High school
Canadian Preps Deserve Recognition in #NPHTop25
In order for the game to break through in Canada, we must have all programs on the same playing field…traditional and non-traditional.
The reality in Canadian basketball is that our elite players are often taking their talent south to prep schools in America. However, that is gradually changing as viable options are developing on home soil.
Canadian prep programs, along with the established high school programs that we celebrate on a weekly basis, should be recognized in the #NPHTop25
The reality is that the top high school programs in Canada are also legit options for aspiring student-athletes to attend. Why? Well, they take basketball seriously, play competitive schedules, and typically have strong basketball tradition.
Orangeville Prep
Bill Crothers
Thetford Academy
Athlete Institute
Central Toronto Academy
Just a few comments about a number of teams listed in the NPH High School Rankings. I know the entire list cannot be comprised of ONLY Ontario schools, But if the shoe fits….. I will not make any comments about schools outside of Ontario as I have not seen any of the teams listed.
I am uncertain how many individual league/conference standings you all are checking at NPH when completing your High School Rankings or if your list is strictly based on reputation / tournament results/individual player ranking, etc., so I thought I would bring a few RESULTS to your attention since WINS & losses dictate the rankings.
#19 SJAM – lost to Notre Dame (Ajax) at the MT invitational. Notre Dame (Ajax) is 3-3 in the Lossaa AAAA league.
St. Patrick’s (Ottawa) all they do is lose when this team enters the GTA. Can you name me a quality win in the GTA????? They have lost to HM teams in the hooptowngta poll like Crescent in OT at the Holiday Classic and Jean Vanier (Richmond Hill) 84 -72 in Welland
***Jean Vanier (Richmond Hill) has never even been in the OUTSIDE LOOKING IN in the NPH Rankings**** lets review this later
St.Thomas More (Hamilton) – 6-4 (3rd place) in the Hamilton Catholic League. Other than the Brock tournament, what have they done. BTW, they lost a game at Brock and entered the semi-final on tie-break rule
Cardinal Newman (Hamilton) – 5-4 (4th place) in the Hamilton Catholic League. I am unaware of any wins vs. teams in the top 25. They have played in some good tournaments with NO success
***FYI, Cathedral & St. Jean de Brebeuf tied for 1st at 8-1.****
Assumption (Burlington) – 6-4 (5th place) in Halton Standings. Lost last week to King’s Christian Collegiate 60-43 a single A team. Other than defeating Notre Dame (Brampton) in one tournament what have they done?????
St. Patrick’s (Sarnia) – 6-2 (2nd place) in the Lambton Kent Standings behind Chatham-Kent. They have lost to CK & Have also lost to Sarnia Northern in league play.
Eastwood (Kitchener)- lost to Galt this week in league play. This team is 5-4 in the WCSSAA. Key wins?????suspect at best
H.B Beal (London) – undefeated in League, BUT this is not one of Beal’s best teams over the past 5 years. No impressive or key wins vs. any team in the top 25 or hooptowngta top16 or HM
Castlebrooke (Brampton) 3-3 in their league & who else have they played???? Other than more Peel teams in tournament play.
Herman (Windsor) 2-4 in Windsor league. Why was this team ever in the rankings??????
Crescent (Toronto) – other than St.Patricks (Ottawa) who have they beaten. This weekend at the MT invitational they lost 63-19.
***Which brings me to my team: Jean Vanier CHS (Richmond Hill, ON)
Team Record: 25-10
Key Wins:
Ottawa St. Pat’s @ Welland Notre Dame Tip-Off
Jean Vanier-TDCAA (3rd in City Wide League, 4-1) in an Exhibition Game
London John Paul II – first in London Catholic league
Sudbury LaSalle – first in Sudbury (NOSSA) league
David & Mary Thomson – first in Toronto East league at Holiday Classic
Hamilton Cathedral – first in Hamilton Catholic League
Clarington Central – first in Lossaa AAA league
Undefeated in York Region Conference Play
Key Losses:
St. Francis (St.Catharines) @ Welland Notre Dame Tip-Off
Emery C.I x3 – loss 1 by 3, loss 2 by 10, loss 3 by 4
Eastern Commerce -down 3 at half, 7 after 3 Q’s
St .Edmund Campion – by 1 at RimRocker
Chatham Kent by 2 in OT @ Western Purple and White Invitational
St. Mike’s C.S
Pickering H.S -should be in top 25
& Yet, my team has never been on the OUTSIDE LOOKING IN. I believe my teams complete resume along with the quality of competition/strength of schedule indicated above makes my team worthy of OUTSIDE LOOKING in. How many other teams in the OLI category can say that they have played against 4 of the top 6 teams in the country?????
Please don’t read my comments as criticism, simply for your consideration & an FYI . I am truly one of your biggest fans and love the discussion/ATTENTION that the NPH National Rankings brings to high school basketball.
As always, keep doing the great job you all at NPH do at covering and promoting the game of basketball/ student athletes in Canada.
