Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:04] Speaker B: Welcome to the Canadian Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host Lee Band Osmond. I just got back to Toronto from NBA All Star Weekend in Los Angeles. A pretty solid weekend. I got to check out Basketball Without Borders and three players representing Canada on the world stage and Paul Assuri, the Lis Robinson and Steven Illich. I got to sit down with both Paul and Lyrus after they wrapped up Basketball Without Borders and talk about their experience at the event, their journeys as players and look ahead a bit to the FIBA U18America where they're both expected to suit up this summer for Canada basketball. I followed Paul for a few years now and I've gone to know him quite a bit so wanted people that don't know these players to get familiar. Like like I've said, this podcast to me is the home to get to know the next wave of talent coming out of Canada and both Paul and Lyrus are two names you're likely going to hear a lot about, a lot about within Canadian basketball over the next few years. Lyrus is a name many I feel like have just started to get to know. It was cool to have him on the podcast and talk about his Canadian heritage through his pops who is known by many in the basketball space here in Canada, played at Bradley University, Jerome Robinson and coached several years in in the ncaa. Fun chat with both Paul and Lis. I won't yap for too long but Talking about my AllStar experience, it was pretty fun. I ran into Jamal Murray at one point in the back after missing like one of his many media availabilities because I was chasing Norman Powell all weekend because I was doing a story on him for the Toronto Star. Shout out to Norm gave me some time to chat with him. One on one chat with him. It was fun seeing his journey from Toronto as the 46th pick in the second round in 2015 to now an All Star in Miami. Something many people, many people couldn't have predicted outside of probably him. I detailed that in my story in the Toronto Star. Go check it out. Spoke to his longtime trainer. We could be seeing Norman Powell also, not just in Toronto when Miami comes to visit, but this summer as from what I know and what I've heard is a FIBA game slated between Canada and Jamaica on July 6. Location expected to be announced pretty soon, but I think most people kind of know where that might be with a guy like SGA potentially suiting up, maybe close to home. Who knows from What I heard. Canada Basketball is expected to make an announcement on that within the next week or so. Be on the lookout for that. Overall, my All Star Weekend experience was, I would say, all right, I'd probably give it like a 6.5 out of 10. I might have said 5 before the all Star Game. Basketball Without Borders was definitely the highlight. Catching up with a lot of NBA people executives watching the best young international talent was fun.
But after that, I went out to Rising Stars on Friday and even Saturday's event, pretty boring. Like I was shocked that like there was basically nobody in the crowd for Rising Stars.
And that's insane to me. Like, this is All Star Weekend and nobody's showing up. Like, what are the prices for some people not getting the chance to watch some of the best rising talent coming out of the NBA? And to me too, the media circus for All Star Weekend is a complete joke. It's bad on another level. You can't ask like actual basketball questions to these players during these scrums where there's like 30 other reporters like crammed in one spot around one guy shouting questions at points. It's literally like a circus. Like, and the people that get to ask questions that are shouting out their questions, half the time they're asking the dumbest stuff and just taking up space for no reason. And I get it though, like what, what can you expect really from All Star Weekend? Like people are trying to ask questions and get go viral at times. And that's what All Star kind of is nowadays. They invited like 200 like content creators and half the time like players are walking through and these guys are trying to take photos with them and I'm like, bruh, like what is this professional setting? Like it's not my environment.
Complete joke of, of the scrub and all that kind of stuff, which made me not ever want to go to the All Star Weekend again, to be honest with you. But I think the All Star Game basically saved it in a way. Like Damian Lillard also coming out from injury to win the three point contest was pretty cool. Shout out to like Victor Robanyama. He set the tone early for the All Star Game and had everyone competing and made the games enjoyable. Anthony Edwards also like wins All Star Game mvp. He did his thing. Kawhi Leonard. I felt like I was watching 2019 Kawhi Leonard go vintage. Like he dropped like 31 points in one game, like in like 12 minute span. Insane.
But yeah, probably my first and last All Star Weekend. I might come back here next year, be like, I might Be going to all Star, but no, no, I. I honestly doubt it. Unless it's in Toronto.
Unless I'm really excited about Basketball Without Borders and really want to go again. But honestly, I sort of doubt it. But Basketball Without Borders was really fun, though. Like, I'll say that getting to sit down with Lyris and Paul was a great chat, and I'm excited for you guys to get to know them as people, as players, and. Yeah, follow them in their careers, because these are the names we're gonna get familiar with, and you're gonna really get to know. I feel like in the next few years as they take basketball within Canada by storm. I'll take a quick break and bring you those interviews with Paul and Lyrus after this.
Welcome back to the Canadian basketball show. We are at the Los Angeles Lakers practice facility for the Basketball Without Borders camp, and I'm joined by one of the top Canadian prospects in the class of 2027.
His name is Lyris Robinson. I feel like a mystery. Canadian people are just figuring out. Lyres, welcome to the show. How you doing, brother?
[00:06:15] Speaker C: Doing good. Doing very well.
[00:06:17] Speaker B: What's camp been like? Basketball, borders?
[00:06:20] Speaker C: It's been good. A lot of good competition, a lot of good players. A lot of good coaches, too. And a lot of coaches have good experience.
But, yeah, it's been good. Great competition. Yeah.
[00:06:29] Speaker B: Tell me about the invite. How did you get it? What was the process, and what was your reaction when you heard you're coming out to basketball Borders?
[00:06:38] Speaker C: Well, first I had to get my Canadian passport, all that stuff, My citizenship and all that stuff.
And Mike Meeks introduced me and my dad to that's Without Borders. And I was like, that would be a huge experience. And I, like, I was hoping I got invited. Then when I got the screenshot, I was invited. Like, I was super excited to go because obviously, like, it's associated with the NBA. Just NBA scouts here. So, yeah, I was super excited to go.
[00:07:03] Speaker B: You talked about it, getting your passport. What took so long?
[00:07:07] Speaker C: I don't know.
[00:07:08] Speaker B: Your pops is Canadian. We'll get into the origin story in a second, but. How old are you now?
[00:07:13] Speaker C: 17.
[00:07:14] Speaker B: 17?
[00:07:14] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:07:15] Speaker B: So what took so long? You've been to Canada, though?
[00:07:18] Speaker C: Yeah, they said, I don't know really what happened, but they said sometimes they said I was too young and all that stuff. So just wait until I was the right age to get it for me and my development, too, really.
[00:07:30] Speaker B: For people that don't know, tell us about your Canadian background.
[00:07:35] Speaker C: My grandparents are out there right now. I have aunts and uncles that are out there right now living in Brampton and Malton.
My dad's Canadian.
What else?
And yeah, I used to go up there all the time when I used to live in Michigan. We used to drive up there because, you know, it's right by the border. So I used to be up there a lot. Now we visit now and then, but, you know, I love Canada.
[00:07:57] Speaker B: Tell us the origin story. Born in Michigan? Yeah. What were you doing in Michigan? Why, why weren't you born in Canada?
[00:08:04] Speaker C: My dad came here for basketball, so he came to the States for university, obviously. And then that's when he met my mom.
And then my mom was raised in Michigan, so that's where he went back. I was born there and my dad was in the college coaching. So with him being college coaching, there's a lot of moving around. So he went to several universities. So I've been like bouncing around. When I was younger from state to state, I lived in New York. After Michigan, I lived in New York, moved to New Mexico. And then when he quit, he wanted to just stabilize somewhere. And then now I live in Houston. Houston, Texas.
