MOTION EXPRESS DIAMOND PRESS
www.motionballsports.ca
Coach : Erue White (Motion Basketball - Toronto)
Twitter : @R33MWORLD
Instagram : @Prking_White
Saturday, 31 August 2019
Thursday, 29 August 2019
Algonquin Mens Basketball vs La Cite
Algonquin Mens Basketball vs La Cite— R33M (@R33MWorld) August 30, 2019
Men’s Basketball at La Cite
Date & Time
Saturday October 19 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Venue
La Cite
801 Promenade de l'Aviation
Ottawa, Ontario K1K 4R3 Canada + Google Maphttps://t.co/qLLpFZKlND
Knicks rookie RJ Barrett signs multi-year deal with Puma, starts competition with other New York stars for shoe sales within city
Knicks rookie RJ Barrett signs multi-year deal with Puma, starts competition with other New York stars for shoe sales within city
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-rookie-rj-barrett-signs-multi-year-deal-with-puma-starts-competition-with-other-new-york-stars-for-shoe-sales/
New York Knicks rookie RJ Barrett, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, has signed an endorsement deal with Puma, as first reported by Nick DePaula of ESPN. Barrett revealed that while he considered other companies, he is happy to have landed with Puma.
"I waited for a long time, and I really just wanted to weigh my options," Barrett said. "I really looked at Nike and Adidas hard, but at the end of the day, it came down to Puma and I'm very happy and excited to be a part of the Puma family."
Puma has wasted no time getting Barrett's image out there in his new home market. They have already plastered images of him around midtown, and the company is launching a new flagship store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan this weekend.
Why LaMelo Ball could be a top-5 NBA Draft prospect in 2020
Why LaMelo Ball could be a top-5 NBA Draft prospect in 2020
LaMelo Ball is a big, creative point guard
Scouting Ball’s game starts with the realization that the awkward 13-year-old we once saw chucking from halfcourt is long gone. Ball has matured into a legitimate 6’6 or 6’7 point guard, which already puts him in elite company for positional size as an 18-year-old well before he reaches the NBA.
Ball’s height amplifies his next outlier quality: his passing ability. It’s not just that Ball can see over the opposing defense. His size also helps him get unique angles to fire passes few point guards his age would ever attempt. Like his older brother Lonzo, the youngest Ball is wired to pass first, score second. .
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Wednesday, 28 August 2019
FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019: Canada coach Nick Nurse confirms Cory Joseph will meet team in China: 'He'll be there'
FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019: Canada coach Nick Nurse confirms Cory Joseph will meet team in China: 'He'll be there'
After conflicting reports of the availability of Cory Joseph for the FIBA World Cup, Canada coach Nick Nurse says the point guard will link up with the squad in China after missing their tour of Australia.https://ca.nba.com/news/fiba-basketball-world-cup-2019-canada-coach-nick-nurse-confirms-cory-joseph-will-meet-team-in-china/1l38j1iobpc92182l19ed0fl7b
Bill Crothers 2019 Prep Roster
Bill Crothers 2019 Prep Roster ...— R33M (@R33MWorld) August 28, 2019
Looks like they won’t be at the bottom or near this season in the @ontariosba they added some serious offensive weapons notably last years scoring Champion Kobe Elvis .. @billcrothersprep @KingNationAAU pic.twitter.com/zzDyx8bamO
RJ Barrett Signs with PUMA..
If you know him its not a surprise. Walk your own path RJ. Congrats son. Lead the way. Size 12 please😁 #BTOWN #SHOWDEM https://t.co/4ugIzBYL7D— Msw1 (@816343dfcbce46e) August 28, 2019
MADISON, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 11: RJ Barrett of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Selected third overall by the New York Knicks’ in June’s NBA Draft, Barrett posted 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while at Duke University.
The Puma situation with Barrett is not really a surprise. Recently in a game against NBA 2K’s Ronnie Singh, Barrett is sporting a Puma full-zip jacket.
He also wore Puma sneakers during his NBA rookie photo shoot.
