Team Canada Basketball Thread V4.0

[bozothepope]

When do we announce our roster?

Knowing Canada Basketball and their aversion to clear, open, and prompt information-giving, I’m guessing 10 minutes before tip-off vs the USA in July.

Shouldn’t they be selling SGA Canada jerseys too? Do they not like money?

[BilboBanginz]

As a Nova Scotian I am excited to see Amari Upshaw. Best NS prospect since Lindell Wigginton.

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[TheLP]

As a Nova Scotian I am excited to see Amari Upshaw. Best NS prospect since Lindell Wigginton.

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@HairCanada we need scouting reports!

[frumble]

Looks like most of the guys from last year's U16 team, including all the key guys, are back (only Belanger and Headley-Smith missing).

And a couple of younger guys HairCanada identified last year as possible additions for this year (Rokiem Green and Miles Sadler) are on the camp list, along with Upshaw and a few other new names.

Yes, I am also looking forward to HairCanada's reports.

[bozothepope]

Looks like most of the guys from last year's U16 team, including all the key guys, are back (only Belanger and Headley-Smith missing).

And a couple of younger guys HairCanada identified last year as possible additions for this year (Rokiem Green and Miles Sadler) are on the camp list, along with Upshaw and a few other new names.

Yes, I am also looking forward to HairCanada's reports.

I’ve learned to be skeptical of Team Canada’s camp invite lists. I’ll get excited when I see who actually shows up.

Paul Osaruyi blew me away watching him for the first time last summer so hopefully he’s in. I saw in an interview on twitter he mentioned he’s playing.

Mahliq Giuseppi-Kitson I believe won mvp of one of the jr games at the All-Canadian festivities a few months back. I’m intrigued to learn more about him.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Paul Osaruyi is definitely the guy to watch in that group. I just noticed he's up to 3rd on ESPN's 2027 rankings. He could also be really important to the program going forward if he develops the way that we hope because of the lack of big man depth amongst high level Canadian players right now.

But there are some others who had decent tournaments with the Canadian team last year as well, like Kamai Samuels, Quinten Ethier, and Godson Okokoh.

[Hair Canada]

It's a nice invite list with some real improvements relative to last yaer in terms of shooting and playmaking. Would have liked to also see Promis Nlandu there, but otherwise pretty much everyone I'd expect is there.

As for the final roster, assuming everyone is available, I'd probably only bring back 6-7 guys from last year. Samuels, Osaruyi, Anamali, Okokoh, Ethier, and Charles/Patterson. For sure would add Sadler, Wal, and Green to the team. Probably also Guissepi-Kitson. Maybe also Upshaw, though it's already a guard-heavy roster. Size with baseline talent is a real weakness in the 2007 cohort. So maybe Illic (6'9) from 2008. He's only 15.5yo, but I think more talented than any of the 2007 bigs. Guess 2007 TJ St. Louis (6'11) is also an option, but skill and feel are pretty rudimentary.

[bozothepope]

It's a nice invite list with some real improvements relative to last yaer in terms of shooting and playmaking. Would have liked to also see Promis Nlandu there, but otherwise pretty much everyone I'd expect is there.

As for the final roster, assuming everyone is available, I'd probably only bring back 6-7 guys from last year. Samuels, Osaruyi, Anamali, Okokoh, Ethier, and Charles/Patterson. For sure would add Sadler, Wal, and Green to the team. Probably also Guissepi-Kitson. Maybe also Upshaw, though it's already a guard-heavy roster. Size with baseline talent is a real weakness in the 2007 cohort. So maybe Illic (6'9) from 2008. He's only 15.5yo, but I think more talented than any of the 2007 bigs. Guess 2007 TJ St. Louis (6'11) is also an option, but skill and feel are pretty rudimentary.

Do you know anything about Kole Grandison? It’s my first time hearing his name. 6’6 200 lbs forward with hops that plays in New Jersey. Already has offers from Rutgers and Seton Hall.

[bozothepope]

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?s=46

[Hair Canada]

It's a nice invite list with some real improvements relative to last yaer in terms of shooting and playmaking. Would have liked to also see Promis Nlandu there, but otherwise pretty much everyone I'd expect is there.

As for the final roster, assuming everyone is available, I'd probably only bring back 6-7 guys from last year. Samuels, Osaruyi, Anamali, Okokoh, Ethier, and Charles/Patterson. For sure would add Sadler, Wal, and Green to the team. Probably also Guissepi-Kitson. Maybe also Upshaw, though it's already a guard-heavy roster. Size with baseline talent is a real weakness in the 2007 cohort. So maybe Illic (6'9) from 2008. He's only 15.5yo, but I think more talented than any of the 2007 bigs. Guess 2007 TJ St. Louis (6'11) is also an option, but skill and feel are pretty rudimentary.

