leave including Marcus Carr and Shameil Stevenson.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22792196/eight-pittsburgh-panthers-basketball-players-asking-release-wake-coaching-change

If they go, they need to sit a year right? Nothing special about asking for and receiving a "release" from the school.



Some discussion here on Bennett maybe getting a call up with all the injuries in Boston:
https://www.ridiculousupside.com/2018/3/13/17117242/devin-williams-boston-celtics-maine-red-claws-nba-gleague
Would be a great story if he can get back to the NBA and carve out a role.


Khem Birch's minutes are starting to bounce back by taking minutes away from Biyombo (at some by playing PF next to Vuc). He had a pretty good game the other night sort of containing Giannis. At least he was the only one that did anything to slow him down.

Thanks for sharing mojo. Interesting stuff. Too bad if that's the case, cause Carr and Stevenson might be up for breakout years (especially Carr, who's still just 18yo).

[Hair Canada]

Mfiondu Kabengele was showing really nicely yesterday for Florida State in the win over Miz. 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Was probably the best player on the court (this game) in a game that included Michael and Jontay Porter (and also Kassius Robertson, who had a very nice 19-point game to top up a great college career). We haven't talked about Kanebgele at all in this thread. Maybe it's the effort of spelling the name (both first and last) correctly... More likely, the fact that he was redshirted last year and got pretty limited playing time this year as a rookie. But talent wise, he's really intriguing. A long 6'9 or 6'10 (7'1 wingspan) PF, fluid athlete, moves well, good defensive presence, and has also improved his offensive skills (can shoot the 3 and his shooting form looks better this year). Might be due for a breakout season next year with more minutes and confidence. We should definitely add him to the list of guys with the potential to make the jump to the big league in the coming years.

[Pooh_Jeter]

Mfiondu Kabengele was showing really nicely yesterday for Florida State in the win over Miz. 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Was probably the best player on the court (this game) in a game that included Michael and Jontay Porter (and also Kassius Robertson, who had a very nice 19-point game to top up a great college career). We haven't talked about Kanebgele at all in this thread. Maybe it's the effort of spelling the name (both first and last) correctly... More likely, the fact that he was redshirted last year and got pretty limited playing time this year as a rookie. But talent wise, he's really intriguing. A long 6'9 or 6'10 (7'1 wingspan) PF, fluid athlete, moves well, good defensive presence, and has also improved his offensive skills (can shoot the 3 and his shooting form looks better this year). Might be due for a breakout season next year with more minutes and confidence. We should definitely add him to the list of guys with the potential to make the jump to the big league in the coming years.

Read on Twitter

I had never heard of him, but definitely someone to keep on eye on.

[Alpha Mentality]

Mfiondu Kabengele was showing really nicely yesterday for Florida State in the win over Miz. 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Was probably the best player on the court (this game) in a game that included Michael and Jontay Porter (and also Kassius Robertson, who had a very nice 19-point game to top up a great college career). We haven't talked about Kanebgele at all in this thread. Maybe it's the effort of spelling the name (both first and last) correctly... More likely, the fact that he was redshirted last year and got pretty limited playing time this year as a rookie. But talent wise, he's really intriguing. A long 6'9 or 6'10 (7'1 wingspan) PF, fluid athlete, moves well, good defensive presence, and has also improved his offensive skills (can shoot the 3 and his shooting form looks better this year). Might be due for a breakout season next year with more minutes and confidence. We should definitely add him to the list of guys with the potential to make the jump to the big league in the coming years.

Read on Twitter

I had never heard of him, but definitely someone to keep on eye on.

Apparently he is the nephew of Dikembe Mutombo according to his Florida State bio.

http://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/

[Alpha Mentality]

Read on Twitter

Talk about turning it up when the games matter the most.

[TooBad]

The race for best Canadian player has switched completely since the allstar break.

