First four ground rules for this ranking:
1. This ranking is a mix of performance over the past year or two and a degree of projection regarding how players might look like by the end of the coming year. Which means that some guys who I believe are on the rise are going to be ranked a bit higher than I would put them if I was only considering past/current level of play. And the opposite is also true for those I think might already be on the decline.
2. I do my ranking with an eye to the Canadian National Team. That is, this ranking is a mix of two factors: (a) how good I think players are or will soon be relative to one another; and (b) who I would most like to see on Team Canada (both summer and winter campaigns) if I had my pick and they were all willing to suit up and physically available. While I’m generally giving preference to the former (general level of play), this means that I'm also considering, to some extent, functional positions on the court, as well as team chemistry and potential fit with the rest of the roster.
3. Given the second rule, I’m excluding players who very clearly will never play for Team Canada (anymore) and are out of even theoretical consideration because they are already tied with other national teams. So gone are guys like Chris Duarte, Iggy Brazdeikis, Maryal Shayok, Caleb Agada, and Naz Mitrou-Long.
4. There are no high school players in my top 50. As a rule, 17- and 18-year-olds not named Lebron James or Luca Doncic are just not that good at playing grown-up pro basketball. This includes high school graduates, who at most will get an honorable mention here. There are also very few college guys on the list (actually none this year) and only one teenager. This is not a list of future potential, beyond the coming basketball season.
Like last year, I’ll do this in stages, as I’ll add a brief write-up for each player and this can get lengthy. Starting today with some honorable mentions and spots 31-50.
As always, feel free to disagree!
HONORABLE MENTIONS
This year I decided to put here 10 Team Canada veterans, who are very unlikely to ever play again for the national team but are still playing at a competitive level. All of the guys here are closer to age 35 than to age 30. There’s a legit argument that some of them could still be playing better than some of the guys below ranked in the 40s or even in the 30s. But I decided to give them the nod here rather than trying to assess to what extent their game will continue to hold up in comparison to (mostly) younger players.
Aaron Doornekamp | Tenerife, BCL / Spain | 39.8yo PF | 6'7, 215lbs | Carleton | Nappanee, ON
Last year's stats: 7.4ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.4apg, 43.4% from 3 (!)
Most of the guys on this HR list are clearly declining. But that’s not the case for the oldest among them. At almost 40, Doornekamp is the Canadian Benjamin Button. He'll be starting his 16th season in Europe (10th in Spain) and somehow, he hasn't lost a step. In fact, he had a better season last year than his previous 3, shooting 43% from behind the arc and still playing big minutes (23 per game). Will it ever end?
Tristan Thompson | ? | 34.6yo C | 6'9, 255lbs, 7'2 wingspan | Texas | Brampton, ON
Last year's stats: 1.7ppg, 1.3rpg, 0.3apg, 41% TS
Thompson looked quite washed-out last year with the Cavs, and it seems like he's ready to move on from basketball, as no NBA team would give him another contract and a late-career overseas gig doesn't seem to be in the cards as well. Not sure he has much left in the tank, and it also doesn't seem like he has the motivation to try. But until it's official, he's here with the rest of the honorable mentions.
Melvin Ejim | Lleida, Spain | 34.5yo PF | 6'7, 220lbs, 6'10 wingspan | Iowa State | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 4.6ppg, 1.8rpg, 0.9apg, 26.7% from 3, 38.7 FG%
Age has caught up to the elder Ejim, who only last summer was still part of the Olympic team. He's still playing in Spain, Europe's strongest local league, but his production and efficiency have been dwindling and the end seems to be near.
Thomas Scrubb | Tenerife, Spain | 34yo SF | 6'6, 200lbs | Carleton | Richmond, BC
Last year's stats: 6.9ppg, 3.4rpg, 0.8apg, 35.9% from 3
The older Scrubb brother is also still playing at a high level in Spain but is certainly on the declining side of his career at 34. It doesn't seem like he's in the plans for Team Canada's winter core anymore, after years of loyal service to the team. But let's hope he doesn't drop too much and is able to extend his career by a few more years.
Owen Klassen | Rostock, Germany | 33.9yo C | 6'10, 255lbs | Acadia | Kingston, ON
Last year's stats: 6.4ppg, 6.7rpg, 1.6apg, 56.4 FG%
Klassen continues to play in the top German league as an efficient bench player who brings experience, rebounding, and a big body in the paint. Not a bad way to make a living.
