Who are the Saskatchewan Top 10 Men's teams?
- david-harmon
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
With November 17th marking the opening day for basketball in Saskatchewan, it’s time to assess the top teams in the province this year. Hoopla will be hosted in Moose Jaw, and the 5A field will feature two teams from Saskatoon, three from Regina, and three qualifying rural teams.
As I analyze the provincial basketball landscape, I notice that this year will be tough to predict, as we lost a very strong group of grade 12s. Last year saw a lot of continuity with teams, but we are looking at almost every top team having lost half their roster, so junior programs and coaching will play a huge factor in which teams will be at Hoopla. This year is a moving target; other than injuries and a transfer, I was mostly correct all last season. This year, I am sure there will be movement all over the place, and teams not even ranked may be Hoopla contenders.
These rankings are based on conversations with coaches, basketball enthusiasts, and players themselves. The interesting aspect of team rankings is that they are not definitive; teams will ultimately earn their places at Hoopla through their performance. I have gathered information on where to watch these teams, so fans and college coaches can follow their progress when they are nearby.
#1Â Carlton Comprehensive High School Crusaders (Prince Albert, SK)
I think they are the team to beat on paper. They finished 7th at Hoopla after a dominant run in the rural qualifying draw. This team returns the most minutes played of any team that participated in Hoopla last season.
They will return (2027) 6'1 Zane Litzenberger, who was team Saskatchewan's leading scorer at nationals, and (2027) 6'4 Emerson MacQuiag, who is a nightmare inside for almost any high school team they will face. Add to this (2027) 6'6 Clarence Ermine, (2028) 6'7 Landon Stonestand, (2027) 5'9 Everett Moccasin-Bourke, and (2027) 6'0 Colton Golding, all took huge steps last year and will fill valuable roles as the team looks to bring home a championship banner.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments; they do not play any league games:
Carlton Tourney (Prince Albert, SK) - Nov 28-29th
GIT (St Joseph High; Saskatoon, SK) - Dec 4-6
Moose Jaw Tourney (Moose Jaw, SK) - Dec 12-13
BRIT ( Saskatoon, SK) - Jan 8-10
Estevan Tourney (Estevan, SK) - Jan 16-17
MIT (Walter Murray; Saskatoon, SK) - Jan 29-31
Tri-Prov (Harry Ainley; Edmonton, AB) - Feb 4-7
Peacock Tourney (Moose Jaw, SK) - Feb 27-28
North Battleford Tourney (North Battleford, SK) - March 6-7
#2Â St Joseph Collegiate Guardians (Saskatoon)
2024/25 was a great year for the Guardians, and Coach Paul Hansen will look to keep building on that this season. They lost 7 players from last year's team, with Nemo Arnold (Holland College) and Demi Akinmoyero (Douglas College) moving on to college, Raphael Ewejobi graduating, and Leandro Rego moving to Edmonton.
They will still have a lot of talent, including (2027) 6'5 "Mayo Alabi and (2027) 6'3" Kaden MacAngus, both of whom I highlighted in my "Players to Watch" article last week. Add to them (2027) 5'9 Khynne Aspero, (2027) 6'3 Owen Graham, and (2029) 6'0 Fidel Linantud. Their junior team had a good season last year, but will that be enough depth to hold off all the teams below? We shall see.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
Mike Dea Invitational (St FX; Edmonton, AB) Nov 27-29
GIT (St Joseph; Saskatoon, SK) Dec 4-6
BRIT (Saskatoon, SK) Jan 8-10
MIT (Walter Murray; Saskatoon, SK) Jan 29-31
LIT (Luther; Regina, SK) Feb 5-7
#3Â Â Martin Collegiate Monarchs (Regina)
Coming off a season where they finished as Regina City Champions and 3rd in the province, Coach Rob Thomson is looking to break through and win it all this season. They lost 10 players to graduation, including 6'2 "Thomas Olson (Medicine Hat College), 6'5 "Corban Andres (Red Deer College), and 6'4 "Aiden Newton; however, they have had a powerhouse junior program over the last several years that will replenish some of the pieces.
