CHOSEN FEW FOR NIKE GLOBAL CHALLENGE

After a collective effort from the Hoops Hype Canada correspondents and thanks to multiple reliable sources the Canadian team has been unofficially released. 10 Canadian ballers will represent the red & white at next weeks Nike’s Global Challenge.

The Global Challenge will highlight the top under-19 players from across the world in an eight-team, three-day competition. Former participants include Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Tyreke Evans.

The event take’s place between August 13-16 in Chicago, Illinois and will feature four regional teams from the United States, as well as the International elite from Brazil, Canada, China, and Africa.

Pool A is Brasil, Canada, USA Midwest & USA West. While Pool B features China, Pan Africa, USA East & USA South.

This years edition features one 2016 due to the U17 World Championships underway at the moment in Dubai. Both Nolan Narain and Justin Jackson due to illness were unable to accept invitations. A 2017 made the team and simply put he has game mature beyond his years. Also head coach of the red and white will be CIA Bounce co-founder and bench boss Tony McIntyre.

Here is the unofficial list, Nike is reportedly going to release the rosters any day now on the official showcase website.

2014 6’11 Jabari Craig (Northern Kings/Fishburne Military School)
– Recently denied admissions by the NCAA the former USC committee and returning Team Canada participant will again help patrol the paint for Canada. Since news’s broke of not qualifying almost every JuCo coach in America is lining up for Craig’s signature and services this fall.

2015 6″5″ Jalen Poyser (CIA Bounce/Father Henry Carr)
– Poyser is playing some of his best basketball since dominating youth ranks years ago. His resurgence this summer has been one of the feel good Canadian baller stories of 2014. Still no word on where Poyser will attend school in September. Return to Athlete Institute, Father Henry Carr or a prominent program south of the border remain options.

2015 6’0″ Munis Tutu (Meanstreets/La Lumiere)
-Started every game for our U18 FIBA Americas that wrote history with silver in June. Tutu plays for prep school power LaLumiere, IN during the school year, so he’s already well-adjusted to American basketball. Changes paces, uses his great first step and speed to get in the paint and make plays for others second to none.

2016 6’6″ Narcisse Kalamba (QC United/Thetford Academy)
– In the same conversation with the Corey Johnsons, Jalen Poyser and Dillon Brooks when it come to scoring at the wing. Can really stretch the floor. Excellent in transition and finishes really well. Long, lanky, athletic and has a promising future. Signature moment in 2013-14 school season was dropping 38 points against Athlete Institute highs school squad at the Alma Invitational. Also averaged 30 points per game at the ACTS Invitational.

2015 6’9″ Kyle Alexander (CIA Bounce/Athlete Institute)
– A lanky big man with a 7’4″ wingspan who has NBA ingredients physically. His sister Kayla Alexander plays in the NBA and starred at Syracuse collegiately. He has flown under the radar this year because he never played AAU basketball until 2014 but in the process has picked up some high major attention.

2015 6’5″ Corey Johnson (Northern Kings/West Carleton)
– Biggest surprise of the summer was Johnson. His lights out shooting earned him a starting gig  with the U18 FIBA Americas squad but the opportunity was derailed by a concussion. He since has returned to action and has continued his spot on shooting. He is contemplating post grad schools in the States and Athlete Institute’s post grad program for his final year of high school. Has the potential to be very good.

2015 6’1″ Elijah Long (CIA Bounce/John Carroll)
–Methodical point guard and younger brother of Iowa State’s Nazareth Long. His development both physically off the court and production on the court has come slowly but surely. A pass first point guard that on the big stage in Brampton, ON for the CIA Bounce Exposure Camp top 20 game in late July demonstrated his scoring prowess finishing with 16 points including some long range three balls.

2015 6’9″ Biniam Ghebrekidan (Ottawa Guardsmen/Grand Riviere)
–A stretch four who earned his spot on the June U18 FIBA Americas squad that took home silver. All though he has the range didn’t shoot many from downtown. In 5 games averaged 17 minutes, shot 40 % from field and 3.8 points along with 4 rebounds per game. Was nowhere to be found after on the AAU circuit therefore the criteria as a sleeper north of the border.

2016 6’11” Jordy Tshimanga (Mo Williams Academy/ MacDuffie)
-True back to the basket big. A whirlwind last 12 months has saw him shed close to 60 pounds yet still is a physical specimen weighing 265lbs. A south paw with a knack for the twelve footer. Nicknamed La Foudre he is the biggest enigma in all of Canada’s player pool. Older brother 7’1″ Link Kabadyundi participated in this event last summer and will be a freshman at TCU. Tshimanga is one of three Canadians (56) on ESPN’s Super 60 for 2016 class.

2017 6’3″ Lindell Wiggington (Grassroots Elite/Oak Hill)
-A point guard with no fear playing with the big boys. Only 2017 to crack the top 20 game at the CIA Bounce Exposure Camp game. Later that evening against competition his age at a Phoenix Classic Finals poured in 33 second half points. Arguably the #1-ranked 2017 talent in Canada. Older brother Roddell Wiggington was a JuCo champion in Florida and some people think Lindell will eventually match his brother in size at 6’5.

Canada will play three pool play games before a placement game on Saturday.

The 2014 Nike Global Challenge gets underway next week at Whitney Young H.S. in Chicago, spread the word and follow your source for the BEST in Canadian Ballers at Hoops Hype Canada on twitter @HoopsHypeCa for updates.