Episode Transcript
[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome to the Canadian Basketball show, your newest go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host, Lee Van Osmond. I just wanted to start off this podcast by saying thank you. Thank you so much for the huge support on episode one. I've had a lot of people reach out to me and honestly it's been very overwhelming, the amount of support, the amount of excitement for this podcast and the plans that we have going forward. And yeah, I just been thinking I should have started this sooner. Honestly, the wait no longer. So I appreciate everyone for joining me on this journey. And yeah, let's cover Canadian basketball. But if you haven't already, please follow us on Spotify, on Apple Music or wherever you get your podcast and put your notifications on for every episode. We'll be here for you every Tuesday. And like I said in the last episode, follow us on social media platforms to stay connected. On Twitter, we're at the CBS pod, on Instagram, at the Canadian basketball show at TikTok Canadian basketball show. And over there you get all the latest news, all the clips from episodes, upcoming guests, the whole shebang. And also send me an email at the canadian basketballshowmail.com and hit me up with potential topics you want discussed on this show and I'll look to cover and connect with me on my personal account on social media 1 On today's episode, we're covering probably my favorite Canadian basketball event of the year. It's the All Canadian Game. If you don't know what that is, the All Canadian Game is basically an all star game featuring 24 of the best high school players in the country. It started back in 2015 and now it's in its 10th year, which is honestly kind of crazy to say. And some of the top guys that have played in this event since 2015 include Jamal Murray, Don Maker, Luke Dort, Delano Banton, Andrew Nemhard, Olivia Maxson, Prosper Ignis, Bradikis, O'Shea Brissette. The list goes on.
On the women's side, Aaliyah Edwards playing with the Washington Mystics, Cheyenne Wilson, who's at lsu, Cassandra Prosper at Notre Dame, Silas Swords at Michigan, Toby Fournier at Duke. And yeah, the list honestly goes on. A lot of bright and talented people have played in this game, and it's basically a showcase that I think every top prospect in Canada wants to be selected for. It's kind of like a rite of passage for players, if you ask me. Honestly, I don't think it's a make or Break event in terms of your basketball career, if you don't get selected, I'm going to have my guy, Wes Brown, a top basketball scholar in Canada and founder of the Monday Morning Scouting Report, to join me to break down the top 24 players selected on the boys side. Also kind of wanted Wes to come on just to give us a behind the scenes look to how they select the top 24 players and the selection community, how it's formed and the people part of it. And Wes has been a guy that's been on it for a few years now. And as someone like myself, that's sort of been entrenched in Canadian basketball culture, the ecosystem, I've always wondered, how does the selection process for a game like this work, people? Because they start off with a top 100 list and then they whittle that down to top 50 and then top 35 and then they get to a top 24 list. And I think that's gotta be really tough, you know, So I wanted to get the behind the scenes look to that process and the people that are making these decisions. And I can honestly remember the first time I went to an All Canadian game. But for those that are interested, it's basically like McDonald's all American in the US it's NBA sanctioned. In the years prior that I've gone to, I've seen a ton of NBA scouts from teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Memphis Grizzlies, the Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors pull up and they are a staple. They're always there watching the weekend events. I've seen Bobby Webster, I've seen Masai Juri, Dan Tolzman, the whole front office. And when I think about them there, I remember a story former Raptor Delano Batson told me during his rookie season. And now he played in the All Canadian game a few years back, but he wasn't originally even selected to play. And I remember him telling me that there was a player that couldn't make the game last minute, so they called him up and he was attending prep school down in Massachusetts at McDuffie and he came last minute and he balled out. And guess who was in attendance? Raptors general manager Bobby Webster. And that was the first time they watched Delano play. And then a few years later, he ends up being drafted 46 overall. You know, like, that's crazy to think. And this type of event, it's life changing when you think about it. If you're selected and you play well and it's not really like the All Star Games we see in the NBA where no one cares, Every kid cares. A lot of decision makers pull up to scout and find the next Canadian talent and this is where they start to track them. The game I went to a few years back used to be at U of T. But I think after Biosteel went bankrupt, they changed the location and I don't know why. I think U of T honestly has the most underrated basketball facility in the city. And last year I was in attendance and it was all the way in Orangeville at the Athlete Institute. And I think this year it is at Humber College. And as a downtown guy, I'll be honest with you, I hate that it's at Humber. I'm not trying to travel an hour plus to go watch some basketball. And last year when I was at the game in Orangeville, I don't remember seeing a ton of NBA scouts in attendance compared to the years prior when it was at U of T. I could be wrong though, and someone hit me up if I'm wrong, but. And honestly, I think last year's game in my opinion was probably the most entertaining in terms of just talent that I've seen in years. There was Will Riley, who I think is a first round pick in this year's upcoming NBA draft. And he put on a show and him and Butler commit. He fosa going back and forth, guarding each other. Real primetime television stuff and something I wish more people got to see in the city. But I had to travel an hour and a half to Orangeville. But no shout out to Orangeville though. The town that's come out of there, it's been insane.
