Recent sound bites coming from 2016 Jamal Murray’s camp are indicating he is now determined to be a point guard in college.
The Kitchener, Ontario native Murray who is unselfish and standing close to 6’5″ has great size at the point guard spot. For his high school team Athlete Institute (Orangeville, ON) it wasn’t always the case,
“Early in the year we had him off the ball and he was really scoring at the clip you got a chance to see on Friday night” Athlete Institute Head Coach Larry Blunt said. “We moved him back to the point guard which is his natural position and the position he would be.”
Some argue Murray at the one is not what grew his legacy. Murray made a name for himself for his flat out scoring mentality. Instead of becoming one dimensional, Murray feels he has the intangibles and poise to play point guard.
“From his perspective, he really wants to get his teammates involved and do what it takes to win. I think he’s continuing to grow and develop as a point guard and as he gets more comfortable I think you can see when he turns it on he’s special.” Coach Blunt told Scouts.com
Regardless where Murray is slotted in any line up, college coaches are beginning to line up for his post secondary services. He has allready attended a Syracuse game and others according to his high school coach.
“We may go back to Syracuse, the problem is right now for us in our first season we’ve traveled a ton. We’ve been to Georgetown, we’ve been down to NC State to see a game while we were on the road.” Blunt concluded.
Colleges are already taking notice of the qualities Jamal Murray possesses, regularly hearing from Syracuse, Kansas State, Illinois, N.C. State, and Michigan, among others. His sweepstakes continues…
Representing Mississauga, Ontario is Christian Hewitt. Standing 6’4 tall, the class of 2014 guard who attended high school at Father Henry Carr in Toronto, has recently decided to take his talents for a post grad year to Project Uplift Academy in Nevada.
Steven Kerr, Robert Horry and Reggie Miller are three of the best three-point shooters of all time. In Canadian High School basketball ranks, Christian Hewitt is arguably one of the best three-point shooters of all time as well. Despite a offensive game that tends to focus on a barrage of three point splashes, Hewitt’s game is not one dimensional at all. Hewitt’s varied arsenal of shots allows him to keep the defense honest and to steadily make threes when they are needed most. Father Henry Carr’s current head coach Paul Melnik when asked to comment on Hewitt’s tenure at FHC raved,
Christian Hewitt Class of 2014 6’4′ Guard
“Christian Hewitt had a great 4 year career at FHC.. winning 4 TDCAA Championships. 2 junior and 2 senior. He was a joy to have in the classroom and gymnasium. Fabulous teammate and hard worker… I will personally miss this young man. He is another tremendous Crusader in a long line of Crusaders”
Since arriving at FHC Hewitt has a well-earned reputation as one of the most clutch players in Canadian High school basketball, Coach Melnik can testify,
“As the fourth quarter of the OFSAA Championships wound down and we trailed by 8 points, it was Christian who demanded the ball and hit GIGANTIC three point shots to get us into overtime.”
Christian Hewitt isn’t just a shooter, he is a cold-blooded sniper. Very few north of the border were as consistent and reliable at what they did behind the arc as Hewitt was while playing HS ball domestically.
When you look at the best three-point shooters they aren’t defined by just being really good at making shots from long distance. Elite shooters sometimes look like they are playing pop-a-shot from 23 feet out, but they also inspire confidence in their teammates. Whether in a starting role or as a sixth-man off the bench to energize the second unit , Christian Hewitt is that dude.
Recently Hoops Hype Canada (HHC) caught up with the 3 point assassin and he spoke about his past, present and future. A brief Q & A with another young Canadian who is ready to take his talents south of the border.
Your move from Henry Carr Crusaders to Project Lift Academy in Nevada. Can you touch on the move and how it may be the best fit for your HS career?
The move will be tough, leaving my family, friends and teammates for such long periods at a time. It would be different if I was going to a school on the East Coast, but I’m moving across the country to the West Coast, which is a longer way from home than I anticipated but this move will push me to become more independent and help me get ready for the next level of basketball.