[00:08:39] Speaker B: Did your pops tell you about his basketball journey? I'm a bit young, but I heard he was a guy. What did he tell you? Just about his basketball journey?
[00:08:47] Speaker C: That he was like, he was a man in Canada. Yeah, he was unstoppable.
That he was like. He was grimy, bouncy. I heard he was the bouncy. His nickname is Flyboy, so.
But yeah, I heard he was a great player.
Any he tried out for the NBA. So, you know, I have a lot to like, fill in and he is. I have a lot to learn from him. That's why I'm glad that he's my dad and he went through all this stuff. So I have him like by my side through my whole journey.
[00:09:12] Speaker B: What's the best piece of advice he's giving you?
[00:09:15] Speaker C: Just, like, play hard. Like, don't worry about. He said, like, don't always worry about scoring because you can affect the game in so many other ways, like defense, rebounding, all that stuff. So every time he tells me, he tells me, play hard every time because you don't know. Also he also says you don't know who's watching. So I go into every game playing my hardest.
[00:09:33] Speaker B: What was it like moving around? You talked about Detroit, Houston, now based.
What was that like growing up?
[00:09:40] Speaker C: It was kind of hard because you had to go on new teams and try out and make new teammates, new friends. But ultimately it was like. It was good for me because now I'm good with, like, making new friends, making new teammates.
Switching schools is also hard, but ultimately, at the end of the day, made me better.
[00:09:57] Speaker B: Yeah.
When you get to basketball, top borders, obviously, working with NBA, seeing NBA scouts. What was that like, that whole experience now getting, like, NBA decision makers watching.
[00:10:08] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:10:08] Speaker B: Being evaluated. What's that experience been like?
[00:10:10] Speaker C: Oh, it's like a big deal, but you have to, like, not show your emotions, you know, not really think about it too much. If you think about it too much, it's gonna get in your head and you're gonna, like, start doing stuff that you, like, not really used to doing. So it's kind of like you have to try to act like they're not there, but know they're there.
Just play your game, play the right way. Don't try to do too much, and don't try to do less, because obviously it's NBA scouts. So.
[00:10:31] Speaker B: Yeah.
How would you describe the weekend as a whole? Obviously, you were also competing, like, Bella Vista was playing Nike, ybl, Crenshaw. Tell me about that.
[00:10:41] Speaker C: This was a great event.
It was organized very well.
Then we went to All Star. It was like All Star kind of themed. That was insane. It was at Crenshaw High School, so going from like, an NBA court to like a small high school was kind of crazy. But it was packed, it was loud, lights everywhere. So it was a. It was a. That was a great experience, too. We ended up losing by six, but it was a great experience. And then coming back to this was also good.
[00:11:06] Speaker B: So tell me, how did you get into basketball? What's your origin story? What made you fall in love with the game?
[00:11:12] Speaker C: With my dad playing professional hoops, you know, the balls in my hands usually all the time. Growing up, he used to work me out a lot. So as we're. I'm watching a lot of college of basketball. Growing up, it was kind of like, this is what I want to do. This is what I want to. I want to, like, be a good. Because he's a good role model for me in basketball. So that's what I want to do when I grow up. And bouncing around, like, state to state was kind of hard. Kind of get a feel of basketball. But once I really, like, stabilized myself in New Mexico and Houston, I kind of, like, had more love to the game.
[00:11:43] Speaker B: Who wins the ones? You and pops?
[00:11:46] Speaker C: Oh, we already. It's already been ran.
[00:11:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:48] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:48] Speaker B: Who won the last one?
[00:11:49] Speaker C: Me. Two. One.
[00:11:51] Speaker B: Well, he. Will he go on the record? And say that.
[00:11:53] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, he has to. It's on video. He has to.
[00:11:55] Speaker B: It's on video.
[00:11:56] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:11:57] Speaker B: So how did it go? Like, was it straight bully ball or not?
[00:12:03] Speaker A: He.
[00:12:04] Speaker C: I mean, he can bully me, but it's like, that was. That's unfair. He has to, like, show me his, like, his fact, what he really can do. But he was kind of, like. It was kind of, like, jokes at first. He was, like, not taking me serious. And then once he was down, like, I think, five points, he started actually getting into it.
But first time I played him, like, seriously, I beat him. Then he got me back, and then I beat him again. So I'm up right now. Yeah.
[00:12:29] Speaker B: I feel like for you, too, being a son of a basketball player, also a coach who traveled a lot, you probably got adjusted to, like, moving on the road a lot.
[00:12:36] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:12:37] Speaker B: What was that like? Now you're at Bella Vista, playing over there, Arizona. What's the scene like? And how have you just. Just, like, in that basketball environment, traveling.
[00:12:46] Speaker C: This year has actually been, like, insane, like crazy to me, but it's actually helping me for, like, the future. Just, like. Like NBA or pro, like, going overseas and stuff.
We've been traveling around, like, the States, going from state to state, and then we actually went to Spain.
[00:13:00] Speaker B: What was that?
[00:13:01] Speaker C: That was very good.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: Look, you guys want the championship?
[00:13:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:04] Speaker B: What was that experience like?
[00:13:05] Speaker C: It was good. A lot of, like, international ball is different. Like, the guys are not athletic as us, so their passing is different. Like a bunch of, like, kind of dudes, like Luka, Doncic and Jokis out there.
[00:13:14] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:15] Speaker C: But, you know, we ended up getting it done.
[00:13:16] Speaker B: Yeah. What was. You guys were out there for how many days?
[00:13:19] Speaker C: We were there for a week.
[00:13:20] Speaker B: Week?
[00:13:21] Speaker C: Yeah. We stayed at resort.
[00:13:22] Speaker B: Yeah. That's different.
[00:13:23] Speaker C: Yeah, very.
[00:13:25] Speaker B: Man. And then obviously come here now. Come to Basketball Without Borders. What's that like? Because you go from Spain, play international basketball, and they're also coming to basketball Borders. A lot of international players. What's that? That, like. And we're going to talk about potentially also playing for Canada basketball this summer, playing more international basketball. Well, how do you feel like your game meshes in those two?
[00:13:46] Speaker C: I think it's different because my play style is kind of like. I don't want to say, like, American, but, like, I use my, like, athleticism to help me, like, my quickness and, like, my quick first step and all that. And the international guys kind of, like, use their IQ and stuff like that, like their passing skills and all that. So it's. It's really different.
[00:14:05] Speaker B: What's your scattering report? If I had to ask Liers Robinson, if I'm guarding you, what do I gotta watch out for?
[00:14:11] Speaker C: You gotta watch out for. Oh like go get into the basket. Slashing for sure and catch and shoot. Like if I'm wide open like it's going and you gotta close out with high hands and all that.
[00:14:22] Speaker B: You're one of also the most efficient scorers in the UIBL for the U16 age group. Was watching you play. I remember Nikki Davis pointed you out to me was like, you got to watch this kid play. Yeah, watch you play. And I'm like kind of got the next one man. I didn't realize you were Canadian at the time.
Also saw just basketball borders. You got a little midi to you get into that.
What, what have you been honing in on? Just like obviously your development wise playing with guys like Amal Sadler who has the ball in his hands a lot, learning from him. What's that been like? Obviously he gets you in the right spots to.
What's it been like trying to find your role on that team? I feel like you're one of the youngest two on that roster. On that Bella Vista roster that's going to be competing potentially at Chipotle, right?
[00:15:04] Speaker C: Yeah.
