TORONTO, Ontario-Last week’s McDonald’s All American Games highlighted some of the top scholastic players in the 2019 class from across America. While still rather new on the showcase basketball landscape, the Biosteel All Canadian Basketball Games are looking to do the same for our neighbors north of the border. Without a wall, (Wink!) Canadian basketball players have been a part of the American collegiate landscape for years and there are many more positioning themselves to be a part of US rosters in the future.
The 2019 Biosteel event was the fifth for Canadian boys basketball but just the first opportunity for some of the top girls to have a chance to show off a bit on the big stage. One difference between McDonalds and Biosteel is the participation of underclassmen while the Americans stick to the current senior class. The weekend in Ontario also included a Friday night “Futures Game” with primarily 2021 and 2022 class members participating. Sunday’s All Canadian game included 11 current seniors, 10 juniors and 3 high profile sophomores. While the Futures Game and practices were held at the Athlete Institute in Mono, Ontario, Sunday’s action was on the floor in the Goldring Centre on the campus of the University of Toronto and broadcast live on TSN, a Canadian equivalent of ESPN.
The first girls Biosteel All Canadian Game wasn’t exactly a nail biter but several players showed why they’re on college recruiting radars or in some cases, have already signed National Letters of Intent. When all was said and done the “White” team rolled past the “Red” squad easily posting a convincing 112 – 78 inaugural win. The White had six players in double figures led by junior forward Aaliyah Edwards (Crestwood Prep) 17 and UCLA signee and Brynn Masikewich’s (Lincoln Prep) 16. Masikewich paced the rebounding with 9 while Micah Dennis (Capital Courts Academy) pulled 8. Three others had 7 rebounds in the win for the White. Masikewich was named MVP for the White team.
In the loss, the Red got a standout MVP performance from junior guard and Louisville verbal Merissah Russell (Capital Courts Academy) who went for a double – double of 30 points and 10 rebounds. Russell was 11 for 25 from the floor including 4 for 7 from deep. Sophomore point guard Shayeann Day-Wilson (Crestwood Prep) added 14 more points while senior Sammie Martin (Southwest Academy) grabbed 8 rebounds.
The White team shot a combined 46 for 111 at 41.4 percent while the Red struggled connecting on 29 of 93 at 31.2 percent. The White also completely dominated the glass grabbing a total of 81 to just 52 for the Red in the loss. All Star basketball generally will produce more than its fair share of turnovers and Sunday’s action was no different with the Red giving it up 27 times and the White turning it over on 24 possessions yet still getting the win.
We’ve seen and profiled many of these athletes previously and look forward to seeing many more of them in the future. We didn’t include them all but here are a few of the standouts from the First Annual Biosteel All Canadian Girls Basketball Game and a few bonus players from Friday’s Futures Game.
Kiandra Brown – 2021 – Forward / Post – St. Laurent – Pointe-Claire, Quebec – Aggressive and attacking…Works equally well around the rim and from the high post…One and two dribble drive serves her well…Handles contact effectively…Didn’t finish well but created good looks…Physically strong and holds her position on the block…Plays with intensity on both ends of the floor (Note reclassification)
Jessica Clarke – 2020 – Forward / Post – St. Thomas Aquinas – North Vancouver, British Columbia – Nice length…Leaner build but good frame…Active…Works to make herself an option…Knows what she’s looking for…Textbook approach…Jump hook is there…Strength will need to evolve down the road
Shayeann Day-Wilson – 2021 – Point Guard – Crestwood Prep – Toronto, Ontario – Small but ultra-quick point…Pushes off makes, misses and turnovers…Navigates traffic effectively in transition…Change of speed and direction serve her well…Shot is off the shoulder to a degree at this point…Assertive on ball defender with the lateral speed and hands to be an impact defensively with focus…Lots of tools
Rebecca Demeke – 2020 – Guard – Crestwood Prep – Toronto, Ontario – Leaner athletic guard…Fluid movement with and without the ball…Active cutter…Gets out in transition…Crossover is efficient tool for her…Perimeter shot release is over her head at this point…Strong on ball defensively