(2027) 6'1 guard Zack Zaiser will be their main guy and will drive them with his relentless attacking and motor. (2028) 5'8 Kobe Thomson will again start at the point. He was big at times for them as a Grade 10 starter last season, and he has stepped his game up further this summer playing with Golden Ticket. They will also return (2027) 6' Judah Frentz and (2027) 6'1 Eric Flaman.
(2028) 6'5 Kehinde Ajayi, (2028) 6'4 Kiefer Derkitt, and (2029) 6'5 Braydon Waldron will all be looked upon to make the leap to the senior team and provide the size they need to defend their city championship and maybe earn Martin the long-awaited Hoopla title.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
MIBT (Martin; Regina, SK) - Nov 20-22nd
BSSI (Brandon, MB) - Dec 11-13th
BRIT (Saskatoon, SK) - Jan 8-10th
St Mary's (Calgary, AB) - Jan 29-31st
LIT - qualifier TBA
#4Â Holy Cross Collegiate Crusaders (Saskatoon)
The defending provincial champs will be in for a big learning curve this season as they graduated 10 players, including Kian Tyson (Edge Prep), Moe Osman (Saskatchewan), and Goloom Bein. But Coach Josh Rutten has done nothing but win in his 3 seasons as head coach with 2 Hoopla titles and a bronze.
He will start with a great foundation as (2027) 6'2 Raph Mutungolo may be the best defensive player in Western Canada, and (2028) 5'10 Lucian Tyson is a bucket that will be a nightmare for teams to contain. Add to them some grade 12s that looked good over the summer in club, a very talented group of juniors coming up, and the possibility of (2030) 6' Syn Tyson making the squad as a grade 9, make this a team that will once again contend.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
BRIT (Saskatoon, SK) Jan 8-10
MIT (Walter Murray; Saskatoon, SK) Jan 29-31
(British Columbia) Feb 5-7
#5 Michael A. Riffel High School Royals (Regina)
2024/25 did not turn out the way that coach Shields planned, as Davin Berry got hurt early in the year, and without him, they really couldn't challenge for the Hoopla title. They still had a solid season, finishing 2nd in Regina and playing well at Hoopla. They do lose 7 players on top of Davin (Regina football), and replacing Ian Randall, Ethan Aveyard (Okanagan College), and Grady Wilson (Golden Ticket Post Grad) will not be an easy feat.
(2027) 6'5 shooter Joe Lippai had some big games last year and will need to take a huge role for this squad if they want to challenge for a city and Hoopla title. He will also count on (2027) 5'11 Jevin Kassick and (2028) 6' Rayce Shaw to lead a good group of juniors.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
BSSI (Brandon, MB) - Dec 11-13th
Royal Rumble (Riffel; Regina, SK) - Jan 9-10th
CIT (Campbell; Regina, SK) - Jan 29-31st
LIT - qualifier TBA
The Rock (Regina Christian; Regina SK) Feb 26-28
#6Â Â Miller Maurauders (Regina)
Coach Nav Burke will be looking to get back to Hoopla, and this team should get him there. 2024/25 was a building year with only 2 grade 12s on the roster, which means he is returning 13 players.
(2027) 6' guard Mofope Soyemi will be his undisputed leader after a great summer with Rise Above and Saskatchewan. He is joined by (2029) 6'1 Jacob Del Castillo, who was one of the top scorers at U15 nationals and will have a green light to light up play every time he steps on the floor. Add solid players like (2027) 6'0 Joshua Kabongo, and (2027) Goodness Odumosu, and they should be able to hold on to a spot at Hoopla and possibly even win it all.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
Totem Classic (Ross Sheppard; Edmonton, AB) - Dec 4-6
CIT (Campbell; Regina, SK) - Jan 29-31st
#7Â Walter Murray Collegiate Mauraders (Saskatoon)
This will be a changing of the guard for Coach Hawley, and his son Zach will be suiting up for Edge Prep and not Walter Murray. The 2 have led the team to 2 consecutive city championships as well as 2 Hoopla Silvers and 1 championship in the past 3 years. Combined with losing Faisal Mahadhi (Saskatchewan), Nickolay Khivrich, and Darius Moss (Golden Ticket Post Grad), this team has a lot of minutes to fill.
