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U16 Ontario Cup Recap And Standouts
Published by Gilbert Muako on May 22, 2011
OBA provincial cups is one of the most exciting times of the year. Over 80 U16 teams from different levels across Ontario gathered in the GTA to battle for the same prize. The three day event gave us a great opportunity to take in a long group of 2014 prospects.On the Friday CROWN made a stop at Humber College to get a glimpse of Division 2 action and our final two days were spent at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus capturing Division 1. Last year in this same class the Scarborough Blues dominated their way to a dramatic championship win over the Brampton Warriors. Things took a different turn this year as both teams met in the finals once again where Brampton, led by Jaylan Morgan’s 27 points would get their revenge, winning the 2011 Ontario Cup in dramatic fashion. Ajax Lions claimed the bronze medal behind Anthony Pate’s 21 points.
STANDOUTS:
Marcus Lewis 6’4 W, Brampton Warriors, 2014
One of the top prospects you’ll find in the 2014 class is Marcus Lewis. Lewis has the upside to be a very talented SF when it’s all said and done. He has an excellent physique for the position with nice athletic package. He has length and is wiry strong, plays with a great amount of energy, rebounds well in traffic and goes back up for tough baskets and defends extremely well. He was able to show his athleticism in the open court, running the floor hard and throwing down fast break jams. A nice slashing game and at times he’d knock down the midrange jumper. He has to improve his long range shot and ball handling on the perimeter to better create for himself.
Anthony Pate 6’3 SG, Ajax Lions, 2014
Pate is a top scoring guard in his class who’s very quick off the dribble, never hesitates, always on the attack with his quick step and is extremely difficult to stop going to his strong hand. He’s a very crafty player with a nice package of offensive moves to call on. He has good size and strength when going to the hoop and gets himself to free throw line often. He also makes baskets in the mid range area, stop and pops, floaters and fall away jumpers. Outside shooting will need some touching up to become more consistent. Showed he could step up in big moments as he scored 21points in the Lions Bronze Medal victory. His performance was even more outstanding especially due to the fact that he was playing with the flu.
Pate is a top scoring guard in his class who’s very quick off the dribble, never hesitates, always on the attack with his quick step and is extremely difficult to stop going to his strong hand. He’s a very crafty player with a nice package of offensive moves to call on. He has good size and strength when going to the hoop and gets himself to free throw line often. He also makes baskets in the mid range area, stop and pops, floaters and fall away jumpers. Outside shooting will need some touching up to become more consistent. Showed he could step up in big moments as he scored 21points in the Lions Bronze Medal victory. His performance was even more outstanding especially due to the fact that he was playing with the flu.
Jake Babic, 6’4 PG/SG Oakville Vytis, 2014
Babic caught a lot of attention in this event. A very interesting player to evaluate. He doesn’t yet have a true position, though he’s looking to be point. At 6-foot-4 he is capable of successfully playing positions 1-3 on the court. He is poised, protects the ball, is unselfish and was clearly the best passer we saw in the event. Babic ran the point guard position for his Oakville team and without a doubt did a great job. He has excellent size at the position and always seemed to be getting guys in place to score. He has a nice flow to his game and rarely gets caught forcing the matter.
Babic caught a lot of attention in this event. A very interesting player to evaluate. He doesn’t yet have a true position, though he’s looking to be point. At 6-foot-4 he is capable of successfully playing positions 1-3 on the court. He is poised, protects the ball, is unselfish and was clearly the best passer we saw in the event. Babic ran the point guard position for his Oakville team and without a doubt did a great job. He has excellent size at the position and always seemed to be getting guys in place to score. He has a nice flow to his game and rarely gets caught forcing the matter.
Marial Shayok, 6’3 SG, Ottawa Guardsmen, 2014A skilled two guard with tremendous play making ability. He has a good size and length with a nice feel for the game. Shayok is creative when attacking, gets in the lanes with ease, either going all the way for his shot or making an unexpected dish to an open teammate on the wing. Also showed the ability to complete tough baskets in the middle range. Has made great strides in his game this year.
Daniel Dzierzawski, 6’0 SG, UPLAY, 2014
Was interesting watching Dzierzawski as I saw a totally different player than I had seen earlier in the year and he looks a lot more like a two guard than a floor general as I had originally thought. He has a solid handle, quickness with the ball and is a pure shot creator for himself. He made shots beyond the arc and used a variety of pump fakes, ball fakes and jabs to get defenders off balance before attacking for a pull up jumper or finding his way to the basket. He isn’t much of an explosive guard but just reads the defense quite well and always has the right move to respond to the defence.