But if you're looking to attend the All Canadian game, it's on April 5th at Humber College. Before that on April 3rd, there's a few games that are going to be happening. They usually do a Next Ones up game which usually features some younger grade 910 players who are oozing with potential. And on the 4th there's a skills challenge, there's a Shooting Stars 3 point dunk contest being held and I definitely, definitely recommend checking out if you got time. Even though it's far as hell. It's some really, really good hoops. Some of the top names that I'm really excited about this year include Tristan Beckford on the women's side, Deniya Prowell and I got Makir. We're going to be at the Nike Hoops Summit Ifosa like I just mentioned, Promise Niliandu at Fort Erie, Kamai Samuels, Miles Saller, Rakim Green are also being selected, but I don't think they'll be in attendance because they'll be playing at the Chipotle Nationals. But yeah, it's. It's a lot of talent coming up. And I really encourage you, if you have some time from April 3rd to the 5th, go check it out. But like I said, have my guy Wes Brown joining me to break down the All Canadian game players you should know about and how the committee selects the top players. And a lot of people wonder how. How do they come down to 24 players? Well, let's find out. Let's have Wes on and he'll talk us through it all. You're listening to the K Basketball Show. I'm your host, Lee Ben Osman.
[00:07:50] Speaker B: Foreign.
[00:07:59] Speaker A: Welcome back to the Canadian Basketball show, your newest go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. We're talking about the annual All Canadian game. It's in its 10th year this year, which honestly, to me is kind of crazy. And I got a special guest, a guy that knows everything about this game and someone that I honestly go to when I need information on the best talent coming up in Canada. We got Wes Brown on the Monday morning Sky Report. My guy, Wes. How you doing?
[00:08:28] Speaker B: Good, man. Good to be here.
[00:08:29] Speaker A: Appreciate you coming out. The first time we met, I want to talk about this just a little bit.
[00:08:34] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:08:34] Speaker A: I believe it was Nike Hoop Summit.
[00:08:36] Speaker B: I think so.
[00:08:37] Speaker A: Portland.
[00:08:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:08:38] Speaker A: Leonard Miller was the top prospect coming out. What do you remember about that week?
[00:08:43] Speaker B: Leonard was a virtual unknown at the beginning of the year. You know, he was still coming together physically, so people didn't know him. And I was part of kind of a team that was helping to build, you know, his, his name. And obviously a lot of it was him and his play, the success that they had at Fort Erie. But I think just like in a lot of situations, I'm the middleman getting these Canadian names to NBA teams, to top NCAA teams. Those are the people that pay for my service, really. Just like trying to be honest about it all. And here's a kid who's 610, who's quick, twitch, who's got perimeter skills like a guard. And it was just such an obvious one, like, and I'm pretty cautious in general, but he was such an obvious NBA player that I kind of wanted to help promote him and get him onto that landscape. So I was glad that he was there and I think he helped show enough. And, you know, obviously he's with the Timberls now.
[00:09:42] Speaker A: Yeah. And he was killed Practices hoops. Tell me. I remember that. We're obviously going to talk about the All Canadian game, but I want to touch on your origin story in terms of scouting basketball in Canada. Yeah, tell me about it. Where did. Where did it begin?
[00:09:55] Speaker B: I graduated law school in 2013. My first job was actually with the U of T women's team, Shout Out. Michelle Belanger, who was the first person that gave me a chance.
[00:10:04] Speaker A: Crazy.
[00:10:05] Speaker B: She was a legendary coach. She was there for, like, 40 years.
And I had honestly always wanted to be a scout.
My dad's friend actually wanted to be a writer. And what he did was he wrote full scripts and sent them out, and he ended up being huge. He did a show called House. I'm sure you've heard of the Good Doctor. So I was like, okay, I need to start a website or something to show my work. So I started nbaprospects.com and ran it for probably two years.
I kind of showed my work, made scouting reports on the whole draft, quit my job, spent all my savings hustling, just getting in people's faces, sent thousands of emails. I sent letters to Brian Clangelo when he was with the Raptors. All sorts of crazy stuff.
You know, I'd go in a suit to summer league and hand out my resume and scouting reports. Anyways, I ended up somehow at dinner with the Dallas Mavericks in their whole front office.
Donnie Nelson and those guys, for some reason, like, took a liking to me. I was hungry, and I had prepared all year for that dinner or that lunch that ended up taking two hours.
And they ended up giving me a job. They liked what I had to say about the players.
That was my first opportunity. And then they wouldn't sign my visa to go to the States. And I thought, okay, you know, I might be as good of a scout as the next guy, but I need a niche that's going to get people to open the email or answer my call. So I started just going to, like, local high school games. You know, there weren't many people doing it, and I went one by one and just kind of grinded it out and built relationships one by one and kind of just figured it out. Like today, you know, it's so funny. Like, I think about it, and it's like a past life almost. I don't remember how. I honestly, like, had the gusto to just keep going because I really didn't know what I was doing. But somehow it ended up building itself. I got one client and got two and got, you know, and now I have A lot. Um, so, yeah, just. Just hustling, man. It was just hustling.
