Owen Cook has spent much of his basketball career proving he can score. This winter, we're going to learn a lot more about whether he can run a team. The Maple Minute first identified Cook as a prospect to watch when he was a 5-foot-11 guard at Bishop James Mahoney. Two years later, the Saskatoon product has grown to 6-foot-2, gotten stronger and, more importantly, started transitioning from a ball-dominant scorer into a point guard. That transition will be tested this high school season. BJM should enter the year as one of Saskatchewan's highly ranked teams with legitimate provincial championship expectations, and Cook will be its primary ball handler. There will be nights when his team needs him to score. Still, his bigger responsibility will be controlling pace, getting everyone their touches and understanding when to attack versus when to facilitate. Cook's standout physical trait is his quickness, but speed alone doesn't explain his impact. His real strength is recognizing when to use it. He has a knack for knowing when to take off in transition, often attacking before the defence can organize. He gets downhill, forces defenders to react and creates opportunities for teammates running alongside him. There is a natural feel to the way Cook plays in the open floor. He's a willing passer whose reads have improved each time we've watched him, and he's a solid rebounder from the guard position, allowing him to grab the ball and immediately initiate the break. When Cook is pushing pace, he makes everyone around him more dangerous. The contrast comes when the game slows down. Cook is a good ball handler who can beat defenders and create paint touches, but he can hold the basketball too long in the half-court. His transition decisions often happen instinctively; against a set defence, he can take an extra moment before making the next read. Against better defenders, that window disappears quickly. That's probably the biggest point-guard development we're watching this season. Can Cook create the initial advantage, recognize what the defence does next and get off the basketball quickly enough to capitalize on it? Running a talented BJM team should give us an answer. Cook already has legitimate scoring tools. He's a very good finisher, using his quickness to get into the paint and his long reach to extend around defenders. His Euro step is particularly advanced and is something he consistently gets to rather than an occasional highlight move. He's also handling contact considerably better. Cook still has a slight frame, but he's clearly put time into the weight room and has gotten stronger without sacrificing his quickness. Continuing that physical development will be important at the next level. Cook is also a legitimate three-point shooter with range. The issue is consistency. His release point and mechanics still have room to develop, but there has been noticeable progress. If he becomes consistent enough that defenders can't give him space, his first step becomes considerably harder to contain. Defensively, Cook's length, quickness and anticipation give him useful tools. He's particularly effective coming from the help side, where his reach and instincts allow him to disrupt possessions and create turnovers. His motor has also become more consistent, and we're seeing more possessions where he contributes to winning without needing to score. That's been an important part of his evolution from scorer to point guard. Cook is highly coachable, brings energy and has become a leader and teammate players gravitate toward. Those qualities matter when you're being asked to manage a talented team with championship expectations. Cook has also shown that his game doesn't disappear when the competition improves. He's tested himself at BBall Nationals in Vancouver and tournaments throughout the United States over the past several years, consistently embracing those opportunities rather than shrinking from them. That's something college coaches should be paying attention to this winter. If Cook were entering college today, we see him as a CCAA-level prospect. Programs looking for a guard should already be getting into BJM's gym. At 6-foot-2, there is enough speed, length, finishing ability, range, competitiveness and developing point-guard skill to warrant recruiting attention. But we're not convinced that's where his projection ends. Cook remains in the 2028 class and is considering both college and post-grad opportunities for next year. A strong post-grad situation could be particularly valuable because the areas separating him from another level — strength, shooting consistency and quicker half-court processing — are all things that can realistically develop. If those areas take a significant jump over the next year, Cook could be a considerably different prospect. First comes an important high school season. Cook will have the basketball for a BJM team expected to compete for a provincial championship, and his scoring shouldn't be the only measure of his success. Watch how he manages the roster, gets teammates involved and makes decisions when games tighten up. We already know Owen Cook can score. Now we get to see what happens when he's asked to lead.

Some players fill up a stat sheet. Others make sure everyone else can. That has become one of the defining qualities of Lemar Shir's game, and now it has helped the Canadian point guard find his Division I home. Shir has committed to the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay for 2027, ending a recruitment that continued to grow as he proved himself at increasingly higher levels over the past year. Green Bay is getting a point guard who has already experienced what it takes to lead a winning team. Shir helped Alberta capture a national championship as its starting point guard, followed that with a strong run on the UAA Circuit, and then continued to raise his profile at the NBA Academy Games against some of the top international talent in the world. His summer provided plenty of numbers for college coaches to notice. Against undefeated NBA Academy Green, Shir finished with 19 points, six steals, four rebounds and three assists. Throughout the event, he ranked first in steals, fifth in assists, and 10th in scoring, showing that his production could carry over as the level of competition increased. But the numbers only explain part of why Shir projects as a Division I point guard. "Beyond the box score, I feel like I'm a good leader. Whether we're up 20 or down two, I'm looking to lead my teammates and be a second coach on the court that they can rely on." That mentality has been evident throughout his development. Shir has the physical profile to create problems at the guard position, combining a quick first step with a 6-foot-9 wingspan. He can get into the paint and has become increasingly comfortable scoring once he gets there, but what stands out is his understanding of how his penetration affects the rest of the defense. "Off the bounce, I'm looking for my corners and my corner cutters creating space. When that happens, I know there's no help side, and I can get to my spot and pull up." Shir isn't simply attacking a gap and deciding what to do afterward. He's processing where the help is coming from and where that should leave an advantage. "Me being aggressive opens up the game for a lot of people. If I get into the lane and draw two or three people, then I have options where the ball can go." That ability to balance scoring and creation is probably the most important part of his projection to Green Bay. At the Division I level, Shir won't always be able to win with his first step or length alone. Continuing to improve his shooting, strength and finishing through contact will be important over his final year before arriving on campus. Still, his ability to read a defense gives Green Bay something substantial to build around. His time with Alberta also showed another side of his development. Playing point guard for a national championship team required more than creating highlights; Shir had to understand when to attack, when to settle his team and how to manage possessions late in games. He credits Alberta head coach Matt Daley with helping him develop that approach. "Coach Matt Daley always said if we score the first basket of the game and then manage the rest of the game, we'll be the winners. Every possession is important, especially as the level gets higher and higher." Shir has taken that lesson into the way he controls tempo. He doesn't always need to play fast to be effective, and he has become comfortable adjusting his speed depending on what the game requires. "Don't let anyone rush you. As a point guard, I've been developing the ability to play at my own pace. It could be fast or slow, like Luka. Depending on how the game is going, you base your pace on how your team is responding." There is a defensive element to his projection as well. His 6-foot-9 wingspan gives him tools that aren't common at the point guard position, and his performance at the NBA Academy Games showed what can happen when those tools are paired with anticipation. Ranking first in steals against that level of competition matters because it gives Green Bay another potential way to keep him on the floor while the rest of his offensive game develops. Shir had interest from programs including Evansville, Ball State, Southern Illinois, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, UTEP, Oakland, Columbia and Eastern Michigan. Still, throughout the process he consistently talked about wanting more than simply a Division I offer. "I'm just being smart about the program that I'm going to. I want to build a great relationship with the coaches, earn their trust, and develop myself. That's always been my approach." Green Bay ultimately became that program. The commitment doesn't finish Shir's story as much as it gives the next stage of it a destination. He still has another season to develop before arriving in Wisconsin in 2027, and there are areas of his game that will have to improve before he's ready to run a Division I offense consistently. But Green Bay isn't simply betting on what Shir might become. They're getting a point guard who has already led a team to a national championship, produced against international competition and shown that he understands something young guards often take much longer to learn: controlling a basketball game isn't always about being the player who takes the shot. Sometimes it's about being the player who makes sure the right shot gets taken.

