The Maple Minute 2026 U17 Men’s Nationals All-Tournament Teams

The 2026 U17 Men’s National Championship in Regina had a little bit of everything.

BC opened the tournament by knocking off Ontario 111-109 and looked like the team to beat early. Nova Scotia played at a ridiculous pace, NWT put together the best Nationals in program history, and Quebec went from losing both of its pool games to playing for a national championship.

That Quebec run became one of the stories of the week. After losses to Alberta and Ontario, they leaned into what they did best. They defended, got physical and made teams uncomfortable. That carried them through Manitoba and then an impressive 87-71 semifinal win over BC.

Ontario, meanwhile, looked completely different from the team that lost its opener. They held Nova Scotia to 65, blew past Alberta in the semifinal and then survived Quebec 75-68 to win gold. BC bounced back to beat Alberta for bronze.

When putting these teams together, the numbers mattered, but they weren't everything. We looked at athleticism and physical tools, skill level, basketball IQ, competitiveness and character, and most importantly, how each player's game translated when the competition got better.

These aren't simply the tournament's leading scorers.

These are the players who stood out most to The Maple Minute over the course of the week.

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TOURNAMENT MVP

Jordan Fisher — Ontario | 6'6 | Class of 2028

21.4 PPG | 7.4 RPG | 55.4 FG% | 2.2 BPG

Sometimes you don't need to overthink it. Fisher was the best player on the team that left Regina with gold, and physically there wasn't much anyone could do with him. His combination of size, strength and athleticism was different. Once he established position or got a shoulder into a defender, possessions tended to end with two points, free throws, or another Ontario opportunity.

What separated Fisher was that his impact didn't disappear when the offence wasn't easy. In the championship game, Quebec made him work, but he still played more than 39 minutes and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, four steals and an incredible six blocks. That's the performance-versus-competition piece that matters when picking an MVP.

When the game became more physical and every possession mattered, Fisher looked right at home. He was the most dominant physical presence I saw during the week and the best player on the national champions.

FIRST TEAM

Kenyon St. Louis — Ontario | 6'2 | Class of 2028

19.4 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 5.4 APG | 8.2 FTA

Some players are particularly good at controlling games. His strength with the ball and ability to get downhill constantly put pressure on the defence. He got to the free-throw line more than eight times per game and still created enough for others to average 5.4 assists.

There were moments where the decision-making could get loose, but the competitiveness never did. The final was probably the best example. St. Louis went just 2-for-14 from the field, but instead of disappearing, he found other ways to impact the game, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

That's part of what makes him such an interesting guard. When his shot wasn't there, he could still put pressure on the rim, rebound and create. Ontario had a lot of talent, but St. Louis was the player consistently putting the defence into rotation.

Ezekiel Ifejeh — Quebec | 6'6 | Class of 2029

14.2 PPG | 10.0 RPG | 5.4 ORPG | 2.0 SPG

If you wanted one player who represented what Quebec became during its run to the championship game, Ifejeh was probably it. He played hard, he played physical and eventually it felt like the rest of Quebec started following his lead.

Ifejeh averaged 10 rebounds per game, with more than half coming on the offensive glass. Those weren't empty rebounds. He created extra possessions, battled bigger and older players and gave Quebec the physical presence it needed after starting the tournament 0-2.

His championship game summed up his week. Against Ontario's size, Ifejeh grabbed 13 rebounds — eight offensive — while adding 10 points, two steals and two blocks. The motor is real, the physicality is real, and considering he's only in the Class of 2029, there is still a lot of development ahead.

Wesle Fils — Quebec | 6'0 | Class of 2028

12.4 PPG | 3.2 RPG | 2.2 APG | 1.4 SPG

Fils might be the best example of why we didn't just sort the scoring leaders and call it an All-Tournament Team. His offensive numbers were solid, but his defence was better.

Quebec made opposing guards uncomfortable all week. Some very good guards had some of their worst games of Nationals against them. Fils deserves plenty of credit for how sound he was at the point of attack, but that was also what made Quebec special — they guarded as a group. Fils understood angles, competed through possessions and rarely gave guards an easy path into what they wanted to do.

He could still make shots and create offence when Quebec needed it, but he didn't have to dominate the ball to influence games. As the competition got better, that defensive value became even more noticeable. There was nothing flashy about it. It was just winning basketball.

Jayson Ikani — British Columbia | 6'7 | Class of 2028

14.6 PPG | 9.2 RPG | 4.8 ORPG | 1.4 BPG

Ikani was my biggest surprise of the tournament. I knew the name coming in. I didn't expect him to have this kind of week.

At 6-foot-7, Ikani seemed determined to dunk everything he could get his hands on. In transition, off cuts, around the offensive glass — if there was a path to the rim, he was trying to finish above it. He had the Regina crowd on its feet more than once, and his combination of size, explosiveness and motor stood out almost immediately.