[00:12:13] Speaker A: I was gonna say, I feel like every single time I go to a, like, local basketball event, a high school event, and I look to my right, I'm like, okay, Wes. Wes is here. Wes is somewhere here, you know, so that's why I thought you were, like, the perfect person to come here. But tell me about that. The first. The first few years you're doing it, what were the names of guys you remember coming up during that time and maybe that you scouted and you kind of finally remember, huh?
[00:12:38] Speaker B: I mean, Andrew Nemhard was still there, you know, I remember going to see his workouts. Taron Todd, who's a guy that's been in college a while, it's. Having had a really good year at Arkansas State. Obviously, Andrew Nemhardt moved on to the Pacers.
You know, he was there really early on.
I mean, some of the guys that. That I loved, that I kind of tried to help along the way, because I believed in a lot. I remember Omax Prosper, you know, watching him from a pretty young age. Ben Mathurin watching him from a pretty young age, seeing those guys develop into dudes at the high school level, and then obviously, great college players and now, you know, real NBA players.
So, honestly, it's hard to remember those earlier. I mean, I remember Jamal Murray in the first, you know, All Canadian game. I. I was a nobody at that point, but he was clearly a guy that stood out. And there's not many guys that I would say, like, hey, like, that's an NBA player. And he was clearly a good NBA player even in high school.
[00:13:35] Speaker A: Yeah, you're on the selection committee for the All Canadian games. Tell me about the event itself. What's your favorite part? Just about the All Canadian game weekend.
[00:13:44] Speaker B: Itself, I would say. The practices and the game. The practices are fun because that's your first chance, at least for me. And there's NBA scouts in attendance, and it's usually just closed off.
But getting to see those guys go up against each other, for me, you don't necessarily get to see these guys play against each other. Right. A lot of guys go to the States. A lot of guys are East Coast, West Coast. They might not play in the same league. So it's a chance, as a scout, to see best versus best. And that's when you see kind of who will rise and, you know, be the cream of the crop.
And it's not just that. It's getting to see them all on One floor together. You know, you. You see a guy, he's the alpha, probably on his team if he's in the All Canadian game, but is he the alpha of the Alphas? And so those things are always interesting. You know, the name that comes to mind automatically. Vashon Alette. Right. He comes in and, you know, I kn, you know, what type of, you know, player he is and what he thinks and how he thinks. And so him going on that stage and just being that dude, like, yeah, put the ball in my hands, I'm going to go win mvp. And he did, you know, so respect for that and, you know, it's a sign that no matter what level, you got to have that self belief and, you know, from a scouting perspective, it's really interesting to see how guys fit on that stage.
[00:14:56] Speaker A: Yeah, I remember watching Rashana Let at the All Canadian game and wondering, who is this guy? And he just. I think he might have been in Grade 11 at the time because I think he was injured his senior year, if I'm correct. But he's at TCU now.
[00:15:08] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:09] Speaker A: Just entered the transfer portal. Excited to see where he ends up. I know he had a good season this year.
[00:15:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:14] Speaker A: Tell me about the selection committee. When were you first approached to be part of it and how many years have you been on it now?
[00:15:22] Speaker B: I think probably like seven. I'm not really sure what the exact number is. Tony McIndire first approached me actually. Like, I. I was really excited about it. You know, it was. It is the peak of. Of the sport in Canada.
And having gone that first year, not being involved in it and making my way into being a figure in the Canadian basketball scene, it was just really cool. And it was really informal, to be honest, but Tony just sat down and I think he saw how much I was grinding and going to games and that I was an honest evaluator. And he actually put me on the spot. Like, I remember, you know, I was at a game and I was starting to build a little momentum, and he was like, what makes you different? You know, and asked me about a specific player. I think it was Ma Moncrief. And I think I said something that maybe the average fan wouldn't, you know, understand or know, and I guess he liked it. So eventually he just approached me, was like, yeah, you know, I'd love to have you on the committee. And I mean, back then it was probably. I don't know how many people. It's probably varied anywhere from like 8 to 12 or so. For the most part. This Year, there's a lot more. There's probably double that.
[00:16:31] Speaker A: But why is it?
[00:16:33] Speaker B: I think, you know, I've spoken with Jesse Tipping, who's, you know, part of running the game every year. I've seen, you know, some of the backlash that happens sometimes. I think generally we always get it right. For the most part. It's never gonna be perfect and there's always gonna be people that have issues. But I think what he's tried to do is include people countrywide, like, okay, like, you know, you're a big figure and you want to be involved. Sure, go right ahead. You know, So I don't know what the exact number is. Maybe there's 25 guys now or something like that. But he's involved guys from the west coast, he's involved guys from the east coast, he's involved guys from, you know, Manitoba basketball and all over the place, and, you know, university coaches and high school, you know, prep coaches. And even though they might be biased to some extent, like some of these, you know, high school guys, they also have a perspective, having seen and played a lot of these guys, too. So I think it's really good to kind of gather everyone in one place. And I understand how we've gotten to the place where we're at, like today, which is just trying to include anyone you think could possibly have, like, an opinion on it.