At the start of the year I feel like I was trying to do a little too much because last year I was kind of like the. Not really the main guy, but I was the main scorer. So coming on a team with like Miles, guys like Miles, Paul Vaughn, I was trying to do a little too much and the coaches like sat me down was like, we don't need to do a lot. We just need to like to do these things. And then when I kind of like started to notice that I don't need to score a lot, I just need to. Because Miles gets in that pain, you know, and I'm wide open the corner.
So when I just play my role, kind of like play defense, which I'm really good at, catch and shoot going by guys when I have the chance, stuff like that, like not doing too much. Just let the game come to me is like what's really helped me the most.
[00:15:44] Speaker B: What are you most excited about for? I don't want to look too far to eybl that stuff happening too. But Canada, there's gonna be a lot of stuff happening this summer.
Have they reached out to you? Have they talked to you about potentially suing up for the Fiber UA team?
[00:15:57] Speaker C: They talked to my dad about it a lot and they. So I'm super excited for that. That would be a crazy experience for me.
[00:16:03] Speaker B: Training camp potentially in Toronto. When was the last time you're in the city?
[00:16:07] Speaker C: I went to a mini camp out there. I don't remember when, but it was like for them just to see me and all that. And I had a great, I had a great showing out there.
[00:16:15] Speaker B: What was that like?
[00:16:16] Speaker C: It was good just to play in front of Coach Meeks and Coach Barry. It was nice for them, for me to display my game to them.
[00:16:23] Speaker B: What's the evaluation of you and potentially how do they see you fitting into that roster? FIBA U18? I don't know if there's.
There hasn't been much chatter about it, but I feel like people are excited about it.
[00:16:35] Speaker C: They see me, they want to see me play the point guard, which is what I need to work on in my game anyway. So it'll be a. Would be good for me.
Yeah, they just want to see me. They wanted to see me play the point and wanted me to be like the main guy. So I'm like, I'm very appreciative of that. Yeah.
[00:16:52] Speaker B: What's that like to being able to represent Canada where your pops is from? I guess he's told you a lot of stories just about being from Canada, being from the city.
What's that like for you? Kind of carrying that on.
[00:17:02] Speaker C: You know, it's cool seeing him like, oh, he, he still has his Canadian jersey. So it's cool seeing him. All these pictures of him in Canadian jerseys and me in the future having going on. So just carrying the legacy of the Robinson is kind of like very, very good to me.
[00:17:16] Speaker B: What's that going to look like this, this summer? How busy is it going to look like for you? Because I'm just thinking about it. All Canadian stuff happening, chipotle happening, FIBA U18, training camp, all that kind of stuff. How busy is this summer? EYBL sessions too. How busy do you feel like this summer is going to be and how do you like prepare for that kind of stuff?
[00:17:34] Speaker C: It's going to be very busy, but you just got to have like a good mindset. You don't want to get down like because the traveling can get overwhelming and the basketball does get tiring sometimes. But you just gotta like keep your head up. Don't like, don't like, just keep the main thing, the main thing, like keep working on your game, Keep confidence and don't let the game slip away from you.
[00:17:56] Speaker B: How often talking about Canada just in.
Do you know the lingo?
[00:18:01] Speaker C: Yeah, I know so yeah, because the guys are on the house and I.
[00:18:04] Speaker B: Was so know you play with obviously Canadian guys. What's something you picked up?
[00:18:08] Speaker C: The word Cody. I heard that a lot. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:18:12] Speaker B: Well, I'm guessing Houston slang. What's Houston slang to you? What is it like?
[00:18:16] Speaker C: I don't even know. I don't even know if you have slang down there. I really heard a bunch of guys like sound really different. We, we have a lot of country people out there, so.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: Okay. Okay, dope.
Walk me through just to. What was your first offer?
[00:18:29] Speaker C: My first offer was my freshman year.
[00:18:32] Speaker B: What school was that?
[00:18:33] Speaker C: Oakland University.
[00:18:34] Speaker B: What do you remember? Just about them offering you the reaction that you had. And what was that moment like for you?
[00:18:40] Speaker C: I had a three way conversation because, you know they can't talk to me at that age. A three conversation with the head coach, coach Campy and then my dad. It was just. I was so nervous on the phone because I don't really know what to say because I wasn't used to talking to coaches. But yeah, it was an exciting experience. Very unreal.
[00:18:54] Speaker B: Where are you at now in terms of offer? How many? Because I see on the IG. Oh, I have 25, 25 total. What schools are probably talking to you the most and what's that feeling like when I'm guessing this summer you picked up a ton.
[00:19:05] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:19:06] Speaker B: What was that like? And what are college coaches loving about.
[00:19:09] Speaker C: Your game when you're getting them like back to back to back, like every day. It's kind of like. It's crazy. It gets overwhelming sometimes too.
You have to like answer their texts. You have to say this like in a formally way, like you. It's not like you're texting your mom or something. It's like you're texting a coach. The schools that are on me the most, I would say St. Louis is on me.
Creighton, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and then Oregon. And those are like the top five right now.
[00:19:36] Speaker B: What makes a good college program to you?
[00:19:39] Speaker C: Just like if my game fits their playing style. Like I play fast and transition also with like a defensive school because I like strive on defense. So if they play good defense, do.
[00:19:50] Speaker B: You have like an NBA comp or a player that you kind of like or a player that you really like to watch that you're like, I want to model my game sort of after this.
[00:19:57] Speaker C: I would say, I would say Andrew Wiggins. Andrew Wiggins, Yeah.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: What is it about Wiggins?
[00:20:02] Speaker C: His rebounding ability, his defense. And like he can make open shots and get to the rim.
[00:20:08] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. He's kind of adapted his game right. To fit. And then he was, what, one of the key pieces to that warriors championship.
[00:20:14] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly.
[00:20:16] Speaker B: What goals do you have for yourself? Looking at the end of the year, it's going to be busy. Like, I feel like I'm talking to you now. In a year from now, we're going to be talking again, and it's going to be like, Leers Robinson. Holy. Like, yeah, remember we talked about this.
What goals do you have for yourself? Obviously, like, wrapping up your junior year and all that kind of stuff.
[00:20:34] Speaker C: In terms of basketball, I would say, like, getting my shot, like, to where it's flawless, like, knocked down. If I'm open, like, you have to.
If I'm open, it's going in for sure. Like, and have comments in my shot. Also, my ball handling, I feel like, needs a lot of work, too, going to the next level, especially team wise.
I want to make Chipotle, of course.
And then next year, just carrying the BELLA VISTA Top 10 and all that, going to Chipotle again and all that.
[00:21:02] Speaker B: I think they came out with all Canadian names. I think you're part of that list, too.
[00:21:08] Speaker C: The top 75.
[00:21:09] Speaker B: Top 75. Well, I'm guessing, I don't know, you've played in the Kenyan stage. What do you think that that would mean for you to just, like, being able to come back? I'm guessing you have a lot of relatives in the city playing in that kind of stuff.
[00:21:20] Speaker C: It'd be cool to show, like, Canada, like, who I am, because a lot of them don't really know who I am because I just kind of, like, popped up this year for Canada. So it would be cool to go and show, like, show them that I'm a good Canadian, too. And I am Canadian.
[00:21:33] Speaker B: Yeah.
What's been.
What's your favorite food spot? Do you ever been in cd? Like, is there a spot that you hit?
[00:21:39] Speaker C: Oh, I. When I went to Canada, I ate at Harvey's.
[00:21:42] Speaker B: Harvey's.
[00:21:43] Speaker C: Yeah. And it was. It was very good.