Barrett is set to make an announcement today at 4:30 PM during a launch of a brand new Puma store located in Manhattan as per Barrett’s Instagram account.
Over the last few years, Puma has been instrumental in hoops rebranding.
Last year, Puma named Jay-Z a creative director of the shoe. In that role he worked with the art direction for Puma’s shoes by ashaping the general concept of the revived basketball division.
The Phoenix Suns’ Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers’ Danny Green and DeMarcus Cousins as well as the WNBA’s Skylar Diggins-Smith all wear Puma.
Barrett is not the only New York Knicks player to don puma kicks. He’ll join fellow New York Knicks, Allonzo Triier, Kevin Knox, Bobby Portis & Knicks Hall of Famer Walt Frazier as wearers of the shoe brand.
Some peg RJ Barrett as a potential NBA Rookie of the Year.
“I’m definitely going for rookie of the year for sure,” Barrett said earlier this summer.
“It’s going to be a battle. But I’m confident enough that I can get it.”
“When you look at R.J. Barrett the kid. I think he’s built for the big stage,” NBA analyst, Rashad Phillips tells the Scoop B Radio Podcast.
“I think he likes to play on the high stage. I think he loves to play under the lights, the popcorn smell I like to say. I think New York is the perfect place for a guy like that. New York is not for everybody. But there’s a few players in this draft that can play in front of those type of people and have an impact. I think RJ Barrett is one of the few that can handle New York.”
The Knicks have not been to the NBA Playoffs since 2013 and finished this past season with a 17-65 record.
This coming season, the orange and blue will feature a young roster that includes Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Dennis Smith Jr.
“I think we going to have a lot of young pieces this year that are going to gel together,” Bobby Portis told me.
“I’d say this is going to be a great group of guys that are going to be together,” Barrett said at his introductory press conference.
“We’re all excited for Coach Fizdale. This is the biggest stage. So yeah, I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to play.”
That fair though process echoes Knicks President Steve Mills.
“I think we’re asking [fans] to continue to be patient,” Mills said recently.
“We laid out a plan when [GM] Scott [Perry] came on board and then [coach] David [Fizdale] joined us that we were going to build this team the right way,” Mills added. “We were going to draft well and we were going to be diligent about how we built this team, and not take any shortcuts.”
The Raptors are using their G League team like a European soccer club, and it’s working
The Raptors are using their G League team like a European soccer club, and it’s working
https://www.sbnation.com/2019/8/22/20801451/raptors-905-g-league-team-player-development-pascal-siakam-fred-vanvleet
The Raptors’ all-in commitment to player development could be a model for the rest of the NBA
The 905 had no shortage of talent last season, boasting the league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in Chris Boucher, and another all-star in Jordan Loyd. Both came to Toronto at the start of the season with something to prove: Boucher and Loyd went undrafted in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Last season, Boucher was third in the G League averaging 27.2 points per game while shooting 61.8 percent on two-point shots. Loyd led the G League in win shares and was second on the team averaging 22.5 points per game. The duo made significant leaps over the season and reaped the rewards. On Feb. 10, the Raptors announced they were signing Boucher to an NBA contract after he had signed a two-way deal at the start of the 2018-19 season. Loyd’s play was good enough to attract the attentions of European scouts, which led to a deal with Valencia in Spain.
https://www.sbnation.com/2019/8/22/20801451/raptors-905-g-league-team-player-development-pascal-siakam-fred-vanvleet
The Raptors’ all-in commitment to player development could be a model for the rest of the NBA
Getting nothing in return when your best player walks away is painful. It can turn a contending team into to a rebuild overnight. The Cleveland Cavaliers had to go through this heartache twice after LeBron James left in free agency. But if you have a good foundation in place, you can soften the blow.
Such is the case with the Toronto Raptors. Even after the loss of Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers, they have a nice core intact and should remain a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. While Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol will be veteran leaders, the Raptors now revolve around much younger players. Pascal Siakam looks like a future star. Fred VanVleet came up big in the NBA Finals, averaging 14 points per game against the Golden State Warriors. Norm Powell and OG Anunoby can be solid role players.
