Sim Bhullar & Raptors A Perfect Marriage

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Hoops Hype Canada

Toronto’s 7-foot-5 native son Sim Bhullar, a New Mexico State sophmore will ‘prepare for the NBA draft’ over the next couple of months according to Hoops Hype Canada sources.

It was 2011 when Bhullar was featured in a New York Times Interview for drawing comparisons to former first overall pick Yao Ming. Yao and his monstrous presence in the NBA positively effected the popularizing Chinese basketball market in China. Many close to NBA circles feel Sim Bhullar could do the same for a nation like India. A country with a population well over a billion.

Experts in 2011 suggested that it would take two years at the very least for Bhullar to become a bonafide NBA draft prospect. His time has arrived. Back to back college seasons later and the young man now has back to back Western Athletic Conference Tournament MVP’s on his resume along with some sexy statistics.

Sim as a sophmore averaged 10.4 points and 7.8 boards in addidition to 3.4 blocks per game. Including 14 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his final four games.

During his AAU career he rose to prominence after a 12-point, eight-rebound performance when he was matched against 76′ers Nerlens Noel.

Bhullar becoming an NBA player next season via the NBA entry draft is not far fetched,

“He could get drafted, because he is massive, but not sure he plays.” Basketball Insiders Steve Kyler told Hoops Hype Canada Saturday morning.

“65 FG% and better than 7 boards a game, he’s an interesting project for a big. I think he’s bigger than the listed 355lbs.” Kyler added.

For Sim Bhullar to forego his junior and senior seasons it means one of two things.

One, Bhullar is worried about his shelf life, for example Yao Ming also 7-foot-5 was drafted at age 21 and in July 2011, at 27 years old Yao announced his retirement from professional basketball due to a series of foot and ankle injuries which forced him to miss 250 games in his last six seasons.

Sim allready 21 years old will turn 22 in December.

In Las Cruces, New Mexico where Sim attends University a Men’s Basketball beat writer told Hoops Hype Canada Bhullar hasn’t declared for the draft but also didn’t deny the possibility despite adding some skepticism,

“Shelf life should be a factor. Injured two of three last year’s here. My opinion is he’s further away from even getting drafted” Sun News writer Jason Groveswrote via dialogue online.

“Yao was a lock. Sim would be a flyer” Groves added.

New Mexico State assistant coach Paul Weir also is a native of Toronto and last summer recruited Sim’s younger brother Tanveer to New Mexico State. At 7-foot-3 Tanveer is more of a face up big who enjoys knocking down twelve footers operating primarily in the high post contrary to older brother Sim who tends to dominate down low.

Weir in an interview with Hoops Hype Canada had this to say about Sim last August,

“Most exciting part about Sim is that so many of his abilities you can’t teach. Size, hands, IQ, passing and vision, etc. If he ever gets the things you can change down – stamina, speed, strength – he can be special” Coach Weir answered.

About Bhullar’s pending draft status Coach Weir like Sim also refrained from commenting on the situation. A situation similar to when younger brother Tanveer was expected to redshirt this past 2013-14 season (which he did), Weir with writing on the wall vehemently denied commenting on the obvious.

Second reason to leave Las Cruces before graduating would be if the Canadian back to the basket shot blocker has been rest assured that he will be drafted by an NBA franchise and their draft day brass.

“Raptors hold what looks like a pick at 58 – so real possible.” Steve Kyler concluded.

Could the Toronto Raptors who next season will celebrate their anniversary for twenty years of existence have giant plans?

Allready appointed the hosts of the 2016 All Star Game, the franchise recently appointed Hip Hop mogul Drake to be their ‘Global Ambassador’.

If all plans fall accordingly the 7-foot-5 Bhullar could not only become the second Canadian baller (Toronto, ON’s Jamal Magloire) to dress for the lone Canadian franchise but also its second Global Ambassador.

It’s time for the NBA to tap into the Indian market which has one of the globes largest population in the world. Sim Bhullar can be the first with Indian blood to do it based on feedback amongst NBA executives and word in Toronto is he is now ready to break the ice.