[00:21:44] Speaker B: Damn. I'll be honest. I've. I've. If people listen to this podcast. I have talked a lot of trash about Harvey's.
[00:21:50] Speaker A: Actually.
[00:21:51] Speaker B: No. A and W. A and W is probably the worst.
[00:21:53] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:21:54] Speaker B: Harvey's not bad. The poutine.
[00:21:55] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:21:56] Speaker B: The. The chicken strips.
[00:21:57] Speaker C: Yeah. My friend put me on poutine. Like, this year. It was. It was good.
[00:22:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
So you haven't tried it? It was the first time you tried it?
[00:22:03] Speaker C: No, that was the first time I tried it.
[00:22:03] Speaker B: What Would you have. Where'd you have it at?
[00:22:06] Speaker C: How to Harvey's.
[00:22:06] Speaker B: Harvey's. Okay.
[00:22:07] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:22:08] Speaker B: Okay, man, we gotta. I gotta get you an actual good spot. Bellissimos. When you're back in the city.
[00:22:12] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:22:13] Speaker B: You holla at me. Taken care of.
[00:22:15] Speaker C: Got you.
[00:22:16] Speaker B: A lot of players have been in your shoes, and I'm thinking about the people that have been at Basketball Without Borders. Shea. Yeah, Jamal. When you hear names of that and we're adding you to the list, what do you think of?
[00:22:27] Speaker C: Oh, that's crazy. Putting me with, like, putting my name with the MVP is I like a lot.
Also with Jamal Murray, with how good he is, it just makes me want to put my head down and work as hard as they did and get to where they are. Yeah.
[00:22:41] Speaker B: Was there a moment where you're like, yo, I'm gonna take basketball serious?
[00:22:44] Speaker C: Oh, yeah.
It was around freshman year. I kind of turned that Corner and. Cause 8th grade, I was kind of like. I had no confidence.
Scared to shoot, scared to do this, scared to do that. Freshman year, I kind of, like, found my identity and picked it up. Really.
And that's where. That's where. That's why I'm at where I'm at right now.
[00:23:02] Speaker B: I feel like people, when they watch the Bella Vista team, they obviously see Miles, they see Paul. You talked about. They see Vaughn.
[00:23:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:08] Speaker B: What do you feel like is the most underrated part about your game, though?
[00:23:10] Speaker C: Oh, I think my rebounding is a very underrated part of my game. I think I'm one of the. Or am the best. One of the best offensive offensive rebounders in the country as a guard.
So, yeah, I would say that sticks out for sure. And my defense, for sure, because I guard, they put me on the best players every game, so that's a spot I want to be at.
[00:23:29] Speaker B: Yeah. How would you describe the season you guys are having at Bella Vista this year?
[00:23:32] Speaker C: I think we're having a good season. I think it could be better. We dropped some bad games.
Put us in a pretty bad spot, if you want to make Chipotle. But I had a very fun season so far, so we have to just. We have to. Have to just finish it out and see where they put us.
[00:23:46] Speaker B: I got to ask you, too. The Miles Saller, McDonald's all American snub, You're a teammate of his.
[00:23:52] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:23:53] Speaker B: What were your thoughts on that?
[00:23:54] Speaker C: Oh, I actually blew my mind. I thought he was going to be a.
I thought he was like a. A guaranteed spot. So when I see that, I was like, I Know he's hurting because I would be. I would be hurting if I was gonna say somebody's him. Yeah. So I feel for him.
[00:24:04] Speaker B: He'll be good, though. Nike Hoop Summit, obviously, coming up. He'll probably be. Be over there.
For people that don't know you, who's L. Robinson? Outside of basketball.
[00:24:14] Speaker C: Outside of basketball, what do you be doing?
[00:24:15] Speaker B: What's, like, the hobbies? Do you have a favorite show? Do you play 2K? Like, what's. Like. Who's late? Robins Lyres Robinson.
[00:24:22] Speaker C: Outside of basketball, I would say, like, I'm a very, like, fun guy to be around. I'm like a cheerful guy, funny guy.
Clumsy sometimes, but I would say I play a lot of video games.
[00:24:31] Speaker B: What games?
[00:24:33] Speaker C: 2K.
[00:24:33] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:24:34] Speaker C: I play Fortnite. Okay. Call of Duty sometimes.
[00:24:36] Speaker B: 2K.
[00:24:37] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:24:37] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. I'm a 2K guy, to be honest with you, so whole team, let me know. Oh, you playing? Is it Pro Am? Is it. Is it Wreck?
[00:24:45] Speaker C: No, I play, like, park with my little brother.
[00:24:47] Speaker B: Okay. I also heard a lot about your brother, too.
[00:24:49] Speaker C: Yeah, he's. He's upcoming.
[00:24:51] Speaker B: Tell me about the talent there. And I think your sister also plays at.
[00:24:55] Speaker C: Yeah, she's. No, she just transferred to Florida State.
[00:24:58] Speaker B: Florida State. Tell me about that, too. Just like, what is it? Like a family hole of just all athletic people.
[00:25:03] Speaker C: I'm gonna give credit to my sister and say she started all just, like, watching her because she used to just kill at our old high school. She was, like, the star MVP this, MVP that. So just seeing that kind of like, you know, because she was my role model growing up, because I'm looking up to her. So just seeing that kind of, like, built my mentality, too, for my little brother. He's just. He's. He's different. He loves it. He's a gym rat.
For his skill. Right now, at his age and his height, he's gonna be very good. Very good.
[00:25:32] Speaker B: Next one up, we gotta watch out.
[00:25:34] Speaker C: For. Sure. For sure. Absolutely.
[00:25:35] Speaker B: How competitive, too, is just the household in general?
[00:25:37] Speaker C: Oh, very competitive. Yeah. Especially with my dad, my brother.
[00:25:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:25:42] Speaker C: And me. It's. It gets rough.
[00:25:43] Speaker B: That's cool. That's cool, man.
Lyrist. How would you just sum up this Basketball Without Borders experience for yourself?
[00:25:50] Speaker C: It was a great space. I'm super glad I came.
The competition was just very, very great.
It was put together very well, especially with the food and all that.
And then just to cap it off with the All Star Game, it was a great experience.
[00:26:05] Speaker B: The food was hitting. What was the food like?
[00:26:07] Speaker C: It was good.
They had Chinese food today.
They had chicken yesterday for lunch. I don't know what they had for dinner, but. And the breakfast was just good, too.
[00:26:17] Speaker B: See, I'm trying to get like you, man. I've been looking for the best chicken parm. I still can't find it in la, California. Hopefully I get one before I get out of here. But Liz Robinson gonna be playing FIBA U18. I can't wait for that. I'll be at the. Probably the training camp watching you out there. And a name I feel like a lot of people are gonna get to know pretty soon, pretty fast. I'll probably check you out too, at the UIBL sessions this summer.
And yeah, Lewis Robinson can't. Thank you for coming on the podcast.
[00:26:44] Speaker C: Thank you. Thank you. Yes, sir.
[00:26:45] Speaker B: This is King Basketball Show. Back after this.
Welcome back to the Canadian Basketball Show. I'm joined by another top Canadian prospect in the class of 2027. I think ESPN has them, like, is it third? I think third.
Paul Osorias, Scarborough, Ontario. My guy. It's been a while. How you doing?
[00:27:16] Speaker A: Doing good, man. How are you?
[00:27:17] Speaker B: Good, good, good. Basketball without borders, L.A. california.
What's that been like? Just wrapped up. How's it been?
