2026 Redhawks Invitational - Highlights & Standouts

Written by Harrison Paulichuk

The Redhawks Invitational Tournament (RIT) is an annual eight-team men's and women's tournament hosted in Calgary by Western Canada High School. This past weekend marked my first time attending, and after seeing the level of play across both draws, it’s a tournament I’ll be hoping to cover again next year. From Jasper Place and Western Canada renewing their rivalry in the women’s final after a 2OT thriller at the REB, to the Foothills men settling in and looking like a legitimate top Alberta team, the weekend offered no shortage of high-level moments. 

The women’s side was stacked this year with three top-10 ranked Alberta teams and one ranked BC team. Meanwhile, the men's side matched this energy with two top-10 ranked Alberta teams and a top AAA BC team. With that level of top‑end talent, the separation was minimal, and by the time Saturday rolled around, nearly every matchup felt like it could swing either way.  On both the men’s and women’s sides, you could reasonably argue that any of the top five teams had a legitimate case to finish on top if a few possessions or bounces went differently. I saw some high-level play and some elite-level athletes all weekend, and despite four major tournaments running in Alberta at the same time, I had no regrets about being in Calgary. The Redhawks Invitational deserves more exposure than it currently gets.

Below are the final standings from both draws:

Men’s Results:

Champions - Foothills

2nd - Western Canada

3rd - St. Mary's

4th - All Saints

5th - MEI

6th - Jasper Place

7th - Bishop McNally

8th - Cochrane

Women’s Results:

Champions - Western Canada

2nd - Jasper Place

3rd - MEI

4th - Aberhart

5th - Foothills

6th - Springbank

7th - Bowness

8th - St. Mary's

This is one of the first times I’ve covered both the men’s and women’s sides in the same article. While much of my audience follows the men’s game more closely, that shouldn’t take away from the level of talent on the women’s side. With the number of top programs and several players with clear USports — or higher — potential in the gym, there was no shortage of standout performances.

For this piece, I put together two all‑tournament teams based on players who consistently stood out over the weekend. This isn’t a ranking of the “best” players, but rather recognition for athletes who impacted winning when it mattered most, especially on the final day. I heavily valued hustle, defensive presence, and overall game IQ - traits that translate directly to the next level - and those themes will come up repeatedly throughout the article. This article isn’t about box scores — it’s about which players consistently impacted winning and left it all on the court, making an impression on me, and their teams. Every player highlighted showed that they belong in that conversation.

Men's All-RIT Team

Photo courtesy of capturedby_chriss

Mayen Atem | 6'5 | All Saints | 2027

One of the best on-ball defenders in Calgary, Atem is an elite stopper and enjoys playing defence. The Keyano commit is a switchable on-ball defender and can hold his own against 1-4, using both length and reach. His reach allows him to grab steals on-ball, especially when ball handlers relax for even a moment. He also plays as a help defender in the paint with All Saints, closing lanes and making opponents think twice about attacking inside. He chooses not to force a steal or a block and risk getting handed a foul or being blown past on defence. As a point of attack defender, Atem prefers to lock up opponents for the full shot clock and simply play lockdown defence. Being this level of defensive threat is taxing, especially when tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player, yet Atem still handles primary ball‑handling duties on offence. He plays an explosive game on offence and has a quick first step to the hoop. Once he finds his spots or sees a lane, his footwork stands out, and he has a variety of finishing moves around the rim. His release is smooth both in the paint and from beyond the arc, making him a dual threat. Atem was one of the best defenders in the tournament and will play for a team next year that fits his style of play.

Drew Byam | 6'1 | Foothills | 2027

A Shifty 6'1 guard who runs Foothills' offence and can score at will. Byam earned the tournament MVP award and held the championship trophy for the men's side of the 2026 RIT. He hustles and plays with grit, as any Foothills player does. He averaged 23.3 PPG on a solid 40.8% from the field with a high usage rate and was likely the top of every opponent's game plan coming into the weekend, as he has made a name for himself throughout this season, recently coming off an All-Canadian Games nomination. He has an elite shot from deep, hitting 3.7 per game over the tournament, off of both spot-up shots and looks that he creates for himself off the dribble. He hardly needs any space to get a shot off and knows when defenders are sagging off just enough for him to see the rim. His release is pure and translates to all three levels; even when moving and fading, he doesn’t need to be set to punish the defence. An elite shooting touch is aided by a strong handle, allowing him to consistently create his own looks.

