Team Canada Basketball Thread V3.0

[Hair Canada]

Sharpe is an amazing athlete. His highlights are phenomenal. So smooth and elegant. A really high-level prospect.

But having watched the EYBL games, I still feel there's something frustrating about him. On defense, he coasts around and doesn't really move his feet. Has the tools to be a good defender (not sure if great, because he doesn't have the quickest lateral movement). But right now he often lacks the motivation and lets guys just stroll around him. On offense, he really has some amazing moments and has been the most impressive offensive talent I've seen so far in this year's EYBL, together with Emony Bates. But he also has a tendency to take tough contested shots, which he can certainly make because of his amazing athleticism, but are not terribly efficient. He often prefers the long turnaround or stepback to consistently attacking the rim. Part of it I think has to do with his handle, which is not bad for a SG, but also not very crisp and he often fumbles it when trying to create in iso. In addition, despite being very athletic he doesn't have the quickest first step and so he's not able to consistently get to the rim.

In some ways, Sharpe reminds me of Anthony Edwards, who was also a bad defender in college and too much in love with the tough hand-in-your-face shots. They have similar vertical explosiveness, but Ant has a quicker first step and is at least 40 pounds heavier, which allows him to be much more dangerous when attacking the rim, while Sharpe needs to rely more on finesse. Let's hope his body and game continue to evolve and also that he gets a bit more of the dog in him.

[Hair Canada]

Nobody does it better. My man, Sam Vecenie, with his yearly NBA draft Big-Board. 130K words of scouting on 100 of the coming draft prospects.

Four Canadians in the mix:

13. Chris Duarte ("potential starter") (honorary Canadian, as he was born in Montreal to a Canadian dad)
34. Josh Primo ("rotation player")
72. Dalano Banton ("undrafted flier")
81. AJ Lawson ("undrafted flier")

Hard to really add much to such an in-depth analysis. But here's my two cents:

I've written quite a bit about Duarte and love him as a prospect. But the lottery range seems a bit too high for me for a 24yo role player. Maybe he becomes the next Danny Green and makes this true, but he would not be that high on my board.

Primo seems about right to me -- end of first-round or beginning of the second. There's certainly a chance that it looks like a steal in a year or two, but I'm not yet convinced and there's also a chance he struggles quite a bit. But he's so young and it's a good investment.

Putting Banton ahead of Lawson seems wrong for me (though both are considered two-way and I pretty much agree with Sam's analysis of both). I think Banton is a really long shot. He can't shoot and he'll have to become a good shooter in a hurry to find any room in the league. I don't think it's likely. I can more easily see a role for AJ, though I certainly share Sam's concerns about his thin frame and inability to finish in the paint or stay with strong guys defensively. But if he can shoot it well (and I think he certainly could), i'ts easier for me to see a role for him as a bench guy.

The one guy who's missing for me here is Eugene Omorouyi. I think he's very worth a shot as a two-way guy and can carve an Eric Paschall role in this league. Love his energy, strength, defensive abilities, and feel, and think there's a chance he can shoot it reasonably well.


Back to you Sam:


13. Chris Duarte

G | Oregon | DOB: June 13, 1997 (Age: 24) | 6-6 | 190 LBS | Hometown: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Background

Parents are Ana Luisa and Leonardo. No brothers and sisters. Has a son, Chris Jr. Duarte was born in Montreal but grew up in the Dominican Republic. Incredible journey. Didn’t start playing basketball until his early teenage years. Quickly emerged as an interesting prospect. Came to America for his last two high school years, where he enrolled at Redemption Christian Academy in New York, a boarding school for athletes that is now closed. Was completely alone, without family, and unable to speak English well upon his arrival. Played good in his two years in high school, earning offers across the board from schools like Syracuse, Seton Hall, Western Kentucky and others. Played for New York Lightning on the Nike EYBL circuit. Eventually committed to Western Kentucky but was deemed a non-qualifier due to the language barrier. Went the junior college route and attended juco power Northwest Florida State. Had an excellent freshman year playing as a sixth man behind older players, which led to a commitment to Oregon before his sophomore season. Broke out as a sophomore, averaging 19 points and winning the NJCAA Player of the Year award. Immediately entered the starting lineup in his first year at Oregon, starting next to All-American and future first-round
pick Payton Pritchard in the backcourt. Was the team’s second-leading scorer and best defensive player, all while adjusting to the speed of college hoops. Broke out again as a senior. Won The Associated Press’ Pac-12 Player of the Year award, the Jerry West Award as the best shooting guard in college basketball, first-team All-Pac-12 honors, Pac-12 All-Defense honors and third-team All-American honors. Led Oregon to a Sweet 16 berth, where they fell to fellow Pac-12 school USC. Decided to turn pro after season. One of the older players in the class, but that will appeal to some teams. Very mature approach. Hard worker with a professional mindset and mentality. Chose not to attend the 2021 NBA Draft Combine.

