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I thought I'd put together a thread to talk Canada Bball, as well as give a bit of an outline on the tournaments coming up, and what they mean to the Canadian basketball team for those unaware, as well as a brief rundown of players currently projected to be on the squad as well as prospects that will start filtering into the system for the 2020 Olympics, and 2024 Olympics.

If you have anything to add, or corrections to make, let me know, and I'll edit the OP.



Road to the Olympics

Pan Am games

Date: July 16
Location: Toronto, Canada

This tournament does not matter in terms of qualifying to the Olympics, but it is a great warm up a month before a tournament we can qualify to the Olympics. If we are going to take this seriously, we need all our guys that plan to be a part of the Fiba America’s, and Olympic teams to join the team for this. There will be lots of competition that we plan to see during the Fiba America’s tournament, and possibly the USA team as well for some solid practice competition. It’s nice it’s in Toronto, and it looks like Wiggins will take part, which hopefully means our other guys follow suit. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/panam/news/and ... -1.2946045

FIBA Americas

Date: August 25th – September 6th
Location: Monterray, Mexico

Need to finish top 2 to qualify for the Olympics. If we don’t accomplish this, but show we are one of the best teams that has yet to qualify for the Olympics we’ll have one last shot where we’ll compete in the “Olympic Qualifying Tournament”, which takes place July 6 2016.

Our grouping, and competition can be viewed here for this summer’s tournament.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_FIBA_ ... ampionship

Finishing top 2 is not an easy outcome with some of the teams out there. We need our guys to commit to playing this year if we want to succeed.

Roster

GM: Steve Nash
Coach: Jay Triano

PG- Corey Joseph – Tyler Ennis – Kevin Pangos
SG- Nik Stauskas – Carl English
SF- Andrew Wiggins – Carl English
PF – Kelly Olynyk- Andrew Nicholson – Anthony Bennett
C- Tristan Thompson – Robert Sacre- Joel Anthony

The team is going to have by far the most amount of NBA players in the tournament; however, there’s a lot of young guys, still some weaknesses, and some shallow spots in the roster.



Prospects

As noted above, there are still some weaknesses, and shallow spots on team Canada’s Roster. Some of that will be fixed with experience. For example, it would be really nice if Stauskas rounded into a deadly shooter at the 2, because he would be a nice compliment beside Wiggins on the wing.

Prospects may fill the voids that don’t get filled from our current players improving. For example, we are thin at the backup wing spots, and don’t have a ton of size down low.

Currently in the NCAA

Trey Lyles, Kentucky [Power Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfbcLtIG7_A[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... trey-lyles

Dillon Brooks
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iJk4YL9kqo[/youtbe]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... lon-brooks

Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga [Power Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNGdkfWARk[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... le-wiltjer

Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga [Point Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5pCbosfv4A[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... vin-pangos

Kenny Cherry, Baylor [Point Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuJQ1lOZHKM[/youtube]
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketb ... enny-chery

Oliver Hanlan, Boston College, [Combo Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGmdDuGpDzE[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... ier-hanlan

Xavier Rathan-Mayes, FSU [Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SlySzhWt3w[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... than-mayes

Trae Bell-Haynes, UVM [Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXo_pfX-9hE[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... ell-haynes

Yohanny Dalembert, JMU, [Power Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie0PKiS_wSA[/youtube]
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketb ... -dalembert



Currently in 12th grade

Munis Tutu [Point Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3BbUnDJoZg[/youtube]

Jalen Poyser [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbrqULqLgnQ[/youtube]

Joseph Chartouny [Point Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUVpf-eKw7g[/youtube]

Obi Okolie [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl7vt81ehUI[/youtube]

Derek Ogbiede [Center]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9oM1PBV2ao[/youtube]


Grade 11

Jamal Murray [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBhAo5FdR9o[/youtube]

Justin Jackson [Small Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_xMiF1ysEY[/youtube]

Nolan Narain [Power Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_vhjtBnRKk[/youtube]

Eddie Ekiyor [Power Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDy0uVswtjc[/youtube]


Grade 10

Abu Kigab [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eeklpo3-Lg[/youtube]

