Highlighting the Standout Players at the ROCK

The ROCK tournament in Regina once again lived up to its lofty reputation of bringing together some of the best teams in Saskatchewan on what will be the last tournament weekend of the season. It has always been a tournament that brings together the best smaller-category teams, but in recent years, it has begun to see top 5A teams take part as well. This year 4 of the provinces top 10 teams took part, this was my first chance to get to Regina this season and see some talent in person that i have been tracking all season.

The tournament featured 16 men's and 8 women's teams playing in 4 gyms throughout Regina. Harvest City came away with the women's championship, and the 2 hosts teams, Regina Christian and Harvest City, met in a thrilling men's final, which saw a very good Regina Christian squad winning on their home floor. Let's take a look at the 11 players I think college coaches will want to keep an eye on over the next couple of years.

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TOURNAMENT MVP

Carter Glasspell 5'11 Class of 2028 Regina Christian

Carter is a player I have been watching for several years, and his growth has been remarkable. He is the definition of a point guard and coach on the floor. You can tell he is a coach's son by the way he directs and moves his teammates around the floor to keep things running smoothly. When you combine his leadership with his ability to cut into the heart of the defense to make plays and also knock down huge shots from the outside, you have a prospect that coaches will want to focus on.

Carter's ability to do what his team needs is another aspect I love about his game. He has a scoring role on Regina Christian, but when he plays for his Golden Ticket squad in the spring/summer, he is much more of a pure point guard who really sets the table for an extremely talented squad. I expect he will be on Team Saskatchewan this summer, and again, he will master whatever role he is given.

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1st TEAM ALL-STARS

Isaiah Yemba

6'1

Class of 2027 Harvest City

What a season Isaiah has had leading his Harvest City squad, and this tournament was a microcosm of what he does. He dropped 42 points for his team in the semifinals with a combination of aggressive hard takes to the rim and 3-point bombs that broke the game wide open in the 4th. In the final, he was a defensive menace, making the game extremely difficult for his match-up.

He is going to thrive next year in college at Briercrest in the ACAC.

Jakob Jungswirth

6'10

Class of 2027 Martensville Royals

While Jakob did not have much team success this weekend, he is a prospect who will receive a lot of attention at every level over the next several months. His size is impressive, but it is the way he rebounds the basketball that impresses me the most; he grabs balls well above the rim and chases every rebound down, never accepting that someone else should do it. He finishes with power dunking on a defender off the bounce as well as from the block while also shooting the 3 to stretch the defense.

Jakob would be a strong pick-up for a USport program, and if a post-grad program can sign him, we could be looking at a player who could go south.

Joseph Lippai 6'4 Class of 2027 Riffel Royals

The UPEI commit can shoot the ball and did exactly that all weekend. He uses his size to get himself great looks and loves to let it fly off the break. I was impressed with Joe's improvement on the defensive end this weekend. He was very vocal, helping get his teammates into good positions. He also showed a real commitment to rebounding all weekend that will all pay huge dividends for his team come the playoffs.

Osaze Evuomwan 6'3 Class of 2028 Regina Christian Grizzlies

The grade 11 prospect impresses me more every time I see him play. He is still growing, and his body is filling out, making him more and more likely to be able to contribute immediately at the next level. His strength allows him to get downhill and attack the basket, where he is an excellent finisher, and if teams pack the paint to take away his driving lanes, he is a good 3-point shooter that makes you extend out.

This weekend, I was also impressed with the effort he put in on the defensive end, as he really made Isaiah Yemba work in the final by moving his feet and limiting his options with the ball. This will be a big summer as he is another player who should make an impact on Team Saskatchewan.

Quinn Teece 6'4 Class of 2027 Sheldon Williams Spartans

This was my first time seeing Quinn, and I was very impressed with the way he played the game. He is a long, athletic prospect who handles the ball well for his team, playing as the primary ball handler most of the tourney. He is a capable shooter who makes shots from both the mid-range and beyond the arc.

I think he is a prospect that CCAA schools will want to take a look at and invite to ID camps.

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2nd TEAM ALL-STARS

Hudson Belsher 5'10 Class of 2029 Central Cyclones

Hudson is only in grade 10, and I was impressed by his poise all weekend. Playing a major role for the 5-time defending 4A provincial champs is a lot of pressure, but he handles it well. He is an excellent long-range shooter who, when left open, is very dangerous.

Kai Dobranski

6'

Class of 2027 Aden Bowman Bears

Kai just keeps taking huge steps forward in his game and will be a prospect that will be an asset to whatever CCAA program adds him. He continues to extend his range beyond the 3-point line, and that pairs well with his already very good mid-range game. He is a natural leader who makes his teammates better.

Lochlan Selinger

6'2

Class of 2028 Winston Knoll Wolverines

Lochlan really stood out to me as a player in multiple games throughout the weekend. He has a strong build and uses it to create openings for himself and teammates. He knocked down shots from the 3-point line and showed good ball-handling skills. I'm looking forward to watching his growth over the next year.

Obama Lasu 6'3

Class of 2027 Harvest City

Obama has grown a couple of inches since I last saw him, but it is his athleticism that truly makes him special. He gets to the rim and scores, but it will be his defense and rebounding that college coaches will find attractive. He created turnovers all weekend and, in the final, demonstrated that if he gets out in front of a turnover, he will electrify the crowd.

Rayce Shaw 6'1 Class of 2028 Riffel Royals

Rayce is a prospect I have heard plenty about and seen clips, but seeing him play, I really appreciate his game and think he has the potential to be a steal for a coach in a year's time. He has a good understanding of when and how to attack defenses. He scored in both transition and the half-court with multiple crafty finishes. He is a good shooter who knocks down shots when he is open.

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A huge thank you to the Regina Christian Schools for inviting me to cover the tournament. Atlee Simon, Joel Wells, and Geoff Glasspell have created amazing programs and a truly special tournament. I look forward to seeing the talent I saw in Regina growing and moving on.