Aaron Best | Andora, Spain | 33.1yo SG | 6'4, 195lbs | Ryerson | Scarborough, ON
Last year's stats: 15.1ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.5apg, 38.5% from 3
Best had a very good season in Poland last year and was rewarded with a contract in the best local league in Europe. He's the only player on this HM list who I think still has a realistic chance to get called to play with the Canadian winter core. But approaching his mid-30s, I'm not sure how much more he has left in the tank, and I like having him here as a tribute to an illustrious career with the national team.
Kyle Wiltjer | Reyer Venezia, EuroCup / Italy | 33.0yo PF | 6'10, 240lbs, 7'0 wingspan | Gonzaga | Portland, OR
Last year's stats: 10ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.3apg, 34.7% from 3
It was really nice to see Wiltjer with Team Canada this summer, in what might have been the encore for an illustrious national team career. Wiltjer didn't have a particulalry great season in Italy and is getting closer to his mid-30s, but he elevated his game in the playoffs, was still able to shoot the ball really well, and showed that he can still be a useful player in a well-defined bench role.
Johnny Berhanemeskel | Le Mans, BCL / France | 32.9yo SG | 6'2, 175lbs, 6'2 wingspan | U of Ottawa | Ottawa, ON
Last year's stats: 12.8ppg, 2.6rpg, 2.3apg, 42.7% from 3
Johnny B is still playing quite well at the top French league (just had a 21-point game) and can still shoot the ball at a real high level. But like others here, he seems to be on the decline. There's certainly an argument that he's still better than some of the guys at the end of the main list, but I prefer to pay him tribute here.
Phil Scrubb | Tenerife, BCL / Spain | 32.9yo SG | 6'5, 185lbs | Carleton | Richmond, BC
Last year's stats: 6.9ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.0apg, 34.1% from 3
Like his older brother, Phil is also slowly declining as he's nearing his mid-30s. He's still hanging on to a spot in the Spanish league, but that might be based more on his pedigree than on his current abilities. If he continues in this path, retirement might be closer than it seems.
Olivier Hanlan | KK Spartak, BCL / Serbia | 32.6yo SG | 6'4, 190lbs, 6'7 wingspan | Boston College | Aylmer, QC
Last year's stats: 10.1ppg, 2.3rpg, 3.5apg, 33.7% from 3 (44.0 FG%)
Hanlan is the youngest player on this list of HMs (just barely made the criteria) and the one who has the least mileage with the national team. He's still a fine player and played quite well last year in a competitive league. But it's time to make room on the list for some younger guys .
And now to the top-50:
31-50
50 (Last year's ranking: Not ranked (NR)). Simi Shittu | Winnipeg, CEBL | 25.9yo C | 6'10, 240lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Vanderbilt | Burlington, ON
Last year's stats: 19.9ppg, 11.1rpg, 2.5apg, 55.2 FG%
Shittu didn't have a great year in the top German league but showed during the summer that he can still dominate when playing in the CEBL. Playing with the national team doesn't seem to be in the cards for him anymore, but maybe he'll have better luck in Europe next year.
49 (50). Kadre Gray | Wroclaw, EuroCup / Poland | 27.9yo PG | 6'1, 190lbs | Laurentian | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 21.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 5.8apg, 35.9% from 3 (49 FG%)
Gray had one of the more impressive stat lines of any Canadian last year. But it was in one of the weaker leagues in Europe. This year he's moved to a stronger league and will also be playing in the EuroCup, where he started the season with a really nice first game. He's one of the best players to come out of the CEBL in recent years and I could see him with the winter core at some point if some of the other PGs above him in this ranking are unavailable.
48 (44). Lindell Wigginton | Shandong, China | 27.5yo SG | 6'2, 190lbs, 6'4 wingspan | Iowa State | Halifax, NS
Last year's stats: 20.9ppg, 1.9rpg, 5.4apg, 28.9% from 3
Wiggy put up good counting numbers last year, but stats from the Chinese league should always be taken with a grain of salt. He did not score efficiently, especially from behind the arc, so it's hard to know if he's actually playing winning basketball. I still wouldn't mind seeing him with the national team a bit during the winter windows, but it's hard to be available for these windows when you're playing in China.
47 (NR). Fardaws Aimaq | Lietkabelis Panevezys, EuroCup / Lithuania | 26.7yo C | 6'11, 245lbs, 7'3 wingspan | California | Vancouver, BC
Last year's stats: 14.9ppg, 11.7rpg, 1.4apg, 50.7 FG%
Aimaq had an impressive rookie year in Europe, where he was one of the leading rebounders in the entire continent. While he did that in the weak Hungarian league, it's worth noting that his numbers were even more impressive (16ppg and 13rpg) in the FIBA Europe Cup. He upgraded this summer to better domestie (Lithuania) and European (EuroCup) leagues, so we'll see if the numbers hold, as in college he was performing much better at lower levels. A first appearance with the Canadian national team would also be nice to see.