Christian David [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ybMvLmiR0[/youtube]

Oshae Brissett [Small Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fILvnK6BnJw[/youtube]

Jerome Desrosiers [Small Forward]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzlPjbTfHwM[/youtube]

Nickeil Alexander Walker [Shooting Guard]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3nSKchDoqw[/youtube]


Grade 9

Rowan Barrett Jris in grade 8, 6’4” small forward. Currently ranked #2 in the world for the 2019 class. With his father being a former pro basketball player he should have every advantage when it comes to training.

https://future150.com/jr/basketball-rankings/2019
http://hoopshype.ca/new-kid-block-2019- ... arrett-jr/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMZY-Q9OJzY[/youtube]




What I see is that we still have a long ways to go as a program, and it would be an accomplishment to just make the Olympics, and win some games this go around. I doubt we’re going too far next year, as the team still has plenty of room for improvement.
2020, and 2024 are probably the years we are aiming to really take off. By 2024 Wiggins will be 29 years old, and he (as well as other guys like Stauskas) will be in their prime. Additionally current guys in high school like Justin Jackson, and Jamal Murray will be 24 years old, and in their 5th year in the NBA which could really help our wing depth. Even Rowan Barrett Jr. Will be in his 2nd year in the NBA by then, and could help out if he turns into a good player.

You forgot Dillon Brooks and I don't think that Justin Jackson is Canadian. The one in the video is playing for UNC right now. The Canadian Justin Jackson is on Findlay.

And Rowan Barrett Jr. is currently in Grade 9. He's playing for St. Marcellinus I think. Saw him played a few months back against BCSS.

Another kid to look out for is XRM's brother. Heard he has the potential to be better than his brother.

What do you guys think of Ejim on the team? He was on the team last year and I like his ability to play the 4 in small-ball line-ups; can stretch the defense and occasionally hit the 3.

From what I can tell, we do not have the same level of prospects coming up, as we have had the last few years. However there are a few key guys that could help, which would drastically help our rotation on Team Canada.

Currently we are super thin at the wings. Justin Jackson, Jamal Murray, Abu Kigab, and Rowan Barrett Jr. are some interesting prospects at the wing, and if 1 or 2 of them pan out it could really help us on the wing. All 4 of them will be old enough to be in the NBA by the time the 2020 Olympics roll around, and a couple of them could be in their 3rd year of the NBA if things go perfect for them.

Undefeated wrote:You forgot Dillon Brooks and I don't think that Justin Jackson is Canadian. The one in the video is playing for UNC right now. The Canadian Justin Jackson is on Findlay.

And Rowan Barrett Jr. is currently in Grade 9. He's playing for St. Marcellinus I think. Saw him played a few months back against BCSS.

Another kid to look out for is XRM's brother. Heard he has the potential to be better than his brother.

Thanks for the help UF, fixed everything you pointed out except I can't find any info on Xavier's brother.

What was your impression on Rowan Jr?

Undefeated wrote:What do you guys think of Ejim on the team? He was on the team last year and I like his ability to play the 4 in small-ball line-ups; can stretch the defense and occasionally hit the 3.

He's an interesting player, and had a great Senior year. I haven't followed him in Europe this year, but it is good to see him getting some minutes. He's pretty small at the 4 though, and the 4 is by far our deepest position with Olynyk, Nicholson, Thompson, Bennett all being able to play that position. Do you think he could handle some backup 3 minutes, and challenge English though? We are really thin there with English being our best backup wing right now from what I can tell.

Would call Olynyk the C. Nice fit for international basketball.

TRNBA12 wrote:Would call Olynyk the C. Nice fit for international basketball.

I'd prefer him at PF personally. A while ago I was posting on the Celts board, and the fans I was talking to over there said he's best suited to play PF.