[00:17:45] Speaker A: Yeah, I was scrolling through the amount of people that are on the committee. I think I could be wrong, but I was nearing 28 people and I was like, damn, that's a lot of people. From your knowledge and experience, just being on a committee, is there a certain criteria when selecting players that is recommended or that you look at specifically for yourself? Maybe.
[00:18:06] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, there is. It's too long. Like, you know, I've read through it before.
You're looking for the best players. I mean, in the past, we've. We've had different rules. There's been times when I think, you know, you could only have eight max players better playing in the US and things like that.
But for me, I have to balance the guys that I think flat out deserve it. And also because I'm kind of the in between to the NBA scouts and stuff like that, I want to make sure that the top upside prospects are there too. So, yes, there's a balance of guys doing really well. But if there's a guy who had maybe a good season, that's a good prospect versus a guy who has NBA upside and had an okay season, I might value the NBA upside guy. More. And that's just my personal perspective. Now, obviously, you have to take the criteria all into account as well. But I want to show the world, and this was always my thing with it, you know, what the modern game is. Six, seven, six, eight switchable athletes. Right. I want to show the world, hey, we, we got this crop of guys just like America does. So I think that is the type of game and look that I want to portray when, you know, when voting. But I think this is what scouting is like. You can give me the criteria, but I know what I'm looking for in a player, just like I know what I'm looking for in the game. And you have to be able to balance production, upside, floor, you know, next level, translatable skill, like, you know, all these things, character. You're balancing everything that you are with scouting in, in looking at who to.
[00:19:44] Speaker A: Pick for the game, you obviously go in depth. Just hearing you talk about it, it feels like. Like I could see the excitement that, that you have talking about.
[00:19:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I love scouting.
[00:19:52] Speaker A: Do you feel like the other people on the committee do the same pro. Is it. Do they take the same approach as you do?
[00:19:58] Speaker B: Well, I think there's. There's only a few scouts and, you know, that's probably a problem in general. There's only a few unbiased scouts, really, and there's not many, like independent evaluators.
I think from my experience, either you've played against or you watch tape probably to some degree, I don't know is the truth. I don't know what they go ahead and do.
And, you know, as much as I think I'm right about whatever I pick or whoever I pick and whatever I say, you know, again, Jesse made a great point to me. He's. All you get is a vote. And it's true, all you get is a vote, you know, and I used to kind of go on and really say my spiel and go into depth with the committee. And I think it was easier for me to do that when there were eight people. And I felt like I had an easier platform to kind of get through on. But now that there's so many people, I kind of just stay to myself and, and do my thing and there's a few zooms, you know, but are you going to be able to get through to 25 people? Like, maybe not. And, you know, it's. It's difficult in that setting to really vouch for guys, so I try to just kind of stay to myself now.
[00:21:07] Speaker A: But I was gonna ask, you said there's a zooms and stuff like that. Is there a lot of politicking going on when it, when it's selecting guys or people? Obviously I think coaches are going to advocate for their own players. Is that, does that happen often?
[00:21:20] Speaker B: No. I mean, but look, there's a level of that no matter what I would assume.
I think there's been people vouching for their guys, there's been people vouching for other guys, to be honest. And that's what that discussion is for, to have an open discussion. Um, and you know, you're. If you're meant to balance it, if you know the players.
Nobody's opinion is going to change what I've seen because I've seen all of these guys live. But if you don't. Yeah, that, like that. That might help and having, you know, offers or whatever or high major interest or having NBA interest, those things might, might change someone's opinion.
But, but it's interesting. Like yes, there's a level of that to everything that we do in this world. You know what I mean? But I think at the end of the day you get as an example this, you're 25, 25 plus different people and they're all picking it. It's going to balance out to get mostly right. To be completely honest, even if someone picks their guy, nobody else is going to pick them. So I think people, I think there's a balance and I don't think, I don't know how much anyone really gets influenced because I don't get influenced by what people are saying.
[00:22:31] Speaker A: Anything you change about the process, I.
[00:22:34] Speaker B: I don't know about. I mean, look, I understand the, the initial nominee nominating list.
[00:22:41] Speaker A: That's a lot I've seen.
[00:22:42] Speaker B: That's a lot of names.
[00:22:43] Speaker A: That's like 100 plus.