Strengths

Great size and very mature game and a 6-foot-7 wingspan. Knows what he’s doing and plays with a professional mindset. Rarely makes errors. Doesn’t go out of his comfort zone, but his comfort zone is relatively expansive. A pristine fit for what the NBA is looking for. Hard to overestimate how terrific Duarte is as a shooter. Numbers were ridiculous this past season. Made his catch-and-shoot jumpers at a 69.2 effective field-goal percentage, 23rd out of the 713 players to take at least 60 shots nationally. Made his pull-up jumpers at a 55.1 effective fieldgoal percentage, 12th nationally among the 463 players to take at least 50 attempts. As an on-ball scoring threat, Duarte played a bit of bully ball to get into the midrange area and make shots over the top. If he’s using a ball screen and the defender goes under, it’s an automatic pull-up that he’ll make a high percentage of. He’s a drop-coverage killer, and if you switch a big onto him, he’ll use a hesitation drive into a stepback pull-up 3 that is lethal. Stroke is completely pure, primarily because of all the pre-shot work. Shot prep is elite. Takes his spot-ups directly off the hop if he can, but also happy to prep with simple left-right footwork if he’s left wide open. Balance is a real skill. Never looks rushed or out of place, despite attempting some difficult shots off movement. Also moves well without the ball to set up for the jumper. Smart at drifting to the corner on drives. Reads and replaces driving guards to find open space. Reads screens well and comes off them to get open, particularly the flare screens that Oregon used regularly. Relocates off heavy closeouts and uses the pump fake to tremendous effect. Duarte also can drive and finish at the rim. Made 62.7 percent of his shots at the rim this past season, a well above-average mark for a guard. Shields the ball well in the air and uses his length to extend and finish. A good finisher off one foot, allowing the rim protector to make his move before choosing how he wants to attack. Can also load up off both feet in order to absorb contact. He’s not just an offensive player; he’s a terrific defensive player too. Superb helper as a team defender. Doesn’t miss rotations. Tags down to rollers and scrambles well. Closes out well on shooters and is under control with high hands. Great, active hands in passing lanes and driving lanes. Constantly looking around at what’s happening around him, reading ballhandlers and cutters and trying to make plays. Doesn’t quit when he has to get into recovery. Smart weakside rim protector for his size. Blocks more shots than you’d think rotating around, but mostly just makes the smart rotation constantly to be in the right position.

Weaknesses

The clear weakness is passing. Doesn’t make the right read all the time. Rarely hits the cross-corner kickout and doesn’t hit the aggressive look often. He misses targets constantly. Even on the reads he sees, rarely hits the guy in the shooting pocket. If he’s going to handle the ball as anything outside of being a secondary playmaker, he needs to improve this skill. Needs to read help defenders better and become more accurate as a passer. Also, his best defensive fit arguably is in a non-switch scheme. Better off the ball than he is on the ball as a defender. Does an OK job on the ball against opposing ones, twos and smaller threes. Aggressive with his hands and has good lateral quickness on the perimeter but has issues with bigger playmakers. Not a stopper on the ball. Doesn’t have the bulk, length or size to deal with them. Teams tried to get him in the mid-post, and they generally succeeded when a big playmaker got the ball there against him.

Summary

Duarte is one of my favorites in this class and is destined to be selected lower than where I have him on my personal board. Everything he does is tailor-made for the next level. He’s a legit 40-plus 3-point shooter who can handle the ball and has good scoring instincts. He’s a terrific team defender, smart and rarely makes poor decisions. He doesn’t necessarily have a ton of star upside because he isn’t quite a true playmaker due to his lack of passing. But what he does successfully is about perfect for slotting into a role early in his NBA career. The league is looking for shooters with wing size who also have ball skills and can defend. Duarte does all of that. I don’t care that he’ll be 24 before he ever plays in an NBA game because he’s going to be able to step in Day 1 and be a contributor in the right role for the right team. It wouldn’t stun me if we look up in a decade and see that Duarte is still around, helping teams win games. Maybe he won’t be the next Bradley Beal, but he has a good shot to make high eight-figures to low nine-figures playing hoops in the next 10 years.