[00:27:25] Speaker A: It's just a tremendous experience, obviously, you know, seeing all the talent across the world and also just competing at a high level with that. With those talents.
[00:27:35] Speaker B: Was there a country you saw that? You're like, damn, I didn't know they had Hoopers.
[00:27:39] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it was one kid I seen from Latvia. I forgot his name, but.
[00:27:42] Speaker B: Oh, he was a guy.
[00:27:43] Speaker A: Yeah, he was. He was Hooper.
[00:27:44] Speaker B: He was doing his thing. Yeah. Tell me about when they reached out to you about Basketball Without Borders. A lot of Canadian talent that we see in the league now, Shay Jamal, have come through Basketball Without Borders like a stopping ground for a lot of Canadian players. Tell me about when they reached out to you and what was your reaction when you got the invite?
[00:28:02] Speaker A: I think they reached out to me. I think it was in December for an invite.
And, you know, obviously, you know, it was a great experience to go to and, you know, I just accepted it.
[00:28:16] Speaker B: Was there anything you're hoping to prove at this camp just about yourself? Because I feel like you're a household name. A lot of people know you. You're also doing, like, double duty, playing in the EYBL Nike schedule, doing that kind of stuff. What was that like? Balancing that, too? And then obviously a lot of scouts, executives in the building watching you.
[00:28:34] Speaker A: Yeah, I wouldn't say it was stressful. I mean like my first season for us, it's kind of been kind of back and forth with a lot of games, traveling. So I kind of got used to it. But just playing back and forth, you know, playing in front of all the executives and scouts and obviously coaches that are probably watching online too. It was just, you know, I just have to keep the main thing. The main thing and just go out there and hoop.
[00:28:59] Speaker B: How do you, how do you juggle that? Because I want to talk to Lyris about that too. Tell me travel's pretty crazy for you guys. You were just in Spain not too long ago.
What's that been like, traveling and is it just like, I gotta get used to this. This is like what it's like to be a professional basketball player.
[00:29:18] Speaker A: Yeah, I won't lie. I was like chatting with lyrics earlier. I was like, yo, like my body's tired, I'm busy, everything like that. But you know, it's when you just have a certain goal in your mind that you want to achieve, you know, all that little soreness or all the other pressure just kind of just fades away and you just keep whatever you had or whatever goal you have just really the main thing.
[00:29:39] Speaker B: I remember speaking to you a few years back and obviously you made the, the move to the U.S.
what age would that was that?
[00:29:47] Speaker A: I would say I was 14.
[00:29:48] Speaker B: Tell me behind that. How did it happen? And pretty young at that age, right? To go from, from Canada to the US obviously played FIBA U16 for Canada to tell me about the move behind going to the US and what made.
[00:30:04] Speaker A: You ready for that really? I moved out here just for exposure, you know, for a better, a better basketball opportunity because I had an older, I have an older brother who plays basketball right now, but he didn't really have the exposure level that I have at this age. And he always tells me that he wishes he would. He went to the US at a young age, but really just doing that, trying to make a possibility for my future and you know, help my family's lives as well. You know, just being a high level Hooper.
[00:30:37] Speaker B: How's it been like living in the States compared to Canada?
[00:30:42] Speaker A: It's pretty different, you know, culture wise. Like I'm always, when I'm in Canada or Toronto, I'm always used to like, you know, going to the little convenience store. I got myself a little one, two snack or whatever, or going to a little patty time, got me a little one, two. But it's kind of like, I wouldn't say it's just a different culture but it's. It's different as like, a culture standpoint, but everything else is kind of the same, you know, like, school wise, it's kind of the same. It's bigger schools, but, you know, you kind of get used to at the same time.
[00:31:14] Speaker B: So what was it like growing up in Scarborough? What part of Scarborough are you from?
[00:31:19] Speaker A: I grew. I grew up in Orin Park. Lawrence.
[00:31:22] Speaker B: Shout out to Orange Park.
[00:31:23] Speaker A: Yeah, It's.
Wouldn't say like, the greatest areas of living, but, you know, you just. Me and my family made it, made a home for real. It was just like everyone knew everyone in that community.
Everybody grew up with everybody. So, like, it's really like my home for real. But, yeah, it was. It wasn't the greatest neighborhood, but, you know, just. You got to do what you got to do at a certain point.
[00:31:50] Speaker B: How did that make you who you are? Because I wasn't. I was at. Not too long ago. I was there. I was doing a store on a coach at Cedar Bray in high school. And then I saw. Who else did I see? He was another top player coming out. Tristan Edwards, if you know him too. Another player that's coming. I think he's playing at Huntington Prep now.
[00:32:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:32:04] Speaker B: And he kind of was like, you know what? This neighborhood kind of made me who I am and kind of helped prepare me for life, you know?
How did that, or in part mean, Julia?
[00:32:15] Speaker A: I would say just, like, the struggles, basically going and seeing what everybody was going through. Like, everyone didn't really have a great backstory and great living situation, but, you know, they made a living out of what they had and just going back to my family, like, I think their sacrifice is kind of what made me who I am today and why I, like, I kind of motivated to still play basketball and, you know, just do it for them, basically.
[00:32:43] Speaker B: Does Scarborough have the best Hoopers in the city? I'm going through the list of guys. I'm thinking Nikhil. I'm thinking Leonard Shay. If you could claim him. Like, if you ask Shay's pops, he's gonna say he's from Scarborough, but she's gonna say he's from Hamilton. And then we got you. Like, I'm saying Tristan Edwards is on the way up to. We got a lot of talent. Where would you rank Scarborough across the gta?
[00:33:03] Speaker A: Um, I would say.
Cause we have a lot of Hoopers, but we don't have a lot compared to, like, Saga and, you know, Brampton and all those guys. So I'd say we definitely, like, top three.
[00:33:14] Speaker B: Top three.
[00:33:15] Speaker A: Like, I won't lie. We got like, the most, like, you know, like, get into your bag. I'm going really, like, you know, get you with a one, two, move type of hoopers. Like, it's really just like the swag and everything. Like, you know, you said Shay Leonard, obviously, and Nikhil, and you got Vachon too, from Vern. So, you know, it's like really, like, a lot of gritty guys that, you know, that get to it. So I think we, like, we're like.
[00:33:40] Speaker B: Top three, obviously, in the States now. Is there a spot you're missing right now in Toronto that you touch every single time? Like, I need to when I touch down in the city, I gotta go to this spot.
[00:33:53] Speaker A: I don't know, There's a couple of spots I would say, like, Osmo's for sure. Definitely.
[00:33:58] Speaker B: Are you one of those guys?
[00:33:59] Speaker A: Yeah, it's not even like, it's not my favorite, but it's just like one of those where it's like, what's your order, though?
[00:34:05] Speaker B: Because Miles said the same thing. I think Jordan also said the same thing. Yeah, like, they love Osmos. I don't know what it is, but.
So what's your order at Osmo? What's your go to?
[00:34:14] Speaker A: I just get the.
The rice on the sticks, whatever you call it. Okay, whatever. But it's like, like I said, I don't really, like, that's not my go to. For me, I'm more like a junk food type of guy. Like, I'll go to McDonald's or Wendy's, but it's just like, you don't really have that over there in the States. Like Mediterranean. If you don't really have that in the States, you got to find, like, a certain spot. So that's what I was saying. That or Chicken and Joy.
[00:34:38] Speaker B: Yeah. I mentioned Osmos too much on the podcast. Sponsorship got to come soon. It's got to come soon for Osmos because too much chatter about that.