Toronto’s foundation starts with their G League franchise, the Raptors 905. Using a slightly altered method to the way soccer clubs approach their second teams, the Raptors have utilized the 905 to nurture the rise of their younger players. Siakam, VanVleet, and Powell all spent time with the team before becoming major contributors to an NBA title squad. The 905 is not only a talent pipeline, but reinforces the Raptors as an organization that cares about player and culture development.
In European club soccer, development is vital
Unlike the United States’ big four sports franchises, European soccer clubs start recruiting players at a particularly young age. Most clubs have youth teams with kids between the ages of 6 and 10. Those players get more fine tuned within the club system, and incrementally become better soccer players. If a player does well enough on any of these teams, they progress up a ladder.
As players get older, the battle for playing time gets more difficult. Sometimes players leave for different academies or get dropped from their contracts. Once players reach the highest level of the academy, usually the U21 team, clubs have to make a decision. They can either sign the player to a professional contract — playing them in the first team, or sending them on loan to a different club for more experience — or they can let the player walk as a free agent. The system is ruthless, but it also rewards teams for developing players themselve
In European soccer, players move all the time. The transfer window is filled with crazy deals and superstars switching clubs overnight. For clubs such as Southampton in England, Borussia Dortmund in Germany, and Stade Rennes in France, having robust development systems has been a major boost in a sport that’s weighted towards those with the most money. They have been able to manage losing star talent by finding replacements on their B-teams. They develop these young talents, watch them grow on the main team for a few years, and replace them when they are moved for a huge fee to a bigger club.
The 905 are the Raptors’ own mini-academy
The Raptors 905 began operations in 2015, but they have quickly risen up the ranks to become one of the G League’s premier franchises. They have made the G League playoffs the last three seasons running, winning it all in 2016 and making the finals in 2017. Last season, they went 29-21 and tied for second in the Atlantic Division, going all the way to the conference semifinals before losing to the Long Island Nets.
The 905 couldn’t have had a bigger endorsement than the NBA Finals. Including Loyd and point guard Malcolm Miller, Raptors 905 general manager Chad Sanders notes that there were six players with 905 experience in the NBA Finals.
Siakam tore up the Warriors in transition, scoring 32 points in Game 1 and averaging 19.8 points for the series. He also scored a floater to put the Raptors up three with 26.5 seconds left in Game 6. VanVleet looked like he couldn’t miss against the Warriors, shooting 40 percent from three and knocking down a step-back jumper late in the fourth quarter of the championship clincher. For players who hadn’t made it past the NBA Conference Semifinals prior to 2019, they looked comfortable hitting clutch shots in pressure-packed moments. But Siakam and VanVleet have been through these sort of moments before in the G League Playoffs.
“I think if you look at the big shots Fred hit in Game 6 of the Finals, you can trace those back to the ones he hit back in the G League championship two years prior,” Raptors 905 head coach Jama Mahlalela tells SB Nation. “The minutes that they got and the reps that they got on the court in those relatively big moments in the G League helped them in the super big moments in the NBA.”
That big-moment experience was a result of the 905’s dedication to staying competitive. The franchise could focus on developing one or two good players to the detriment of the overall team, but the 905 aren’t afraid to spend time coaching unproven players, or taking second looks at players who were once considered potential stars. Last season, they brought in former first round picks Malachi Richardson and Wade Baldwin IV to compete for minutes. The 905 are also active in the trade market, acquiring Toronto native MiKyle McIntosh last December.
The Raptors and the 905 run similar offenses, making the transition easier for players moving back and forth between the teams. Moving to the NBA is a tough adjustment: the pace is much quicker, and players want to make an impact in the limited minutes they have.
“I think for us the program that [the 905] run is so aligned with the Raptors that it became something that was manageable because we ran so many things that the Raptors ran,” Mahlalela says. “Same offense, same flows, same terminology.”
Mahlalela is entering his second season as the 905 head coach. It’s easy to see the Raptors’ commitment to development in his own career path — Mahlalela spent five years as a Raptors assistant before taking over the G League squad.
