NCAA Canadian Watch List, 2021-22

[Sister]

Thank you Hair for all of your work, this is incredible stuff. Very informative.

I am too lazy and old to bother searching, but did you profile Banton in these Watch Lists in previous years?

If so, what did you say about him?

[mojo13]

Thank you Hair for all of your work, this is incredible stuff. Very informative.

I am too lazy and old to bother searching, but did you profile Banton in these Watch Lists in previous years?

If so, what did you say about him?

Here is Hair Canada's 20/21 NCAA Preview - he has Banton as the #1 sophomore.

viewtopic.php?t=2015496

[duppyy]

Thank you Hair for all of your work, this is incredible stuff. Very informative.

I am too lazy and old to bother searching, but did you profile Banton in these Watch Lists in previous years?

If so, what did you say about him?

Only reason I didn't go "Who tf is that guy?" when Banton was drafted was due to Hair Canada. Told my friends who were watching that it was a good pick just cause he's a 6'9 lanky PG from Toronto.

[Hair Canada]

Thank you Hair for all of your work, this is incredible stuff. Very informative.

I am too lazy and old to bother searching, but did you profile Banton in these Watch Lists in previous years?

If so, what did you say about him?

Before the start of the season, I ranked Banton first among sophomores, despite what the statistical evidence suggested at the time. Here’s what I wrote:

“1. Dalano Banton, Nebraska (21yo 6’9 CG; 6’11 wingspan; 205lbs; from Toronto, ON). Okay, if what I wrote above didn’t convince you that this is an unremarkable Canadian sophomore cohort, the fact that I’m putting Banton as perhaps the highest potential here should. In his only season with Western Kentucky, before transferring to Nebraska, Banton put up a pedestrian stat line: 3.4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 40% from the field, 20% from 3, and 55% from the stripe. So why is he leading this list of sophomores? First, there’s a chance I’m just wrong about him and he won’t end up doing anything special this season. But given the field this year, he’s one of the players that I’m more curious to see.

Two years ago I wrote that I see in him shades of SGA. Like Shai, he’s somewhat of a late-bloomer, who has made some significant strides during his final high school year. Like Shai, not the strongest or most athletic guard you'll find. Also has an underwhelming frame, sporting narrow hips, and thin shoulders. But he’s really long, has long strides, plays with composure and deceptive change of speeds, and able to regularly get to the basket despite lacking an explosive first step. So I think the potential is there with great size for the position (can play lead guard for stretches). Also, in one of the only games I watched him play in Western Kentucky two seasons ago, he was just shy of a TD with 8 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists, in a great win over a strong (ranked #15 at the time) Wisconsin team. So given the field, I’m quite intrigued to see how he can do after two more years of maturation and hopefully with more trust from one of the better coaches in college, Fred Hoiberg.”


After his first game at Nebraska:

“So, Dalano Banton looked great in his first game in almost two years. 14 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals in a blowout Nebraska win against McNeese State. And I think he did all that only in about 20 minutes. A really talented player. Now if he can just get the 3-point shot to fall... One of the more intriguing Canadian prospects. On second thought, one of the more intriguing college prospects regardless of nationality due to his mix of unique handle and vision for his size with a skinny frame and mediocre foot speed/athleticism.”


There's more as the year progressed in the link mojo provides above. I was somewhat skeptical of his defense, which so far looks to be fine, but a bit early to determine. And of course, the shooting, which looks pretty great so far, but a small sample size and I suspect numbers will regress.

[SharoneWright]

The college season starts in two weeks and in tradition, I’m putting together a Canadian watch list.

Again, great stuff, Hair!

Ever consider putting together a Canadian NBA Draft Big Board?

[Sister]

Sam Vecenie has his 2022 Draft Big Board out on the Athletic site.

He has Max Christie, Michigan State and Caleb Houstan, Michigan ranked 11 and 12 right now.

[mojo13]

So it looks like Zach Edey won out the starting Center spot over All-Big Ten Trevion Williams to start the season.
Trevion Williams, the returning senior & First-team All-Big Team (2021) is a Naismith & Wooden Award candidate entering the season.

Coach Painter said Zach Edey has dominated summer practices and exhibitions. So here we go.

[Bruin]

Shaedon is enrolling this year but redshirting. Still won’t play until next season but this should help him prepare for his freshman season

[SharoneWright]

So it looks like Zach Edey won out the starting Center spot over All-Big Ten Trevion Williams to start the season.
Trevion Williams, the returning senior & First-team All-Big Team (2021) is a Naismith & Wooden Award candidate entering the season.

Coach Painter said Zach Edey has dominated summer practices and exhibitions. So here we go.

Very exciting!

[TheFutureMM]

So it looks like Zach Edey won out the starting Center spot over All-Big Ten Trevion Williams to start the season.
Trevion Williams, the returning senior & First-team All-Big Team (2021) is a Naismith & Wooden Award candidate entering the season.

Coach Painter said Zach Edey has dominated summer practices and exhibitions. So here we go.

Very exciting!

Agreed. They play tonight - very excited to see how he does.

[Hair Canada]

Nice start to the season:

Redshirt freshman Jefferson Coulibaly with 13 points (2 of 4 from 3), 3 rebounds, and 3 assists (1TO) coming off the bench for Washington State of the Pac 12. Looked good out there with a couple of really nice passes. Also went aggressively to the hoop and drew some fouls (only 3 of 7 from the line though). Certainly, an interesting guy to watch this year.

