After winning a gold medal in the recent FIBA U19 World Cup in Egypt, Canada is riding high in the basketball world right now.
The young Canadian talent will attract a slew of high-major college coaches this weekend for two events over the last live period in July.
Kentucky’s John Calipari, Arizona’s Sean Miller, Baylor’s Scott Drew, Vanderbilt’s Bryce Drew, Oregon’s Dana Altman, Michigan’s John Beilein and South Carolina’s Frank Martin are among those expected at The Classic in Toronto run by the CIA Bounce AAU program.
Many of those same coaches may also attend the Signature Camp run by UPlay Canada. Coaches from Kansas, Louisville, UCLA, UConn, UNLV, Virginia and Washington are also expected at this event.
“Canadian talent continues to grow,” said Tony McIntyre, the director of CIA Bounce and also the father of Lakers guard Tyler Ennis and Dylan Ennis, who recently signed in Serbia. “This year promises to be the best year in recruiting North of the border with coaches attending the Classic in Toronto.”
CIA Bounce features 6-foot-10 2018 Vermont Academy forward Simi Shittu, who is being recruited by Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Baylor, Notre Dame, Arizona and UConn.
CIA Bounce also features 2019 guard Ignas Brazdeikis, 2020 forward Addison Patterson and 2020 guard Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe, among others.
Meantime, UPlay Canada and the Signature Camp feature 2019 guard Andrew Nembhard, who is being targeted by Florida, Gonzaga, Michigan and Stanford.
UPlay also features Tyrese Samuel, AJ Lawson, Isaiah Bujdoso, Khaleem Bennett, Nudy Georges and Tre Edwards.
R.J. Barrett, Nembhard’s UPlay Canada and Montverde (FL) Academy teammate, has not played this month after winning MVP honors at FIBA U19 World Cup. He is taking the month off and is expected to announce a potential reclassification decision later this month. Like Barrett, Nembhard is also considering reclassifying to 2018.