What part of your game do you feel like you've most improved? Because I feel like when I watch you play, I'm like, you're kind of an underrated passer that people don't really see.
What part of the game maybe have you been honing in on? And you feel like you've vastly improved maybe from a year from now.
[00:35:01] Speaker A: I would just say my decision making really, like, find an open man.
Cause, you know, I'm a kind of a big threat. You know, I'll get downhill and I'll attract two on defense and I'll kick It out to the open man. So I would say my passing ability, obviously my second jump, my offensive rebounding, I think I could do better on that this season. But I'm a real big threat when it comes to that.
And just those two really.
[00:35:26] Speaker B: Was there a moment where, like, basketball became like, I want to do this for a living. I want to take this serious. Was there a moment that it hit you?
[00:35:36] Speaker A: Yeah, I would say right around the time I was in.
It probably hit me around, like, the eighth grade in Canada, really, when, like, coach really told me, like, you got potential to really, like, be great. Cause at first I was just, you know, hooping with my homeboys, really, on Scarborough Blues or in Trip Balance Union League, whatever team we played for. But I was really just hooping with my guys, my friends, you know, just loved hooping with my friends. But then when I found out I could really make money off this and, you know, change my family's lives, that events when it's really quick.
[00:36:12] Speaker B: At what point did things switch? Because you've been ran for some time now. When did that shift where it's like, wow, I'm getting nationally North American recognition.
And how do you juggle that, too? Like, do you how, like, pay attention, that kind of stuff? Because it's like, sometimes it could be like, obviously it's great to get that recognition. Obviously. You talked about it too. Just like the exposure level in the States obviously is kind of higher than Canada. And ESPN only ranks you if you play in the States. But then also it could be like a detriment where it's like, you might be paying attention to it too much. And like, at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, right? Because I'm watching like, Miles Saller, 21 and then McDonald's all American stuff. Right?
[00:36:51] Speaker A: Yeah.
I would say when I. When I really first got into the whole ranking things and everything, I'll say it was when I first got or first arrived to the States, when I really first got exposures, because I'm seeing everyone in, like, my age, whatever. I was dominated when I first got over there because, you know, I was just more physically and athletically gifted than everybody. So, you know, they had me playing up. I think I was first I was an eighth grader playing 15 and 16, then I was a freshman playing 16 with Miles playing up. And I'm realizing, like, okay, okay, the competition is getting better and better, but I can still see myself. I'm really hanging with these guys. Like, even when, you know, we didn't really have the best showing with the U16, U17 group for team Canada. But I was able to hold my own with these guys. And, like, I was like, I felt like, okay, you know, whatever they say on the rank, it doesn't really mean nothing because, you know, I could still hold my own and still really dangle the best.
[00:37:46] Speaker B: So what's it been like to the last year? Because I know you were dealing with injuries during, like, the summertime. Coming back from that, what's it been like trying to, like, obviously now, like, I feel like you're fully healthy now. What was that whole summer like, going through that injury, dealing with that and overcoming all that kind of stuff?
[00:38:04] Speaker A: It was a lot. Like, I didn't really pay attention to, like, whenever I see someone get hurt, I don't really pay attention to, like, how their recovery process is and their thought process and everything. But when I really. When I, When I experienced that, it was like a whole different. Like, I was just kind of in my, like a whole different world. Like, I was in my head a lot thinking if I was ever going to be. Be able to play the same, because, you know, I hurt my shoulder. So it was like one of those injuries where they're talking about getting surgery and, you know, take eight, nine months to go and heal. So I was really just thinking a lot in my head, but, you know, obviously I just have to trust God and, you know, just.
Just think about the positive and move on and just recover, recover, recover. And just like, honing on the recovery part, like, I just gotta make sure my body's fully healthy. Don't want to rush back or anything because, you know, basketball is going to end at some point and, you know, you want to make sure you don't leave any regrets on the court. So that's what I just really wanted to hone in on.
[00:39:07] Speaker B: Yeah. How long were you out for in total?
[00:39:10] Speaker A: Well, at first.
At first I was out for about think a month and a half, and then I came back because there was a whole debate on me with the number one spot in the summer with then number one player in the country, Baba Dontu.
[00:39:28] Speaker B: Yep.
[00:39:29] Speaker A: But obviously I wasn't really fully healthy and, you know, I ended up getting injured again.
So I sat off for another two months and a half and I came.
I came back right before the Jamal Murray Classic in September. So.
But till that day, like, or till till this day, like, I'm still not really the same. Yeah, I probably say, like, I'm like 90, but it's slowly getting back to normal. So I was. I would say that you hear a.
[00:39:59] Speaker B: Lot of players talk about, like, when they go through injuries, they learn a lot about themselves. What'd you learn about yourself, like, during that. That you're like, wow.
Or just, like, mentally, it's like, okay, I didn't realize this is what, like, because you're probably itching to get out there. You're watching the games. I'm guessing you're watching the UBL sessions to. At points, you're like, I can help. I can. You know, like, what was that like? And you're probably missing, like, major events that you're probably like, I wish I could have played in that. Wish you played in that. What'd you learn about yourself during that whole injury process?
[00:40:27] Speaker A: Like I said, it was a lot like, mentally, like, usually, you know, you wouldn't really think. The mental part is of your life is what you have to really work on all the time. You really think it just comes easily. But that's kind of like the hardest thing. Like, the whole game of basketball, I think, is like 90% mental, 10% physical. It's really a mental game. So seeing my team out there, I think they lost.
I think they lost two games at Peace Jam or during that fourth session in Augusta. And, you know, I wasn't really. I wasn't healthy enough, but I'm like, damn. Like, if I was playing with them, like, you know, the things would be a whole lot different. Guys would be able to, you know, get more on the radar with more ones you get, the more you get seen. And then obviously with the camps, too, I'm like, damn. Like, I could have really, like, you know, go out there and prove myself and, like, why I'm. Why I'm who they say I am. But, you know, it's sometimes, you know, you just gotta get through the hard times to get through the good times. So it's. It's whatever. It's cool.
[00:41:28] Speaker B: Yeah.
What goals do you have for yourself? Obviously, just talking about Basketball Without Borders, obviously coming to an end season, obviously, with Bella Vista. What goals do you have for yourself? Just potentially wrapping up the season and obviously looking forward to potential EYBL Canada basketball we'll talk about again in a bit probably, too, just since you're playing FIBA U18. And what goals do you have for yourself, just maybe in the next year or so?
[00:41:58] Speaker A: Well, right now, you know, we're kind of having a little shaky season right now. Like, we're. We're doing pretty good, but we kind of have a little shaky, little losses that we. Or little games that we dropped over the season. But really right now what I'm focused on is obviously making AAA Nationals. You know, we was there last year and we ended up losing. You know, it's a lot. It's Miles, last year, Vaughn, all those other seniors. I really want to make their high school career memorable and you know, win a championship for them because, you know, obviously they're not going to be able to relive that moment again.
So that's what I'm really stuck on. And obviously headed into the AAU season, you know, it's our last AU season, you know, want to be able to win a Peace Jam Championship. So that's what I'm really stuck on right now.
[00:42:41] Speaker B: Yeah. Mention Miles, obviously his last year lira said he was shocked when he didn't make McDonald's all American. What was your reaction? No one, like, I've seen how close you two are over the years and I'm guessing you're probably there for him and obviously like, I talk like that stuff at the end of the day, doesn't matter at the end goal when you think about it, because it's like, he's probably gonna play in the Nike Hoop Summit represent for Canada. What was your reaction when you saw that and you're like, I think he's probably. You probably think he's the best point guard in North America.