Do you know anything about Kole Grandison? It’s my first time hearing his name. 6’6 200 lbs forward with hops that plays in New Jersey. Already has offers from Rutgers and Seton Hall.

Not familiar with him, but seems like an interesting prospect who can certainly help with the forward depth. Continues a recent trend of tracing young guys with connections Canadian roots and bringing them into the system early on. Seems like smart thinking. Too bad they didn't do that with Kyshawn George (though who knows, maybe they tried and he prefered to play for Switzerland).

[WaltFrazier]

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?s=46

Wow, good news. To "compete" for a spot sounds odd, are they really going to compete, and cut NBA guys?

We should have a separate Olympic team thread soon to separate from all the U18 posts and such

[mojo13]

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?s=46

Wow, good news. To "compete" for a spot sounds odd, are they really going to compete, and cut NBA guys?

We should have a separate Olympic team thread soon to separate from all the U18 posts and such

Camp roster should drop next week. Maybe set up a new thread once it is public.


I don't think they publicly "cut" NBA guys. They will say some guys will be there just to particpate in camp - perhaps there as fall backs for injury. Guys like CoJo come to mind. And if a bunch of the young guys are there (Sharpe, Banton, Omax, Miller) - same thing. "Camp participants" building credit for the next cycle.

I'm thinking the only non-core guys that realistically have a chance of being added are Wiggins, Lyles, Nembhard - maybe TT if they are really hurting up front (ie no-Edey) .

[bozothepope]

Read on Twitter

?s=46

Wow, good news. To "compete" for a spot sounds odd, are they really going to compete, and cut NBA guys?

We should have a separate Olympic team thread soon to separate from all the U18 posts and such

Camp roster should drop next week. Maybe set up a new thread once it is public.


I don't think they publicly "cut" NBA guys. They will say some guys will be there just to particpate in camp - perhaps there as fall backs for injury. Guys like CoJo come to mind. And if a bunch of the young guys are there (Sharpe, Banton, Omax, Miller) - same thing. "Camp participants" building credit for the next cycle.

I'm thinking the only non-core guys that realistically have a chance of being added are Wiggins, Lyles, Nembhard - maybe TT if they are really hurting up front (ie no-Edey) .

Seems risky to add Thompson after his suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, no? Imagine we medal then have to give it back because of him — he’d be Canada’s most hated man.

[arbsn]

Team Canada Men's Basketball - the best they've ever been with superstar players and huge excitement amongst the fanbase just won a medal at the World Cup! Medal contenders at the Olympics for the first time in our lifetimes!!

AGAIN they somehow are bungling the bag... I'd gladly buy my kids Team Canada gear... The "fanatics" website offers 1 t-shirt option and 1 hat option (both suck)

What a joke!! How are they so mismanaged and how does nobody care?

They could sell out an open practice tomorrow if they had one.
They could sell Murray and SGA jerseys like hot cakes
They could put on mini camps for kids to get excited about the sport
They could be putting out news and insights about players on Instagram and Tiktok to grow the hype
.... Instead the recent posts are about U18 womens basketball????

There's literally nothing on the Sr mens team. Whoever runs this org must be so lazy.

/Rant over

[vi3t]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/veteran-cory-joseph-mad-about-canada-basketball-snub-despite-years-of-service/
damn not even a camp invite, they're doing cojo dirty

[SharoneWright]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/veteran-cory-joseph-mad-about-canada-basketball-snub-despite-years-of-service/
damn not even a camp invite, they're doing cojo dirty

No participation spots. Perfect. Finally. We have arrived.

We're so deep in the backcourt, we can't afford to waste a roster spot for a "veteran voice". LOL. You honestly think Shai or Jamal are going to take something into the 4th quarter against Serbia that Cory shouts out after Jodi calls a timeout?

Cory should have shut his yap. I understand it's hard to admit you're too old or just not good enough to raise the floor of a very good CDNMNT these days. But he's only undercutting the program he claims to love, and himself.

This relates to a post higher on the page. No one, including Joseph, was going to be "cut publicly", unless they publicized it themselves. Cory should have just taken a cold shower and maintained his dignity.

[PoundTown]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/veteran-cory-joseph-mad-about-canada-basketball-snub-despite-years-of-service/
damn not even a camp invite, they're doing cojo dirty

No participation spots. Perfect. Finally. We have arrived.

We're so deep in the backcourt, we can't afford to waste a roster spot for a "veteran voice". LOL. You honestly think Shai or Jamal are going to take something into the 4th quarter against Serbia that Cory shouts out after Jodi calls a timeout?