There are easier places in Canada to chase a basketball dream than the Northwest Territories, and Zach Mathison understood that if he wanted to see how far the game could take him, eventually he would have to leave home. Growing up in the North meant fewer games, practices, and open gyms, and fewer opportunities to compete against the level of players he would eventually see regularly at Nationals. “I think it's a lot harder to become at the same level as these guys that are at Nationals right now,” Mathison said. “There was no other way I was going to be able to keep up with these guys if I didn't go and join them where they were playing.” That decision eventually took Mathison to Edge Prep, giving him the competition he was looking for but requiring him to leave his family and friends behind. He recalls that the hardest part of the move was leaving his family and friends behind, but once he arrived, he quickly saw why it was necessary. The biggest adjustment was the size and athleticism around him. Guards were faster, players were bigger, and Mathison had to learn how to be effective when the physical advantages he may have previously had were no longer there. He is still working on getting bigger and stronger himself, but that daily competition has forced other areas of his game to grow. Defensively, Mathison believes Edge has made a major difference. Playing against quicker guards has improved his positioning and taught him how to stay connected rather than simply relying on athletic ability. That growth showed at Nationals, where Mathison averaged 3.0 steals per game, second-best in the tournament. More importantly, his production showed that his game could translate when he was put on the floor with some of the best players his age in the country. Mathison averaged 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists while playing 38.8 minutes per game for NWT. He finished fourth at Nationals in scoring, third in assists, seventh in rebounding and second in steals, an impressive all-around tournament for a guard coming from one of Canada's smallest basketball jurisdictions. The scoring gets your attention, but the rebounding, playmaking and defensive production are what make his tournament especially interesting for coaches. Mathison found several ways to influence games rather than relying on a single skill. His basketball IQ is another part of his game that has grown as the competition has improved. Mathison talks about needing “solutions” when a defence takes something away, whether that's pulling the ball back against a trap or finding a big over-the-top. That approach showed in the balance between his scoring and playmaking at Nationals. When asked what a coach can count on when his shot isn't falling, Mathison's answer was equally simple: “Make the right decision, trust my teammates and make the right pass.” There is still development ahead. Mathison knows the physical side of his game needs to continue growing, while becoming more consistent from three after shooting 32 percent at Nationals would add another dimension offensively. But there is plenty here for coaches to like. He has produced against national competition, competes defensively, rebounds extremely well for a guard and has shown he can create for others while carrying a significant scoring responsibility. With continued development at Edge, Mathison has the makings of a very good prospect and should be a player coaches are tracking. What makes Mathison's story different, though, is everything it took to reach this point. He knew that staying comfortable wouldn't close the gap, so he left his family and friends and went somewhere that would expose the weaknesses in his game. Now he gets to bring that experience back when he puts Northwest Territories across his chest, something he takes seriously because he knows younger players back home are watching. “My goal has been to just inspire the next generation out of the Northwest Territories,” Mathison said. “Show them they can do the same thing that I'm doing, and even better if they really put their mind to it. It's a pride thing.” For coaches, Mathison's performance at Nationals provides plenty to evaluate. For basketball in the Northwest Territories, his journey means something more. A kid from the North went looking for better competition, found it, and came back to finish among the national leaders in points, assists, rebounds and steals. Now the next kid growing up in the Territories has something Zach Mathison didn't always have: a path they can see.

Two years ago, Deng Ngor wasn't walking into a Rivals headline — he was walking into a boarding school in Fort Erie, Ontario, chasing the version of basketball he couldn't find back in Alberta. Now he's chasing something bigger: a decision between Duke, Florida, Ohio State, and Washington, four programs that all saw the same thing scouts on the ground have been saying for a year — this is a connective wing whose game translates immediately, even if his name doesn't yet. The gold-medal dunk in León got him the headline. The recruitment is what proves it wasn't a one-game story. A 6-foot-8 wing with a 200-pound frame who plays passing lanes, reads cutters, and doesn't need the ball to be useful on a possession — that's a low-maintenance archetype at the high-major level, and it's exactly why four blue bloods with very different roster identities all landed on the same name. Duke doesn't need him to be a shot-creator next to its guard depth. Florida and Ohio State both need connective size that can guard three positions without needing plays run for him. Washington offered early and has stayed in the mix the whole way, evidence this wasn't a summer bandwagon addition. What stands out on tape, and matches what the AmeriCup performance suggested, is a low-usage game that doesn't ask the offense to bend around it. Ngor is comfortable playing off movement instead of creating it himself, which sounds like a limitation until you watch how many possessions at the high-major level actually need exactly that. He's not the guy dribbling into a switch and hunting his own shot; he's the guy who punishes the defense for helping off him. That's a skill that ages well and travels well, and it's a big reason he's less boom-or-bust than most 6-foot-8 forwards this far out from their senior year. The efficiency marks are still catching up to the physical tools — a sub-35 percent clip from three in Grind Session play last year — but that's the normal shape of a late bloomer's shooting numbers, not a red flag. Ngor didn't have access to elite reps until recently, and shooting is the skill most sensitive to reps. The jump from 32 percent to 42 percent across a matter of months this spring says more about the trajectory than either number does in isolation. The other piece worth flagging for anyone tracking the recruitment: Ngor is doing this the right way. A genuine four-school list, official visits scheduled to each, no fifth or sixth school quietly still in the mix. That discipline tends to point toward a decision that comes without a lot of late drama, and it tends to point toward a kid who already knows what he's looking for in a program. Washington and Ohio State currently sit atop early industry predictions, but with visits still to come to Duke and Florida, this is a recruitment that's genuinely undecided — which, for a prospect this level-headed, means the fit is going to matter more than the noise.