[00:22:44] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a lot of names, you know. And you feel bad not. Not including everyone, to be honest. Like I'm still a human. Like I as much as I kind of keep my scouting stuff behind closed doors. Like I build relationships with all these kids and players and stuff, you know, and there's tons of players that I built relationships with that are you sport level players that, that I like that are sleepers that I'm, you know, going to find and helping out. Do I think they're good enough for the game? No. And so you know, a lot of these guys and then I feel bad and try to nominate who I can. So I think that creates problems. At the same time, I do understand that it makes kids feel good about Themselves that they get nominated.
And, you know, if. If I had to choose, I would. I like the smaller committee better, but it's tough to get back to that number, I would say. And there's just not many independent evaluators, so there's always going to be some level of bias towards the game, truthfully.
[00:23:41] Speaker A: Yeah. Yeah. When I see the hundred list, I'm like, I could have made it. No, but honestly, the talent in Canada is crazy coming up, which I think a lot of people deserve to see their name there.
[00:23:52] Speaker B: For sure. For sure.
[00:23:53] Speaker A: How do you guys narrow it down? So you go from 100.
[00:23:55] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:23:55] Speaker A: You get to 24. What's that process like? And you mentioned everyone gets a vote, right? So is it just you're voting for one guy. Can you explain that whole process?
[00:24:04] Speaker B: Yeah. So we have that overall nominee list. I think the next step is voting for 50 guys.
You go through that huge list, I think, and pick your top 50, I want to say.
And then same stage, same thing for the next stage, 36 guys.
So you pick out of those 50, your favorite 36. And then the exact same thing for the 24. I think they even have, like, an accounting firm tabulate for that top 24. So they make sure that they get it right. And then there's. There's sometimes tiebreakers where you have to make a secondary vote to how you would rank these few guys that are, you know, tied for votes.
[00:24:47] Speaker A: Yeah. For the people that just see the list, see the 24 players, they get upset. What would you say is the toughest part about coming down and selecting 24 players?
[00:24:57] Speaker B: It's really hard.
I watch all those players and I evaluate them, like, honestly, without bias, and I care, like, I want to get it right.
It's really difficult to narrow down 50. It's really difficult to narrow down to 36. And it's crazy difficult to narrow down 24. Like. And, you know, part of it is the job gets made easier for you to some degree because some of the guys I voted in my 36 didn't make the next stage.
And some of them might have been guys that were my top 24. I think that happened this year. There's at least one guy that didn't make the 36, and he was in my 24.
[00:25:38] Speaker A: I'll love to hear that name, but we'll get that to tell later.
[00:25:40] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah, I'll tell you. So it's really, really. When you look at it, at first, you think, oh, okay, you see a kid. Yeah, that's a kid that's probably in it. But then you start to put together your list. It's really difficult. It's really, really difficult. And you know everybody has the way that they look at it. I feel comfortable making my list because I can always explain but I'm not sure like you know everyone else's perspective.
[00:26:08] Speaker A: You don't know if they could all explain the reason. And what was it would you say the toughest year in terms of narrowing down a list?
[00:26:15] Speaker B: This year was pretty tough. This year was pretty tough. And I think, I think there's a lot of guys that didn't make it that deserved it and that happens to some degree every year.
But it's hard to remember through the years. You know I don't remember many guys that missed like Zavian Lee. Philmusic will give me crap for the rest of my life about that one. You know we didn't pick Xavian was in the states and it was difficult during COVID but we missed it. It is what it is. But we haven't missed many of those top top guys. Um so I feel pretty comfortable with the list always and. And yeah there's always going to be debate but like the top five guys are in.
[00:26:56] Speaker A: Yeah. Cause I remember chatting with Xavier. He told me he watched it when it was. I think it was on tsn. He watched it and he was like he was happy for his people that made it but it was obviously tough. But he's a case where he's playing at Princeton. He goes through the NBA draft process last year, works out for a dozen teams. Yeah, he told me too he had, he had two way offers. You know he could have gone. He decided to go back to college. He's probably likely going to enter the pre job process again and he still has another year left.
[00:27:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:26] Speaker A: What's your advice to guys like that who didn't make the list? And obviously Xavier Lee's killing in college basketball.
[00:27:34] Speaker B: Yeah. The truth is you got it or you don't like in here and in here. You know I am a good example of it. Like nobody believed in me my whole life. Everybody laughed in my face that I was going to be an NBA scout. So it's good to see the kids who have that belief and truthfully being doubted adds a level of that chip on their shoulder and maybe he wouldn't have made it if he didn't have that chip. And I mean I know he was a Hooper all along. I mean I remember watching him in like grade 9 and 10. He was at Crescent, he was five'nine and 120 pounds. I mean he was, he was tiny, but he was, he was always a Hooper, you know, so, but I think the chip on your shoulder and being doubted and all that helps guys overcome things. So I really, I, I really love that. And, and I think it's, it puts them in a do or die situation. Are you going to crumble when you're doubted or whatever? Or are you going to prove everyone wrong and prove yourself so well?