34. Joshua Primo

G | Alabama | Birthdate: Dec. 24, 2002 (Age: 18) | 6-5 | 190 LBS | Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Background

One of the youngest players in the class. Parents are Michael and Nadia. Has two siblings, including a sister, Keshia, who played college basketball at a variety of schools, including Buffalo. Had a bit of a strange high school trajectory. Grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, near Toronto. Started playing in Canada before moving to the United States to attend Huntington Prep, where he played with fellow NBA Draft prospect JT Thor in the summer of 2018. Played there for a year. Was named to Canada’s U19 team as a 16-year-old, the youngest player on the roster. Only played a few minutes there but showed some real flashes. Initially decided to transfer to Compass Prep in Arizona but fractured a finger and missed a portion of the season and instead decided to transfer back home in Canada. Attended Royal Crown and played really well upon returning. Attended the Basketball Without Borders event at All-Star Weekend in Chicago in 2020 and broke out in a big way. Was arguably the best player at the event, putting himself on the radar for NBA scouts. Decided to reclassify from the Class of 2021 to the Class of 2020. Eventually was considered a borderline four-/five-star recruit and committed to Alabama. Had a terrific freshman season for one of the 10 best teams in the country. Averaged eight points per game, but the team was loaded with talent, and he largely just played a strong role and did his job. Made the SEC All-Freshman team. Maintained some of that draft buzz heading into the offseason and declared for the draft to test his stock. Quickly became clear NBA scouts were very interested. Went to the combine and performed well. Decided to stay in the draft and forgo his final four years of collegiate eligibility.

Strengths

Has very good measurements for what his role is. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan and enormous hands, Primo has what NBA teams are looking for from a big secondary ballhandler. Fluid athlete who showed at lower levels that he was comfortable on the ball or off it. Could play out of ball screens with good chance of pace. Was very shifty through his hips. Had some real creativity in the way that he found teammates and handled the ball himself. There was even some live-dribble passing stuff there. A lot of really smooth little Euro step moves into floaters and scoop shots. Had a nice little in-between game. Controlled the ball well.
The key skill here is shooting. Very good shooter with smooth mechanics that will translate to high-level shot making by the time he’s in his early 20s. Hit 44.2 percent of such shots. Good shot prep off the catch. Can hit them off the hop or off a 1-2 from the corner. Quick release, and if you give him any time to really load into it, it feels pretty automatic. Ready to fire. Great rhythm throughout the jumper. Pretty good at finding the dead zone off relocation movement too. Always hunting the shot. Sets feet quickly to get the shot up. Keeps his body square to the hoop instead of turning away from it. Primo will be a high-level shooter.
Showed some of that Euro step game this past season attacking closeouts. Loves to go to it as his main counter. Not super explosive but uses that shiftiness well. Did a great job getting out into transition with it too. Runs the floor well and always makes himself available. Seems to have a strong sense of when to space to the wing/corner and when to dive to the rim. And plays an unselfish brand of basketball. Seems really sharp with making extra ball reversals. Couple flashy cross-corner kickouts that were off-target, showcasing some upside there. Defensively, pretty good rotational defender. Always engaged in the play. Moves around the court well. Navigates actions well. Reactive in terms of what he sees on the court and knows where he needs to be. There are issues on the ball right now, but his team defense shouldn’t be a negative. Not quite Tyrese Haliburton or anything in terms of positive reactivity on that end and disruption but should be able to play within a scheme reasonably well.

Weaknesses

All that skill mentioned about on-ball prowess? He hasn’t proven any of it at the college level because it just wasn’t his role at Alabama. Playing next to Jahvon Quinerly, Herb Jones and an All-SEC player in Jaden Shackelford, Primo just didn’t get many self-creation chances unless he was out on the break. Took four shots from the midrange the whole year. Only took 15 shots off the bounce. Everything was off the catch. Only scored 48 of his 244 points inside the arc in half-court settings. Plus, drew under two free throws per game. Was an extremely perimeter-oriented player this past season. Wasn’t asked to make plays for teammates. Was just spotting up and hitting shots. But the distinctly negative assist-to-turnover ratio was not great. Nor was the lack of vision he displayed at times. His handle is still a bit loose, albeit with room for upside given the clear shiftiness he possesses every time he touches it and drives. As an 18-year-old playing college hoops a year before he was supposed to, it did look like the game
was moving a bit fast for him at times. But this is to be expected for a young player. Primo’s on-ball defense is a bit rough at this stage, which is to be expected for a player this skinny. Guys pretty consistently go through his chest to get to the rim. Has good feet, but just doesn’t yet have the contact balance to be able to withstand a power drive toward the basket. Speaking of
contact balance, Primo is still working through his finishing package a bit. He has craft around the rim but often has to lean away. Not a terrible finisher right now but should really improve as he gets stronger throughout the next four years.