Tuesday, 27 August 2019
'Great fit': Mississauga's Vladimir Lukomski continuing basketball career at Wilfrid Laurier University
'Great fit': Mississauga's Vladimir Lukomski continuing basketball career at Wilfrid Laurier University
https://www.mississauga.com/community-story/9427583--great-fit-mississauga-s-vladimir-lukomski-continuing-basketball-career-at-wilfrid-laurier-university/
Vladimir Lukomski has always wanted to challenge himself as a basketball player.
That kind of mindset is what inspired him to go from playing varsity basketball with St. Marcellinus in Mississauga to prep ball, first with RISE Academy in Brantford, then with Moravian Prep in North Carolina.
"My goal going down (to Moravian Prep last year) was to play against top competition," said Lukomski, who has committed to playing for Wilfrid Laurier University next season. "I wanted to see how I rank up against those guys and to push myself."While many talented players go through the prep route in hopes of landing an NCAA scholarship, Lukomski is happy to return home and test himself in the U SPORTS system.
In recent years, Lukomski feels some Canadian universities, including Laurier, have become as competitive as low- to mid-major programs in the United States. He believes Laurier's program will help him reach his goal of playing professional basketball after university.He did a lot of research on his options and found, through talking to some people, that as coveted as NCAA Division 1 is, some people may fall for the bells and whistles and not get the most out of their experience going through that route.
"It's a great option here and a lot of pro teams are watching here in Canada," he said. "I'm really happy I found this great fit with Laurier and coach Justin (Serresse)."
Before he committed to RISE Prep for his Grade 12 year in 2017, Lukomski led the St. Marcellinus Spirit to the 2016-17 Region of Peel Secondary School Athletic Association (ROPSSAA) championship.
In his last season at St. Marcellinus, he also earned several individual honours, including the title of Mr. Peel Basketball. He thanked a number of people at St. Marcellinus for helping him reach his goals.
Callum Baker Committed to Fairleigh Dickinson Basketball
Callum Baker Committed to Fairleigh Dickinson Basketball
https://fduknights.com/news/2019/5/13/mens-basketball-callum-baker-signs-nli-to-join-fairleigh-dickinson-basketball.aspx
HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Fairleigh Dickinson head men's basketball coach Greg Herenda announced on Monday that Callum Baker has officially signed his National Letter of Intent to join the Knights next season.
Baker arrives at FDU from Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, Maryland where he averaged 15 points, five assists, four rebounds and 3.5 steals per game last season. The 6-foot-2 guard hails from Oakville, Ontario, which is a suburban town located about 25 miles south of Toronto.
On the addition of Baker to the program, head coach Greg Herenda said, "We are all very excited about Callum joining the FDU basketball family. He will fit right into our culture, style of play, and our history of great guard play. Callum plays very fast, has the ability to make plays off the dribble and can really shoot the ball."
Last season, Baker helped lead the Spartans to a 20-8 record including a perfect 7-0 mark in the region.
"I'm very excited to begin this journey as a member of the FDU family," said Baker. "I knew from the first time I visited the campus that FDU would be the university where I pursue my post-secondary education. The coaches and players made my family and I feel welcome and I instantly felt like I was at home. FDU will not only help me obtain my athletic goals, but will also help me achieve my academic goals. I look forward to developing under Coach Herenda and the FDU staff and making this season even more successful than the last."
Baker joins previously announced 2019-20 additions Brandon Rush, Devon Dunn and Danny Rodriguez.
Herenda concluded, "Callum has been extremely well-coached at all levels, is a tremendous student and represents his family in a first-class fashion. He is a Knight in every sense of the word. Today is a very exciting day for FDU Basketball."
Anthony Daudu Committed to University of Toronto
Anthony Daudu Committed to University of Toronto
https://varsityblues.ca/news/2019/4/30/three-players-commit-to-mens-basketball-in-2019-20.aspx
Anthony Daudu
Anthony Daudu is a 6-foot-7 forward that joins the Blues from Ridley College in St. Catharines, Ont. There, the Mississauga, Ont., native was named the team's rookie of the year and also earned the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) all-academic award.