[00:28:42] Speaker A: When I look at the names that you guys have on this, I think honestly for most years you guys always get it right.
But let's focus on this year's game. 10th anniversary, big milestone. Can you tell me some of the top names that you're eager to see that people should know about playing this game?
[00:28:59] Speaker B: Fosoul Yogu, 66 + elite athlete, Crazy Leaper, dunker, all that kind of stuff. But pretty good playmaker as well. He's going to Butler, pretty intriguing guy. Tristan Beckford, Fort Erie 6, 6, 67 again similar size, kind of 3 and D plus guy. Another elite athlete, crazy above the rim, great instincts on D. Has become a really good shooter.
Miles Sadler playing in Arizona just has it. I mean he's tough, super skilled point guard, does it all processes the game in an elite level. Great finisher around the rim. I mean he projects to be as good of a college player as you can imagine. Even though he's small, you know, an NBA I guess we'll see. I mean he's that level of talent for sure.
But off the top of my head, you know, there's some examples of kids in Canada and, and Miles is, is a, is a serious dude.
[00:30:00] Speaker A: I was going to say Miles is probably my favorite in terms of just to watch it and just finesse. The, the, the AC reminds me of Kyrie around the rim. But I was going to ask you too because the Chipotle national is happening I think around the same time. Do you know if those Bella Vista guys are going to be in town for it?
[00:30:17] Speaker B: No.
[00:30:18] Speaker A: No, no. So I'm guessing we're going to have to watch Chipotle national for that.
[00:30:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I, I, I think like Gus who had mans the committee is involved in that kind of stuff. But once my role was done picking back to my regular job of scouting.
[00:30:33] Speaker A: There's about four or five of them I believe on it. So I'm guessing it's going to be replaced with some other guys.
[00:30:38] Speaker B: I guess we'll see.
[00:30:39] Speaker A: Yeah.
In terms of I want to ask you about Ontario. I feel like getting back to Maybe the criticism I've seen from people, what they have is they consider this an All Star game for Ontario and not the entire country. What do you say to people that have that criticism that this is an Ontario All Star game?
[00:30:59] Speaker B: Well, there's, there's been a lot of Quebec kids in it, but again, this is, this is why they added multiple people on the west coast, multiple scouts who have seen those guys on the West Coast. So I think, you know, half of the committee feels pretty comfortable probably with all those guys and could have vouched for it and you know, if they were voted, they would have been voted for, you know, so I think they've gone out and tried to include people to look out for every region of Canada so that it doesn't look like that. But ultimately, like most of the top talent is in Ontario. And the truth is it's hard to know how a lot of guys outside of Ontario and Quebec will deal with higher level competition. You know, a great example and Tyler felt six nine forward center from Spectrum in bc, MVP of provincial, is like the best player there. A guy I would have had in my top 24, but won MVP last year in grade 11 and came back and like, you know, he's, it's like taking candy from a baby for him, I'm sure, like he hasn't been challenged. And so even though, you know, I'm there to say he's good and other people on the west coast are there to vote him, there's no way to know how I'll deal with the size and athleticism in Ontario prep. And so, and he's had guys that are, you know, have west coast representative representation that have seen him and guys like me who have seen him and others scouts on the, on the committee and he didn't get voted. So it is what it is. At some point, you know, we've, I think we've tried to counter that and look out for everyone, but ultimately like you didn't get, you didn't get voted. And again, back to the point, like if I picked the whole game, I would have him in, but all I get is a vote and that's totally fair.
[00:32:47] Speaker A: Yeah. So how big would you say the All Canadian game is in terms of making or breaking someone's career, like the selection? Because you have a lot of scouts that pull up, right?
[00:32:58] Speaker B: Yeah. But NBA scouts, not college. College guys aren't allowed.
[00:33:01] Speaker A: Yeah. In terms of like potentially, do you think if you don't make the game, the chance of making to the league are that high? No, no. Why would you say that?
[00:33:11] Speaker B: I mean, it just goes back to the chip on your shoulder type idea.
It's just an All Star game. Like. Yeah, it's the peak of what you want to make as a senior.
The top game in Canada, you know. But does it have any bearing on how good you are? Absolutely not. Tons of great players have missed it. Like, you get again back to Xavier, you know, so it is what it is. Like, I don't think it really has any bearing. The way that it would is you missed out on a. On a scout potentially seeing you and saying, hey to their college buddy. You should recruit this kid. He has no offers and he's pretty good. But beyond that, you know, and, you know, the chip, it doesn't really have a true impact on.
[00:33:55] Speaker A: Yeah, because. Because I was thinking just about the Delano kind of story, because I remember him telling me, like, the Raptors organization pulled up and that was the first time they watched him play. They started scouting him afterwards. But I. I always say, too, like, these scouts will find you, right?