Summary

The idea with Primo is that you are getting an awesome, high-upside player a year early as a draft pick, before he might be totally ready to play in the NBA. If he had stayed in school, he likely would have been seen as a lottery pick entering the 2022 process. But by taking him late in the first round or early in the second this year, a franchise might be getting a good asset at a much lower price due to the uncertainty surrounding parts of his game that he hasn’t proven at the college level. Primo’s role and youth simply didn’t allow him to break out this past season on a team that was loaded with talent. But he’s had a strong pre-draft process away from Alabama and showcased that he has a real shot to become a valuable player in today’s NBA. These are the kind of prospects worth betting on: guys who can space the floor and potentially attack off the bounce and make decisions. Primo has shown enough at lower levels to where there is upside with his handle, and it’s clear the jumper is going to be a weapon. I wouldn’t even be totally opposed to one of the league’s elite developmental teams taking a flier on him in Round 1. But he still has a ways to go here and won’t be a rookie rotation player. He could use some time in the G League to keep developing his skill level. But a patient team that is willing to take the time and doesn’t need him to contribute until 2023 will likely reap real rewards by taking Primo. There is downside here, and if the wrong team takes him, it could end poorly. But in the right spot, Primo has a real chance to be a very effective player who will fill needs that every team across the NBA is looking for.


72. Dalano Banton

G/W | Nebraska | Birthdate: Nov. 7, 1999 (Age: 21) | 6-9 | 205 LBS | Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Background

Parents are Damian and Suzanne. Originally from Toronto but first popped up on the NBA radar when he was at The MacDuffie School in Massachusetts, when he was a 6-foot-6 point guard. Moved to Redemption Christian Academy in Massachusetts and won his league’s MVP award. Went to the BioSteel All Canadian Game in 2018 and raised his profile with a standout performance. Was considered a four-star recruit in the class of 2019 but committed to Western Kentucky in 2018 and reclassified to that class. Part of a fascinating group that included Charles Bassey and Trevelin Queen. Scouts who went to see Western Kentucky in the preseason were big fans of Banton, believing him to be a long-term upside player who was slightly off the radar. Banton, however, ended up transferring after his freshman year. While he didn’t blow up after that first year, he did impress enough to earn high-major offers. Committed to Nebraska and sat out the following season as a transfer. Entered the 2020-21 season as Nebraska’s lead guard and backed it up with stellar play. Averaged nearly 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists over the first 12 games of the season. However, the team then had a monthlong COVID-19 shutdown, and he also suffered a sprained ankle during the
season. Saw a drop-off in overall play upon returning. Still chose to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft and received a G League Elite Camp invite. Performed well there but did not receive an NBA Draft Combine invite. Following strong workouts, Banton decided to fully pursue his professional options.

Strengths

With his size/skill combination, he can handle the ball like a guard and make high-level passes to all areas of the court. Not a great athlete, but he seems to carve up ground on the court with his stride length. Great driver with a ball screen or out of advantages on reversals. Once he gets downhill, he gets to the rim. That comes into play at a high level in transition, where he can cover ground so quickly. Best as a scorer, but constantly keeps his eyes up to look for open teammates. Elite rebounder for a perimeter player, someone who constantly looks to grab and go to put pressure on the rim. Genuinely creates transition opportunities with his skill level. A very active player who can make a lot happen. Passing is the critical skill with Banton. He makes all passes. Hits the cross-corner kickout with ease with his ability to see over the top of defenders. Makes passes to open players with real anticipatory looks. Patient as a playmaker. Draws defenders toward him with ease, then finds the open player. Hits them off a live dribble while on the move. Makes touch passes, as well, and throws bullets to his teammates directly into
the shooting pocket. Excellent at reading the help and figuring out who the open man is. Makes quick touch passes when he’s off the ball because he knows where everyone else on the court is innately. Loves to go to the floater in the paint. Has good touch on what is more of a push shot than a runner because it typically comes off two feet.

Weaknesses

Much more of a Cadillac, as opposed to a Camaro, in terms of how smooth and fluid he is. Given how much of his game is reliant on playmaking and creating separation, will he be able to consistently do that at the NBA level? He will need to prove that. Needs to get stronger and more capable of using his frame to play through contact and use his size to its fullest advantage. Might not be able to play lead guard because of a lack of burst. Shooting and the ability to consistently score is a big question mark. Not an effective shooter in any capacity right now. Can’t hit a catch-and-shoot spot 3 consistently. Made only 28.3 percent from catch-and-shoots, most of which were 3-point attempts. Only hit 25.7 percent on pull-ups. Finished 40th out of 46 players in the Big Ten Conference to take at least 30 pull-ups in terms of efficiency. Rhythm through the shot is in question. Doesn’t seem to get much power from his legs. Takes him a long time to load into his shot — a two-motion shot with a bit of a pause at the top. Needs to take a leap, given that he won’t be asked to play the lead guard often. Also, not an amazing finisher at the rim, having made
only 51.5 percent of his attempts at the basket in half-court settings. Banton needs to improve on his defense. Consummate gambler who tries to get into the passing lanes. Doesn’t get down in a defensive stance often enough. Takes the lazy way out with attempted strips and pokes that rarely are successful. Doesn’t do a solid job of containing penetration but also doesn’t have the explosiveness to fully recover when he gets beat. Off the ball, doesn’t seem to stay engaged and bring a level of awareness coaches are looking for. Needs to set that as part of his mindset going forward — even if his defensive stats don’t come off poorly
because of the defensive rebounding, occasional block and steals.