Was interesting watching Dzierzawski as I saw a totally different player than I had seen earlier in the year and he looks a lot more like a two guard than a floor general as I had originally thought. He has a solid handle, quickness with the ball and is a pure shot creator for himself. He made shots beyond the arc and used a variety of pump fakes, ball fakes and jabs to get defenders off balance before attacking for a pull up jumper or finding his way to the basket. He isn’t much of an explosive guard but just reads the defense quite well and always has the right move to respond to the defence.
Gavin Pearce, 6’3 SF/PF Scarborough Blues, 2014
The biggest surprise coming out this event was the play of Gavin Pearce as he’s certainly not a guy who will not catch your attention right away but as a game progresses, you’ll see all the good things he provides as a player. He’s a high energy guy who brings it every time he steps foot on the court. Though under sized at his position, Pearce has incredible length, outstanding leaping ability and quick feet getting off the ground. A strong finisher around the rim, has a nose for rebounding the ball and cleaning up the offensive glass. Another impressive thing about Pearce his ability to make the right plays in the open court. Will grab a rebound kick off the fast break and feed teammates with sharp passes for an easy two. His most impressive play came where he had a monster block on the glass, cuffs the ball out, advances it, beats everyone straight down the middle and receives the ball back for a lay in. I’ll definitely be interested to see how his game turns out going forward.
The biggest surprise coming out this event was the play of Gavin Pearce as he’s certainly not a guy who will not catch your attention right away but as a game progresses, you’ll see all the good things he provides as a player. He’s a high energy guy who brings it every time he steps foot on the court. Though under sized at his position, Pearce has incredible length, outstanding leaping ability and quick feet getting off the ground. A strong finisher around the rim, has a nose for rebounding the ball and cleaning up the offensive glass. Another impressive thing about Pearce his ability to make the right plays in the open court. Will grab a rebound kick off the fast break and feed teammates with sharp passes for an easy two. His most impressive play came where he had a monster block on the glass, cuffs the ball out, advances it, beats everyone straight down the middle and receives the ball back for a lay in. I’ll definitely be interested to see how his game turns out going forward.
Rashawn Browne, 6’1 PG, Scarborough Blues, 2014
Browne’s name was a topic of conversation in the gym throughout the event, showing he is worth the discussion when talking top leading guards in the Canadian 2014 class. He is quick, pushes the tempo and always looks to make the right decision. A very unselfish player, Browne keeps his head up at all times, beats guys with hesitation moves and will kick out to the wing once attracting defenders. He doesn’t have to score much to impress. His passing, court awareness, understanding and intensity on defence will win a lot of coaches over. He should make some noise this summer running with Kings Nation AAU team.
Browne’s name was a topic of conversation in the gym throughout the event, showing he is worth the discussion when talking top leading guards in the Canadian 2014 class. He is quick, pushes the tempo and always looks to make the right decision. A very unselfish player, Browne keeps his head up at all times, beats guys with hesitation moves and will kick out to the wing once attracting defenders. He doesn’t have to score much to impress. His passing, court awareness, understanding and intensity on defence will win a lot of coaches over. He should make some noise this summer running with Kings Nation AAU team.
Raynold Kasongo, 6’7 PF Scarborough Blues, 2014
Interesting weekend for Kasongo as you never knew what you’d get from the big man. One day he’d be pacing the court, looking disinterested and not utilizing his size and strength but when he decides to turn things on, you see completely different player. On championship day Kasongo took the gym by storm putting on some of the best performances we’ve ever seen from him. He was a monster on both ends on the floor. Defensively he was very active, rebounding, blocking/altering tons of shots. Offensively his strength was too much to deal with doing damage to the rims. He ran the floor better, attacked the rim strong every chance he got, using a one dribble power step to throw down on defenders. If he decides to play like this on a consistent basis, watch out!
Interesting weekend for Kasongo as you never knew what you’d get from the big man. One day he’d be pacing the court, looking disinterested and not utilizing his size and strength but when he decides to turn things on, you see completely different player. On championship day Kasongo took the gym by storm putting on some of the best performances we’ve ever seen from him. He was a monster on both ends on the floor. Defensively he was very active, rebounding, blocking/altering tons of shots. Offensively his strength was too much to deal with doing damage to the rims. He ran the floor better, attacked the rim strong every chance he got, using a one dribble power step to throw down on defenders. If he decides to play like this on a consistent basis, watch out!
Jaylan Morgan, G, Brampton Warriors 2014
A great key to the championship Brampton team, Jaylan did not show his best until it really mattered. He completely took over the championship game with his game leading 27 points. A major threat when he gets it going, Morgan has the ability to make plays off the dribble, gets in the lanes and finishes at the rim with strength.