The Varsity MVP at Halifax Grammar School this year was a young Grade 10 point guard who has lately been making a name for himself on a larger scale. After a great summer with the Mississauga Monarchs on the MADE Hoops AAU circuit, Cadence MacLeod is starring with Nova Scotia’s U17 Nationals team. One of the youngest players in the tournament, he leads his team in floor time, and if Cadence wasn’t nationally known before, he is now. MacLeod descends from Nova Scotian royalty as the son of Augy Jones, the former St. FX coach and player who helped Nova Scotia win its first Canada Games gold medal in 1987. But Augy and Cadence are far from the most well-known Nova Scotians in this family, as Cadence’s grandparents were famous civil rights activists Rocky and Joan Jones. Nova Scotia is producing some big basketball names lately, too. Kellen Tynes dominated at UMaine, Caleb Johnson just played in the NCAA’s March Madness tournament with LIU, Nate Darling played games with the Charlotte Hornets, and Lindell Wigginton had a few seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before heading to China to play professionally. The current generation of hopefuls includes Amari Upshaw, who played for Team Canada’s U17 World Cup team, and Cadence’s BNS teammate Elijah Mantley, a high-level prospect with Rothesay Netherwood High School of the NPA. Is young MacLeod next up? He certainly has the tools: shooting, playmaking, and a prodigious IQ for the game, matched with a 90% academic average. But his real superpower is elite-level ball defense. His footwork bag is something to watch. It’s all there: the cross-step, the turn-and-sprint, and a powerful push slide. As the zebras say, he’s always in “legal guarding position,” showing hands and defending with his chest. Oh, and at only 16 years of age, he’s already built like a cornerback. Don’t forget the intangibles. One coach I spoke to described Cadence as a “super, super high IQ and character kid,” adding, “I can’t say enough good things about him.” Another just replied, “great kid.” In an area where reputation travels quickly, he plays the right way. For every splashed NBA three, there are plenty of high-fives and fist pumps when a teammate makes a play — early passes, good body language, all the things you love to see from a young point guard. The Force is strong in this one. No doubt the Ontario preps are calling, but for now, Cadence will return for his Grade 11 season with Coach Mutabaruka at Halifax Grammar. Yes, that makes him a big fish in a small pond, but listen, Cadence MacLeod is no salmon — he’s a tiger shark.

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. 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. 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.

For Canadian high school basketball players, the summer calendar has become increasingly crowded. There are AAU tournaments, NCAA live periods, national championships, showcases and camps, all designed in some way to answer the same question: How good are you compared to everyone else? The Brampton Honey Badgers are taking that question considerably farther from home. For another summer, a collection of Canadian prospects assembled through the Honey Badgers program is travelling to Shanghai, China to compete in the Shanghai Future Star Basketball Championship, an international youth tournament that is quickly becoming one of the more intriguing opportunities available to Canadian players. And this isn't simply a basketball trip with an international tournament attached to it. The Shanghai event was established in 2023 as part of the city's push to develop a major international youth basketball property. After three years of development, the 2026 edition has expanded to eight high-level U18 teams from around the world, with nearly 100 prospects scheduled to compete across 18 games at Shanghai Stadium from August 8-16. ([Sony][1]) Canada is among them. For the Honey Badgers, that means another opportunity to put Canadian prospects into an environment they simply can't replicate at home. A Canadian Team Built for Shanghai The Canadian contingent is being organized through the Brampton Honey Badgers, with program director Dwayne Sybliss and general manager Jermain Anderson overseeing the group. The 12-player roster headed to China features prospects from programs across the Canadian basketball landscape: Stefan Ilic — 6'9, Tri-City Prep Zayne Hinkson — 6'1, WCPA Kade McGeachy — 6'8, Edge Prep Miles Herbert — 6'4, WCPA Oscar Rouillard — 6'6, WCPA Isaiah Hinds — 6'4, Edge Prep Prabhnoor Deal — 6'4, Victory Prep Elijah Anderson — 6'1, FCBA Rasheed Morrison — 6'5, Orangeville Prep Charles Dart — 6’10, London Basketball Academy Zachary Downer — 6'5, West Oaks Christian Alexander-Case — 6'6, St. Jude's It's an interesting collection because it isn't simply one school or club exporting its roster overseas. Players are being brought together from different environments and asked to quickly become a team before competing internationally. That process begins before the flight ever leaves Canada. The Honey Badgers are holding practices in the weeks leading into the trip, giving the players an opportunity to build chemistry before departing for Shanghai. For prospects accustomed to playing against one another throughout the Canadian basketball calendar, the dynamic suddenly changes. Players who may normally be opponents are now teammates representing the same Canadian program on the other side of the world. The Tournament Is Getting Bigger What makes this year's trip particularly interesting is where the Shanghai Rising Stars Basketball Championship appears to be heading. Alongside host teams from Shanghai and China, published reports say the 2026 tournament is welcoming teams from Canada, the United States, Australia, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. For Canadian prospects, that's the real attraction. Basketball evaluation is built around context. A player can dominate his high school league. He can have a strong AAU season. He can perform well provincially. But international basketball presents another test entirely. Different countries emphasize different styles of play. European teams can bring sophisticated half-court execution and spacing. American teams generally bring athleticism and individual shot creation. Australian programs have built a reputation for physicality and player development, while Chinese youth teams provide their own combination of size, discipline and structure. Put all of those approaches under one roof and suddenly players have to adapt. That's valuable information for anyone evaluating prospects. More Than Basketball The scale surrounding the tournament also separates Shanghai from the typical summer showcase. The event has grown into a legitimate international sports property with major corporate support. The 2025 edition had 17 participating corporate partners, while China Eastern Airlines and Li-Ning were among the brands involved with the event. According to information provided to The Maple Minute by the Honey Badgers program, China Eastern Airlines is again supporting team travel while Li-Ning is providing product for participants (as shown above). Sony has also committed to a three-year sponsorship relationship with the tournament and is returning as a major event partner in 2026. The audience surrounding the event is growing with it. Tournament-related reporting says the 2024 edition attracted more than 10,000 in-person spectators, while online viewing surpassed 130 million views across all platforms. Those numbers underline what Shanghai is trying to build: not simply an invitational tournament, but an international youth basketball showcase. For a Canadian teenager, there is also something valuable that won't show up in a box score. You're travelling across the world. You're adjusting to a different time zone, food, language and culture. You're practicing and living alongside teammates you may barely know. Then you're walking into an arena and playing against prospects developed in completely different basketball systems. Those experiences matter. A Different Avenue for Canadian Exposure Canada's basketball development system has never been more connected to the United States. That's largely a good thing. Canadian players regularly attend American prep schools, compete on major shoe circuits and eventually enter NCAA programs. The pathway has become well established. But international opportunities like Shanghai provide another layer. Instead of Canadian prospects always travelling south to measure themselves against Americans, programs such as the Honey Badgers can expose players to basketball from several countries simultaneously. And the timing couldn't be much better. The Shanghai tournament itself is being positioned as a bridge between Chinese youth basketball and the international development system. Chinese Basketball Association vice president Xu Jicheng has previously described the event as an important component in rebuilding China's youth basketball structure and connecting its prospects with international competition. Canada now gets to participate in that exchange. For players such as Ilic, McGeachy, Rouillard, Morrison, Hinkson and the rest of the Honey Badgers roster, that creates a rare evaluation opportunity. The question isn't simply who scores the most points. How does a 6-foot-9 Canadian big respond to international physicality? How does a Canadian guard handle unfamiliar defensive pressure? Can a wing defend different styles of players? Can someone who normally needs the basketball affect a game when surrounded by 11 other talented prospects? Those are the kinds of questions a tournament like this can answer. Building an Annual Canadian Presence Perhaps the most important part of the Honey Badgers' involvement is that Shanghai isn't being treated as a one-off adventure. The program has established an annual Canadian presence at the event. That could become increasingly meaningful as the tournament itself grows. There are hundreds of talented Canadian players competing for the same finite number of exposure opportunities every summer. Another credible international stage gives prospects a different avenue to distinguish themselves while giving evaluators another environment in which to watch them. For the Honey Badgers, the objective is bigger than simply flying to China and returning with a record. It's about building a bridge. Brampton to Shanghai. Canadian prep basketball to international competition. And Canadian prospects against players they might otherwise never encounter during their high school careers. The 2026 Shanghai Future Star Basketball Championship begins this week, with eight teams and nearly 100 young players arriving from around the world under the tournament's fitting theme: "Meet the Future." This year, 12 Canadians are going to find out exactly how they stack up against it.