"Anthony will have an immediate impact on our program," said Varsity Blues head coach John Campbell. "He is a tremendous defender and rebounder who has the ability to play multiple positions. His experience in the OSBA prepared him well for university basketball."
Burlington, Ont. native Jaylen Passley to join Basketball Axemen in the fall
Burlington, Ont. native Passley to join Basketball Axemen in the fall
http://www.acadiaathletics.ca/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20190628kmd34e
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia University's Axemen basketball head coach Kevin Duffie announced today the commitment by Burlington, Ont. native Jaylen Passley to join the Acadia men's basketball team this coming fall.
http://www.acadiaathletics.ca/sports/mbkb/2019-20/releases/20190628kmd34e
WOLFVILLE, N.S. – Acadia University's Axemen basketball head coach Kevin Duffie announced today the commitment by Burlington, Ont. native Jaylen Passley to join the Acadia men's basketball team this coming fall.
As a 6'2 guard with the men's basketball squad at King's Christian Academy, Passley's team finished third in the 2018-19 West standings of the OSBA with an 11-8 record.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Jaylen to our program. He is a great person and has a high ceiling as a basketball player. He comes in with a body and a mindset to compete right away in our environment. He is the type of high caliber student and athlete we attract to Acadia," noted Duffie.
Passley chose Acadia based on the school's excellent academic achievement – the highest number of U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians proportional to the school's size and the great support offered in high-performance training, academics and well-being support services.
"I thought the University was the best fit for me. Academically, I know the program is based on excellence. Historically, they have proven their success and I would like to add to that history. Athletically, I like the small town vibe with a big atmosphere. I look forward to working with experienced coaches who bring plenty of knowledge and will help me reach my full potential," said Passley.
The Axemen open the AUS regular season at home on Sat. Nov. 2 against the visiting Cape Breton Capers.
X-Men basketball announces addition of OSBA playoff MVP Avan Nava to line-up
X-Men basketball announces addition of OSBA playoff MVP Avan Nava to line-up
Mar 29, 2019
Antigonish, NS - StFX X-Men basketball coach Steve Konchalski is pleased to announce the addition of 6'2" guard Avan Nava to the X-Men line-up for the 2019-20 season.
A key recruit out of Ontario, Nava led TRC Academy to the 2018-19 Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) championship this month as he was voted the tournament's most valuable player.
A native of Mississauga, Ont., Nava is a three-time OSBA finalist and back to back champion, having won in both 2017-18 and 2018-19. He averaged 16.4 points per game, 4.1 assists per game and 3.5 rebounds per game this past season. An outstanding three-point shooter, he connected on 35% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Coach Konchalski comments, "Avan adds a huge piece to our evolving recruiting class as he has proven that he can be successful at a very high level after leading his team to multiple championships. In addition to being an outstanding three-point shooter, he is capable of playing the lead guard position as well. He wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line."
Nava is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at StFX for the fall.
Another Kitchener resident headed east to play university hoops - Marcus Masters
Another Kitchener resident headed east to play university hoops
Marcus Master Committed to University of New Brunswick Reds USports
Another member of the Masters' family is heading to the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.
On Wednesday, Kitchener's Marcus Masters signed his letter of intent to play with the UNB Reds men's basketball team, starting next season.
His brother, Javon, made a name for himself in five seasons with the Reds, setting a number of records, establishing a U SPORTS career scoring record of 2407 points, an Atlantic University Sport free throws made record of 772, and a UNB record for assists with 439.
Marcus said his older brother played a big role in his recruiting."I listened to what he had to say, but when it came to wanting me to come here, he wasn't biased, he just wanted me to make the best decision for me." he said in a release.
"I don't see it as playing in his shadow, more of building the family legacy at UNB and helping win multiple championships," added Masters, who's a five-foot-ten guard.
Marcus Masters averaged close to 20 points a game this past season with the Toronto Basketball Academy.
He will pursue a Bachelor of Arts at UNB.
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