Playing for a new coach is also going to be a huge change for me, I’ve known Coach Melnik since I was 14, getting used to his coaching style and what he expects from me each game. Starting with a new Coach is going to be an adjustment for me, but the good thing is I will be trained in a different way, and taught from a new person which gives me the chance to grow as a player.
How was your experience of playing at FHC? Under Coach Melnik?
Playing at FHC was the best four years of basketball I’ve ever had. I gained a lot of confidence as an individual player, learned how to work as a team player, and become a stronger leader on the court each season. Coach Melnik has taught me a lot, he made me a competitive player which pushed me to work hard on myself. I remember in practice we would scrimmage and once Melnik said “game to seven”, we all hated each other and Melnyk would have to break us up. We took everything personal, which made us stronger and that’s how I play now, I take everything personal and let it that be my motivation.
What would coach Hickerson be getting in Hewitt? On and off the court?
On the court Coach Hickerson would be getting a player that wants to help push everybody as well as himself to become better in every aspect of basketball. He would be gaining an incredible three point shooter who can also create plays on and off the ball, who would take charges and work extremely hard on defense. I’m the player who loves to win and hates to lose but will always take something from a loss and perfect it for my next game. Off the court he would be getting a player that tries to get better every day, as a student, player, and teammate. I work hard on my own time, and I always motivate my teammates to do the same.
Hewitt has allready recieved strong interset from NCAA programs.
How was your summer travelling the AAU circuit with CIA Bounce and thoughts on your tenure with the program?
I’ve been playing with Bounce for 5 years, and it was a great experience playing with them during my summers. Going on road trips with my Bounce family, just felt like home. Everyone knew everyone, it didn’t matter how old you were or your skill level, you were treated the same as all teammates. Being a huge part of my development, they helped make me who I am today, pushing me to work hard on and off the court.
Any dream college?
My dream college is Syracuse, I’ve been wanting to go there since I was 8.
Favorite Player?
My favorite players are LeBron James and Stephen Curry.
There you have it. A baller status update from Christian Hewitt himself. Young Hewitt is already garnering strong interest from schools such as Boston College, Davidson, Creighton and Siena. A list that should only increase if Hewitt continues to produce efficiently from beyond the arc while playing south of the border. No doubt in our minds come 2014 Christian Hewitt will be a huge part of a NCAA programs offensive strategies. Good luck to Christian on the next step of his journey.
The NBL tips off in November. First overall NBL draft pick Alex Johnson can’t wait.
Monday night in Markham, Ontario, 25 year old 5’10 PG Alex Johnson from the Lawrence Heights community in Toronto made history as the first ever Canadian to be selected first overall in the Canadian National Basketball League.
Lawrence Heights community in Toronto is often referred to as the “Jungle” by residents in reference to the fact that cab drivers and visitors got lost in the unfamiliar maze of courts which is unusual for Toronto. Then thanks in part to media sensationalism, the greater communities began to associate the moniker to the levels of crime within the maze of affordable housing projects.
NC State in 2011-12. Before playing pro in Romania.
Now parts of Canadian basketball history will forever have “jungle” roots. Home of Alex Johnson. 24 hours after a monumental Monday, that saw the Ottawa Sky Hawks make a historic move selecting Alex Johnson a Canadian from Toronto as the first overall pick in the 2013 NBL Canada draft. Hoops Hype Canada (HHC) caught up with Johnson via telephone from his hotel room in Ottawa, Ontario. Check out the journey of Basketball Canada’s newest King Of The Jungle.
HHC: First and foremost Congratulations! Your HS career you attended Vaughn Road Academy @ the corner of Vaughn and Oakwood. Any fond memories or influential coaches through high school?
AJ: When I got there, I looked at the record books and we had not won a championship since like 1940’s. We won a gold in the “AA” championships as a sophomore and in my junior year we won silver at the “AAA” championships. As for coaches Wilton Hall.