Summary

The weaknesses outweigh the positives right now for Banton as it refers to what he’d look like on an NBA court. The key here, however, is to project what someone could look like in a few years, and Banton is the epitome of a player who is a jump shot away from being very effective offensively. It’s hard to find players who are this big and have skills. If Banton shoots, it’s easy to imagine him becoming the kind of player who effectively makes an NBA impact. He is big enough to see over defenders and already makes high-level passing reads. He covers ground quickly, especially when he has any sort of advantage. He drives transition play. He’s going to have to make a concerted effort to improve on defense, but the margin for error is much bigger on that end when you’re that tall. It all comes down to the jumper. If Banton shoots well, he’s probably an NBA player, but honestly, it’s probably a mistake leaving college. Had Banton returned to Nebraska and made jumpers at a strong clip in a reasonable volume, I genuinely believe that he could have been a potential first-round pick. Instead, he’ll likely have to settle for being a two-way contract player next season.


81. A.J. Lawson

G | South Carolina | Birthdate: July 15, 2000 (Age: 21) | 6-7 | 180 LBS | Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Background

Parents are Anthony and Kathleen. Grew up in Brampton (Toronto metro area). Initially attended St. Marguerite d’Youville, a secondary school in Brampton before going to GTA Prep, a basketball academy in Toronto. Was one of the best National Preparatory Association players in the country. Attended the Basketball Without Borders camp at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, where he was named to the camp’s all-star team. Played well at the U18 Americas tournament. Was originally a class of 2019 player but decided to reclassify to the 2018 recruiting class. Was considered a four-star recruit by the services that ranked him. Chose South Carolina over Oregon, Creighton and other schools. Lawson won AllFreshman honors in the SEC in his first year then went to the U19 World Cup and played well. Was expected to be able to leave school after his sophomore season but just didn’t quite bring it all together. Struggled with efficiency as a junior, although this past season was a bit better as he made second-team All-SEC. Still, South Carolina never really hit a ceiling with Lawson and was particularly bad in his junior year. Lawson
decided to leave and go pro. Got a G League Elite Camp invite and played and tested very well at the event, showcasing the kind of athleticism that popped off the court in NBA spacing. Was one of four players to earn an NBA Draft Combine invite. Maybe South Carolina was just a bad fit and there could be upside given his performance at Basketball Without Borders and at the combine in front of NBA personnel.

Summary

Super athlete. Showcased that at the combine but didn’t always quite bear itself out on the court at South Carolina. Has a 41-inch vertical leap but struggles to play through contact and doesn’t explode up through guys to get the most out of it. Consistently a below-average efficiency player in college. Made 55 percent of his shots at the rim but very few were self-created looks. Showcased real potential off the bounce as a pick-and-roll creator at lower levels but didn’t really show that same skill at South Carolina. Was turnover-prone in the opportunities he got. Gets almost all his offense by shooting off the catch. Took over half of his shots from 3. Is a good shooter, not a great one. Hit about 35 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers this past season, most of which were 3s. And while that number doesn’t seem awesome, the degree of difficulty on a lot of these was high. About two-thirds of his catch-and-shoot jumpers were contested, according to Synergy. Lawson does a good job of getting into these shots with strong shot prep and a quick release. Has good rhythm, just an occasionally wavering release point. I’m a believer that he’ll
shoot at the next level, but it might take a couple of years. And given the rest of his game, he’ll need to catch up quick. Lawson is a bit of a mixed bag on defense. He’s excellent away from the ball with sharp instincts for making things happen with deflections. Disruptive with quick reactions on that end. Almost always in the right place rotationally. But he does struggle on the ball in large part because of how skinny he is. Gets powered through with ease and doesn’t have a crazy amount of length. If he’s going to play at the NBA level, he probably needs to add 15 to 20 pounds because of his inability to play through contact on both ends. There is a real case that at South Carolina Lawson didn’t get a chance to show everything he has in his skill set. I was a huge fan of his coming out of Canada and thought he had an outside shot to be a one-and-done. And with the improved shooting skill, maybe that will prove to be the case. But for me, Lawson is more of a borderline two-way/Exhibit 10 guy. The track record of three years in college isn’t particularly strong enough to sell anything beyond that.

