Who are the Grade 12 prospects to watch in Saskatchewan in 2025/26?

2024/25 was a great season in Saskatchewan, and we had some memorable moments, including buzzer-beater wins in both Saskatoon city finals and Saskatchewan provincial final, both involving Walter Murray and Holy Cross. College coaches were watching and paying attention as 16 players from grade 12 last season have moved on to play basketball at the next level :

5 - USport (Faisal Mahadi - USask, Moe Osman - USask, Osaze Oseghale- Dalhousie, Eston Glass- URegina, and Nathan Matebekwane- Queen's)

6 - CCAA (Demi - Douglas College, Thomas Olsen - Medicine Hat, Corbin Andres - Red Deer, Chase Seaborn - Briercrest, Ethan Aveyard - Okanagan, Nemo Arnold - Holland)

4 - Prep School (Kian Tyson - Edge, Cher Madol - Greater Destiny Prep , Jesse Klinger - The Academy Phoenix, and Mukungu Mutabazi - WCPA)

1 - MCAC (Garrett Smith)

There were also 5 players from the 2023/24 grad class that went to prep and have now found college homes. Kaden Thompson - Ontario Tech (USport), Ethan Short - Dakota College at Bottineau, Osagie Okundaye - FPC Junior College, Jeremy Proctor - Ambrose (CCAA), and Dru Swain - Augustana (CCAA).

This year I have decided not to rank the players as those are arbitrary numbers and were unneccesary, the post-secondary coaches I talk to would like to know skills, attitude and upside more than who compares to who, so this year I am simply going to highlight the 13 players that I have observed over the past year that coaches need to be looking at for thier programs. Please note that I did not include Zach Hawley and Nado Nadayikengurukiye as they will be playing their grade 12 seasons at Edge Prep in Calgary and Orangeville in Ontario, respectively, and will be highlighted in due time.

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Ben is a highly athletic prospect who experienced a significant surge in performance over the summer. He plays above the rim and is always noticeable in every game. He has shown the ability to stretch the floor with his shot, and his defense is solid.

Every time I saw him play with Slam Elite and then during the Homecourt Summer League, he continued to add to his game. If he continues his evolution during the season with Centennial, he projects to be a wing that can bring a ton of energy to a team. He could be a solid pick-up for a CCAA team looking to add athleticism and depth.

Emerson is a problem in the paint for most teams and has a very unique skill set. He uses his size well to get position and leverage against bigger players in the post. He is an excellent rebounder who consistently battles for every ball. He steps out and has an improving 3-point shot, especially from the corner.

Emerson impressed during the summer with his Thunder club team, and my fellow Maple Minute contributor Harrison Paulichuk noted some of his standout games. Despite being undersized, I think that Emerson could become a contributor for a CCAA team that provides strength and smart play.

Isak is a high-IQ player who has a great feel for the game. Watching him play over the past several years with Rise Above, Saskatchewan, and Walter Murray has shown me that he is always an impact player who finds a role to excel in. His ability to guard the best player for the opposition is incredibly valuable; he can also be trusted to keep the offense flowing and knock down shots when left open.

I believe that Isak will be a sleeper pick up for a USport or CCAA program that will work extremely hard and be a long-term prospect that makes an impact during his career.

Isaiah is a strong guard who uses his athleticism to get to the rim and score in traffic. He showed that he can run a team and put pressure on the opposition during the club season with Rise Above. He is a capable shooter, especially in catch-and-shoot situations.

Isiah has all the tools to play at a CCAA school and continue to grow his game further. I like his willingness to take on different roles within a team and attack it with vigor.

Jacob had a huge summer for both Greenwave United and the Saskatchewan provincial team and drew a lot of attention. The big man has been a secret gem hidden in Martensville, but it appears he is no longer a secret. The big man is very athletic and was more comfortable every time he touched the floor. He is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker, and finishes above the rim on offense from both the dunker spot and off the dribble from the wing.

USport coaches have already taken notice, and he has drawn attention. He is a prospect that could be a sneaky pick up for a JuCo, NCAA Division 2, or a prep program that could mold him into a 5 leaf prospect with another year of training.