[aminiaturebuddha]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

[ItsDanger]

Read on Twitter

Got to cut the TO down but nice debut for Nembhard.

[mojo13]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

Still tough to tell at this point. Obviously people have pointed out Boban who is around the same size (7'4, 290). Boban is pretty skilled and very difficult to handle offensively but is just a little too slow and not-agile enough defensively to get extended run. He is a force in FIBA though as he can camp in the paint.

I was thinking Rick Smits but Zach is quite heftier already than Smits who also was 7'4 but played around 250. He was pretty well skilled on offense and somewhat nimble on D but was never a great rebounder or rim protector.

Is Yao Ming that much of a stretch? 7'6 and about 310 - so a little bigger but similar skillset and frame. Similar speed, agility etc. Decent rebounder, ok rim protection.

It is a really short list of comparable players. Not many players 7'4 and up to ever play in the NBA - less than 20?
Most were much less bulky, a skinnier frame. Some of the guys I recall of consequence pushing 300 pounds were:
Yao Ming
Gheorghe Mureșan (7'7)
Tako Fall (7'6)
Mark Eaton (7'4 290)
Boban
Priest Lauderdale (7'4, 325)
Peter John Ramos (7.3.5, 290)
Arvidis Sabonis (7'3, 300)

[SharoneWright]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

Mark Eaton

Edit: I see Eaton on mojo's list too..... The obvious thing to me yesterday was that Edey still REALLY struggles with positioning on defense. If he can develop good defensive positional instincts at his size, he could really improve his impact.

[mojo13]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

Mark Eaton

Edit: I see Eaton on mojo's list too..... The obvious thing to me yesterday was that Edey still REALLY struggles with positioning on defense. If he can develop good defensive positional instincts at his size, he could really improve his impact.

i don't yet see the Eaton comp. Eaton was really quite unskilled offensively and never provided much offense (volume or effeceincy). He was primarily a paint and rim protector and not much else. A career 65% FT shooter, career 46% FG. He was extremely strong and durable though - rarely missed a game, played heavy minutes, didnt take allot of shots and blocked the crap out of the ball.

Maybe I'm just hoping to see more from Zach than Eaton's limited offensive game but in reality that could be his ceiling...

[SharoneWright]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

Mark Eaton

Edit: I see Eaton on mojo's list too..... The obvious thing to me yesterday was that Edey still REALLY struggles with positioning on defense. If he can develop good defensive positional instincts at his size, he could really improve his impact.

i don't yet see the Eaton comp. Eaton was really quite unskilled offensively and never provided much offense (volume or effeceincy). He was primarily a paint and rim protector and not much else. A career 65% FT shooter, career 46% FG. He was extremely strong and durable though - rarely missed a game, played heavy minutes, didnt take allot of shots and blocked the crap out of the ball.

Maybe I'm just hoping to see more from Zach than Eaton's limited offensive game but in reality that could be his ceiling...

That's certainly fair. I'm salivating at defensive potential, I think. He's obvioulsy not even close to Eaton in that regard, but rim protection is where I hope for him to carve out a role. Our Canadian roster certainly needs that! I might be slightly less optimistic about his offensive potential that you are, except for the fact that the NBA has gone away from traditional big bangers and so he should be able to just park and turn.

[DreamTeam09]

Zach Edey ended up his season debut with 16 pts (on 4-5 shooting), 9 rebounds, and 1 block. He also got to the line 10 times, which I'm guessing will be a regular occurrence for him this year, since there are very few players in college who can handle him in the paint.

It's starting to seem more and more likely that he'll end up getting a legitimate NBA shot, maybe as early as next year. So that got me thinking about his possible NBA comps. Who do you guys think works for him/is a pro career he could aim to emulate?

The closest I could come up with is a bigger Jonas Valanciunas. Somewhat of an old school center, who's a load in the paint offensively, great on the boards, has a good mid-range touch that can sometimes be extended out, and is never going to be a top defender in space but is mobile enough and provides enough rim protection to not become a total liability at the defensive end in the modern NBA.

Any other thoughts? Other players that Edey could look to and say "that guy has made a good pro career doing X, I can do the same"?

No way he's an offensively as gifted as JV. I unno what a good comp would be. I think offensively he'd be in the gobert role. Dumps off dunks and lobs. He's gonna need to show a 10-15 footer, good % at the line and a baby hook to take him to another level. Raps should look at him with a 2ns tho

[Hair Canada]

I've mentioned Tyrese Samuel as a guy I'm betting on to make a leap this year.

Just one game and a blowout against a weak opponent, but career highs in minutes (27), points (19 with the previous high being 12), rebounds (11), and blocks (4) sure look good. Also shot 4 of 5 from the line, which is encouraging for someone with less than 40% from the stripe over his college career. The talent is there. Now we'll see if he can have nights like this more consistently.

[Hair Canada]

Zach Edey continues to impress and frankly just looks like a better player than Terion Williams and rightfully getting to start before him. In about 20 minutes today, Edey had 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks (I counted 4 watching the game). 8 of 9 from the field and 6 of 7 from the line. An unstoppable force in the paint and looks much better on D this year. Said it before -- He's a leaguer.

Nana Owusu-Anane also with an auspicious start to his college career. Today, in a tight Brown loss against North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NOA had 20 points (2 of 2 from 3) and 8 rebounds, including a couple of big plays in the second half. Do we have another one cooking?