[BilboBanginz]

Yeah this Vecenie Draft Guide is amazing. I'm going to take my time with it and read it over the next couple of days.

Also Eugene Omoruyi is on his list as well, and surprisingly high. I've heard him talk highly of Omoruyi on his podcast before so I think he is higher on him than most.

80. Eugene Omoruyi

W/F | Oregon | Birthdate: Feb. 14, 1997 (Age: 24) | 6-6 | 235 LBS | Hometown: Rexdale, Ontario

Background Born in Nigeria. Immigrated to Canada with his family when he was a baby. Didn’t play much basketball until he was a sophomore in high school. Grew up playing soccer. Made the switch and didn’t look back. Went to Orangeville Prep in Toronto for high school and played with Jamal Murray and Thon Maker, both of whom have been professionals for five years. Wasn’t ranked coming out of high school but got offers to both Rutgers and Loyola (Ill.) among others. Took him a bit of time to make an impact in the Big Ten. Was more of a rotation player as a freshman and sophomore, getting the occasional start. Broke out as a junior. Averaged 14 points and seven rebounds and made honorable mention All-Big Ten. Didn’t miss many games at Rutgers but did have multiple knee issues with dislocated kneecaps. Decided to transfer following the season, choosing Oregon after it offered as he rooted for the Ducks in part due to Dillon Brooks’ presence on the team. Had to sit out for a season in 2019-20. Was ready to go in 2020-21 and played exceedingly well. Made first-team All-Pac-12 while playing a terrific two-way game. Decided to leave school after this past season given that he is already 24 years old. Got invited to G League Elite Camp and performed well but did not earn an NBA Draft Combine invite.

Summary

Terrific frame by NBA standards for a combo forward with a 7-1 wingspan and a powerful 235-pound frame. On top of that, his motor runs constantly. He plays hard all the time. One of those versatile players who brings a little bit of everything to the table without necessarily being an expert in anything that specifically translates to the NBA. He’s best on the defensive end right now in terms of how his game will work at the next level. He’s switchable across the frontline from threes to all but the biggest fives and can deal with some twos – although he’ll get cooked sometimes out there. He’s a tough rebounder, if undersized. Offensively, Oregon used Omoruyi often as a back-to-the-basket big. He scored more points out of post-ups than any player in the league. But that won’t be his role in the NBA. Rather, he’ll do some of the things he was asked to do intermittently, such as step away and knock down 3s, pick-and-pop, spot-up to space the floor and make cuts and passing reads. Hit 37.6 percent from 3. Has good mechanics from a standstill when taking 3s. Doesn’t make them off movement. Takes them off a 1-2 step, which means he needs to be set ahead of time. Can’t make pull-up jumpers right now. Smart decision-maker who is mature in his approach. Limited in terms of vision but makes the right plays. Just profiles as a useful player in a variety of ways in an NBA that needs more versatile wings. Think of Omoruyi as someone like an Eric Paschall, just not quite as athletic or used to switching defensively. He strikes me as a borderline twoway/Exhibit 10 guy who should be able to play sooner rather than later in the NBA because of his toughness, motor and switchability on defense. If he’s a consistent 37 percent 3-point shooter or more, he has a chance to stick. Again though, time is running out for him as he’s already 24.

[Hair Canada]

Yeah this Vecenie Draft Guide is amazing. I'm going to take my time with it and read it over the next couple of days.

Also Eugene Omoruyi is on his list as well, and surprisingly high. I've heard him talk highly of Omoruyi on his podcast before so I think he is higher on him than most.

80. Eugene Omoruyi

W/F | Oregon | Birthdate: Feb. 14, 1997 (Age: 24) | 6-6 | 235 LBS | Hometown: Rexdale, Ontario

Background Born in Nigeria. Immigrated to Canada with his family when he was a baby. Didn’t play much basketball until he was a sophomore in high school. Grew up playing soccer. Made the switch and didn’t look back. Went to Orangeville Prep in Toronto for high school and played with Jamal Murray and Thon Maker, both of whom have been professionals for five years. Wasn’t ranked coming out of high school but got offers to both Rutgers and Loyola (Ill.) among others. Took him a bit of time to make an impact in the Big Ten. Was more of a rotation player as a freshman and sophomore, getting the occasional start. Broke out as a junior. Averaged 14 points and seven rebounds and made honorable mention All-Big Ten. Didn’t miss many games at Rutgers but did have multiple knee issues with dislocated kneecaps. Decided to transfer following the season, choosing Oregon after it offered as he rooted for the Ducks in part due to Dillon Brooks’ presence on the team. Had to sit out for a season in 2019-20. Was ready to go in 2020-21 and played exceedingly well. Made first-team All-Pac-12 while playing a terrific two-way game. Decided to leave school after this past season given that he is already 24 years old. Got invited to G League Elite Camp and performed well but did not earn an NBA Draft Combine invite.