The highlights were fun, but there was substance behind them. Ikani averaged 14.6 points and 9.2 rebounds, including nearly five offensive boards per game. Even when he struggled offensively in the bronze-medal game, he still grabbed eight rebounds. The scoring disappeared for a night. The effort didn't.

There might have been players who came into Regina with bigger reputations, but I'm not sure anybody improved their stock more in my eyes over the course of the week.

Elias Steed — Alberta | 6'5 | Class of 2028

12.6 PPG | 6.2 RPG | 44.4 FG% | 33.3 3P%

Steed was probably Alberta's most consistent all-around presence, but what impressed me most wasn't something that jumps off a stat sheet. He sees the game.

He made cuts and reads that were well beyond his years. Steed understood when to move, when to clear space and when a defender had turned his head just long enough to create an opening. Those aren't usually the things that get a crowd excited, but they're absolutely the things coaches notice.

At 6-foot-5, he also rebounded, defended different spots and gave Alberta another scoring option without needing the ball constantly in his hands. There were bigger individual scoring nights from Alberta during the tournament, but Steed consistently made winning basketball plays. His feel and adaptability separated him for me.

SECOND TEAM

Dominic Loehle — British Columbia | 6'0 | Class of 2028

16.0 PPG | 4.2 APG | 3.0 SPG | 53.3 FG% | 40.0 3P%

Loehle was one of the most efficient guards in Regina. He averaged 16 points while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three, impressive numbers for a player who was also being asked to create.

But the scoring was only part of his tournament. Loehle averaged 4.2 assists and three steals and consistently seemed to find himself around the ball. His handle allowed him to get where he wanted, but what impressed me was that he didn't have to dominate possessions to create offence.

The response after BC's semifinal loss also mattered. Loehle came back with 12 points, three assists and two steals on 5-for-7 shooting in the bronze-medal game. After the disappointment of losing a chance at gold, he was ready to play again. That's exactly the type of response to adversity we look for.

Illia Maydan — British Columbia | 6'9 | Class of 2028

13.0 PPG | 4.6 RPG | 42.9 FG%

If we had made these teams before the bronze-medal game, Maydan probably wouldn't have been here. Then he gave us one of the performances of the entire tournament.

The 6-foot-9 forward exploded for 30 points and seven rebounds on 14-for-24 shooting against Alberta. It wasn't just the number. Maydan looked confident, played through contact and showed what his combination of size and offensive skill could eventually become.

One game didn't make his whole tournament, and consistency is still part of the evaluation with Maydan. But performance against competition matters too, and putting together your best game of Nationals with a medal on the line carries weight. He gave BC exactly what it needed after the disappointment of the semifinal loss.

Terry Ogbeide — Manitoba | 6'5 | Class of 2028

14.2 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 3.2 APG | 60.8 FG% | 41.2 3P%

Ogbeide quietly put together one of the most efficient tournaments in Regina. He averaged 14.2 points while shooting 60.8 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from three. At 6-foot-5, he could score inside, step away from the basket and create for teammates.

What I liked most was that he rarely looked like he was forcing his offence. Some players put up numbers because everything runs through them. Ogbeide produced while playing within Manitoba's offence, making reads and taking what the defence gave him.

That efficiency is what made his week stand out. The combination of size, skill and decision-making gives Ogbeide a pretty intriguing profile moving forward, and he was one of Manitoba's most reliable players throughout Nationals.

Jaylen Shepherd — Ontario | 6'3 | Class of 2029

6.2 PPG | 4.2 RPG | 5.0 APG

If you're looking only at points, Shepherd doesn't belong anywhere near this list. If you watched Ontario, you understand why he's here.

Shepherd averaged just 6.2 points, but led Ontario with five assists per game while helping organize an offence filled with players capable of scoring. He didn't hunt shots and didn't need the ball every possession to make his presence felt.

For a Class of 2029 guard playing for the eventual national champions, his patience and feel stood out. There are obviously areas of his offensive game that will continue to develop, but the basketball IQ is already there. The ability to understand what a possession needs instead of what your own stat line needs is pretty advanced for a young guard.

Bryce MacKenzie — New Brunswick | 6'0 | Class of 2028

22.8 PPG | 4.5 RPG | 3.2 APG | 86.4 FT%

New Brunswick finished eighth, but there was no way MacKenzie was being left off these teams. He carried an enormous offensive responsibility and still averaged 22.8 points per game, one of the best scoring marks at Nationals.

Everyone knew where the ball was going. It didn't matter. MacKenzie kept attacking, got himself to the line and continued producing against defences that could load up on him. He attempted more than seven free throws per game and converted 86.4 percent of them.

