15 Standouts from Dime Sessions: Session 1
Dime Sessions will be a major part of The Maple Minute’s coverage this season, and Session 1 gave us our first extended look at the field. More than 30 games were played over the weekend, with roughly 70 players making their way into my scouting notes.
The evaluation goes beyond points and highlights. I watched throughout the weekend and went back through film afterward, focusing on skill, physical tools, decision-making, defence, competitiveness and how those traits translated in different situations. Every game is available on the Dime Session YouTube channel, allowing players, coaches, and evaluators to review complete game film.
Here are 15 players who stood out in Session 1.
Pasen Perett | FYB | 6'1 | 2029
What immediately stood out with Perett was his confidence as a young guard playing up. He was comfortable letting the ball go from three and didn't look overwhelmed by the pace or physicality of an older field. Once he found a rhythm, he continued looking for his shot rather than becoming passive, and that confidence translated into one of the biggest scoring performances of the weekend.
Perett eventually finished that game with 39 points and eight three-pointers, but the more important part of the evaluation is that he's only a 2029. The shooting already gives him a skill he can build around as the rest of his game develops. Future sessions will give me a better look at the handle, creation, defence and decision-making against different coverages. Still, Session 1 gave us a strong reason to follow him closely.
Kierin Weinberger | PSA Black | 6'0 | 2027
Weinberger caught my attention with the variety of ways he created his own shot. Against Mountaineers, he went between the legs into a step-back three, showed an extremely quick release when a defender closed hard enough to foul him, and later used one dribble to his left before immediately rising into another three. What I liked most was that he wasn't simply hunting jumpers. He would explore the paint, pull the ball back when nothing was available and attack again from another angle. On one possession, he grabbed a long rebound and used a series of shifts with the ball to navigate through multiple defenders before getting into the paint and drawing a foul.
At 6'0, Weinberger isn't going to win because of overwhelming physical tools, so the handle, shooting versatility and ability to change pace become particularly important. His quick release leaves little margin for a defender, while his handle lets him manufacture space when it isn't there. There were possessions where the next pass could come sooner, something I'll continue watching, but his ability to consistently put pressure on a defence was clear. After reviewing the weekend film, Weinberger averaged 29 points, four assists, four rebounds, and three steals, including games of 41 and 30 points.
Ezra Lado | CTA West Black | 6'6 | 2027
Lado kept finding different ways to affect possessions. He attacked the offensive glass from the perimeter, rebounded above the rim and was quick to turn turnovers into transition opportunities. Defensively, I particularly liked his activity when CTA extended its pressure. He used his length and active hands when blitzing ball handlers, crashed down from the perimeter when a rebound was available and showed the athleticism to finish emphatically when CTA created transition chances.
At 6'6, that combination of length, mobility and motor gives Lado considerable versatility. The biggest positive for me was that he didn't need the basketball to make himself noticeable. Rebounding, cutting, defensive activity and transition play all give him ways to contribute before you even get into his offensive skill set. That's a valuable profile for a 2027 wing, and I'll keep tracking him as we see him in different situations.
Malakai Hills | CTA West Black | 6'8 | 2027
Hills consistently established himself around the basket. He used his 6'8 frame to create a target on rolls, pursued the offensive glass and finished possessions around the rim. What interested me more than his size were the possessions where he caught the ball with multiple defenders around him and recognized that the better play was to move it to an open teammate.
That's an important part of Hill's evaluation. The physical tools are easy to see, but flashes of feel add another dimension. A big who can screen, roll, rebound and then recognize where the next pass needs to go becomes much more useful as the level increases. His physicality and interior presence stood out immediately, while I'll watch his passing and decision-making closely in future sessions.
Jonah Kielly | Supreme | 6'5 | 2028
Kielly appeared in my notes repeatedly because his impact wasn't confined to one area. He knocked down catch-and-shoot threes from the wing and corner, ran the floor extremely hard and showed the athleticism to finish above the rim in transition. He also flashed quick hands defensively, challenged a shot at the rim and immediately turned rebounds into opportunities going the other direction.
