As much as Canadian basketball has risen in recent years, basketball players hailing from the Canadian west coast, British Columbia specifically, are struggling to shake off a ‘soft’ label that seems to follow them. A label that questions their mental toughness that was formed from a recent trend of west coast ballers that couldn’t hack it at their primary choice of college or even tossed in the towel entirely.

Class of 2009 6’6” Bol Kong (Gonzaga)

Kong played in 31 games, mostly as a reserve and averaged 4.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in his freshman season. He did score 14 points versus Oklahoma one game but in July of 2010 Kong suddenly withdrew from Gonzaga and later played CIS basketball back home. Reasons unknown.

Class of 2010 6’3” Emerson Murray (California)

After two NCAA seasons at the University of California playing limited minutes, the British Columbia native transferred to Seattle University, closer to his home town Vancouver in search of a fresh new start. Emerson averaged 20 minutes per game and about 7 points per game in his junior season before his numbers dwindled in his senior season.

Class of 2013 6’1” Manrop Clair (Hawaii)

Currently at Seattle University via a transfer from the University of Hawaii where he appeared in 25 games for Hawaii, averaging 2.4 points per game.

Class of 2014 6’9” Tristan Etienne (Washington)

In the first month of his freshman season left the Washington program citing personal reasons, the school announced in October.

So what gives? Speaking to Pasha Bains the co founder of D.R.I.V.E the flagship development program out west via telephone, Bains suggests that the ‘soft’ label may be a bit harsh.

Pasha Bains co-founder of D.R.I.V.E. Basketball Academy in British Columbia.

“At the end of the day these are kids and not professionals. The most important thing is that we’re all here to support them and give them the avenues to play. Every kid is different you just can’t label every west coast guy soft or all that stuff,” Bains told Hoops Hype Canada.

“I do think the East produces a lot of players and a lot of the times they are a year older with the age rules being different. You have to factor that in when comparing East and West. Also a lot of those guys are closer to the tougher prep schools and they get tougher competition growing up.”

To the west coast’s defence the most successful Canadian in NBA history is Steve Nash, a product of British Columbia. Furthermore Levon Kendall, the long time member of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Team enjoyed four productive seasons at the University of Pittsburgh.

As rough as some have fared at the NCAA level, the D.R.I.V.E program specifically continues producing D1 scholarships as Bains alluded to earlier as avenues.

Class of 2014 Jadon Cohee a freshman at Seattle University is seeing good minutes as a frosh and recently registered a season high 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting early this young season.

Seattle University freshman Jadon Cohee photographed with future NBA hall of famer Steve Nash. Both products of British Columbia.

Class of 2015 6’10” Matt Neufeld who recently signed a letter of intent to play for Saint Louis is playing at one of America’s premier prep programs Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. Neufeld is joined by Izaiah Ugoalah who was recently appointed #1-point guard by Hoops Hype Canada and #7-ranked overall in the 2017 Canadian class.

2017 6’5″ Izaiah Ugoalah, currently #1-ranked point guard in Canada from British Columbia.

Neufeld and Ugoalah are in addition to perhaps the most heralded talent out west since Steve Nash  6’7 PG Jermaine Haley who plays at Burnaby South. Haley has no shortage of schools interested in his services and is yet another talent highly touted talent currently sitting #3-ranked overall in the 2016 class.

“Tristan [Etienne] and Jermaine [Haley] for example have great size and athleticism, but out here we get athletes every now and then and a few in every class. Not anything like the numbers we are getting out East. There is alot more athletes out east.” Bains said. “It’s tough to label all of them. They all have their own path and I stay out of that stuff being harsh and critical of kids.”

Moving forward Pains was kind enough to update us on the current state of the household names on the west coast and their future prospects.

Tristan Etienne a member of the U18 Canadian team that finished second in the 2014 FIBA Americas is still pondering his next move according to Bains,

“He’s finishing this semester at UW and will spend next semester at home figuring out what he is going to do in terms of where he will play,” Bains mentioned. “He is really head strong in terms of maturity and good grades so we support him as a human being,” Bains said about Etienne.

Jermaine Haley who recently de-committed from Washington, Bains suggests is still on par to qualify for a career at the D1 level, pondering a move to prep next season. Regarding Haley’s sweepstakes many schools who were in the mix before are still in it today chasing his signature, “Utah, UCLA, Memphis and Gonzaga. Washington have also recently reached out again so they’re not completely out of the picture.” Bains said.

As for a state of the union on the current  #1-rankled point guard in the Canadian 2017 class Izaiah Ugoalah?

“He has gotten a lot bigger, trained hard and he’s huge now.  About 6’5 pushing 200lbs.” Ugoalah at Sunrise is one of the youngest in the program as a sophomore and has a great chance at becoming the team’s starting floor general as a junior and senior in the future.

For the critics questioning the mental fortitude of British Columbia talent, a promising 2018 6’3” Miguel Tomley is currently in grade 9 playing at the senior level in Surrey BC. Tomley maybe the one who puts the unfair sterotype to rest. Reportedly “one of, if not the most aggressive player the west coast has ever saw. Dominating even the smallest of practice drills” a source on the BC hoop scene told Hoops Hype Canada.

2018 Miguel Tomley.

When Bains was asked about the freshman in high school that apparently is more aggressive then a good percentage of juniors and seniors in the province he reiterated it, “He’s tough and hard as nails. Starts and is probably the best player on his team,” Bains shared. “He’s going to be good,  always has been at the youth level.”

As a student-athlete a lot is going to be said about you – but all you can do is just try to move forward and aspire to achieve your goals. You can lable the past, present and future of west coast ballers this that and the third. However as long as D.R.I.V.E. is around and Bains is at the helm you can bet that character, integrity and really making an impact on these ballers life is their the ultimate vision and ultimate goal – bottom line.