Performance has to be viewed in context. MacKenzie wasn't surrounded by the same depth as some of the players on the medal-winning teams. His job was to carry the offence night after night, and there wasn't much room for an off night. He kept competing anyway, and that matters when evaluating his week.

THIRD TEAM

Jacob Bravo — Quebec | 6'3 | Class of 2028

8.2 PPG | 2.0 RPG | 1.8 APG

Bravo's overall numbers aren't going to jump off the page, and there were players with bigger statistical cases. His performance when Quebec needed him most is what pushed him onto this team.

In the championship game against Ontario, Bravo scored 13 points, knocked down three triples and added three assists and two steals. Against the best team in the tournament, on the biggest stage of the week, he looked comfortable taking important shots.

Quebec's run wasn't built around one scorer. Different players stepped forward at different times, and Bravo was one of them. His overall efficiency keeps him from moving higher, but showing that he could make plays when the level of competition was at its highest earned him a spot.

Jacob DelCastillo — Saskatchewan | 6'4 | Class of 2029

14.0 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 3.2 3PM

DelCastillo gave the home crowd something to get excited about. Playing up an age group as a Class of 2029 guard, he averaged 14 points and five reboundsoundsounds while knocking down more than three triples per game.

The percentages weren't always pretty, but the skill level and confidence were obvious. DelCastillo was willing to take difficult shots and create offence instead of disappearing when Saskatchewan needed someone to make a play.

The next step is efficiency and learning when to attack versus when to let a possession develop. That's normal for a young guard. What isn't normal is already having this level of shot-making confidence while competing against older players at Nationals. There is a lot to work with here.

Zachary Mathison — Northwest Territories | 6'3 | Class of 2028

19.2 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 4.6 APG | 3.0 SPG

Mathison's numbers were outstanding. His impact on Northwest Territories might have been even bigger.

NWT came into Regina having won just one game in its history at Nationals. They won three this year. Mathison gave this group confidence that they could compete. He played 38.8 minutes per game and was asked to score, rebound, create, defend and lead. Everybody in the gym knew where NWT wanted the ball, and Mathison kept producing anyway.

But watching NWT throughout the week, what stood out most was the belief. They weren't just happy to be there anymore. They expected to compete, and Mathison's leadership was a huge part of that change.

There are players higher on these teams because they played for medals. I'm not sure many players meant more to their team than Mathison did.

Elijah Mantley — Nova Scotia | 6'2 | Class of 2028

14.8 PPG | 6.2 RPG | 2.7 APG

Nova Scotia played faster than anybody at Nationals, averaging a tournament-best 97.8 points per game, and Mantley was right in the middle of it.

At 6-foot-2, the 6.2 rebounds per game stand out almost as much as his scoring. Mantley attacked the paint, competed on the glass and played with the type of motor that fit perfectly with Nova Scotia's style. He could turn a defensive play or loose ball into offence in a hurry.

The shooting efficiency wasn't quite at the level of some players ahead of him, but his production held up throughout the week. More importantly, his effort did. He was one of the players who helped establish the pace and competitiveness that made Nova Scotia such a difficult team to deal with.

Colten Siebold — Alberta | Class of 2028

10.2 PPG | 52.6 FG% | 44.0 3P%

Siebold didn't have the volume of some of the other guards on these teams. He had something they didn't all have: efficiency.

He shot 52.6 percent from the floor and 44 percent from three while averaging 10.2 points for an Alberta team that reached the bronze-medal game. He understood his role and didn't need to manufacture shots to have an impact.

And when a medal was on the line, he showed up. Siebold scored 13 points and hit three triples against BC in less than 15 minutes. His role wasn't big enough throughout the tournament to move him higher on these teams, but when Alberta needed shooting, he consistently provided it.

There's value in knowing exactly what you do well and doing it when your number is called.

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A Tournament That Changed as It Went

What made this year's Nationals so interesting was how different everything looked by Saturday compared to Monday.

BC looked like the early favourite after beating Ontario. Quebec started 0-2. Ontario had already taken a loss. NWT arrived trying to prove it could compete at this level.

By the end of the week, Ontario was holding the trophy, Quebec had gone from 0-2 to playing for gold, and BC had responded from semifinal disappointment with 112 points in the bronze-medal game, and NWT was leaving Regina after the best Nationals in program history.

That's why picking these teams can't simply be about sorting a spreadsheet.

The numbers helped tell the story. Being in the gym filled in the rest.

Fisher physically overwhelmed opponents. Ifejeh helped establish the toughness that carried Quebec to the final. Fils was part of a defensive group that made good guards look uncomfortable. Ikani seemingly tried to dunk everything in sight. Steed saw plays developing before they happened. MacKenzie carried an enormous offensive burden. And Mathison helped an entire program start believing it could win.

Those are the things I'll remember from Regina.

And ultimately, those are the things that separated The Maple Minute's 2026 U17 Men's Nationals All-Tournament selections.