[00:43:10] Speaker A: Yeah, no, he is. Most definitely.
I wouldn't necessarily say I'm shocked because at the end of the day, you know, there's always politics with Canadian hoopers playing the U.S. whether it's, you know, you being top 10, you being top 100. They're always gonna have a certain kind of hold against you because, you know, you're coming from another country and you're not American.
So I wouldn't say I was necessarily shocked, but just seeing the people who were on there and seeing Miles, like, you know, like he was out there, you know, giving them work. The same people that are on there, he was giving them work. So it's like, it's more so just like I was just disappointed. And I wasn't disappointed in Miles, obviously. I was disappointed in like the people running it and everything, ESPN, whoever's doing the little McDonald's. Because that's what I seen. The work that Miles puts in day in and day out, waking up at 4am in the morning, 5 in the morning, getting shots in before school, after school, you know, all the sweat, all the time you spend in the effort, you know, working for that same position. That those guys got in and like it's just like. It's kind of like a heartbreaker for me. But I told him and told him right after because when I seen it, I was at the. I was at. I was at the house. He was still at school. So when he came back, you know, I talked to him, whatever, told him like it's going to be all right. Don't even worry about that. You're going to see them same guys in college, going to give them the work, saying even the hoops. I'm going to make a name for yourself. So just get the main thing. The main thing and just go out there and hoop.
[00:44:33] Speaker B: Like I just saw Con Caniple. He's what, ranked second in rookie voting. Wasn't a McDonald's all American. Like when you think about that kind of stuff.
[00:44:41] Speaker C: Right.
[00:44:41] Speaker B: You got to keep in mind.
[00:44:42] Speaker C: Right.
[00:44:42] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:44:42] Speaker B: What's the latest with your offers? College. What's that look like? I know you came out with a post on ig. I seen that.
How many offers are we at? I don't know. Last time I spoke to you, I lost track at this point.
[00:44:53] Speaker A: Yeah. I won't lie. It's been, it's been a lot. It's kind of. Me too right now. I kind of lost a lot like track with it really. It's just been who's been hitting me up the most. Whether it's them hitting up coach Mike obviously or me and my parents. But it's really just been that. Cause you know, obviously it's very high level player. You know, you can go to whatever kind of school you'd want to. But I'm just really just focusing on the who's right now. I leave that I lead the. Oh all the offers and whatever up to coach Mike and my parents to decide because you know, they have the best of my interest. Yeah.
[00:45:30] Speaker B: Is there a school you're hearing most from that constantly texting you. What does that look like and how do you go about that? Because lyrics also talking about it too. It's like. So you gotta like respond and obviously you want to be. You gotta be.
You're learning how to be professional at this age too. How do you go about that kind of stuff and like talking to schools?
[00:45:50] Speaker A: Well, I'm hearing from I think the likes of Arkansas a lot. West Virginia.
[00:45:57] Speaker B: Shout out to Rhino Valley.
[00:45:58] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:45:59] Speaker B: Toronto basketball legend. Yeah.
[00:46:01] Speaker A: Yeah. Syracuse, Kentucky. Just hit me up the other day.
There's a bunch of other schools. Really. But it's kind of just the whole process. Kind of like Helped boost my maturity levels really. Because now at a certain age I got to learn how to be professional and you know, how to talk in a certain environment because, you know, it's like I'm not talking to my regular guys at school, no one talking to high level coaches who coached a lot of D1 basketball players and also NBA players. So you know, it's just a level of maturity that I have to hold myself to.
[00:46:37] Speaker B: When you're looking for a program.
[00:46:40] Speaker A: What.
[00:46:40] Speaker B: Do you look for that will fit? Paula Surrey like, this is what I need to commit, really.
[00:46:49] Speaker A: Just finding the right fit really. And just development wise.
Cause you know, the end goal for me is to make the NBA and I think a lot of college coaches had that in mind. That's what you know, they obviously would agree with me doing.
But really just the right fit, development wise and just that's really it. Like there's no really other stuff for me to touch on because I think they're all going to touch on the same little aspects. But that's the two I really just try and focus on because you know, I obviously want to be NBA ready when I get into college. So that develop mental factors what I want to work on.
[00:47:33] Speaker B: What do you think separates you from other top prospects? Because when I talk to you too, I'm like, I see the maturity level every single time I have a conversation with you. What do you think separates you? And just when you get going, I'd be afraid to be under the rim at times, you know. So tell me, what do you think separates you from other top prospects?
[00:47:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I would just say my athletic, my athletic, athletic talents.
[00:47:59] Speaker B: Where does that come from?
God gift.
[00:48:02] Speaker A: Really? I don't even know because one day I remember I was like about 12, 13.
I just started touching the room and then I think the next day and this is like about like six. Going into seventh grade over the summer, I always remember like, okay, I feel a little bouncy today. Let me try and do something. So I went to the park, you know, we had practice during the COVID times obviously. So we were going to practicing on the park or running on a track. I'm like, let me, let me try and do a little dunk real quick. So one of my homeboys, he passed me the ball, I threw it with a dunk. And ever, ever since then I just, my bounce has been elevating every year I seen niggas get higher and higher. My head's already at the rim when I first got over here and now it's over the rim. So who knows, really? It's just progressive.
[00:48:50] Speaker B: Yeah. How do you see your game kind of translating to the next level.
[00:48:57] Speaker A: Really?
I see it as like just being able to fit in whatever and like, whatever program I get into, like in college level, I'm gonna be a very athletic beggar who could run the floor, who could pop out. Obviously, playing transition, I think I could play the positions like three to five, really, so it doesn't really matter. I can guard one through five. So I think that's what's going to stand out really, in me being versatile. And then obviously when my shooting comes into play and I work on my bar handler, I just kind of be a force to reckon with.
[00:49:35] Speaker B: Yeah. How tall are you now?
[00:49:37] Speaker A: I'm still 6, 10. Like I think maybe I have one more inch in me coming.
[00:49:42] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:49:42] Speaker A: But like, if.
[00:49:44] Speaker B: Do you feel it coming there?
[00:49:46] Speaker A: Yeah, I feel it coming sometimes, like, you know, I check my knee to see if my girlfriend's still open. You know, I'm not really a doctor, but I'll say, I'll say that. But even then, if I don't grow after this, I think I would be fine. Really, because I got longer arms.
Jump out the gym, you know, don't really matter.
[00:50:05] Speaker B: Yeah. I think someone mentioned the measurements. I think you were like top in in most of them. Basketball without boiler measurements. Someone posted it out there on, on social media for you to.
I feel like you expanded. I see the, the, the fadeaway midi. Tell me about that. Add into that bag. What does it take for you, how you've been honing in on that kind of stuff and just like having a bunch of different moves counters that, that, that they, that people have to adjust to.
[00:50:34] Speaker A: Yeah, it's really just reps in the gym.
Like I be working out with my trainer at my school, Coach Rich, Coach Howie, and all these other trainers that I work out with, with Kletsch and everything. And they always tell me one thing. Down my jump shot, like I shoot too high for someone to block it.
So now I just work over that and it's like more just being physical down low and then if I have the shot, go rise up, just shoot it because no one's really gonna be able to block it. So I just keep getting reps and reps on that. And obviously I'm trying to transition to the outside game with the three point line, but really in the mid range and in the paint, that's kind of my bread and butter. That's what they always telling me. And that's what I really try and work on to try and master that Canada basketball.