As a floor general, Byam runs the court with confidence and composure. Even when pressured or doubled, he stays calm and makes the right play, whether that’s finding the open man or punishing a gap in the press. Down the lane, Byam is a crafty finisher with the handle and footwork to get to the rim. He doesn’t shy away from contact either, showing the rim the same confidence that the three-point arc sees. Byam is a high-level scoring guard but isn’t a liability on the defensive end either, grabbing 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game at the RIT. His potential is sky high, and he will put in the work wherever he ends up next year.

Other per-game stats from the weekend: 6.8 Rebounds, 2.7 Assists

Tighe Haughton | 6'6 |Western | 2027

Haughton is a 6'6 athlete who plays with size and grit. HIs explosiveness from the wing made for several highlight slams over the weekend. He has a large wingspan and is built like a university-ready athlete with a solid frame. He has the defensive IQ and build to know when to contest shots as a mobile defensive threat, averaging a block per game this weekend and swatting three in the championship game. Haughton searches for open space off-ball, which allows him to find open looks and not have to force anything. He can get hot from deep and has a pure release when he catches the ball in rhythm. Over the weekend, he had a handful of late shots before the buzzer and wasn’t fazed by the clock or defence, showing plenty of composure. When the team needed a basket, he was able to step up and deliver. Haughton’s shot isn’t limited to beyond the arc and translates well to the elbow or from the paint. He plays tough and always bruises inside, fighting for rebounds on both ends. He averaged over seven rebounds per game on the weekend and helped his team capitalize on second chance points, leading them to the final. When getting inside, Haughton was a bulldozer down the lane. He isn’t afraid to drive right into the teeth of the defence and finish through contact, drawing the and-one. Haughton is a high-potential athlete who already has a solid foundation and should be on the radar of USports programs.

Cedric Reynolds-Raby | 6'4 |St. Mary's | 2027

Reynolds-Raby is one of the best all-around team players in this tournament. The guard has been playing starter minutes for a top-10 provincial team over the past two seasons and does exactly what they need out of him from year to year. He isn’t the flashiest player on the court who will stand out in a mixtape, but he plays the right way and contributes to winning basketball. He averaged eleven points over the weekend on a high efficiency and always guarded the toughest assignments on the perimeter. His first step and overall footspeed — both laterally and in transition — are among his best attributes. This footspeed helps him to not just stay with even bigger defenders, but to stick on them like glue. His defensive movement forces turnovers through tight ball pressure and quick hands, averaging two steals per game. That hustle carries over to the glass, where Reynolds‑Raby consistently crashes hard and sneaks in for rebounds as a guard. He has a “Josh Hart” type build and stature on the court, finishing the weekend with five rebounds and four assists per game. He processes the game at a high level and positions himself well. He is never afraid to make another pass or drive when there is an open lane. When he does get a look he likes, he’s a reliable finisher at the rim with a soft touch off the glass. If defence sags off, he is a great catch-and-shoot option from the perimeter, especially in the corners. Reynolds‑Raby has the potential to develop into a starting‑calibre player for any team looking for a true competitor on the floor.

Mercer Thiessen | 6'5 | MEI | 2027

In the consolation final, Thiessen put up one of the most impressive games I have ever seen from a high school athlete. He dropped 52 points on over 50% efficiency and couldn't be stopped. He has one of the cleanest jumpers from beyond the arc in all of BC, and hit 9 threes in the final game of the tournament and averaged 8 in the final two. At 6’5, he has a clean release that is hard for most defenders to bother, and he takes his time with the shot, keeping the same rhythm regardless of coverage or distance. With such a uniform release, he thrives inside and out as a scorer and has a clean shot even when taking moving shots like a turnaround from the elbow. He has a strong build and a long wingspan that allows him to fight his way to the paint and finish hard through contact. His finishing package around the rim shows real finesse, even when playing through contact the ball always hits the glass with the right spin. He plays with a purpose while he's on the court and moves the ball well. The 50-point game might have been one of the most ethical high-scoring games that I have seen; scoring while also moving the ball and hitting at a high clip. Thiessen can read the court well and always has his head on a swivel. He averaged 4.5 assists over the last two games of the tournament. That scoring output didn’t come at the expense of the rest of his game. Thiessen reads lanes on defence well and puts himself in position to pick off passes. As a defensive player, he has a strong base and stays in front of opponents well, especially smaller guards. He averaged 2.5 steals and 2 blocks per game in the semis and final. Thiessen will play smart and hard for whichever USports program lands him next season.

