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Was just glancing through and saw this where Gilbert Arenas is claiming Canada could add players from South Sudan for next Olympics to compete for a medal. (At around 5:05 mark) Would there be any actual truth to this claim? Was just curious cause I don't know. And Team Canada could use some upgrades in front court.

He's saying that some of the guys on the South Sudan team were raised in Canada. In that case, it'd be easier to poach them and add them to the team.

Are there any good South Sudan players worth pursuing though?

Yeah, nothing really to see here.

Only guys I can think of are Marial Shayok and Emmanuel Akot. Both Canadian riased S Sudanese that chose to rep S Sudan in FIBA. Both guards'/wings and neither would really move the needle for Canada. Shayok is solid, but no where near our NBA guards/wings. Since they are already cap tied to S Sudan (Akot may not be) they'd need to be released by S Sudan and FIBA as well.

Gilbert just talking ou of his a$$ per usual. Guy doesn't know much about FIBA.

In theory yes, it is possible.

Do they have any big men?

Better to get Chomche (if he develops) to become a Canadian citizen

These guys are Canadians playing for South Sudan because they couldnt crack Team Canada not the other way around. Shayok is from Ottawa. I followed his amateur career he was Haliburtons vet at Iowa St. Gil's entertaining but he's not someone to take too seriously.

It sounds like they wouldn’t have made Team Canada anyway, but if they have Canadian roots and are good enough, no problem.

I’d rather not play the international ball free-agency game otherwise. If Canada had no part in a player becoming what he is, he shouldn’t be on Team Canada.

It’s hard to set a strict rule, but something like… if you never played an amateur game in the country before 18, you can’t represent that country in international competition seems like a start.

Creating a thread because of anything you heard from Gilbert Arenas should be banworthy lol

Tor_Raps wrote:Creating a thread because of anything you heard from Gilbert Arenas should be banworthy lol

I stand with this rule.


But if you guys are so worried about bigs for Canada that you'd look at South Sudan for assistance please let me shed some light.

the future of the SMNT bigs centers on Zach Edey - who seems quite committed to the SMNT. We have plenty of big, strong guard/wings that can man the 4 if Zach is out there. And some bigger young and unproven guys that could grow into that role - Keshawn George (6'8) and Leonard Miller (6'10) are set to debut with the SMNT in a couple weeks at the FIBA AmeriCup. Both bigger, multi tooled wing types. Olivier Maxence Prosper (6'8) perhaps could help down the road. And I'd say Powell, Lyles and Olynyk will still be around a few more years to add depth.

We also musn't overlook elite Euro bigs like Mfiondu Kabengele (6'10) who could have a Yabusele type effect and has been showing up for the SMNT the last couple years when most arn't watching.

There are a few high level bigman prospects in the u16 to u19 age brackets but they are still a ways off (if they develope into NBA prospects at all).