[00:51:17] Speaker B: This summer, FIBA U18 took a little bit of a hiatus. I was kind of hoping to see you at the FIBA U19 World Cup. Didn't happen. But also you're dealing with injuries like we talked about.
So FIBA U18, can we expect, I think a lot of people, this is the question I've been hearing. Can we expect Paul Usurui for the FIBA U18Americas?
[00:51:40] Speaker A: Yeah, most definitely. You know, I've been playing with Team Canada since I was like 15, you know, going into that early process.
And they always tell you how the American side is just always biased and you know, they're always kind of winning. We're always kind of second towards them. And you know, I just been. Ever since then, I just been wanting to change the narrative. Obviously, you know, Canada doesn't really have as much players opposed to America, but I just want to show them that it doesn't really matter how much players they have that, you know, we bleed a different type of red. You feel me? So it's just that, you know, Canada basketball is just built different. That's what I've been trying to prove ever since. Stepped on that radar.
[00:52:21] Speaker B: What's that like too? I'm guessing it means so much for you from FIBA U16, where I feel like that's kind of when things blew up for you.
When you look back at that experience, what was that like? What do you remember about FIBA U16? And what excites you about FIBA U18.
[00:52:35] Speaker A: Really is how I was able to play against the competition, really, Because I think when I was in the U16, I was kind of like second to the MVP racing behind Cameron Boozer. And at that age I didn't really know who those players was.
[00:52:52] Speaker B: That's kind of crazy to say. That's like behind Cameron Bruiser, who's a guy that's gonna go top three in the NBA draft and also was like one of the most decorated high school players.
[00:53:01] Speaker A: Like, it was kind of a surreal moment. Like I remember coming in over there into Mexico where we was playing at and everyone was like, okay, we gotta get that USA versus Canada game.
So we was playing against top ranked guys. I think I was averaging about 16 and 10. That tournament up until that.
It's called Championship game.
[00:53:26] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:53:26] Speaker A: And I remember we played a bunch of different guys also. That wasn't from America's like Kareem Lopez, I think he's a, he's hooping out in the NBL right now.
Guys in Argentina like Felipe Menzel, all those, like, different, really pro basketball players that have been playing basketball at a high level since they were young. So me being at that young age and me, like, from my development from then till now, and me being able to do that from then, it's gonna be crazy what I could do now. So it's just.
It's one of those moments where I just look back, it's like, dang, I really. I really got this in the bag. Like, I could really bring one home.
[00:54:04] Speaker B: How different is international basketball from this AAU state's thing?
Because you also just played in Spain, too, against a bunch of international players.
What was that like? Fiber. You 16. You've played a few times now, and what do you think the biggest difference is when you play over there?
[00:54:20] Speaker A: Really, it is just like, I remember we came into the game, we seen some. It was. We played Dubai basketball. It was our first game.
We seen some dude with, like, blonde hair. He looked like a 2K. Oh, yeah, 2K characters.
[00:54:34] Speaker B: Like, I see the same exact 2K mark part playlist.
[00:54:36] Speaker A: It's like, okay, ain't gonna lie. I don't think this dude could hoop. Like, there's no way. You feel me? He came out the game, he started blicking from the logo. I'm like, dang, that's crazy. We went down big. We had to fight our way back. So it's really, like, they may not look like they could hoop, but they're really like, one of the ones. Like, they could really go. Like, European Hoopers. European basketball, it's nowhere near different from a Canadian or American side. Like, all them Hoopers can go.
It's just their playstyle's a little different, but a bucket is a bucket at that point.
That's why you kind of see the NBA right now. It's just a bunch of international players that are really at the top because that's kind of how basketball is heading right now on the international side.
[00:55:20] Speaker B: How excited are you to have this guy listening in on our podcast, Leros Robinson joining Canada. Honestly, I heard whispers. You can confirm or deny that. Like, USA Basketball was trying to get him at one point. This is what I heard from somebody. Somebody. Some. Like, I heard whispers about that. Maybe I'm wrong. Like, you. Someone asked, like, is he playing for Canada? And they kind of stepped back after they heard. They confirmed it. You played with him this season. What's. What's the excitement with Leers Robinson playing for Canada for the first time? FBU 18.
[00:55:50] Speaker A: Man, I don't want to sound Like I'm glazing or whatnot. But I'm going to say Lil one too, really. Lyrics is just one of them athletic guards who can really go. You know, he has a jump shot, he's very versatile. He can guard 1 through 3, 1 through 4. You know, he's strong, athletic, grimy, plays really hard defense and can guard the ball.
So I think it's just adding a different type of taste to the Canadian side. You know, kind of gritty, you know, I think he grew up in Michigan, lives in Texas right now, so he's kind of bringing that American side with him. But also, you know, he's from Canada, so you know he's going to add that type of firepower that we need to get over the hump.
[00:56:31] Speaker B: I guess you got to teach him some more lingo like we talked about. He only knows Croty right now, so we gonna get him set up when he gets to Canada before the fiber U18, he's gonna, he'll come well versed with some Toronto lingo. Paul, when I talk about your game too, is there players that you study that you kind of like, hey, I kind of wanna not even model, maybe just like take from. It's like I wanna add this.
[00:56:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I never really like, whenever I look back at like Hoopers, as in like NBA players, year league players, I never really wanna like, truly just model my game after somebody. I always take bits and parts of certain NBA players and try to, you know, mix into my back, try and freestyle that and become my own version of, you know, Hooper. And really I look at a lot of Giannis for his transition because, you know, we're kind of built the same obviously we're long athletic, you know, both Nigerian too. So really I just try and look at that and like how he, you know, gets open and is able to dominate the game at such a high level. And also I, you know, sometimes I look at LeBron obviously too, with his speed. You know, I'm a fast guy, I can get downhill. So I just look at bits and parts of that.
And then with the mid range part, look at Jayson Tatum, a little bit of kd, how they get to their spot. Because, you know, a lot of you see a lot of NBA Hoopers, they say they get to the little sweet spot or their, whoever their percentage is high from their little kill spot. I think that's what they call it. But yeah, just try and find ways, different ways on the court, rack a score and ways I could be efficient and score the most. So that's what I try and find.
[00:58:09] Speaker B: And emulate after I seen you add a little LeBron dunk package to your game. I got a little, a little bit of that, huh?
[00:58:16] Speaker A: Yeah, I've been, I've been watching Bron do that since, you know, I started playing basketball. So, like, that's always one thing I always wanted to do in games. So I just, I think that's kind of my, my go to dunk on fast break now.
[00:58:27] Speaker B: So, Paula Cerori, my guy, top prospect in the class of 2027. I can't thank you enough for coming on the podcast, talking about your journey excitement for FEBA U18. I don't know when next time we'll probably see you probably training camp for that kind of stuff. And good luck on the season. You and Lyris Bella Vista, one of the top programs in North America, what you guys have been doing over there. So I just wanted to have you guys on for people to get to know you. Lyris, who they don't really know about but will know about soon. And then you obviously been a household name and kind of a little bit about your journey because I feel like people know you, but they don't know about the. I don't even know about Orem park, man. That's. That's cool. You know, the journey from there to being one of the top guys in the class of 2027. So I can't thank you enough for coming on the podcast, my guy.
[00:59:12] Speaker A: Appreciate you.
[00:59:12] Speaker B: This is the Canyon Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news stories and analysis on Canadian basketball with my guys Lis, Paul and we out sa.
