On Sunday, I was able to take in the opening combine for the 2024 Saskatoon Homecourt Summer League. Going into it's 4th season, the league has continued to grow and has become a must see for witnessing the growth of basketball in Saskatoon.
Founder Chan DeCiman, a former U of S Huskie player, has created a league that brings out the best that basketball has to offer in our prairie oasis. Just a few things that make the league stand out include:
Season themes - last year was Spongebob, this is included in jerseys, social media and merch, it just makes the league a fun a vibrant place to be. This years theme will be Scooby-Do!!!
Interactive Player of the Week voting - the coaches pick 2 players in each division and then voting between them is done on Instagram complete with video highlights.
Up and coming coaches - the league identifies a lot of former local high school and USport players and give them a chance to try coaching in a low stress environment.
League Combine - all the players ran drills and played games in front of the coaches on Sunday, who will draft their teams this week. This mixes up the kids from their school/club teams.
The 2024 season will be the biggest yet with the league running from July 9th to August 22nd. The numbers are simply mind blowing considering Saskatoon has a population of under 300,000. The league will feature 134 kids in the Junior division (grade 4-8) playing Tuesdays, 72 Senior Girls playing Thursdays and 196 Senior Boys playing on Wednesdays. The week consists of one hour long practice and 2 games on their game night.
I had the privilege of coaching in the leagues inaugural season and have tried hard to make appearances each year to support the amazing work Chan and his team have done. This year with support of the Maple Minute, I will be taking in games weekly and writing about a prospect to watch each week. So please bookmark this post and check back each Friday over the summer to learn about the next group of Saskatoon talent
PROSPECT WATCH
July 9-11
DANIEL MOORE
Position: Guard
Height: 5'10
School: Tommy Douglas Collegiate (Saskatoon, SK)
Club: Saskatoon Shadow
Class: 2026**
Daniel Moore opened up the first week of the Homecourt League by showing us the work he has put in to get ready for his grade 12 year at Tommy Douglas High School. Known mainly as a shooter the last couple of seasons, Daniel showed his new bag with incredible finishes at the rim in a variety of ways. In the first game he dropped an eye-popping 24 points (games are 20 minute run time halves) and followed that up with 11 in the second game.
College and Prep coaches will want to keep and eye on Daniel this coming season, he has been an undersized 2 guard, but his effort to improve his ball handling, defense and passing, could make him a hidden gem for the right program.
July 16-18
Andrew Hawley
Position: Guard
Height: 5'11
School: Walter Murray Collegiate (Saskatoon, SK)
Club: Greenwave United
Class: 2028**
You can't help but notice Andrew when he is in the game, I had a college coach comment they think he is one of the best shooters in the province. He is not only an elite catch and shoot player, he is an intelligent player that makes the right play consistently, whether it be moving the ball quickly on the break to create advantages or making the right read to find the open man in the half court. Andrew will keep defenses honest next year as he moves up to the senior team to join his big brother and dad and the rest of Walter Murray defend its provincial crown.
July 23-25
Jesse Klinger
Position: Wing
Height: 6'6
School: Clavet Composite (Clavet, SK)
Club: Rise Above
Class: 2026**
Jesse has put in a lot of work over the summer and last night in summer league it showed. He already was an impressive shooter for his size and intimidated opposing teams roaming the middle of Clavet's zone; However, over the summer with both Rise Above and the Saskatchewan U17 team, he has started to become a slasher that finishes hard at and above the rim. Jesse has really good size and strength and will be one to watch at nationals in 2 weeks. I think the USport coach that gets him will see huge returns.
July 31- Aug 2
Taylor Grant
Position: Guard
Height: 6'
School: St Joseph Collegiate
Club: Shadow
Class: 2029**
Taylor is a super smooth scoring threat from all 3 levels and continues to grow his game. He has been showing up all summer league against much bigger and older kids and just keeps putting up points having lead his team in scoring most games. He will be a player to watch over the next several years to see what he adds to his game.
Aug 13-15
Raph Mutongolo
Position: Guard
Height: 6'1
School: Holy Cross Collegiate
Club: Greenwave
Class: 2027
After a one week break, summer league was back and the players work over the summer has shown. School starts soon and before we know it basketball season will be underway.
This week, I was impressed with Raph's improved shooting. Raph is a pure point guard who distributes the ball and gets teammates involved, he beats his man off the dribble and makes excellent reads when help comes. Over the years I have watched Raph, it is his motor on defense that makes him special, he has a long wingspan and presses up on opposition guards constantly creating mistakes. If he keeps working on being a consistent shooter, he will be a major factor in helping Holy Cross get back to being the top team in Saskatchewan.
Aug 20-22
FINALS!!!!
What a final session as all teams were seeded and played for the championship. Instead of featuring a prospect this last week, I am going to simply list the Senior Division all-Stars, most I have featured in other articles and will be going much more in depth on during the upcoming high school season. It was a pleasure to watch all the kids and coaches learn and grow in such a fantastic setting.
MVP
Moe Osman
Position: Guard
Height: 6'3
School: Holy Cross
Club: Rise Above
Class: 2026
First Team All-Stars
Zach Hawley
Guard/6'1/Walter Murray/UPlay West/2027
Jack Gray
Guard/6'1/Concordia/Rise Above/2024
Jeremy Proctor
Forward/6'4/Unsigned/2024
Faisal Mahadi
Guard/6'/Walter Murray/2026
Leandro Rego
Forward/6'5/ St Joseph/Greenwave/2027
Second Team All-Stars
Kian Tyson
Guard/6'6/Holy Cross/Genesis/2026
Jesse Klinger
Forward/6'6/Clavet/Rise Above/2026
Will Stianson
Guard/6'/Briercrest/Golden Ticket/2024
Raph Ewejobi
Forward/6'4/St Joseph/YXE Elite/2026
Sam Besong
Guard/6'3/Unsigned/Rise Above/2024
**Some players played limited games due to club/prov team commitments and that was reflected in all-star voting
** All classes include a post high school prep year which is standard for NCAA recruiting.
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