Cory should have shut his yap. I understand it's hard to admit you're too old or just not good enough to raise the floor of a very good CDNMNT these days. But he's only undercutting the program he claims to love, and himself.

This relates to a post higher on the page. No one, including Joseph, was going to be "cut publicly", unless they publicized it themselves. Cory should have just taken a cold shower and maintained his dignity.

I mean, I also feel like it was a little harsh considering he was far and away our most loyal player. However, him not competing last year when they told him he'd have a minor role, also might not have sat well with our officials. He still would have taken the minutes that Scrubb and some of the other Euro players got last year, which would have been 10ish or so a game, and in my opinion would have been worth it. I will guess that Nembhard will take his spot this go around. We are absolutely stacked at positions 1-3.

As for Lyles trying out, that's an interesting one. With Nembhard joining on, that means only one spot available for Wiggins/ Lyles unless they don't plan on honouring their commitment to Ejim. Ejim never pulled out last summer and any future asks for 3 year commitments won't mean anything if you don't honour it on your end. Of course, a team could also always persuade Edey to pull out after the draft as well.

[Tor_Raps]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/veteran-cory-joseph-mad-about-canada-basketball-snub-despite-years-of-service/
damn not even a camp invite, they're doing cojo dirty

No participation spots. Perfect. Finally. We have arrived.

We're so deep in the backcourt, we can't afford to waste a roster spot for a "veteran voice". LOL. You honestly think Shai or Jamal are going to take something into the 4th quarter against Serbia that Cory shouts out after Jodi calls a timeout?

Cory should have shut his yap. I understand it's hard to admit you're too old or just not good enough to raise the floor of a very good CDNMNT these days. But he's only undercutting the program he claims to love, and himself.

This relates to a post higher on the page. No one, including Joseph, was going to be "cut publicly", unless they publicized it themselves. Cory should have just taken a cold shower and maintained his dignity.

I mean, I also feel like it was a little harsh considering he was far and away our most loyal player. However, him not competing last year when they told him he'd have a minor role, also might not have sat well with our officials. He still would have taken the minutes that Scrubb and some of the other Euro players got last year, which would have been 10ish or so a game, and in my opinion would have been worth it. I will guess that Nembhard will take his spot this go around. We are absolutely stacked at positions 1-3.

As for Lyles trying out, that's an interesting one. With Nembhard joining on, that means only one spot available for Wiggins/ Lyles unless they don't plan on honouring their commitment to Ejim. Ejim never pulled out last summer and any future asks for 3 year commitments won't mean anything if you don't honour it on your end. Of course, a team could also always persuade Edey to pull out after the draft as well.

Just read the news too. Not a fan of not including him. Everything he said was right and he should get the 12th man role over a guy like Ejim imo.

At the very least, invite him to the training camp and let him see in person why he shouldn't expect to play or be on the team.

[mojo13]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/veteran-cory-joseph-mad-about-canada-basketball-snub-despite-years-of-service/
damn not even a camp invite, they're doing cojo dirty

No participation spots. Perfect. Finally. We have arrived.

We're so deep in the backcourt, we can't afford to waste a roster spot for a "veteran voice". LOL. You honestly think Shai or Jamal are going to take something into the 4th quarter against Serbia that Cory shouts out after Jodi calls a timeout?

Cory should have shut his yap. I understand it's hard to admit you're too old or just not good enough to raise the floor of a very good CDNMNT these days. But he's only undercutting the program he claims to love, and himself.

This relates to a post higher on the page. No one, including Joseph, was going to be "cut publicly", unless they publicized it themselves. Cory should have just taken a cold shower and maintained his dignity.

Good instincts or you know the truth.

CoJo quit on the team mid camp last summer when a back-up PG was needed beacuase he didn't like his expected role/minutes.
The back was an obvious cover story. Probably Brissett's knee too.
This is a bad look for CoJo planting a story like this - he knows why he didnt get a camp invite. Committment is a two way street.
If he played last summer or if the back was a legit injury, he would 100% be at this camp.

Lest we forget CoJo showed up three weeks late for the 2019 World cup prep and many days late to a very short Olympic Qualfication camp in 2021. He was clearly out of shape and was terrible that tournament and was one of the many reasons Canada failed to Qualify (3p/2r/5a on 21mpg shot 30%/25%/50% and was the only guy on the team with a negative +/- at -6.3).

Love CoJo and all he has done for Canada Basketball. He was given a tonne of rope under Triano and then Nurse. He earned much of it, but there is no reason why Jordi needs to give him the same rope considering CoJo's current ability, the other options Canada has and how CoJo approached the last couple camps.

[mkot]

I thought Cojo pull out during the FIBA camp because his new club demanded it no?