There is a particular challenge that comes with being a basketball prospect from Newfoundland. It is not just about becoming good enough. It is about becoming visible enough. For players in larger Canadian basketball markets, exposure can sometimes feel built into the schedule. There are showcase events, established circuits, familiar gyms and coaches who have already watched several players from the same program. From St. John’s, the road is longer. The flights are more expensive. The opportunities are less frequent. Every possession carries a little more weight. That is the reality facing 6-foot-5 Class of 2028 forward Jonah Kielly, a student at O’Donel High School who also plays with CE23 Academy and Newfoundland’s U17 provincial team. Kielly is currently representing Newfoundland at the National Championships in Regina, but this is not his first experience playing on a larger stage. He competed at the Canada Games last summer and appeared at the U15 National Championships the year before. He is also coming off a successful school and club season that included a 4A championship. Those experiences matter, particularly for a player whose game is built around processing what is happening around him. Kielly is athletic, but he does not play as though athleticism is the only card in his hand. He can shift a defender before attacking, changing direction or manipulating his pace rather than simply trying to run through every obstacle. At 6-foot-5, that ability to create movement with the ball gives him possibilities beyond being categorized as a traditional forward. There are players who decide what they are going to do before catching the basketball. Kielly appears more comfortable letting the possession develop. He can recognize where the help is coming from, understand when a driving lane has opened and make decisions without rushing the moment. The game does not seem excessively fast for him. That processing ability gives him a foundation that should continue translating as the competition becomes stronger and the reads become more complicated. Defensively, his value comes from versatility. Kielly has the size and physical tools to handle forwards, but he is mobile enough to switch onto different matchups. He can guard multiple positions, move laterally and use his athleticism to remain involved after the initial action. For coaches evaluating young prospects, that versatility is increasingly important. It is much easier to keep a player on the floor when he does not need to be hidden defensively. There is still development ahead, as there should be for any player in the 2028 class. Kielly is not presenting himself as a finished product. He is trying to show collegiate programs that there is already a legitimate combination of size, athleticism, feel and defensive flexibility to build upon. That is where Regina becomes important. National Championships provide players from provinces outside Canada’s traditional recruiting centres an opportunity to shrink the distance. A coach may not regularly travel to Newfoundland, but tournament settings allow prospects such as Kielly to compete against recognizable programs and players in the same gym. The evaluation becomes simpler. Can he defend at this level? Can he make decisions when pressured? Can he impact possessions without needing the ball every trip? Can his athleticism translate against comparable size? Kielly has already assembled game footage and begun reaching out to collegiate programs because he understands that recruiting rarely happens by accident. Particularly when a player comes from St. John’s, producing on the court is only one part of the process. The opportunity in Regina is not about becoming a completely different player. It is about showing the rest of the country the player Newfoundland has already been watching. A 6-foot-5 athlete who can move defenders, process the floor and guard several positions is going to create interest. Now Kielly has another chance to make sure that interest travels all the way back home.

Written by David Harmon From August 3–8, the University of Regina will welcome some of the country’s top young prospects for the 2026 Canada Basketball U17 Men’s National Championship. The tournament returns to Saskatchewan at an exciting time for basketball in the province. The U17 field will feature provincial and territorial teams from across the country, all attempting to knock off defending champion Alberta. The Maple Minute’s Director of Western Scouting, David Harmon, will be on-site covering the tournament, with the rest of the team watching on YouTube and highlighting performances in real time. Let’s take a look at this year’s rosters and the prospects we think could be the ones to watch. All teams are listed based on last year’s final results. Alberta Alberta heads into nationals this year as the defending champion after taking home the championship in dominant fashion last summer. The province has been trending upward as one of the top regions for basketball and is looking to prove that last year wasn’t a one-time thing. They may not have the same top-end depth as last season, but this squad will be well-rounded and bring a similar roster-construction blueprint, choosing strong bigs and prioritizing size, rebounding and paint protection. This, along with an experienced head coach in Jhonny Verrone, who helped the last two U15 teams earn bronze medals, gives Alberta a clear identity heading into the tournament. They should be defence-first, led by a previous Canada West Defensive Player of the Year, and bring energy and hustle to the floor with a well-rounded scoring attack. Who to Watch Submitted by Harrison Paulichuk — Alberta based Scout @ The Maple Minute 2029 | Mikhail Francis | 6'6" | Edge Prep Mikhail Francis enters Regina as one of Alberta’s most proven players. The Calgary guard was named a First-Team All-Star at the 2025 U15 National Championship and was also invited to Canada Basketball’s 2026 U17 selection camp. He has already shown that he can score against top national competition while also contributing with length and defensive pressure. Francis should be one of Alberta’s primary perimeter options. He can attack the basket, create offence late in possessions and help Alberta turn defence into transition opportunities. With several other capable guards around him, he will not need to force the game, but Alberta will likely look to him when it needs a reliable scorer in important moments. 2028 | Elias Steed | 6'5" | Magrath Elias Steed gives Alberta a versatile 6-foot-5 wing who brings size, toughness and experience to the lineup. He attends Magrath School and has already spent multiple summers in the provincial program. Steed has shown he can contribute against national competition as a scorer, rebounder and defender without needing to dominate the ball. His ability to play several roles should make him especially valuable in tournament play. Steed can defend bigger perimeter players, help on the glass and provide secondary scoring when Alberta’s lead guards draw extra attention. He may not always lead the team statistically, but his versatility and willingness to do the smaller things could make him one of Alberta’s most dependable players. 