You are right that he's a fantastic fit for international ball though. TBH, our starting lineup (Joseph, Stauskas, Wiggins, Olynyk, Thompson) as a whole are a pretty great fit next to one another for international ball from a stylistic standpoint. Wiggins/Stauskas are ballanced on the wing. Jospeh, Wiggins, Olynyk should be able to run some good sets. Thompson has all kinds of room down low, and can cause havoc on the offensive boards. The only thing that starting lineup could use is a bit of size up front, and some experience/seasoning. Unfortunately, I don't see many guys that have sizin our pipeline. Sacre I guess? meh...

Is there any reason to hope that Bennett could turn things around and be a good player for the Wolves and Team Canada? He's looking like the biggest bust since Kwame Brown.

I miss Olu Famutimi.

Hendrix wrote:Thanks for the help UF, fixed everything you pointed out except I can't find any info on Xavier's brother.

What was your impression on Rowan Jr?

His brother is in Grade 8 currently so I don't think there's much info on him unless you follow the CYBL. But I heard he killed it in one of the tourney's last week. I haven't seen him play as all of this is from what I've heard.

From what I saw, RJ can pretty much score at will. Has a complete arsenal of scoring moves and can get to any spot on the floor he wants on demand. Great defensive playmaker as well. There's another kid on REDA that's worth keeping an eye out. Can't remember his name but he's 6'8" or 6'9" and he's only in Grade 9 lol.

Wiltjer is another Canadian kid with international experience and also fits the international style of play.

As poster above noted, Wiltjer should definitely be apart of the discussion. His game is well suited for international competition.

Brady Heslip is a lights out shooter and I could see him being brought in as a 4th/5th guard. He had some success with the Senior team.

Guys like Dwight Powell, Jordan Bachynski, and the Scrubb brothers probably don't have a long term place on the team, but if a bunch of guys bow out of the Pan Am games they could be guys who are added. I think it was last summer that the Men's Development team (basically university guys) had a lot of success. These guys plus Ejim were all on it. Khem Birch is playing pretty well in the D-League as well.

Montaque Gill-Caesar is with Missouri and got quite a bit of burn as a Freshman. Chris Egi is with Harvard and while he didn't play a lot as a freshman he was a fairly highly rated recruit.

As tempting as it is to go with all fresh faces/young guys, I could see veterans of the National Team from past years being brought in for experience. Guys like Kendall, Rautins, Shepherd, English, and Jermaine Anderson could bridge the gap.

Heslip avg almost 24 pts a game in Europe this year and is a great 3pt shooter off the bench.

get english off the team

Simi Shittu from Burlington is another nice prospect coming up the next few years.

EDIT: Wow this forum won't even let me type his name. It's $hittu.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1fl4ZijTTM[/youtube]

Cross-over wrote:Heslip avg almost 24 pts a game in Europe this year and is a great 3pt shooter off the bench.

I'd say Brady is a must on the team. Great 3rd option at either pg or sg. I'd also like to see Carl English and Andy Routines return.

My line up

pg- CoJo - Ennis - Heslip
sg- English (Veteran) - Routines (Veteran) - Stauskas
sf- Wiggins
pf- Thompson - Nicoleson - Bennett
C- Olynick - Joel

Routines, Stauskas and Bennett could all play a bit at the sf position. I'm looking forward to watching these guys play

Routines, Nicoleson and Olynick our crewshal two are sexess.

Pooh_Jeter wrote:Brady Heslip is a lights out shooter and I could see him being brought in as a 4th/5th guard. He had some success with the Senior team.

Good call with Brady Heslip. I forgot about that dude. I wonder if he would be capable of a Lou Will type role in Fiba competition? He doesn't provide much else than scoring, but in the D-League this year he tore that **** up. 28.5 points per 36 minutes, on .649ts% is sick, and his .440 3pt% through college, and the d-league is an absolute monster asset to have in Fiba ball.

Are all our young NBA guys confirmed for this?

So great to have so many young NBA guys who want to play for team Canada.

AirCanadaMouse wrote:I miss Olu Famutimi.

he's been playing for the prince edward "island storm" of the NBL of Canada this year, playing as an 8th man and sometimes not even seeing the floor and has a few odd starts due to injuries. Olu isn't near the basketball player i thought he was… there is better canadian players in the NBL of Canada let alone the world.