However, as significant a loss as the above seems, they are returning nine players who have gained valuable experience and may step up to bring home another title. (2027) 6' Isak Larsen will be their leader, and I think he is ready to take on the role. Also returning (2027) 6'5 Zach Mochoruk, (2027) 6'1 Mouad Etagiuru, (2028) 5'11 Andrew Hawley, and 5'8 Lucas Hawley, will all be ready to fill roles and create their own legacies at Murray.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
GIT (St Joseph; Saskatoon, SK) Dec 4-6
REB (Jasper Place; Edmonton, AB) Dec 11-13
BRIT (Saskatoon, SK) Jan 8-10
MIT (Walter Murray; Saskatoon, SK) Jan 29-31
#8Â Campbell High School Tartans (Regina)
2024/25 was a year that saw Campbell compete hard every game and find themselves finishing 6th at Hoopla. They will lose some huge pieces as Adriane Reaume, Treysen Perras, Aidan Kreutzer, and Julio Ruiz have all graduated. The biggest loss may be head coach Zenon Orobko, who I think is the next great coach from Sask, to Riffel, where he will be with Coach Sheilds.
New head Coach Aaden Hamann will be starting with maybe the most talented roster in Regina, but also a very young one. (2028) 6'5 Dominic Baker-Poloma, (2028) 6'2 Sascha Scoular, and (2028) 6'8 Demetry Gotsoulias will be the team to beat in 2026/27, and I'm sure they will push hard to win one this season as well.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
Medicine Hat Tourney (Medicine Hat, AB) - Dec 5-7
Crosstown Classic (Regina, SK) Jan 15-17
CIT (Campbell; Regina, SK) - Jan 29-31st
LIT - qualifier TBA
#9Â Swift Current Colts
2024/25 saw the Colts make an impressive run at the Regional Tournament to secure a birth in Hoopla. I did not rank them a single time last year, and I won't be missing out on coach Phil Braun's squad again.
They return 9 players that have been together for a few years on the spring club circuit and will be looking to make a deep run at Hoopla this year. (2028) 5'8 Manning Unger, (2027) 6'2 Nate Siemens, and (2027) 6'1 Toby Klassen will be just names to watch for this squad.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
Carlton Tourney (Prince Albert, SK) - Nov 28-29th
Swift Current Tourney (Swift Current, SK) - Dec 4-6
Swift Current Tourney (Swift Current, SK) - Jan 8-10
MIT (Walter Murray; Saskatoon, SK) - Jan 29-31
Peacock Tourney (Moose Jaw, SK) - Feb 27-28
The Rock (Regina Christian; Regina SK) Feb 26-28
#10Â LeBoldus Golden Suns (Regina)
2024/25 was a rebuilding year for the Suns, who have consistently been the top men's program in Regina, as 4 Hoopla titles and 4 runner-up finishes since 2010 show. Coach Patrick Reed will have 6 players returning, including 4 starters.
(2027) 5'10 Mike McLellan is fresh off an impressive summer with Rise Above and will be joined by (2028) 6'5 Sam Hominuke, whose game was very impressive for Golden Ticket this summer. They will be joined by (2027) 6'0 Tobi Kukura, who has signed with the Rams for football next season and will bring a lot of energy. Look for them to not only push for a spot at Hoopla but also try to stave off a couple of teams that will be challenging that I didn't rank.
Their schedule this year will include the following tournaments to complement league play:
Mike Dea Invitational (St FX; Edmonton, AB) Nov 27-29
GIT (St Joseph; Saskatoon, SK) Dec 4-6
Crosstown Classic (Regina, SK) Jan 15-17
CIT (Campbell; Regina, SK) - Jan 29-31st
Instead of Honorable mentions, here are my predictions for the teams in each city, as well as my top 5 rural teams.
Saskatoon Premiere League
St Joseph Guardians
Walter Murray Marauders
Holy Cross Crusaders
Aden Bowman Bears
Bishop J Mahoney Saints
Centennial Chargers
Marion Graham Falcons
Bedford Road RedHawks
Regina Premiere League
Martin Monarchs
Riffel Royals
Miller Mauraders
Campbell Tartans
Leboldus Suns
Regina Christian - 3A
Harvest City Reapers - 4A
O'Neill Titans
Rural Team
Carleton Crusaders (Prince Albert)
Swift Current Colts
Central Cyclones - 4A (Moose Jaw)
North Battleford Vikings
St Mary's