YXE Elite Summer Jam - Standout Performers

What a great June weekend to end the club season here in Saskatchewan. YXE once again threw a well-organized and competitive tournament that, for most club teams, will end their season and be the last club tournament I evaluate in the province.

This one was especially important for me, as it will be the last time I watch some of the players I have coached, trained, and evaluated since they were in grade 7. When I moved to Saskatoon and my son decided he wanted to move from hockey to basketball, I was so excited, I was going to get to spend time with my kids doing something I had always enjoyed but gotten away from. Little did I know the journey was just starting again, and I would find myself not coaching but helping them all make their dreams come true, writing for The Maple Minute, and even serving on the All-Canada selection committee.

So not only am I going to do my normal standouts this tournament, but I am also going to say goodbye to 2 of the 4 players who made me fall back in love with the game, each of them in their own unique way and on their own unique journey.

And the other 2, well, we will leave 1 a mystery, but the 4th stopped playing a couple years ago, but soon graduates high school and is an important part of our Maple Minute team now. I am excited about the next 30 years of working with my son, Jackson, and watching him advocate for players on this platform. Who knows? We may even see him in a gym again, not just behind a computer.

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2026 6'1 Kai Dobranski YXE Elite

• Watching Kai play and grow has been nothing but a pleasure. He is a charismatic leader who knows everyone in every gym. He is a strong physical guard who has worked effortlessly on his game and his skills. He has been a pain in my butt, beating me twice in city championships at the community level, and has been my starting point guard in summer league. He is going to bring his smile, physicality, and shooting to Durham College in the fall, and one thing I know about Kai is that he will put in the work and find a way to make an impact on that program.

2026 6'2 Raph Mutongolo Greenwave U18

• I met Raph at a 3x3 tourney and found out that he lived close enough to play on my community team. Now he was already a highly skilled player, having trained with Greenwave and Sean Tyson, but I was so happy to have him. From day 1, he was a dream come true to coach. He has always played with the same attitude, making opposing teams miserable on defense and making his teammates happy by sharing the ball. Raph loves to play ball. Anytime anyone needs a player, and he has a weekend off from Greenwave, he is quick to join a team, and I have never seen a player upset to have him run beside them. I know Raph will make an impact with Red Deer next season, and I predict he will be the ACAC defensive player of the year at some point unless USport comes calling first.

Thank you both for playing with passion and joy, and for reminding me how great this game is. And Congratulations to all the players from this year's grad class that I have coached in my return to basketball.

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WHO STOOD OUT?

2026 6'4 Michael Kallon Relentless

• The Winnipeg Wesman commit has a great handle and can get his shot off with ease. His scoring and quickness were highlighted in the bronze game, where he led a 20-0 run for his team in the final 5 minutes to almost win a game that looked over.

2026 6'11 Jakob Jungswirth Greenwave U18

• Jakob is committed to the Saskatchewan Huskies for next season, and he looks set to compete for minutes early on. He runs the floor extremely well, battles for rebounds, and is finishing everything around the rim with power. One of the keys for him will be the way he accelerates into the ball to build momentum. Once he heads to the rim, he expects the ball and to finish there.

2027 6'4 Sowka Tombe YXE Elite

• Sowka has been my standout player of the spring; he took a major jump in his game and made an impact every time he touched the ball. Still unsigned, he is an academically strong kid who could make a USport coach in need of an athletic guard very happy.

2028 6'5 Madden Charles Soldiers

• Madden continues to improve and make major leaps in his game. Last summer, I challenged him to become a more active rebounder, and that skill shines through now. He is a good shooter at all 3 levels and is beginning to attack the rim and finish with power, which makes him an extremely tough match-up. He is definitely going to be garnering a lot of attention throughout his grade 12 season, and I suggest coaches take a look early.

2028 5'9 Zander Rissling Greenwave

• Zander is a guard prospect I have been following for a bit, and this weekend, he joined a competitive Greenwave team and really showed his full skill set by running the team. He is a very good shooter from deep, and that was evident whenever he found himself open. I really saw a good defensive effort when he picked up the opposition full-court and handled the pressure well, getting his team into their actions.

2028 6'7 Tyson Weisner EC Express

• The big man from Roblin, MB, was a very pleasant surprise this weekend, and CCAA coaches should be following him immediately. Not only is he intriguing at 6'7, but he is the definition of a big, strong farm boy who is a load in the paint. He showed soft hands catching and rebounding the ball.

  
  

2029 6'6 Bentley Quiring SaskHoops U16

• Another big man who is a true throwback and dominates in the paint. He shows excellent post footwork and can finish in a variety of ways. He moves well up and down the floor. Going into his grade 11 season, he will be one I will be watching closely.