For a 6'5 2028, that's a compelling combination. The shooting forces defenders to respect him away from the basket, while his athleticism and willingness to run give him another way to score without needing to create everything himself. The next thing I want to see is how far the off-the-dribble creation can develop. Right now, the shooting, athleticism, size and two-way activity already give Kielly several ways to influence a game.
Kobe Thomson | Supreme | 5'9 | 2028
Thompson was one of those players whose value became clearer the longer I watched. He consistently got Supreme organized, wasn't bothered by pressure bringing the ball up and seemed comfortable determining when the game needed to speed up or slow down. Against UPlay, he got underneath the basket before kicking to an open shooter, created another advantage that eventually came back to him for a three, and later stopped at the elbow for a controlled jumper. He also mixed it up on the offensive glass despite his size.
At 5'9 and still a 2028, Thompson's path is going to be built around skill, feel and decision-making. That's why his Session 1 performance caught my attention; a scoring total doesn't always capture his calm handling of pressure and organized possessions. He rebounded, threw long outlet passes, competed defensively and consistently looked like a guard who understood what his team was trying to accomplish.
Mari Muhiden | WCPA Regional | 6'1 | 2027
Muhiden's ability to put pressure on the first defender was apparent almost immediately. He was quick enough to get into the paint, but he wasn't simply driving into traffic. I saw him break down defenders before finding shooters, using his handle to change direction and turn defensive plays into transition opportunities. His hands were particularly active defensively, including possessions where he cleanly took the ball away on the perimeter.
For a 6'1 guard, creating that initial advantage is important. Muhiden showed he can get the defence moving and force help to arrive, which opens the rest of the floor. I'm interested in continuing to evaluate his decisions when he beats the first defender, particularly against length around the rim. The quickness, handle and defensive activity gave him a strong start to the Dime season.
Dryden Smadis | WCPA Regional | 6'6 | 2029
Smadis was one of the players whose age and size made me go back and reconsider what I had seen. At 6'6 as a 2029, he wasn't simply being used as a big body. He directed traffic, called pick-and-roll actions, and handled the basketball comfortably. He attacked off the dribble, got into the paint and finished through contact, and showed the ability to step into a catch-and-shoot three.
Those are intriguing skills to see from a player this young with that kind of size. There were possessions where Smadis appeared to be thinking about what the defence was giving him rather than simply attacking the first available opening. There is obviously a lot of development ahead for a 2029. Still, the combination of size, ball skills, shooting and early playmaking feel gives us plenty to track over the next several sessions.
Jordie Brown | Mountaineers Prep | 6'0 | 2027
Brown's voice stood out almost as much as anything he did with the basketball. He constantly communicated with teammates and challenged the group while still applying pressure defensively. He pushed the ball in transition, attacked the paint and showed shooting touch. I also liked his willingness to rebound from the guard position and immediately look to move the ball forward.
Leadership can be difficult to evaluate over a short stretch, but Brown repeatedly showed it. He stayed engaged in possessions whether he had the basketball or not and was comfortable being vocal at both ends. At 6'0, toughness, skill and decision-making are going to matter, and those were areas where Brown consistently made himself noticeable during Session 1.
Charlie Reimer | Mountaineers Prep | 6'8 | Post Grad
Reimer consistently gave Mountaineers a target inside. He showed his hands in both the high and low post, caught the ball cleanly and displayed good touch around the basket. One possession I particularly liked came when he curled from around the free-throw line directly through the middle of the paint, presented a big target and finished with a controlled jump hook. He also showed the ability to catch a post touch and find an open shooter when help arrived.
The other pieces made the evaluation more interesting. Reimer put the ball on the floor from the wing, pursued defensive rebounds and looked to get the outlet moving quickly. At 6'8, the size will naturally be part of his game, but the hands, passing feel, touch and willingness to handle are what I'll be watching again when Mountaineers return.