[00:34:09] Speaker B: I mean, yes, but it's. It's a relationship business. And as an example, they might have said to someone, you know, at Western Kentucky, which is, I think, where he started, hey, you know, this guy's really good. You should recruit him. And it's really just about who you trust. So that's where if an NBA scout hits one of their college buddies and says, hey, like, there's a different level of trust and understanding that he's good enough for us versus maybe me or someone else that, you know, is outside their circle.
[00:34:44] Speaker A: What role would you say the All Canadian game plays in terms of highlighting Canadian basketball talent?
[00:34:50] Speaker B: I think it's huge. And especially being on tsn, I think last year it wasn't. But I think it's. I think it's really important that we get a platform. You know, we. I was talking about it with you before, like, our world. And look, it's a social media world now, so I think there's more exposure than there has been before, but for the most part, people don't watch. You know, the average basketball fan doesn't watch any of these players outside of probably this game and seeing them when they go to college. So I think it's. It's the platform for our world to show it to the outside world, to the average basketball fan, to the ts, the casual TSN viewer or whatever of, you know, all the work that these kids have put in and, you know, their prep coaches and AAU coaches that have helped Find them and develop them and build them up to getting to that point.
[00:35:39] Speaker A: We were talking about snubs earlier. What's your snub list? What's your. Maybe give me a start in five.
[00:35:44] Speaker B: Or I'm going to give you some names. I'm going to give you some names of some guys I like. Okay, I'm just going to give you like. Well, there's a few. I think Sedar serverless ended up, ends up making it as a replacement from for Erie. Yeah. 63, tough nosed defensive minded guard. Plays well within, you know, his role kind of and has upside as a worker. Dorian Glovac had 53 points I think in the BC provincial championships.
[00:36:10] Speaker A: Damn, I need to watch that game.
[00:36:11] Speaker B: Yeah, like a 6, 6 elite scorer, shot maker but again like not playing the highest level of competition and I'm not sure how high people regard him. I mean there's tons of guys. There are a few guys at Orangeville, a few bigs that are pretty good that you know, probably would have been on my list. Caleb Roberts, you know, MVP of OSBA championship and, and you know, they, they won. Ridley College helped them win and didn't make it. He was probably a guy that was deserving. I mean I got, I got a whole list. There's so many guys but again, you know, they're all in the mix and who gets chosen, gets chosen. It is what it is.
[00:36:46] Speaker A: What advice would you have for young players who aspire to make the a Canadian game? Like what do they need to do in your opinion to get noticed by a bunch of these coaches, by a bunch of these scouts?
[00:36:57] Speaker B: I always say if there's talent, we'll find you again. There's not that many people like me unfortunately. But I think that if you are good enough, I'll know.
Work hard, figure out your role, excel in your role and if you can be more. But there's so much noise now between social media and all this stuff and guys end up buying in. It's kind of sad and I've seen it multiple times where guys kind of become highly hyped at a young age and buy into the whole social media stuff. They're dunking on guys and they're screaming in the cameras and that's not what it's about.
Just focus on the work and the rest will take care of itself. To be honest.
[00:37:41] Speaker A: I'll be honest, I'm done falling. Falling for the grade nine, grade ten guy that can do a windmill. And yeah, I'm done falling for that entertainment because it looks, I'M like. But then when people catch up to you.
[00:37:53] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:37:54] Speaker A: And they become the same height exactly. It's like, how do you, how do you transfer that skill? Right.
[00:37:59] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:38:01] Speaker A: Favorite All Canadian game you've covered.
[00:38:03] Speaker B: I mean, it's, it's hard to say. I, I always remember the first one. We were talking about it before where I wasn't on the committee yet. I went with my dad and you know, we were right there as Jamal Murray was absolutely killing and I made him a bet. That kid's going to be a top 10 pick in the NBA draft. And it was just so obvious. I mean, he was an incredible talent. There haven't been many guys, you know, maybe Shea, I guess, that are his level.
He just had it, the it factor, you know, I don't know. You know, they all blur together. Other than that, I, I can remember sitting there on the court at that first one and since then, yeah, it's. It's all been great and great to see these guys step up on the big stage.
[00:38:50] Speaker A: What year would you say probably had the most, like, stacked All Canadian game?
[00:38:55] Speaker B: It's hard to say.
I remember 2020 being a good class.
[00:39:02] Speaker A: Who's on that class?
[00:39:05] Speaker B: It's hard to remember.
Maybe it was 2019. I remember Nemhard was there. Maybe there was a year where Omax was there.
Some of the guys were on the junior teams too. I remember Omax winning. Junior MVP and senior MVPs were big time too. I think Elijah Fisher was the other junior mvp.
Trying to remember, like standout performances. Delano Banton was a standout performance, like.
[00:39:27] Speaker A: And he was like a last minute addition. From what he told me, he was like, not even supposed to be there.
[00:39:31] Speaker B: Oh yeah.
[00:39:32] Speaker A: And then he just pulled up and went to work.
[00:39:35] Speaker B: He was great. You know, he. He had it and I, I loved him all along. Honestly. He.