46 (41). Kaza Kajami-Keane | Chemintz, EuroCup / Germany | 31.7yo PG | 6'2, 185lbs | Carleton | Ajax, ON
Last year's stats: 9.5ppg, 2rpg, 3.5apg, 33.0% from 3
Tripple-K has carved out a role as a trusted lead guard who brings a steady presence and a good mix of scoring and passing. His efficiency trailed off a bit last year after a strong season last year. We'll see if that marks the beginning of a decline.
45 (45). Conor Morgan | Besiktas, Turkey | 31.2yo PF | 6'9, 220lbs, 7'2 wingspan | UBC | Victoria, BC
Last year's stats: 8.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.4apg, 34.6% from 3 (45 FG%)
After a very good season in the UK, Morgan was upgraded to the Turkish league and played fairly well there last year. This year, he'll continue to provide his Turkish team with important spacing and good energies for a big man, even if he's not the best rebounder and defender.
44 (49). Jackson Rowe | Santa Cruz Warriors, G-League | 28.7yo PF | 6'7, 210lbs | Cal State Fullerton | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 16.2ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.7apg, 47.0 FG%
A guy I would have liked to see with the Canadian Team in the AmeriCup. Rowe is a good well-rounded PF, who's already tried his luck in Europe but seems to now prefer lurking for a chance at the fringe of the NBA.
43 (NR). Nate Darling | Chalon, BCL / France | 27.1yo SG | 6'5, 200lbs, 6'5 wingspan | Delaware | Halifax, NS
Last year's stats: 12.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.2apg, 32.0% from 3
Inlike Rowe, it seems like Darling finally gave up the wild goose chase for another chance in the NBA and moved to the French league, where I think he can be successful. This also means he should be available for the winter core, which is nice. You can never have too many talented shooters.
42 (46). Thomas Kennedy | Cedevita Olimpija, EuroCup / Slovenia | 25.1yo C | 6'9, 220lbs | Windsor | Windsor, ON
Last year's stats: 10.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 1.8apg, 63.1 FG%
A pretty good season for Kennedy in Europe and he seems to be trending up. He has some physical limitations, and I wasn't overly impressed with what he brought to the national team the last few times I watched him. But he's still young and can get better.
41 (33). Eugene Omoruyi | Al Nasr, Dubai | 28.6yo PF | 6'6, 240lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Oregon | Rexdale, ON
Last year's stats: 17.6ppg, 5.3rpg, 3.8apg, 33.9% from 3
I truely believed Omoruyi would find a spot in the NBA as an energy bench player, who brings hustle and some shooting to a team. I was wrong. He wasn't able to shoot it well enough and had a pretty forgettable season last year, being tossed around and not being able to find his footing. Still, I'm a bit surprised that his first stop overseas is in an emerging league that's not very competitive. But I guess he felt it was time for him to make some real money, as age 30 is already around the corner. Would love to see him with the NT this winter, though I haven't seen too much interest from either side.
40 (NR). Tyrese Samuel | Valley Suns, G-League | 25.6yo PF | 6'10, 235lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Florida | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 21.7ppg, 10.7rpg, 1.7apg, 65.9 FG%
I'm a believer in Samuel as an important winter-core guy. He had a great showing in the CEBL this summer with 20-10 averages on high efficiency. Wish he'd start carving a career in Europe, but he's still chasing the NBA dream and remains in the G for now.
39 (48). Emanuel Miller | Windy City Bulls, G-League | 25.3yo PF | 6'6, 210lbs, 6'9 wingspan | TCU | Scarborough, ON
Last year's stats: 16.5ppg, 6.9rpg, 2.0apg, 55.9% TS
I really liked Miller in college and also last year in the G-League. He's a tough defender but was also able to develop a nice 3-point shot over the years. I'm still hoping he somehow finds a spot in the NBA, but it's an uphill battle for an undrafted 25yo. Like Samuel, I wouldn't mind seeing him try the European route next year.
38 (NR). Will Riley | Washington Wizards, NBA | 19.6yo SF | 6'9, 190lbs, 6'9 wingspan | Illinois | Kitchener, ON
Last year's stats: 12.6ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.2apg, 53.2% TS
Riley is a bit of a riddle. The offensive talent is certainly there, and it comes with good NBA size and nice scoring mentality. But there are also clear limitations in terms of strength, length, and athleticism, which could be especially obvious on the defensive side. The Wizrds are a good team for him to at least get a chance (though they have a few young guards/wings, who are likely to be ahead of him in the rotation to start the season, including Kyshawn George). We'll see how it all works out.