Faith Dut – 2019 – Post – Semiahmoo Secondary – Surrey, British Columbia – University of Florida signee…Has plenty of size and length…All legs still…Agile and athletic…Has the tools to work low and out of the high post…Can put it on the floor to a degree for her size…Deceptive on the attack…Gets to the rim with lengthy first step…Physical tools make her a potential defensive impact presence…Strength and willingness to mix things up will be key…All about possibilities, lots of them
Aaliyah Edwards – 2020 – Forward – Crestwood Prep – Kingston, Ontario – Easily most impressive prospect…Strong, aggressive and relentless on both ends of the floor…Has added depth and refinement to her skill set…Making herself an option from multiple spots on the floor…Utilizes her size and strength to their max…Sets herself apart with not just what she does but how she does it…College ready with a year to add to and expand her game…Elite
Yvonne Ejim – 2020 – Wing / Forward – Bishop Carroll – Calgary, Alberta – Struggled to a degree in the game but practiced well…Versatility is there…Decent size, build and athleticism…Has tools…Deceptive first step…Got on the glass…Has the potential to make plays…Seen plenty of promise from her previously…Watch closely
Latasha Lattimore – 2021 – Post / Forward – Crestwood Prep – Toronto, Ontario – Continues to add to her game…Finding a new gear…Working to be an option both with and without the ball…Cutting harder…Gets out and runs the floor on the break…Looking for her own options more often…Choices are effective and productive…Doing much more off the dribble from trail spot in transition…Narrow base is still there on perimeter shot but the for m and touch are sound…Can be dominant at times
Brynn Masikewich – 2019 – Forward – Lincoln Prep – Calgary, Alberta – UCLA bound…Skilled and efficient…Reads and makes good decisions…Utilizes size and physical tools effectively…Active both with and without the ball…Knows how to create and develop options…Protects the ball taking it into traffic and going up with contact…Skill set serves her well from the perimeter into the block…Gets out in transition…Keeps herself in the middle of play on both ends
Merissah Russell – 2020 – Guard – Capital Courts Academy – Ottawa, Ontario – Louisville verbal commit…Dynamic with the ball in her hands…Ball skills allow her to develop looks…Smooth and fluid on the attack…Speed and direction are mixed well…Body control is impressive on both the drive and the pull up…Stroke is smooth spotting up or on the move…Elevates on the jumper and has the range to keep defenders honest…Physical growth and maturity is making her even harder to defended…Another year to add even more
A FEW FUTURES…
Kayley Joseph-Bernard – 2022 – Hamilton Transway – Nice length…Lots of legs to grow into…Athleticism is there…Can put it on the floor and get to the rim…Changes direction well at speed…Nice mix of physical and basketball possibilities…Could turn it up on defense
Kaya Charles – 2021 – Blessed Sacrament – Interior at this time…Nice frame…Hit from 15 feet…Got on the boards…Competes…got on the floor…Played with effort
Maya Chocano – 2022 – Caledon – Solid guard…Smart…Ball skills are there…Sees the floor and defenders…Footspeed on defense?
Shantavia Dawkins – 2022 – Southwest Academy – Lots of speed and quickness at the point…Acceleration with the ball gives her space…Mixes her speed well…Individual skills are sharp…Needs to set up teammates off her attack more often to keep defenders honest
Lemyah Hylton – 2022 – Southwest Academy – Wiry, athletic guard…Has speed and quickness both with and without the ball…Can create on the break and in the halfcourt…Makes plays…Needs to be more active without the ball…Slashes into the paint…Forces defenders to react…Should be improving shot options for teammates more off her penetration as well
Emma Koabel – 2022 – NGBA – Guard…Slasher…Ballskills get her in and through traffic…Can spot up and has range…Has some length for age…Gets out in the lanes in transition…Reads defenders and cuts effectively…Impressive feel for the game
Cheyenne Rowe – 2022 – Southwest Academy – Solid and strong…A little size is there at this point…Made plays down low and off the drive…Scraps and competes…Was a presence on the glass…Stepped out…Deceptive first step…Competed with intensity to set herself apart