2028 | Tyler Maglisceau | 6'7" | Strathcona Tyler will turn heads at the tournament this year with his size and athleticism. He’s a versatile big from Edmonton who is comfortable playing both inside and out on the offensive end. He has a strong drive to the rim and can finish with either force or finesse, depending on what the defence gives him. He’s a smart player who stays composed with the ball in his hands. Maglisceau comes from an elite basketball family and plays for a program that emphasizes doing things the right way. His development has been exponential this year—going from learning the high school game to becoming a cornerstone of a provincial medal-winning Scona squad. He uses his lanky frame and size to block shots and anchor the paint, and he’ll play his role well in a team defence built to deter opponents from getting anything easy inside. Ontario Every cycle, Canada Basketball's U17 pool tells you where the sport's centre of gravity actually sits — and this year, that map runs straight through Ontario. From Uxbridge to Brampton to Oshawa, the province isn't just contributing bodies to the national pathway, it's supplying the engine. Who to Watch Submitted by Josh Millican — Founder of The Maple Minute 2028 | Kenyon St. Louis | 6'3 | Winston Salem Christian The breakout continued on schedule. After a loud U16 summer, St. Louis took his game stateside to Winston-Salem Christian in the Grind Session and is producing WSCA-North-Carolina-move-doesn't-slow-you-down numbers — comfortably into double-digit assists territory across a full season sample, paired with real scoring punch. He landed on the U17 World Cup roster and, per tournament tracking, shared the team lead in assists per game. Power-conference programs have taken notice, with reported offer interest from UNLV, Wake Forest, UCF, Florida State, and Mississippi State. This is a lead guard whose frame still has runway — long arms, room to fill out — layered on top of decision-making that already reads advanced. 2028 | Jordan Fisher | 6'7 | Columbus Bloodlines matter here — Fisher is the younger brother of Elijah Fisher, the Canadian program's U19 bronze medalist — but the game is his own. A 2028 wing who's already drawn offers from programs like Fresno State, Providence, Robert Morris, and UTRGV, Fisher made the trip to Istanbul on the official U17 World Cup roster. He's built the profile of a modern combo forward: enough size to play through length, enough handle to initiate in space. 2028 | Kaleb Banfield | 6'5 | Bella Vista CIA The riser of the group. Banfield, a 2010-born guard-wing hybrid, was in the mix at Canada Basketball's Selection Camp and has been the story of the junior circuit this season — stretches of 30-plus points, double-digit rebounding, and elite shot-making against top competition. Scouts have already pegged him as a top name in his birth class nationally. What stands out on film is the motor: constant activity on defense paired with connective offensive instincts that project well beyond a pure scorer's ceiling. Quebec The strength of this team appears to be its athleticism and positional versatility. Quebec has several players who should be able to defend multiple spots, rebound outside their positions and turn defensive stops into transition opportunities. Their ability to pressure the ball and play in the open floor could make them one of the more difficult teams to prepare for. The biggest question will be half-court consistency. Against teams that can slow the pace and force Quebec to execute possession after possession, the guards will need to make good decisions and the team will need reliable perimeter shooting. Quebec continues to produce long, athletic prospects who are comfortable playing at a fast pace. Who to Watch Submitted by Marcly — Quebec based Scout @ The Maple Minute 2028 | Grady Kapuanya | 6'9" | Fort Erie Prep Grady brings one of the most versatile profiles in the entire event. With elite positional size and the mobility to guard one through five, he gives Quebec a true matchup-breaker. He runs, jumps and moves like a wing despite being 6-foot-9, allowing him to cover ground, switch actions and make plays that very few players his size can. His shooting remains the biggest question mark, but he’s shown comfort on open looks and has even flashed midrange creation. When he plays with hunger—which is expected at nationals—he becomes a problem, producing easy points in transition, second-chance buckets and natural impact within the offence. His combination of athleticism, versatility and upside makes him one of Quebec’s most important pieces. 2028 | Jailen Chopra | 6'1" | Taft School Jailen projects as one of Quebec’s lead guards and floor generals. His vision is elite for his age—arguably making him the best passer in his class—and he consistently elevates the players around him. He reads the floor at a high level, manipulates defences and organizes the offence with maturity. Turnovers can appear, but his growth as a scorer has been impressive. His midrange game is deadly, he gets to his spots with purpose and he’s becoming more comfortable knocking down open threes. Defensively, he holds his own and competes. Jailen’s blend of IQ, passing and scoring gives Quebec a true engine at the point. 2029 | Mikael Boileau | 6'9" | Collège Charles-Lemoyne Mikael is the biggest long-term upside prospect on the roster and one of the most underrated players in the country. At 6-foot-9, with mobility, aggressiveness and natural instincts as a rebounder and shot-blocker, he already impacts games physically. But it’s the skill that separates him: He can dribble, pass and shoot, and he’s comfortable operating as a guard, forward or centre. A lefty with touch, versatility and real competitiveness, Mikael can knock down open shots, attack mismatches and crash the glass with purpose. Even as an underclassman, he has a chance to be special. His combination of size, skill and upside makes him one of the most intriguing players heading into nationals. British Columbia British Columbia has one of the more intriguing rosters in the competition. Coach Jamie Oei’s group features legitimate size throughout the lineup, with Ilia Maydan, Nathan Szpak, Jayson Ikani, Willem Urban and Domenic Lloehle all providing length. That size is complemented by several skilled guards capable of initiating offence and keeping the floor spread. BC’s biggest challenge could be developing chemistry among players arriving from different school, club and prep environments. If they come together quickly, their combination of size and versatility gives them the ability to match up with anyone. Who to Watch 2028 | Ilia Maydan | 6'9" | Bella Vista At 6-foot-9, Ilia Maydan gives British Columbia one of the tournament’s most versatile frontcourt players. He has the size to score around the basket, rebound and protect the rim, but he also moves well enough to contribute away from the paint. BC can use him as a post target, screener or forward who can catch the ball in space and make a play. Maydan’s impact may be most important defensively. His length and mobility should allow him to guard different frontcourt matchups while helping BC control the glass. If he stays out of foul trouble and consistently establishes himself inside, he has the potential to be one of the most influential big men in Regina. 2028 | Jayson Ikani | 6'7" | Bella Vista Jayson Ikani brings athleticism, length and defensive versatility to BC’s frontcourt. At 6-foot-7, he should be able to defend forwards, switch onto some perimeter players and provide weak-side rim protection. His ability to cover ground makes him especially valuable against teams with bigger guards and mobile forwards. Offensively, Ikani should make his biggest impact as a transition finisher, cutter and offensive rebounder. He does not need a high number of designed touches to affect the game. If he can also make perimeter shots and attack slower defenders, his versatility will make BC’s frontcourt even more difficult to handle. 2028 | Domenic Lloehle | 6'0" | Loyola High School Domenic Lloehle gives BC an important true point guard to connect its talented backcourt with its size inside. His main responsibilities will be handling pressure, controlling the pace and making sure players such as Maydan and Ikani receive the ball in favourable positions. Lloehle’s decision-making could be especially important in elimination games. BC does not need him to dominate the scoring, but it will need him to protect the basketball, create off the dribble and punish defences that collapse into the paint. His ability to organize the offence may ultimately determine how far BC advances. Manitoba Manitoba could be the most physically interesting team in the entire field. Head coach Dan Becker has assembled a roster with exceptional positional size. Nine of the 12 players are listed at 6-foot-4 or taller, and several of those athletes are capable of playing guard positions. That versatility could make Manitoba extremely difficult to defend. They can play with multiple ball handlers without sacrificing size and should be able to switch defensively across several positions. Who to Watch 2028 | Daniel Rom | 6'5" | Dakota Collegiate Daniel Rom enters the tournament as one of Manitoba’s most accomplished players. The 6-foot-5 guard from Dakota Collegiate was named Manitoba’s 2026 AAAA Male Player of the Year and returns after competing for the province at the 2025 Canada Games. He has the size to score over smaller guards while also contributing as a rebounder and versatile defender. Rom’s experience and scoring ability should make him one of Manitoba’s primary options in close games. He can provide offence in the half court, attack mismatches and take on some of the playmaking pressure. His combination of size, skill and national championship experience makes him a legitimate candidate to emerge as one of the tournament’s top guards. 