I thought he had a chance. I mean, he. And he ended up making it, which is great. It's hard to find guys with that size and skill set.
But yeah, again, it just blends in. There's been so many guys in so many years.
[00:39:54] Speaker A: Who's your pick for Canadian High School play of the year? I know Ishaan Sharma won it last year. Who's your pick? Who deserves it? I feel like there's a few guys probably in the mix, huh?
[00:40:04] Speaker B: Yeah, it's. It's tough. I. I don't really know, to be honest at this point. We have NPA championships coming this week and I think that will help determine it as well. I'm not sure the criteria this year, but in the past I think you had to play in Canada, so that accounts for it to some degree. You know, and if you look at some of the top guys, I mentioned afosa, I mentioned Tristan Promise and Landu has been excellent at point guard at Fort Erie. Also kid from Quebec, super talented, has the it factor. Justice Hazely, you know, he's had another great year.
They lost in the OSBA semis. But you know, at npa, if they can come back and especially, you know, beat a team like Fort Erie, then maybe, maybe he's the guy.
So, you know, he's in the mix as the leader and top scorer for one of the top teams.
So probably one of those guys. But off the top of my head, it's tough to say. And if they include guys in the States, like I would say Miles Sadler has to be the guy if everyone's included because he's had a historic run for a Canadian kid playing in the States, playing against the top guys and being the man on a top team.
[00:41:18] Speaker A: I thought you should have been on the Nike Hoops Summit team too. But probably next year if they win Chipotle Nationals, I think that will be, that would be huge.
But Wes, my guy, I want to end off by talking about Monday hoops club.
[00:41:34] Speaker B: Yes, sir.
[00:41:35] Speaker A: Tell me about the hat, the gear and how you started it all.
[00:41:42] Speaker B: I started because people knew my name in the basketball community. It was just like Wes Brown, one name Wes Brown. But nobody knew. My business was the Monday morning scouting report. And so I thought, okay, I need to brand myself a little bit better. And you know, you see these like university hoodies that people wear that says, you know, Toronto for University of Toronto or York, whatever. And so I just made one that said Monday, Gildan, basic, whatever. Almost started wearing it to games and just like caught fire. Everybody wanted a Monday hoodie. I got them to players who are now in the NBA and you know, high major kids, all sorts of guys that are all over.
And after some time, you know, everybody just wanted a free hoodie. I, I started to realize and I needed a way to like get to everyone and these kind of trucker hat style, you know, five panels I loved wearing, I wanted to wear it every game. They fit everyone. They're like universal. I knew if I found the perfect fit that it could fit guys, girls, whatever.
And I also grew up as like a die hard fashion person. Like people don't see it maybe as much, but fashion and basketball, like those are my passions in life. And I just always wanted to be a designer, to be honest. And so I kind of took all of these designs, inspiration and ideas from being like a kid growing up in the 90s and 2000s in like, in the intersection of sports and fashion and basketball particularly, and recreated those designs in cool colorways and stuff that I thought would work again. Like, I'm a die hard fashion person. I'm online shopping 24 7, always looking for, like, what's cool and what's next. And that's why I think we can be that, you know, and there's so little in that intersection of basketball and fashion, like, brand wise. And you see the NBA players, like, the tunnel fit is everything these days, you know, but how many brands really cover that niche? And especially how many of them are actual NBA scouts? Zero. So it seems like our unique story has really caught on with people. And in every box, I give a card with our story. And so Monday, hoops club. I made hats. I. I sampled 50 hats, came up with the perfect one, found the perfect one.
Just started making a few designs, did a photo shoot, built a website. Slowly but surely it caught on. And then, you know, if with the relationships that I have, it's pretty easy to get to players. You know, a friend hooked me up with Sam Merrill on the Cavs, hooked me up with Donovan Mitchell, and now he's been repping our stuff like crazy.
[00:44:27] Speaker A: I was gonna say, I haven't seen Donovan Mitchell wear another hat other than.
[00:44:30] Speaker B: He'S worn a lot of them, but. And we have somewhere here, right there, our Cavs exclusive, which we made for the team and actually sent it to them.
Yeah. So it's just built organically and people seem to like our story. And I'm really just chasing my dreams. And that's why, like, we've had some captures, like, chase your dreams in, like the coolest hat. It's it, it fits perfectly. You know, the designs are clean. And there's a cool story that people seem, you know, seem to resonate with people.
[00:44:59] Speaker A: Where can people get at? People listening in mondayhoopsclub.com y'all know where to get it. My guy, Wes. Man, I can't thank you enough for joining me. Any last words on the All Canadian game?
[00:45:09] Speaker B: That's all, man. Thank you. Thanks for having me. It's been great.
[00:45:11] Speaker A: The All Canadian game happening this week. Wes, my guy. Thank you. Enough. You've been listening to the Canadian basketball Show, your newest go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host, Lee Ben Osman, and we'll see y'all next.
