From February 14 to 16, I took a long drive from Saskatoon to Calgary to attend the final Dime Sessions tournament of the year. The Dime Sessions concluded their inaugural season with 11 teams competing in this last tournament, and their rankings were determined by the results of the five weekends of play the league hosted over the past five months.
The league showcased many of the top prep and post-grad programs from Western Canada, with all four provinces represented in the final tournament. This created an excellent opportunity for recruiters, as the tournament featured players committed to various levels, including NCAA Division 1, USports, and the ACAC.
Over three days, I watched approximately 14 games and was impressed in many ways. The final game was the best basketball game I have witnessed in person this season. The talent on the floor for CTA West and WCPA was inspiring and made me feel optimistic about the level of basketball being played in Western Canada.
Munroop Gill
5'11 Guard
CTA West Class of 2025
This was my first time seeing Munroop in person, and he did not disappoint. He is the ultimate leader and point guard! Though his team did not play Friday night, he was a noticeable figure in the gym, cheering and encouraging the other CTA West team.
Once he took the court Saturday, he was in control of his team in every game they played. He effortlessly pushes the ball up the floor and consistently knows what is happening, always placing his teammates in a position to make plays. The way that he communicates on the floor is well beyond his years; it is infectious, and you can see its impact on his teammates.
Throughout the tournament, and especially in the final, he was a buzz saw on defense, diving for loose balls despite tweaking both ankles over the weekend. He demonstrated incredible toughness and resolve, returning to the game and leading his team to the championship. The coach that picks up Munroop is getting another member of the coaching staff and a point guard who will be a winner wherever he plays.
Riak Chol
6'6 Guard WCPA Class of 2026
Riak is one of the smoothest players that I have ever seen play the game. His ability to score at all three levels is awe-inspiring and something coaches want in their lineup. The athleticism was on full display in the final when he finished an alley-oop with authority in the closing minutes from almost standing start.
His rebounding and defense are also high-level, he makes an impact at both ends. There is no doubt why he has an offer from Colorado State and more offers will be coming soon.
Alexander Baulne 6'8 Forward CTA West
Class of 2025
Alexander played like a modern big man should all weekend. In the semi-final, he opened the game with 10 of his team's first 12 points by getting to the low block and powering his way to the bucket or getting free throws. He also showed the ability to dominate on the boards, in the final using his size and positioning to grab rebounds and make smart outlet passes. Combine all this with his smooth stroke from 3-point range, and he is a stretch 4/5 that coaches at every level are looking for.
Cole Arrow
6'2 Guard PSA
Class of 2027
Cole is a skilled point guard that I have been following for a while and finally got to see in person over the weekend. He is quick and athletic, using his abilities to penetrate the paint where he shows a nice floater as well as the capacity to find open shooters and make accurate passes. He also consistently knocks down 3-point shots. Cole will be a prospect to watch in the coming years to see how much he can develop his game and the attention he attracts from coaches.
Jayden Rushema 6'7 Wing WPCA Class of 2025
Jayden is a true wing player at 6'7" with the athleticism to compete on the perimeter. He consistently put the ball on the floor and drove to the rim effectively on offense. Defensively, he utilized his length to disrupt passing lanes and rebound at a high level. It’s clear why he has interest from JuCo and USports and will quickly become a rotation player for whichever team adds him to their roster.
Sharaya Aamir
6'3 Guard
AE Academy
Class of 2025
Sharaya opened the tourney up tourney knocking down 9 3's, and he just kept shooting the rest of the weekend. He was also actively putting the ball on the floor and challenging defenders. At 6'3 he showed excellent athleticism and did many of the little things that coaches are looking for.
John Camplin
6'2 Guard Golden Ticket
Class of 2025
John is one of the Saskatchewan players in this tournament that I have observed over several years, and his improvement this year has been impressive. His body control on the offensive end allowed him to get to the paint and finish creatively. He consistently made mid-range shots and three-pointers. John is a strong shooting guard who I believe will be an excellent pick-up for either a USport or CCAA team looking for depth.
Carson Hedges
6'8 Forward
CTA West
Class of 2025
Carson is a notable big-body forward that CTA has developed. Over the weekend, he demonstrated signs of dominance inside, punishing smaller defenders as he attacked the hoop. His athleticism is impressive for his size, and he completed several alley-oops that caught my attention. He maintains great positioning on the defensive end and is an above-average rebounder who fights for every board on both ends of the court. I believe he will be an excellent prospect for any team looking to add size to their roster.
Zachery Herman 6'5 Forward United Class of 2025
Zachery is a big-body post that played strong in the post for this mostly undersized team. He showed great footwork and positioning to battle players several inches taller in several games. When he was able to get the ball on both post touches and offensive rebounds he showed touch and creativity around the rim to finish.
Jacob Matiash 6'6 Wing FV Mountaineers Prep
Class of 2025
Jacob is a long and uber-athletic wing that caught my attention quickly. He was flying around for the Mountaineers all weekend on offense and defense. He is super springy and was easily playing above the rim on offense. He showed a good shot that made defenses play him out to the 3-point line. He has interest from several CCAA schools but is still uncommitted and would be a great pick-up.
Overall, the Dime Sessions was an incredibly well-run event that showcased a lot of talent. Many college coaches attended at least one event, as I chatted with several at the finals. As the leadership at Dime Sessions plans for next year's events, I expect numerous coaches and evaluators will include them in their schedules. I, for one, will be attending multiple events.
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