HHC: From Vaughan Road you decided to attend college at Cal State Bakersfield.
How did that opportunity transpire?
AJ: Grassroots was a major part of my development. Other coaches like my high school, John Clara and Wayne Dawkins. Coach Ro Russell though was the main guy who took a chance on me. When a lot of coaches saw me they thought my height was an issue for them but coach Ro would tell me I could come to his program and really excel. Just from the start going on all the AAU trips and with my last year of high school I was like “Coach Ro, I want to pursue playing in the States.” He was always like don’t worry that he would find me a school. He was able to do get me my first Division 1 offer.
HHC: Cal State Bakersfield. What made the Road Runners the lucky ones to obtain your services? I mean, you were pretty highly touted coming out of Toronto. Borderline All-American and word was you turned down other offers from Georgia etc…
AJ: I had offers from Georgia, Cal St, Northridge, Utah St, I just really enjoyed the Cal St Bakersfield coaching staff. Went I went on my visit to Cal State the coaching staff was just so genuine I didn’t even feel the need to go on other visits. That’s why I signed there.
HHC: You graduated early @ Cal State. Played 2 seasons, then before your junior year you experienced a injury (Torn ACL) forcing you to red shirt before a third season at Cal State Bakersfield. How did you make the jump to NC State after your Junior year and why?
AJ: I graduated early and after my Junior year of averaging like 14 points…I kind of approached Coach Ro again and said “I want to play on T.V. like Corey and Tristan” He came up with NC State. He got me both of my schools. That’s why I’ve been part of the Grassroots family forever and feel obligated to give back. Just this summer I coached the U13 AAU team.
HHC: N.C. State but any other programs you contemplated?
Former Wolfpack player Alex Johnson was recently the top pick in the NBL Canada draft.
AJ: What is crazy is how Coach Ro pretty much markets you, I told him if he wasn’t a coach he could be a good agent. Just how he approaches the situation. When I talked to him about what schools he had for me Coach was like we got Florida St, we got Utah St, NC State, Butler I was like man those are some pretty good schools.
HHC What sealed the NC State deal?
AJ: Visit was really nice, just from the start, the fan base was just wild. Hitting me up before I even landed. Was pretty impressed with that. Facilities were very nice and they had some of the best coaching staff’s like Bobby Lutz and Mark Gottfried.
HHC: Did the NC State experience go as expected or even better?
AJ: Was kind of a different role. Cal State they needed me to score. Whereas when I was at NC state I was more of a distributor just because we had guys like Lorenzo Brown, Scott Wood, CJ Leslie and Richard Howell. 4 potential NBA guys on the team so it was more of a distributing role over scoring.
HHC: From NC state you landed your first professional gig in Romania. Played on Denham Browns team and against guys like Canadian International Jevon Sheppard. How was that Romanian experience?
AJ: It was a pretty good league just as far as talent wise. You have guys like Jevon Sheppard and Denham Brown some of the best scorers in Toronto just for them to come over and play in the league was interesting and competitive.
HHC: In Romania after your season ended at what point does Canada’s NBL get on your radar?
AJ: It was kind of spur of the moment. I actually just went to the NBL combine draft to show some support to a friend Oliver Prince. I had my shoes in his car. It’s hard to just sit there and watch basketball. So I was itching to play basketball to put on a jersey and ended up playing. Played the whole day and then in the All Star game.
Ottawa Sky Hawks one of 9 teams in the NBL who will play 40 regular season games.
HHC: Sunday night before the draft, did you think you had a shot at first overall?
AJ: Definitely. Just how my phone was ringing from all the teams just showing they’re interest. Even Ottawa, coming to “Jungle” and coming to see me and actually talk to me face to face. I told a lot of my friends it was like playing NBA 2k the my player mode.
HHC: What was your initial reaction to hearing the first pick and who joined you at the draft table?