It was
1)Murray
2)Lyles
3)Olynyk
4)Wiggins
5)Brooks
6)Powell

Now Its

1) Brooks (this guy has been on fire and outplayed Murray tonight in a crucial game for the Nuggets)
2) Powell (one of the best pick and roll guys in the league right now)
3)Murray (He has turned into Wiggins, its embarrassing to see how passive an awful he has been lately)
4)Wiggins
5) Olynyk
6) Lyles (he is still playing well but has been knocked back because of minutes nothing else)

[TooBad]

Read on Twitter

Talk about turning it up when the games matter the most.

This guy is going to be drafted top 10 at this rate, I don't understand how he does this. He must be a master at switching speeds because I feel like I would beat him in 1 on 1 if I played him. I don't know how he pulls this off even in college.

[mojo13]

That there has to be is the hottest of countless hot takes.

He is the best player on UK and a 6’6 PG with a 7ft wingspan.. just roll with it.

[TooBad]

That there has to be is the hottest of countless hot takes.

He is the best player on UK and a 6’6 PG with a 7ft wingspan.. just roll with it.

This explains it.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been mentored by Canadian basketball great Steve Nash, adopted those early hours for extra refinement.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nba/charlotte-hornets/article205720679.html

[mojo13]

Fine read, but Nash has nothing to do with it. Once again people like to throw his name into the mix because he is Canadian, but he has next to nothing to do with these guys or the senior national team despite the honorary GM title.

Shai earned this on his own.

[RaptorHusky]

Stepping aside March Madness and back to NBA recalling last game - dat Powell boy of Mavs can be really good!

[SharoneWright]

Mfiondu Kabengele was showing really nicely yesterday for Florida State in the win over Miz. 14 points, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Was probably the best player on the court (this game) in a game that included Michael and Jontay Porter (and also Kassius Robertson, who had a very nice 19-point game to top up a great college career). We haven't talked about Kanebgele at all in this thread. Maybe it's the effort of spelling the name (both first and last) correctly... More likely, the fact that he was redshirted last year and got pretty limited playing time this year as a rookie. But talent wise, he's really intriguing. A long 6'9 or 6'10 (7'1 wingspan) PF, fluid athlete, moves well, good defensive presence, and has also improved his offensive skills (can shoot the 3 and his shooting form looks better this year). Might be due for a breakout season next year with more minutes and confidence. We should definitely add him to the list of guys with the potential to make the jump to the big league in the coming years.

Read on Twitter

I had never heard of him, but definitely someone to keep on eye on.

Apparently he is the nephew of Dikembe Mutombo according to his Florida State bio.

http://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/

Mfiondu moves on!

Side note. Is Dwight Powell really 6'11"? I haven't had much chance to watch Mavs games this year, but he always struck me as something closer to 6'9". Kinda Siakam sized....

Edit: Guess I'm wrong, draft pages back in 2014 also had him at 6'11"... hmmm. Doesn't seem TimmyD height to me. I always thought he was pretty good at being crafty in order to get by guys near the rim due to being slightly undersized... I guess I'm fine with it .

[Alpha Mentality]

Read on Twitter

I had never heard of him, but definitely someone to keep on eye on.

Apparently he is the nephew of Dikembe Mutombo according to his Florida State bio.

http://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/

Mfiondu moves on!

Was Mfiondu even on Canada Basketballs radar before this year? I haven't even see anything on him involving Canada Basketball

[Hair Canada]

Apparently he is the nephew of Dikembe Mutombo according to his Florida State bio.

http://seminoles.com/sports/basketball/roster/mfiondu-kabengele/

Mfiondu moves on!

Was Mfiondu even on Canada Basketballs radar before this year? I haven't even see anything on him involving Canada Basketball

I don't think so. He's kind of a late bloomer, who shot up in height a few inches in his last high school year (was previously a 6'5). Was also quite rudimentary skill-wise earlier on. Reminds me a bit of Chris Boucher's story on that level, though Boucher broke out at an even older age. Anyway, seems like it's now time for Basketball Canada to take notice.

[SharoneWright]

Hadn't seen this posted yet. It's official: R.J. Barrett named Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year


https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/r-j-barrett-named-boys-basketball-player-of-the-year

Seems Duke alum, Jayson Tatum, pulled up to a restaurant where RJ and his family were eating to present him the trophy. Fun stuff.