Canadian National HS Rankings – Release #7 #NPHTop25 – Welcome Quebec!
Since the last release of the #NPHTop25 in December, a lot has happened, including the Holiday Break.
This edition promises to be jam-packed with movement and new additions…all you have to do is keep reading.
Henry Bourassa Makes Their Mark
First things first, lets welcome the new guys! HB made a major splash at the Sun Youth tournament last month in Montreal, a group of 11th graders went wire to wire with Nationally-ranked College John Abbott (CCAA) in a loss, while defeating an older Team Force squad and Ottawa Next Level. However, with respect to entering the #NPHTop25, Henry Bourassa is 20-2 in Quebec, with their only losses coming against John Abbott and Brookood (of the MBL). These boys could be making a trip to Ontario soon! Fast, athletic and play high motor basketball!
St. Edmund Campion Rolling
The Bears have won three straight tournament championships starting with their Campion Showdown, followed by the St FX Rimrocker, and finally the Frankie Gyamfi Memorial tournament hosted by George Brown–all in December.
If you ask Head Coach Omar Miles, he will tell you the team has not played up to their potential yet. The Bears are talented but haven’t been as consistent in their play as the two teams ahead of them in St Mike’s and SJK. However, that does not mean Campion doesn’t have the capabilities of beating either team–they recently beat SJK in overtime of the Rimrocker championships, however when you stack up the resumes, SJK gets the nod, as the two teams split games (1-1), and the only other HS loss for SJK being St Mikes. On the other hand, Campion also has losses to Holy Trinity and Thornlea early in the season.
Campion could have a shot at St Mike’s this weekend, given both teams make it to the semi-final round…chances are high. Is the best yet to come for the Brampton program?
Pine Ridge Picks up Key Victory
Pine Ridge picked up a big tournament victory, defeating Oakwood in the championship of the Windsor Invitational convincingly…easily their best win of the year, taking down their first top-10 opponent. The Pumas have an opportunity to continue their winning ways in the St Mike’s tournament. They only have two losses on their season against high school opponents–St Mikes and St Francis–2 legitimate teams. The other loss came at the hands of Prep power Orangeville Prep.
Manitoba’s Oak Park Making Their Way to Ontario
Oak Park defeated a fiesty Garden City squad to end their Wesmen Classic winning steak at four in a row. They have not lost a game yet, and will put their undefeated season on the line when they make their way to the Silver Fox tournament in Hamilton, Ontario at the end of January. We are looking forward to measuring these boys against Ontario competition!
St Thomas More Makes Some Noise
St Thomas More has done enough to warrant some attention, beating Father Goetz, St Marcellinius, Corpus Christi (without Simi Shittu) and winning the Brock Invitational, however they have not yet proven themselves against any of the top dogs. Still, STM is a quality team that is capable of picking up wins if you come in sloppy. No star players, but a bunch of gritty Hamilton kids that don’t lack confidence.
Key Tournaments
The St Mike’s Tournament in Toronto, and the Legal Beagle hosted by Terry Fox in Port Coquitlam, BC will have multiple #NPHTop25 members clash. Seven of the top 10 teams from BC will be in attendance, plus arguably Alberta’s top team to date in Harry Ainlay.
In the 16-team field at St Mike’s, nine currently hold spots in the #NPHTop25.
Team Resume
In this edition, we’d like to stress the importance of a team’s full resume, as it paints the entire picture, and rewards consistency over the course of a season. For instance, if a team ranked at #4 defeats #2, this does not automatically grant them their spot. Wins and losses are taken into account in each team’s FULL body of work.
Canadian National HS Rankings – Release #7
- St Michael’s (Toronto, ON)
- SJK (Kitchener, ON)
- Campion (Brampton, ON)
- Eastern Commerce (Toronto, ON)
- Pine Ridge (Pickering, ON)
- Oakwood (Toronto, ON)
- Henry Carr (Toronto, ON)
- D’Youville (Brampton, ON)
- Henry Bourassa (Montreal, QC)
- Vaughan (Vaughan, ON)
- St Francis (St. Catharines, ON)
- Thornlea (Thornhill, ON)
- Leboldus (Regina, SK)
- St Marys (Kitchener, ON)
- Oak Park (Winnipeg, MB)
- Saltfleet (Hamilton, ON)
- Harry Ainlay (Edmonton, AB)
- MacNab (Hamilton, ON)
- Bishop Reding (Milton, ON)
- Holy Trinity (Oakville, ON)
- Notre Dame (Brampton, ON)
- Corpus Christi (Burlington, ON)
- Father Goetz (Mississauga, ON)
- Auburn (Halifax, NS)
- Burnaby South (Burnaby, BC)
Outside Looking In
No shortage of teams to track! Below are those across the country that possess the talent, and capabilities of beating #NPHTop25 teams and climbing throughout the season. Wins & losses will ultimately dictate their future ranking.
- Citadel (Halifax, NS)
- Cameron Heights (Kitchener, ON)
- Bishop McNally (Calgary, AB)
- Pope John Paul II (Scarborough, ON)
- SJAM (Waterloo, ON)
- Winston Churchill (Calgary, AB)
- St Thomas More (Hamilton, ON)
- Notre Dame (Welland, ON)
- Catholic Central (Windsor, ON)
- West Humber (Toronto, ON)
- Castlebrooke (Brampton, ON)
- Kilodean East (Winnipeg, MB)
- Crescent (Toronto, ON)
- Bishop O’Byrne (Calgary, AB)
- St Francis Xavier (Mississauga, ON)
- Oak Bay (Oak Bay, BC)
- Kelowna (Kelowna, BC)
- Martingrove (Toronto, ON)
- Ross Sheppard (Edmonton, AB)
- Horton (Halifax, NS)
- Pickering High (Ajax, ON)
- Emery (Toronto, ON)
- Assumption (Burlington, ON)
- Kennebecasis Valley (Quispamsis, NB)
- Herman (Windsor, ON)
- Kennedy (Windsor, ON)
- St Francis Xavier (Edmonton, AB)
- Leo Hayes (Fredericton, New Brunswick)
- Eastwood (Kitchener, ON)
- Mother Teresa (Scarborough, ON)
- H.B Beal (London, ON)
- Cardinal Newman (Hamilton, ON)
- Archbishop O’Leary (Edmonton, AB)
- St Patrick’s (Sarnia, ON)
- Vancouver College (Vancouver,BC)
- Father Lacombe (Calgary, AB)
- Terry Fox (Port Coquitlam, BC)
- St Patrick’s (Ottawa, ON)
- Merivale (Ottawa, ON)
- Vaughan Road (Toronto, ON)