AJ: It was kind of a surprise to me, I was told I could go anywhere from 1 to 5. Then to hear my name being called the feeling was pretty good. With me was my Mom and my cousin.
HHC: Canada basketball have you ever represented them growing up? Is it a goal of yours in the future?
AJ: Team Ontario was the biggest thing I was a part of growing up. Definitely I would love to be part of Canada basketball. It has some of its best talent right now on the team.
HHC: How has the Canadian Basketball family treated you since the historic draft day?
AJ: Just to go on my twitter and see all the mentions I’ve gotten and all face book postings everybody congratulating me I’m so appreciative and blessed to be drafted number one and just have all this love coming back. My phone has been dead these past couple days.
HHC: Any contract details or on court predictions for the upcoming Ottawa Sky Hawks season?
AJ: I’m still trying to take it all in I haven’t looked at the schedule yet. Still unsure and still going to talk about details as fact as contracts go here in the next few days with my agent. I know Ottawa’s a great city and the fans are very supportive. I’m trying to bring leadership and be a people person and hopefully be one of the fan favourites. Whatever the team needs from me then that’s what I’ll bring.
HHC: You’ve strived standing only 5 foot 10 inches. Any words of encouragement to the small guys growing up who get overlooked because of size?
Johnson has a knack for knocking them down from down town.
AJ: If you can play this game you be given the opportunity to show people what you can do. You see guys like Nate Robinson and Isaiah Thomas and how successful they’ve been. Their size is overlooked because of how good they can play. So definitely opportunity exists no matter the size.
There you have it. Q & A with the pioneer Canadian of the NBL himself Alex Johnson. Look forward to watching Alex lead the club from our nation’s capital to contention this winter. Click here for a review of Monday nights draft in Markham, Ontario.
Andrew Wiggins and Montaque Gill-Ceaser both attended Vaughan Secondary School in Ontario and ultimately went to Huntington (W.V.) Prep. Gill-Caesar also plays for CIA Bounce, the same Toronto-based summer-league team that produced Wiggins. They were teammates last year and remain very close friends, even with Wiggins now off to Kansas after perhaps the most hyped recruitment in recent history.
“I talk to him every day just to see how he’s doing at school, what college is like,” Gill-Caesar said of Wiggins, who attended summer school at Kansas. “He gives me a lot of advice. He told me athleticism is not really going to get you that far.”
Poster boy for #CdnBallers at Huntington (WV) Prep. Class of 2015 6-ft-5 SF Montague Gill-Caeser
As far as his own recruitment, Gill-Caesar holds offers from Baylor, West Virginia, Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State and Alabama, according to Huntington (W.V.) Prep head coach Rob Fulford.
He also has interest from Kentucky and recently got a call from head coach John Calipari.
“He just said he likes my improvements,” Gill-Caesar said. “When he saw me during the season he likes how I handle the ball, how I handle the pressure.”
After a long winter of MGC & Wiggins going at it every day in a open gym, still no bigger fan of Gill-Caesar, or “Teki” as he is nicknamed then Andrew Wiggins himself.
“Teki is the next big thing, no question about it,” said Wiggins “He’s 6-foot-5 and growing and he’s talented. I’m telling you he’s definitely going to be the guy. Trust me, I’ve known him forever.”
Gill-Caesar and Wiggins grew up in Ontario and even attended Glen Shields Elementary together! The pair spent a summer together playing for the same AAU program, CIA Bounce (Canada). That’s when Wiggins started to talk to Gill-Caesar about coming to play in the U.S.
“He would always tell me about how good the competition is over here and I love competition,” Gill-Caesar said. “Finally, I decided to come over and play with him after I had a strong summer.”
Teki had a strong first year in West Virginia His invite to this summers NBPA Top 100 Camp is a reflection. Followed by a strong AAU circuit. Let the Teki HIGH MAJOR Sweepstakes begin…