Joseph may be the best shooter in Saskatchewan this year. He can knock it down from anywhere and has a quick release that makes him tough to defend. He has excellent size on the wing at 6'5 and is a good team defender that finds ways to impact the game at that end as well.

I think he will find himself a role with a USport or CCAA team due to his size and the fact that he is not a stranger to playing in tough situations, as his play with Rise Above and Saskatchewan has demonstrated.

Kaden is a very athletic prospect who demonstrated his ability to shoot the ball effectively this summer with Saskatchewan at the Canada Games. He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional handle and ability to break down defenses off the bounce with Slam Summit all summer.

I believe Kaden will be a great pick-up for a CCAA team that is looking for the type of athlete that can complement existing players. He has all the athletic tools to compete at that level and continue his improvement.

Kai is a player that I have been watching for a long time, and he puts in the work to consistently improve and push his game to new levels. He is extremely coachable and has a great attitude that will be a positive for the program that signs him.

He is a combo guard who breaks down defenses to get to his midrange game, where he makes shots. He is a very cerebral player who can lead an offense and get his teammates into the right spots. His 3-point shot and defense keep improving.

Mofope can score the ball with any guard in Saskatchewan, and he has an incredibly quick burst that gets him by defenders with ease. This summer with Rise Above and Saskatchewan, I was impressed with his improved passing and play-making abilities. He showed real leadership in making sure the team was composed and everyone was involved.

I do not see Mofope play a lot, but every time I do, I am impressed with his improvement and overall game. He will be a prospect to watch that will help a CCAA program and may be a nice prospect for the right USPort fit.

Mayo is the most intriguing prospect in Saskatchewan this year. He has great size and is an impressive athlete. He plays above the rim on both ends of the floor and is not afraid to attack a defensive player who tries to stand between him and the basket. He has an improving shot that forces you to guard him on the perimeter. When locked in on defense, he moves extremely well and can stay in front of smaller players.

Mayo is a prospect that USport, JuCo's, and NCAA Division 2 coaches should be in contact with. I would not be surprised if he were also looking at prep programs to take another year to work on his game and see what opportunities exist for him.

Raph is the heart of any team he plays on and brings a defensive mindset that is rare, as seen by his last several seasons with Greenwave United. He uses his 6'5 wing span and athleticism to really make opposing point guards work every second they have the ball. Offensively, he gets to the paint and makes plays for his teammates, and his finishing keeps improving.

Raph will be a great addition for any USport or CCAA team as he can contribute as a defensive player immediately. As he continues to spend hours in the gym working on his shot form and consistency, his stick will rise, and he could be someone whose stick will rise.

Zach is my sleeper pick as he continued to impress me more and more all summer with his Golden Ticket club team. He is a tough, athletic prospect who plays extremely hard. He comes from a hockey background, and that is apparent when you watch his game. He attacks the basket with abandon and puts a lot of pressure on the opposition.

Zach is a prospect who should fit in seamlessly with a CCAA team that wants grit on their roster. He plays well with other talent and makes good decisions with or without the ball.

Zane is a two-sport athlete who should have a lot of options at the end of his high school career. This summer, he was Saskatchewan's leading scorer and was a standout for Rise Above in their Prep Hoops circuit. He has a physically mature build that college coaches will love, and already plays a physical college-style game.

Zane's strength is his physical ability to get to the rim, draw contact, and finish, putting incredible pressure on the opposition. He is an excellent perimeter defender who changes games when he locks in. He can also knock down shots from all over the court and keeps his defenders honest.

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This will be a tough season to predict in Saskatchewan, as you will see in my upcoming preseason rankings article, which is scheduled to be released next week. Everyone lost a lot of talented players to graduation; these players will be asked to lead young teams and provide a lot. I truly believe that we will see all 13 of these young men play beyond grade 12, as they all have skill sets and attitudes that will be successful.

I encourage any coach interested to reach out to me and their coaches for info. I will continue to follow and cover these athletes and more throughout the season with articles from big tourneys and tweets from league games, and smaller tourneys.