A great key to the championship Brampton team, Jaylan did not show his best until it really mattered. He completely took over the championship game with his game leading 27 points. A major threat when he gets it going, Morgan has the ability to make plays off the dribble, gets in the lanes and finishes at the rim with strength.
Michael Shoveller, 6’10 C, Ottawa Next Level, 2014
Shoveller is steadily showing progress. He was terrific in Ottawa’s matchup versus UPLAY, playing with more aggression. He also ran the floor hard and was rewarded by the guards. Did a fantastic job scoring around the rim with a soft touch, off passes and with back to basket moves. He’s very thin and has a lot of room for growth. He finished with 20 points in the game.
Shoveller is steadily showing progress. He was terrific in Ottawa’s matchup versus UPLAY, playing with more aggression. He also ran the floor hard and was rewarded by the guards. Did a fantastic job scoring around the rim with a soft touch, off passes and with back to basket moves. He’s very thin and has a lot of room for growth. He finished with 20 points in the game.
Chris McComber, 6’7 SF, Ottawa Next Level, 2014
McComber grows on me more every time I see him, standing around 6’6-6’7 with an all round game. He doesn’t necessarily do one thing great, just a well balanced player with a very good chance to be great as he progresses. He’s got great size and can handle working a bit off the perimeter, scoring from inside to outside, rebounds and defends.
McComber grows on me more every time I see him, standing around 6’6-6’7 with an all round game. He doesn’t necessarily do one thing great, just a well balanced player with a very good chance to be great as he progresses. He’s got great size and can handle working a bit off the perimeter, scoring from inside to outside, rebounds and defends.
Jesse Kendell, SG, Guelph
A smooth operating two guard who can hit from three point land with lot of arc. He can control the point a bit too.
A smooth operating two guard who can hit from three point land with lot of arc. He can control the point a bit too.
Mitchell Wood G, Guelph
Wood really impressed in the one game we saw of his, running the offense and playing off the ball. Made plays for his teammates, got to the hoop and knocked down shots behind the arc.
Wood really impressed in the one game we saw of his, running the offense and playing off the ball. Made plays for his teammates, got to the hoop and knocked down shots behind the arc.
Corey Johnson, 6’1 PG, Ottawa Next Level, 2015
Playing a year up from his age group, he’s an impressive point guard and pass first guy with excellent ball IQ. He runs the show and feeds the post and can knock down the open three pointer. Johnson has the potential to be very good.
Playing a year up from his age group, he’s an impressive point guard and pass first guy with excellent ball IQ. He runs the show and feeds the post and can knock down the open three pointer. Johnson has the potential to be very good.
Tyvon Hall, PG, YAAACE
Hall is an explosive guard with a scorer’s mentality who is capable of putting up points in bunches usually off jumpers and creative drives to the basket. He tends to freeze the ball at times trying to do too much while sometimes not utilizing wide open teammates.
Hall is an explosive guard with a scorer’s mentality who is capable of putting up points in bunches usually off jumpers and creative drives to the basket. He tends to freeze the ball at times trying to do too much while sometimes not utilizing wide open teammates.
Tevoun Jackson, 5’9 PG, Scarborough Blues, 2014
Wasn’t the best weekend for Jackson, forcing the issue a bit but it’s clear the talent is there. He’s an explosive lefty guard who can pass and get to the rim with ease.
Wasn’t the best weekend for Jackson, forcing the issue a bit but it’s clear the talent is there. He’s an explosive lefty guard who can pass and get to the rim with ease.
Lamar Joseph G, Brampton Warriors
Extremely competitive guard who plays his heart out. Knocks down from long range though not yet consistent and makes strong drives to the basket and defends with a lot of intensity.
Extremely competitive guard who plays his heart out. Knocks down from long range though not yet consistent and makes strong drives to the basket and defends with a lot of intensity.
Readers Rating:
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5) Loading ...
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Tagged with: Anthony Pate, Chris McComber, Corey Johnson, Daniel Dzierzawski, Gavin Pearce, Jake Babic, Jaylan Morgan, Jesse Kendell, Lamar Joseph, Marcus Lewis, Marial Shayok, Michael Shoveller, Mitchell Wood, Rashawn Browne, Raynold Kasongo, Tevoun Jackson, Tyvon Hall
#1 Jody Ruttenberg on Mon, 23rd May 2011 6:40 pm
When will the names be announced as to who is on the 2011 FIBA team to play in Mexico?