Over the weekend while in attendence at the Celtics-Raptors NBA game inside the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Hoops Hype Canada sources say Bhullar while exchanging pleasantries with a good friend, invited the friend to work out with him uptown during the upcoming summer. Bhullar reportedly mentioned ‘preparing for the NBA draft’ during the conversation.

Bhullar when reached online to confirm or deny reports declined comment.

Bhullar like Andrew Wiggins, Tyler Ennis and 2013 first overall NBA pickAnthony Bennett came up the ranks with a Brampton, Ontario based development program CIA Bounce. Representatives from the club when reached would not confirm nor deny the report. Pre mature was the consensus among the club directors that Hoops Hype Canada could reach over the weekend.

With the NBA draft under three months away things can change quickly in this process.

Bhullar has untill April 27th to declare for the 2014 NBA draft.

Before Drake was given court side seats with customized OVO seat covers within arm’s reach of Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, it was Raptors super fan and season ticket holder since day one Nav Bhattia who held the Raptors Spike Lee reputation in Toronto.

Despite Drake’s arrival Bhattia is still holding down his foldable court side seats under the Front Street net. Vince Carter invited Bhattia to his wedding, rookieKelly Olynyk only 50 games into his career acknowledges Bhattia before every C’s game in Toronto. Even the volatile DeMarcus Cousins last January amidst a 30/20 performance complimented Bhattia on his wrist jewelry. Regarded as a face of the franchise Bhattia a Indo-Canadian like Bhullar is very well liked and respected across NBA circles including within the Toronto Raptor organization.

“Masai Ujiri is an astute evaluator of talent and Super fan is close to the Bhullar’s” Reliable sources told Hoops Hype Canada.

“10% of Toronto’s population are East Indian. Over half a million people in Toronto total. Over a billion in India, Bhullar a Raptor could easily earn more from endorsements then he does from a second round salary”

“With a budding 7-foot all star allready in place [Jonas Valanciunas] and a former all-star center in Jamal Magloire as part of the [Raptors] coaching staff is there really a better NBA landscape then Toronto, Canada to introduce Sim Bhullar to the world and develop him along the way?” Source added.

Sim’s last high school coach while playing in Canad was Paul Melnyk of the Father Henry Carr Crusaders. Melnyk has faith the former Crusader will eventually make the best decision,

“Sim is a tremendous big man. A very unique player. His family and support group will make an educated decision about the draft.” Melnyk mentioned via twitter direct messaging.

“I think if the Raptors could pick him it would be a great situation for Sim & the Raptors. I would hope Canada Basketball would have Sim in their plans as well.”

What does Sim’s last head coach in America think of the situation? Hoops Hype Canada reached out to Huntington Prep head coach Rob Fulford via text and Bhullar’s former coach, who also coached Andrew Wiggins responded,

“As long as he’s in shape and healthy, there’s no doubt he can help an NBA team” coach Fulford texted.

For now, it’s about just getting better and refining his game before the ultimate decision to declare or not.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact CIA Bounce allready have arguably the top prospect overall (Wiggins) and top point guard prospect (Ennis) entering the upcoming 2014 draft. Except the CIA Bounce draft day party doesn’t stop there. Big 12 Conference Player Of The Year and Iowa State Cyclone senior Melvin Ejim and UNLV shot blocker junior Khem Birch, both CIA Bounce products, are also thought of as potential NBA prospects.

Wiggins, Ennis, Ejim, Birch & Bhullar.

Could CIA Bounce have a whopping five NBA draft picks? Why not?

It would be likely be a benchmark for developmental programs on both sides of the border and valuable for Canada basketball who allready on the rise flopped in their World Cup qualifiers last September.

Canada may set a record for NBA draft picks this June but NBA offices and the Toronto Raptors have a real thirst for one. Sim Bhullar.

Some call it tampering, others call it destiny. What we do know is arranged or not that the city and organization in Toronto, Sim Bhullar and the NBA would be a perfect marriage.