2028 | Kai Becker | 6'8" | Ridley College At 6-foot-8, Kai Becker gives Manitoba one of the most unique matchup advantages in the tournament. He has guard skills in a forward-sized frame, allowing him to see over defenders, handle the ball in traffic and create opportunities for both himself and his teammates. Manitoba can use him as a primary ball handler, in transition or from the high post, where his size and passing can put pressure on smaller lineups. Becker’s versatility should also make him valuable defensively and on the glass. He can rebound and immediately start the break, while his length gives Manitoba flexibility when switching across positions. If he consistently attacks mismatches and avoids settling for difficult shots, Becker has the potential to be one of the tournament’s most complete players and the key to Manitoba’s medal hopes. 2029 | Veer Brar | 6'4" | Maples Collegiate Veer made waves at last year’s U15 nationals with his scoring, passing and overall leadership, and this Manitoba team will need him to bring all that and more this year. As a Grade 10 student, he led his team to a high school provincial title, and I expect that he will bring that same swagger to the provincial team and make all the right plays to keep this super-talented squad heading in the right direction. Brar should help Manitoba stretch the floor and attack openings created by the attention given to Kai Becker, Daniel Rom and the team’s interior size. His confidence, shooting and ability to make plays against older competition give him the potential to become one of Manitoba’s most important secondary scorers in Regina. Nova Scotia Nova Scotia enters Regina as a well-organized team that should be comfortable playing through its guards and executing in the half court. Head coach Igor Stjepanovic will lead a group that may not match the size of Ontario, Manitoba or British Columbia, but should be competitive because of its skill, discipline and ability to control tempo. The team’s success will likely depend on protecting the basketball, making perimeter shots and competing collectively on the glass. Nova Scotia should be capable of handling pressure and forcing opponents to defend for full possessions, but it will need to avoid allowing bigger teams to create easy second-chance points. Defensively, Nova Scotia will need to stay connected and make opponents work in the half court. If Stjepanovic’s group can limit transition opportunities and keep games close into the fourth quarter, its guard play gives it a realistic chance to upset a higher-ranked team. Who to Watch Submitted by Andrew Sharpe — Atlantic Canada based Scout @ The Maple Minute 2028 | Elijah Mantley | 6'1" | Rothesay Netherwood School Nova Scotia’s only returning player has phenomenal compete, shoots it, is as pesky as they come and is not averse to posterization. This lefty combo guard is a starter at Rothesay Netherwood of the National Preparatory Association. 2029 | Cadence MacLeod | 6'1" | Halifax Grammar Great foot speed and an athletic frame put this underager in good spots at both ends of the floor. A U15 Nationals Second-Team All-Star last year, he will return to Halifax Grammar for Grade 11. 2028 | Jackson States | 6'7" | Millwood High School This long and lanky wing can shoot and put the ball on the floor. A Millwood High School standout, he will be a well-sought-after recruit if he can increase his foot speed. Saskatchewan The host province should have one of the best home-court advantages of the tournament. Playing at the University of Regina will allow Saskatchewan’s players to compete in a familiar environment in front of family, friends and local basketball supporters. The hosts may not have the same national depth as Ontario, but Saskatchewan teams traditionally play with toughness and cohesion. Saskatchewan will be led by head coach Stephen Shields, with Tanner Brigham and Nolan Kuz serving as assistant coaches. The staff brings strong familiarity with the province’s talent and will look to use the home-court advantage in Regina. Who to Watch 2028 | Lucian Tyson | 6'0" | Holy Cross Lucian Tyson should be one of Saskatchewan’s most important and experienced players. The Holy Cross guard has already produced at national events and is one of the most creative scorers I have watched over the last several years. He is deadly from deep, but also isn’t afraid to mix it up in the paint and use his body to find angles that others simply don’t see. Not surprisingly, he plays with a high basketball IQ that helps him compete defensively. Tyson can create offence, play with pace and provide the hosts with a dependable scoring option when possessions break down. His experience against national-level competition should also help Saskatchewan settle into games and handle pressure in front of the home crowd. 2029 | Jacob DelCastillo | 6'4" | Miller Jacob Dylan DelCastillo enters Regina as one of Saskatchewan’s most dangerous offensive players. The Miller Comprehensive guard led the 2025 U15 National Championship in scoring at 23.8 points per game and also led the tournament with 22 made three-pointers. His week included a 36-point performance against Nova Scotia and earned him Second-Team All-Star recognition. DelCastillo is a confident shot-maker who can score off the dribble or stretch defences well beyond the three-point line. Saskatchewan will rely on him to create offence in the half court and punish teams that collapse into the paint. 2028 | Daniel Umejiego | 6'6" | Holy Cross Daniel was a revelation this past high school season and has been on a meteoric rise over the last six months. He has a big, strong body and hangs his hat on his ability to not only outmuscle but also outquick anyone who gets between him and the rebounds he believes are his. He is working on his low-post game and can finish around the rim with explosiveness. New Brunswick New Brunswick enters Regina with a smaller lineup than usual, but the team plans to turn that into an advantage by playing fast, applying pressure and using its depth. Four players return from last year’s Canada Games team, giving New Brunswick valuable experience. With a deep bench, the team should be able to maintain its defensive intensity and look to wear opponents down. Who to Watch Submitted by Andrew Sharpe — Atlantic Canada based Scout @ The Maple Minute 2028 | Bryce MacKenzie | 6'0" | Harrison Trimble The CYBL National All-Star and SSNB Player of the Year will be depended upon to lead the team as he returns for his second season with the U17 program. 2029 | Ifeoluwa Akitobi | 6'5" | Rothesay Netherwood School Last year’s U15 Nationals Second-Team All-Canadian averaged a bonkers 18 points, 15 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.7 blocks per game. He will return to Rothesay Netherwood in the National Preparatory Association. 2029 | Malick Sidibé | 6'2" | Mathieu Martin This Mathieu Martin High School multisport athlete is surprising people with his ability to get downhill and bully defenders. If he can develop a three-point shot, he will be a name to remember. Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador heads to Regina with a balanced roster looking to build on the province’s recent growth at the national level. Head coach Loren Kielly will lead the group into nationals. Newfoundland and Labrador has traditionally relied on disciplined team basketball and physical play rather than individual star power. This year’s group will likely look to slow opponents down, compete on the glass and execute efficiently in the half court. In a tournament filled with athletic teams that want to play fast, limiting turnovers and controlling the pace will be key. Who to Watch 2028 | Jake Drew | 6'1" | Stephenville High School Drew has developed into one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s top prospects and should be relied upon to provide leadership on both ends of the floor. His ability to create offence and make plays for teammates will be important throughout the tournament. 2028 | Malakai Thomas | 6'1" | Holy Heart of Mary Thomas gives Newfoundland and Labrador an athletic scoring option capable of making an impact in transition and attacking the basket. If he can consistently create offence, he could emerge as one of the team’s top performers. 2028 | Cole Greene | 6'1" | Laval High School Greene should play an important role as a versatile contributor. His ability to defend multiple positions, rebound and make winning plays without needing a high volume of shots makes him a valuable piece for Newfoundland and Labrador. 2028 | Jonah Kielly | 6’5 | O’Donel High School Jonah Kielly enters Regina as an experienced member of Newfoundland and Labrador’s U17 roster with a strong track record in provincial and national competition. The rising senior helped his team capture a 4A championship this past season and has previously represented the province at both the Canada Games and U15 National Championships. That experience should allow Kielly to bring composure, leadership and an understanding of what it takes to compete against the country’s top players. With aspirations of continuing his academic and basketball career at the collegiate level, the U17 National Championship gives him another opportunity to perform on a national stage and attract attention from programs across the country. — Jonah Kielly insight submitted by Josh Millican Prince Edward Island Former Holland College head coach Josh Whitty will lead Prince Edward Island into the national championship. As usual, PEI enters the tournament undersized compared with many of the country’s larger provinces. Its ability to compete will depend heavily on consistent perimeter shooting, disciplined half-court execution and limiting second-chance opportunities. PEI showed it can compete with New Brunswick at this summer’s Atlantic Showcase Tournament in Halifax, losing by only eight points. That result should give PEI confidence entering Regina. If the Islanders can make shots, control the tempo and avoid extended scoring droughts, they have an opportunity to challenge New Brunswick and make the pool more competitive than expected. Who to Watch Submitted by Andrew Sharpe — Atlantic Canada based Scout @ The Maple Minute 2028 | Josh Lawlor | 6'5" | Colonel Gray A returner from PEI’s Canada Games team, he will handle the bulk of the scoring. From a basketball family, he shoots and defends well and is planning a return to Colonel Gray High School in Charlottetown for his senior year. 2028 | Lachlan Hillier | 5'11" | Colonel Gray Another returner from the Canada Games team, PEI will need him to make big shots if it is going to win games. Lachlan will finish his senior year at Colonel Gray High School. 2029 | Will Holland | 6’5 | Charlottetown Rural An underclassmen, Holland shoots it decently and provides some much-needed beef, which earns him starter minutes. He is going into his grade 11 season at Charlottetown Rural. Northwest Territories Northwest Territories will enter Regina looking to gain valuable national-level experience and surprise any opponent that overlooks them. The team should play with energy and freedom while attempting to use its athleticism in transition. Competing on the glass and limiting turnovers will be essential against the deeper provincial programs. Who to Watch 2028 | Zachary Mathison | 6'0 | Edge Prep Zachary Mathison gives Northwest Territories a proven scorer with experience producing on the national stage. During NWT’s historic victory at the 2025 Canada Games, Mathison finished with 27 points, six rebounds and five made three-pointers while shooting 10-for-18 from the field. That performance showed his ability to carry the offence and punish defences from the perimeter. Mathison’s shooting will be especially important for a Northwest Territories team that may struggle to match the size of larger provinces. Final Thoughts With defending champion Alberta looking to repeat, Ontario entering as the favourite and provinces such as Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba bringing rosters capable of making a serious run, the 2026 U17 Men’s National Championship should be one of the most competitive events of the summer. Beyond the race for a national title, Regina will provide many of Canada’s top young prospects with an opportunity to introduce themselves on a bigger stage. Some arrive with established national reputations, while others will use the week to emerge as names worth following into the next high school season and beyond. The Maple Minute will be following the tournament from August 3–8, with David Harmon providing coverage from Regina and the rest of our scouting team tracking performances throughout the week. By the time a champion is crowned, expect new names to emerge, reputations to grow and the next wave of Canadian basketball talent to make its presence felt.

I've been going to Orangeville Prep home games for years now. I've seen the team with Lukas Jendrusiak on the floor, and I've seen the team without him. That's not a small distinction — it's the whole reason I'm writing this. College coaches call me up sometimes, and I'll be honest with you — they almost never ask me if a kid can go left, or if he's got a midrange game. They ask about character. How does he react when he's missing shots? When the team's losing? When he's hurt and stuck on the sideline? With Lukas, that's the easiest question I get all year. The Résumé On paper, his case is already strong. He was part of Team Ontario's U15 gold medal team back in 2023. He earned Most Improved Player with Orangeville's EYBL program under coach Blunt in 2024-25. And this past year, I watched him help Slovakia's U18 national team to a bronze medal — they beat host nation Romania and pushed Slovakia up to Division A for the 2026 FIBA U18 Eurobasket Championship. Slovakia's head coach wanted him back for another summer, but a late-season injury kept him from returning. That same injury shortened his 2025-26 club season. It hasn't slowed his recruitment one bit. He already holds an offer from Ohio University, has drawn interest from Creighton and Buffalo, and has been in recent contact with programs at Dartmouth and Colgate. That range tells me his game translates across levels. A 3.6 GPA doesn't hurt either, especially with the academically rigorous schools in that mix. What the Résumé Doesn't Show You I see Lukas at the gym almost every day too — I coach my son's U10 team out of Athlete Institute, and he's around constantly. Out of all the players who pass through there, only a handful go out of their way to say hello to me. Lukas is one of them. Here's the one that actually tells me something, though. I watched him sit on the bench for months during Orangeville's season. Not once did I see him check out. Every substitution, every teammate coming off the floor — he was right there with a high five, fully locked in. You pair that level of leadership and team focus with his frame and shooting touch, and you've got a college player. I keep coming back to TJ Hurley, the kid out of Pelham, Ontario who played four years at Vermont. The similarities are ridiculous to me. Where I Think This Goes Lukas's recruitment is still being written. What's already on the record — a European bronze medal, a Division I offer, sustained interest from multiple programs, and the kind of makeup that predicts whether a kid survives a college locker room — tells me the next chapter isn't going to be quiet. I'll keep tracking Lukas's recruitment here at The Maple Minute as his 2027 decision gets closer.