37 (NR). Ryan Nembhard | Dallas Mavericks (two way), NBA | 22.6yo PG | 6'0, 170lbs, 6'1 wingspan | Creighton | Aurora, ON
Last year's stats: 10.5ppg, 3.0rpg, 9.8apg, 54.7% TS (40.4 % from 3)
The younger Nembhard brother led all of college last year in passing, with almost 10 assists per game, one of the best passing seasons in college history. He was also really good in the summer league next to Flagg. With Kyree's injury, I guess there's a chance that he sees some minutes in Dallas this year. He's only 6'0 on a good day, with no length or elite athleticism to compensate, and a rather slender frame, making for a body type that hasn't fared well in the league in recent years. So, he's definitely fighting an uphill battle. But like his brother, he's just a really good basketball player, which hopefully would help him exceed expectations and eventually find a place in an NBA rotation.
36 (38). Olivier Maxence-Prosper | Memphis Grizzlies, NBA | 23.3yo SF | 6'8, 230lbs, 7'1 wingspan | Marquette | Montreal, QC
Last year's stats: 3.9ppg, 2.4rpg, 0.8apg, 48.4% TS
Prosper was cut from Dallas after only two years in the league, which is never a good sign. He still held enough intrigue to be able to find another team to bet on him (the Grizzlies). But NBA teams lose patience really quickly these days, and if he cannot start showing more, especially offensively, he'll be out of the league in no time. I always thought he was a borderline NBA talent, so I wouldn't be too surprised to see that happen. Regardless, he might still be an interesting future option for the NT in a position of need.
35 (36). Kevin Pangos | Napoli Basket, Italy | 32.7yo PG | 6'2, 185lbs, 6'0 wingspan | Gonzaga | Holland Landing, ON
Last year's stats: 10.0ppg, 2.8rpg, 6.7apg, 31.8% from 3
Another guy who played for Team Canada and in the Euroleague. Just a few years ago, Pangos was one of the best PGs in the Euroleague and even got another chance in the NBA. But after a few injuries, this all now seems to be in the rearview mirror. Pangos has his limitations (defense!), but remains a smart PG, who can really pass and shoot the ball (though not that efficiently last season). It's enough for him to maintain his job at a good European league, even if the Euroleague has stopped calling.
34 (30). Dylan Ennis | Murcia, BCL / Spain | 33.8yo PG | 6'2, 225lbs, 6'8 wingspan | Oregon | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 16.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.5apg, 44.5 FG%
The older Ennis brother continues to play well in the Spanish league, though his efficiency declined a bit this year. We'll need to see if that's an early sign for decline, with mid-30s being right around the corner. Or maybe it was just a blip.
33 (27). Isiaha Mike | Bayern Munich, Euroleague / Germany | 28.1yo PF | 6'8, 215lbs | SMU | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 6.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.1apg, 38.0% from 3
I had big hopes for Mike to bypass the next guy on the list and become the NT's leading combo-forward during the wintertime games and potentially even carve a spot on the team during big summer events. He seems to have all the right tools, but he didn't deliver last year in the Euroleague with Partizan and also looked very pedestrian with Team Canada in the AmeriCup. I'm not ready yet to write him off and he did start this year's Euroleague season well (15ppg, 3apg, and good shooting in the first two games). But for now, he's sliding a few spots on this ranking.
32 (25). Dyshawn Pierre | Unics Kazan, Russia | 31.9yo SF | 6'6, 230lbs | Dayton | Whitby, ON
Last year's stats: 3.3ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.8apg, 43.8 FG%
Pierre is clearly declining. After 4 years with Fener and a Euroleague championship last year (though it was his weakest personal showing), he's moved to play in Russia this summer. Inless he really explodes ther (unlikely), it's hard to see him come back to the Euroleague. I also don't think we see him with Team Canada, even if he's now much more available. It seems like the team has largely moved on from this generation.
31 (40). Kassius Robertson | Lokomotiv Kuban, Russia | 31.5yo SG | 6'3, 180lbs | Missouri | Toronto, ON
Last year's stats: 14.6ppg, 2.4rpg, 2.7apg, 40.9% from 3
Robertson is coming from a real nice season in the Spanish league, so I was a bit surprised to see him also go to Russia, but maybe it's another case where money speaks the loudest. Robertson remains a tremendous shooter, and I'd love to see him get back to the winter core, as they can certainly use his skills.
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