Check These Basketball Players Out

Basketball season, for the guys, has started.

Well, if we include tournaments, it has been on for many weeks.

And, many people claim that more than any high school sport, this one tends to attract fans - usually for tournaments and playoffs. It's also a place to find college and university coaches looking to find that one player who just might make a difference. Then, convincing him to make the move - and stay in Canada.

Far too many times, and for various reasons, media people tend to focus on the super or elite teams. You know what I mean. And, I am told, there's always chatter on discussion boards about players who don't get what coaches and parents call "the attention they deserve" - whatever that means.

So, I got around to a few games this past week - and got lucky. Also, listened to opinions from people and, with apologies to many, put together a few names of players to watch over the next three months. Yes, players on teams who have put up some big performances, points and have been consistent.

No special order here, and comment as you wish, but time to toot the horn for these guys.

• Brandon Bos at Markham. Might be small, but he is talented. His team is 11-3 over-all and Bos has led his team in scoring the past five games. Check out his video on You Tube.
• Brandon Chase, Georges Vanier. Heard about him because his school coach took the time to tell me to check out this 6-foot forward. He's scored 20 or more points in nine games, not all wins.
• Anthony Lyle-Wade, Borden. He attends a small school focusing on business and technical studies. He scored 37 points in a win the other day. How about the 42 points - in a loss?
• Stefan Nastic, Thornhill. Can't miss this forward. He's about 6-foot-10, Duke and Maryland are NCAA schools interested in him. He also played a summer for the Serbian National team.
• Alex Abou-Akl, Brebeuf. He's a 6-foot-1 guard at the school in York Region and has been consistent on a team that might make the Final Eight league playoffs.  Canadian colleges  and universities take note.
• Mike Grasic, Gonzaga. Plays defence well. Big, tough and can score. Oh yes, he's 6-foot-8. Graduating year, too. Good coaches can make magic with these kind of players.
• Mamadou Mutombo, Pine Ridge. Name sound familiar? His uncle Dikembe, was a former NBA player. This high school player, a guard, has already scored 42 points in a game.
• Trevon Adomako-Osei, Dante Alighieri. He's at a school known more for soccer than hoops. Check him out. Ran track for the school last Spring and has led his basketball team in scoring so far.
• Evon Gayle, Keswick. Apparently, he's only in grade 11 but has already scored 25 or more points in a game this year for his York Region senior boys' team.
• Joseph Ojelade, Central Peel. Most points in a game this year goes to him - 43. His team, which plays in the Tier Two league, lost that Peel Region game, 80-78.

I know, I missed some.

Comments

[KJ]

That`s what I like, a guy who gives the lesser no-names some attention. Good man.

[Big John]

There are lots of players across Ontario too but I guess Canada's largest paper is only concerned about what is only within 50 kilometres of the great city.

[DT]

Alright, you did it for basketball.
Play fair and do it for hockey too.
No need to remind you that hockey is Canada's National winter sport.

[Hoop-Dee-Da]

Mutombo is not as good as people think he is. Watch him play and you can see he lacks the skills that his older brother has and that's why he's in the NCAA.

[Lewis]

Heard you may be doing this and ya opened a can of worms cause every basketball junkie will be checking this out and dumping names.
Hope you guys check out the feedback it so it doesn't become as bad as some of those other discussion boards with all the mean stuff and hate.
You guys are so much better.

[Texan]

Time for a shout out for my man Daniel Mullings at Laurier. He can play but he don't understand he's on a lousy team.

[Dobben]

Bos is playing on a weak team in a weak league and over-rated.

[Dunk]

You certainly have some good ones.
Now, wonder if they move to the elite schools or whether those coaches come after them or whether they're smart and stay where they are.

[Andy]

Great to see other names and schools for a change. One gets sick and tired of the same schools dominating the paper.
How about Kevin Pangos at Denison? This kid is on the radar of several Canadian university teams. His father coaches the girls team at York University.

[Anthony]

I am a real big fan of Scott Morrison at Richview. he was dynamite as a junior and is looking sharp at the next level.
He scored 35 points in a loss to George Harvey.

[JG]

Seth Evershed at Michael Power/St. Joseph is one of those former junior great players. Give him a year at the senior level.

[Marc]

Smart idea to give otheres the spotlight and maybe that might get somecoaches to back off hunting kids for their super teams.

[Jimmy]

I often wonder in sports if it is always big performances and points that count or can a player just be average and get attention.

[Tim Blackstock]

Kevin Pangos will not play CIS, he will end up high major D1 and has been on many teams radar for some time now. He will go to a school that values his substance, team play and basketball IQ, not like the flashy players that most of them try to obtain.

[Joe]

David,

Thanks for showcasing a lot of kids that often get overlooked. A special thanks for highlighting Mike Grasic of Gonzaga. I taught him in elementary school and he was on our school's basketball from grade 5 to grade 8, where I was lucky to coach him. Believe it or not, when he began in grade 5, he couldn't get the ball in the net for the life of him. However, he worked relentlessly on shooting and other fundamentals. By the 8th grade, he was phenomenal and now, he's just coming into his own. It's great to see him develop as he has.