Other per-game stats from the final two games: 12.5 rebounds

Women's All-RIT Team

Ella Tatlock | 6'3 | F | MEI | 2027

Tatlock is an elite stretch forward who impacts the game on both ends of the floor. At 6'3, she has a lanky wingspan, a confident handle, and the ability to space the floor well, making her a true inside‑out threat. Tatlock shot 40% from deep over the weekend and averaged 14 ppg. She didn't exclusively score the ball from deep, though. Her court awareness is elite, and she is always looking to find open space, whether that’s an open shot on the perimeter or a roll to the paint down low. She has a great finishing touch inside and seems unbothered by defence or contact, remaining unbothered by contact as she finishes at the rim. She plays with a grit and motor that doesn't often come with high school athletes. Tatlock has a magnet to the ball and always chases for boards, averaging 9 rebounds per game during the RIT. She could rely solely on her size and reach to rebound, but instead consistently creates contact on box‑outs and chases the ball off the rim. That size translates defensively as well, anchoring the paint during MEI’s run to a bronze medal, averaging 2 blocks a game. With a long wingspan, she has a presence on the help side that makes opponents think twice about driving to the rack. The athletic and mobile playstyle that Tatlock has as a big is very hard to find in high school talent. When going up to block shots or driving in for a layup, she’s always in control and looks comfortable and smooth on the court. Tatlock will be a great addition for any program looking for a two-way stretch threat.

Ally Tannas | 5'8 | Springbank | 2027

Tannas is a multisport athlete who plays with an elite in-game IQ. The MacEwan soccer commit is a 5'8 guard that can shoot the lights out from deep. She isn’t afraid to pull from deep when given space, even well beyond the arc. She isn't fazed by a couple of misses and plays with confidence as a leader on a younger team. She passes the ball with split-second decision-making and finds teammates who are open even across the court. She might not be the shiftiest guard, but she handles the ball with purpose, keeping her head up and making the right reads without over-dribbling. She controls the tempo and knows when to push the pace or settle her team. Tannas has an eye for finding open space and relocating on the court in order to create looks and lanes for herself and others. She likes to run the offence but doesn’t need the ball in her hands to be effective on the court.  If a teammate is open, she will find them, whether it’s a roller down the lane or someone spotting up from beyond. When given the room, she gets downhill with a purpose and finishes with confidence. She has a skillful finishing package at the rim and can punish defences in a variety of ways. Late in the game, Tannas slowed the game down and scored on some key possessions to keep Springbank within reach. As a leader for the Phoenix, she had a great weekend, not stepping off the court for almost the entire last game. Tannas has the tools and composure to thrive on both the field and the court.

Photo courtesy of R3X Visualz

Amanda Guss | 5'6 | Western Canada | 2027

After three weeks of being out with an injury, Guss made her debut in the championship game and  immediately made an impact when it mattered most. The UBC commit is a shifty ball handler who makes things happen on the court. She has the ball on a string and moves in and out of traffic like she is in the open court. Her low centre of gravity opens up lanes and  leaves defenders in her dust with one quick crossover or a hesitation. Her finishing at the rim is just as good  as her shot from deep, and she keeps the defence guessing with a variety of offensive weapons. In her first game back, she chipped in 12 points against the Rebels and capitalized on finding open shots from beyond the arc and getting downhill to draw contact. That same control and balance shows up defensively as well. For a smaller guard, she sticks in front of her check like glue. She doesn't need to reach or double to make  opposing guards uncomfortable from baseline to baseline. Her movement on the court is fantastic, and with or without the ball, she knows where to be. She is a leader on the court and knows how to direct traffic out there with or without the ball.  She draws defensive attention and uses it to move the ball, consistently delivering passes on time and in rhythm without forcing anything. Her passing was fantastic in the finals, finishing the game with 9 assists. Guss will be a force at UBC next year and projects as an immediate impact player at the U Sports level.

Other stats from the final: 3 rebounds, and 1 steal

The Redhawks Invitational delivered two electric finals and a weekend of high-level basketball that will stick with me for a long time. The players highlighted here stood out, but they were just a snapshot of the talent on display throughout the tournament.

A big thank you to Western Canada High School for having me out and putting on a tournament that deserves more attention than it gets. I’m already looking forward to being back next season.

All final standings, Player of the Game selections, and additional details are listed below. As always, feel free to reach out if you’d like more insight on any of the athletes mentioned or are interested in having me cover your tournament.

RIT Website - https://www.westernrit.ca/

RIT Program - https://www.westernrit.ca/program

My X account - Harrison Paulichuk (@HPaulichuk) / X

My Contact Info - hpaulichuk@gmail.com