Mayen Atem | CTA West White | 6'6 | 2027
Atem consistently played with activity around the basket. He attacked the offensive glass aggressively, finished through traffic and ran the floor hard enough to create transition opportunities, including a two-handed finish. I also liked several of his passing possessions. When he got into the paint, he showed a willingness to find teammates rather than automatically forcing his own attemptt.
At 6'6, Atem has the physical tools and motor to affect possessions in several ways. What makes him more interesting is the possibility of adding more perimeter skill and playmaking to that foundation. The rebounding and athleticism already create value, while the passing flashes suggest there could eventually be more to his offensive role than simply finishing plays.
Dax Martindale | CTA West Red | 6'2 | 2027
Martindale was one of my favourite defensive evaluations of Session 1. He repeatedly moved his feet to cut off penetration, understood where to position himself in the gaps and was comfortable absorbing contact. On several possessions, there wasn't a steal or blocked shot at the end—he simply got his chest in front of the ball handler, held his ground and prevented the offence from getting where it wanted to go.
Those are the defensive possessions I value because they don't always show up in a box score. Martindale demonstrated lateral quickness, physicality and awareness while being willing to defend different types of players. I want a larger sample of his offensive game in future sessions, but he already established a clear defensive identity and showed how much he can influence possessions without needing the basketball.
Joven Sanghera | CTA West Red | 6'5 | 2027
Sanghera's athleticism and activity were difficult to miss. One play that stood out was an explosive offensive rebound off a missed free throw where he attacked the ball above the crowd. He consistently pursued rebounds, played through contact and found opportunities around the basket rather than waiting for touches to come to him.
At 6'5, Sanghera has a useful physical profile because he combines size with the ability to move. His motor creates extra possessions, and that's something that should translate regardless of his offensive role. I'm interested in getting a longer look at the handle, shooting and half-court creation in future sessions, but the athleticism, rebounding and willingness to compete gave him a strong opening weekend.
Isaac Hogan | FYB | 6'6 | 2028
Hogan caught my attention with how comfortable he was playing physically. He fought through traffic for defensive rebounds, established position around the paint and repeatedly created contact on his way to the free-throw line. I also liked a possession where he received the ball inside, used a pump fake and recognized the collapsing defence before kicking the ball back outside rather than forcing his own attempt.
At 6'6 as a 2028, Hogan already has useful size, but I was more interested in the decisions accompanying it. He wasn't simply trying to overpower every possession. There were flashes of patience and awareness when the defence sent additional attention his way. The next step will be seeing more of the perimeter skill and shooting, but the physicality, rebounding and developing feel give him a good foundation.
Orlando Reyes | Tsuut'ina Nast'ogha | 6'2 | Post Grad
Reyes kept finding ways to get involved. He attacked the paint, pursued rebounds and got on the floor for loose balls. One of my favourite plays from him was a long outlet pass that immediately turned a defensive possession into an easy transition opportunity. He also showed the ability to get inside and find teammates rather than simply trying to finish everything himself.
What ultimately separated Reyes for me was his communication. He was consistently talking, helping organize teammates and recognizing where players needed to be. Those details matter when evaluating a guard because they show involvement beyond his own touches. The passing, competitiveness and willingness to communicate gave Reyes an impact that went beyond whatever appeared in the scoring column.
Watch Dime Sessions
Every Dime Sessions game is streamed live and archived on the Dime Sessions YouTube channel, making the complete film available to players, families, coaches and evaluators.
The remaining schedule includes Oct. 23–25 in Edmonton, Nov. 13–15 in Edmonton, Dec. 11–13 in Calgary, Jan. 22–24 in Edmonton, and the Championship Feb. 25–28 in Calgary.
The Maple Minute will continue evaluating players throughout the Dime Sessions season.
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