Written by Tymal Simpson When conversations begin about the best guards in the Class of 2028, one name that continues to rise to the top is 6’1” point guard Noah Fleurantin. After another championship performance, Fleurantin is making a compelling argument not only as the premier point guard in Quebec, but as one of the top guards in Canada regardless of province. A dynamic two-way playmaker, Fleurantin impacts the game on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he’s an explosive three-level scorer capable of putting points on the board in a hurry. Whether it’s knocking down shots from the perimeter, attacking the mid-range, or finishing through contact at the rim, he consistently finds ways to produce. Despite standing 6’1”, his athleticism allows him to play above the rim, and once he gets out in transition, he’s one of the toughest players in his class to contain. What separates Fleurantin from many of his peers isn’t just his talent, it’s his commitment to the process. His steady rise has been built on discipline, consistency, and relentless work ethic. Those qualities have been sharpened under the guidance of one of Canada’s most respected player development coaches, Coach Rajeev Toutoux, whose demanding approach has helped shape countless high-level athletes. The grit, competitiveness, and winning mentality that define Fleurantin’s game are a direct reflection of that environment. This past weekend, Fleurantin once again proved why his stock continues to climb. Leading Jardin Hoops with poise and confidence, he helped guide his team to a championship at the Canadian National Invitational Tournament, delivering winning plays on both ends of the floor while continuing to establish himself as one of the tournament’s standout performers. As he prepares for another season with the prestigious Thetford Prep program, expectations continue to grow. If his current trajectory continues, don’t be surprised to see Noah Fleurantin become a household name in Canadian basketball circles. By the end of the year, he has every opportunity to cement himself as not only the top point guard in Quebec’s 2028 class, but one of the nation’s elite guards. The foundation has been laid. The confidence is growing. The results continue to follow. Now, the rest of Canada is beginning to take notice.

Why ALL4ONE Could Be the Dark Horse of the 2026 CNIT Every year at the Canadian National Invitational Tournament, there’s one team that quietly arrives without the same hype as the household names, only to spend the weekend ruining brackets and changing the conversation. This year, I think that team might be ALL4ONE. If you’ve followed the CNIT over the last several years, you already know this program isn’t new to producing talent. ALL4ONE has consistently brought legitimate Division I prospects to the event. Players like Xaivian Lee, Mike Nwoko, and Jovan Milicevic have all worn the program’s colours at previous CNITs before continuing their basketball journeys at the highest levels. That’s not coincidence—that’s a coach with an eye for talent and a history of putting players on the map. That coach is Filip Musić. Now he’s back with another intriguing group. After speaking with Filip, this roster feels different. It may not have the nationally recognized superstar carrying all the headlines, but it has something coaches love heading into championship weekends: size, versatility, experience and multiple players capable of having breakout performances. The name that immediately jumps off the page is Danilo Glumicic. The 6-foot-8 guard spent the last five to six years developing in the famed Partizan youth system in Serbia, one of Europe’s premier basketball academies. According to ALL4ONE’s coaching staff, Glumicic was considered a top-three player in Serbia within his age group before making the move back toward North America, where he’ll attend prep school this season. That pedigree alone makes him fascinating. European guards often arrive with advanced decision-making, strong positional feel and polished fundamentals, and at 6-foot-8, Glumicic has the physical profile that immediately attracts college coaches. If his transition to the North American game is as seamless as expected, don’t be surprised if he’s one of the biggest talking points coming out of the weekend. Another player generating considerable buzz is Ivan Marasovic. The 6-foot-8 forward is coming off an impressive showing during the 3SSB circuit, and according to his coach, his recruitment has started to accelerate. He’s described as one of the fastest-rising players in the country—a sleeper who may not stay under the radar much longer. Those are exactly the kinds of players who tend to explode at events like CNIT. One strong weekend in front of college coaches can completely alter a player’s recruiting trajectory. The Canadian talent doesn’t stop there. Kymani Walters, a familiar name to anyone who follows Crown basketball, brings another high-level piece to the roster. Walters has steadily built a reputation as a dependable, competitive player capable of impacting games on both ends of the floor. His familiarity with big moments should provide valuable leadership throughout the weekend. Then there’s Luka Boras, a skilled 6-foot-6 guard who checks nearly every box coaches look for in a modern perimeter player. According to the coaching staff, Boras is at his best creating off the dribble, making plays for teammates and stretching the floor with his shooting. He’s the type of player who doesn’t need 25 points to control a game. His ability to make the correct read, move the basketball and compete every possession gives ALL4ONE another versatile weapon capable of fitting into multiple lineups. Goran Davidovic adds another skilled guard to the mix at 6-foot-3, while 6-foot-8 Amare Lincoln is already a well-known name within Canadian basketball circles. Lincoln’s athleticism and ability to impact games in transition should complement the roster’s overall size and versatility. One player who may not fill the box score but could become invaluable over a championship weekend is Marquez Wallace. The coaching staff was quick to describe him as an elite defender. Championship tournaments are often decided by stops just as much as scoring, and every successful team needs someone willing to embrace the toughest defensive assignment. Wallace appears to be exactly that player. What makes this roster particularly dangerous isn’t necessarily one future star—it’s the balance. There are multiple 6-foot-6 to 6-foot-8 players who can handle the basketball. There are experienced Canadians mixed with international talent. There are shooters, defenders, playmakers and athletes. More importantly, there doesn’t appear to be a glaring weakness. History also suggests you shouldn’t overlook this program. ALL4ONE has repeatedly brought legitimate talent to CNIT, and several former players have gone on to become Division I standouts. Programs with that kind of track record usually aren’t guessing when they assemble a roster. Will they enter the tournament as the betting favourite? I’m not too sure. But if you’re asking me which team has all the ingredients to shock people by Sunday afternoon, this is the one I’m circling. The names may not all be household names—yet. By the end of CNIT, that could be a very different story.