Summary

Terrific frame by NBA standards for a combo forward with a 7-1 wingspan and a powerful 235-pound frame. On top of that, his motor runs constantly. He plays hard all the time. One of those versatile players who brings a little bit of everything to the table without necessarily being an expert in anything that specifically translates to the NBA. He’s best on the defensive end right now in terms of how his game will work at the next level. He’s switchable across the frontline from threes to all but the biggest fives and can deal with some twos – although he’ll get cooked sometimes out there. He’s a tough rebounder, if undersized. Offensively, Oregon used Omoruyi often as a back-to-the-basket big. He scored more points out of post-ups than any player in the league. But that won’t be his role in the NBA. Rather, he’ll do some of the things he was asked to do intermittently, such as step away and knock down 3s, pick-and-pop, spot-up to space the floor and make cuts and passing reads. Hit 37.6 percent from 3. Has good mechanics from a standstill when taking 3s. Doesn’t make them off movement. Takes them off a 1-2 step, which means he needs to be set ahead of time. Can’t make pull-up jumpers right now. Smart decision-maker who is mature in his approach. Limited in terms of vision but makes the right plays. Just profiles as a useful player in a variety of ways in an NBA that needs more versatile wings. Think of Omoruyi as someone like an Eric Paschall, just not quite as athletic or used to switching defensively. He strikes me as a borderline twoway/Exhibit 10 guy who should be able to play sooner rather than later in the NBA because of his toughness, motor and switchability on defense. If he’s a consistent 37 percent 3-point shooter or more, he has a chance to stick. Again though, time is running out for him as he’s already 24.

Oh, totally missed that. This is great!

[ItsDanger]

Shaedon Sharpe vertical. Expect the hype on this guy to grow in next year. Taking NBA difficulty level shots already, 3 level scorer.
Probably Canada's best prospect since Jamal Murray.

[TheFutureMM]

Shaedon Sharpe vertical. Expect the hype on this guy to grow in next year. Taking NBA difficulty level shots already, 3 level scorer.
Probably Canada's best prospect since Jamal Murray.

That bounce is pretty insane. Has he picked a school yet?

[mojo13]

Shaedon Sharpe vertical. Expect the hype on this guy to grow in next year. Taking NBA difficulty level shots already, 3 level scorer.
Probably Canada's best prospect since Jamal Murray.

That bounce is pretty insane. Has he picked a school yet?

No. Leading candidate is Kentucky. They had all their coaches there watching him this week and are putting on the full court press. 24/7s Crystal Ball is predicting Kentucky with confidence (7 of 7 experts saying UK).

Others in the mix include:
Alabama
Arizona
Arizona State
Cincinnati
Creighton
Illinois
Kansas
Oregon
Xavier

[mtr15]

Going a bit off topic here but Scottie Barnes reminds me Elijah Fisher. Both athletic freaks in transition in the open court and both share the same passion for defence. However, they have the same issues on offense, mainly half court and FT shooting.

If Barnes has success in the NBA in his first few seasons, then there's a good chance that Fisher will be up there as a high lottery pick, probably in 2023. Fisher is in the class of 2023 but there's a good chance he'll reclassify to the class of 2022 as he'll be entering his final year in high school at Crestwood Prep this fall.

[Hair Canada]

Going a bit off topic here but Scottie Barnes reminds me Elijah Fisher. Both athletic freaks in transition in the open court and both share the same passion for defence. However, they have the same issues on offense, mainly half court and FT shooting.

If Barnes has success in the NBA in his first few seasons, then there's a good chance that Fisher will be up there as a high lottery pick, probably in 2023. Fisher is in the class of 2023 but there's a good chance he'll reclassify to the class of 2022 as he'll be entering his final year in high school at Crestwood Prep this fall.

Honestly, I can't really see it. Barnes is a 6'9 PF with a 7'3 wingspan. Fisher is 6'7 with maybe a 6'10 or 6'11 wingspan. The difference in size here is really big and Fisher's future position should be on the perimeter not in the paint. In addition, Branes is a phenomenal passer and someone who does all the little things on the court, a bit similar to Dray Green. Fisher at this point is not more than a mediocre passer. I think where he has more potential than Barnes is as a shooter and slasher, but overall I see more upside for Barnes, who's a more unique player, and I thought the same when he was Fisher's age playing high school basketball.

[Hair Canada]

Lindell Wigginton has played really well in the CEBL for a good Hamilton team (8-3 record). Lindell is second in the lead in scoring (22.4ppg) and third in assists (4.8apg), and in both categories, it's only by a hair behind the league leader, Xavier Moon, who's a CEBL veteran. Lindell also leads the league in made 3s (3 per game), shooting them very well at 43%.

I haven't been a big fan of his game over the years and could not watch any of the games. But hopefully, at 23yo he's finally turning the corner. Been positive on most games judging by the stats line, and his positive assist/TO ratio is encouraging, as decision-making has always been his Achilles' heel. Let's see if this gets him a contract somewhere in Europe.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Team Canada is also the women's right? I hope you guys will be posting updates on them as well this Olympics.
I am counting on you guys to keep me updated! GO CANADA GO!

[TheFutureMM]

Team Canada is also the women's right? I hope you guys will be posting updates on them as well this Olympics.
I am counting on you guys to keep me updated! GO CANADA GO!

Historically we are pretty good about chatting about the Canadian Women when they get to the later stages of their tournaments. I remember posts mid-game in this thread back in 2015 during the final haha.

[mojo13]

Team Canada is also the women's right? I hope you guys will be posting updates on them as well this Olympics.
I am counting on you guys to keep me updated! GO CANADA GO!

Admittedly I'm not overly interested in women's basketball, Team Canada or not. It is not a women vs men thing, it is more about the quality of the sport being played. I much prefer a number of women's sports over men's (indoor volleyball, beach volleyball and tennis among them) but basketball is far from it. I'll try to catch a game or two if they make the medal rounds but for me to start talking about the women's team now is going way out of my lane.

[GoRapstheoriginal]

F*ck we lost our 1st game to Serbia 72-68 I think. Ugh/argh/blargh

[mojo13]

This is the most aggressive rankings I've seen for the Canadians heading into the draft. All trending up with Woo.
Most others don't have Banton or Lawson close to the top 60.

Read on Twitter

?s=20


I think I've expressed this here in the past, and I know most of us are rooting for Canadians to be drafted, but guys like Delano Banton & AJ Lawson are probably better off going undrafted rather in the 2nd.

Both’ll find multiple good two way / UDFA offers so why not choose the best fit? So many examples out there of getting selected in the 2nd round by the wrong club who doesn't really want you or isn't the best development system or quickly change course on your need. Justin Jackson, Ignas Brazdeikis, Marial Shayok, Oliver Hanlan, even first rounders like Mfiondu Kabengele.

Isn't it better to control your destiny and choose your best path like FVV, Chris Boucher, Luguentz Dort?

I heard in 2019 that Dort's agent was refusing to let teams draft him in the late 2nd (GMs normally call and ask permission from agents to select 2nds). Dort and his team wanted to pick the best fit.

[Stromile12]

Has Duarte ever shown interest in playing for Canada?

[Hair Canada]

This is the most aggressive rankings I've seen for the Canadians heading into the draft. All trending up with Woo.
Most others don't have Banton or Lawson close to the top 60.

Read on Twitter

?s=20


I think I've expressed this here in the past, and I know most of us are rooting for Canadians to be drafted, but guys like Delano Banton & AJ Lawson are probably better off going undrafted rather in the 2nd.

Both’ll find multiple good two way / UDFA offers so why not choose the best fit? So many example out there of getting selected in the 2nd round by wrong club who doesnt really want you or isnt the best development system or quicky change course on your need. Justin Jackson, Ignas Brazdeikis, Marial Shayok, Oliver Hanlan, even first rounders like Mfiondu Kabengele.

Isnt better to control your destiny and choose your best path like FVV, Chris Boucher, Luguentz Dort?

I heard in 2019 that Dort's agent was refusing to let teams draft him in the late 2nd (GMs normally call and ask permission from agents to select 2nds). Dort and his team wanted to pick the best fit.

Excellent point. Not being drafted also worked well I think for Brissett. There's no guarantee of course (Karim Mane), but it seems like the better way to enter the league for players who are borderline leaguers.

[Mattd97]

Has Duarte ever shown interest in playing for Canada?

Plays for the Dominican Republic and says he's only been to Canada once or twice in his life. Don't think it's a possibility

[mojo13]

Has Duarte ever shown interest in playing for Canada?

Plays for the Dominican Republic and says he's only been to Canada once or twice in his life. Don't think it's a possibility

I agree. But it is worth nothing he has never played the Dominican Republic in any FIBA competition and is eligible to play for Canada (though unlikely).

I'll probably stop talking about him once the draft is done, but have continued to include him in the Canadian talk as we have been doing it for the last year.

[Senor Waffles]

Chris Duarte not playing for Canada is the cost of having a good program.

For a lot of countries it's the opposite situation - guys with citizenship but an otherwise tenuous connection to the country end up playing for the team.

How far we've come!