TORONTO,ON–NPH is proud to announce the 2012-2013 Platform prospect list for the upperclassmen. This year’s crop features a talented group of uncommitted prospects in the class of 2013 and 2014.

14 cities across Ontario and Quebec are represented this year: Toronto, Oakville, Hamilton, Windsor, Bolton, Mississauga, Quebec City, Montreal, Stanstead, Kitchener, Brampton, Vaughan, Burlington and Pickering.

At the NPH Platform, each player will represent more than themselves.

Each player is a representation of their family, city, school, coaches, club/ AAU team and every individual that has played a role in the progress of their early basketball careers.

They are hungry for recognition, starving for a chance to prove their abilities after cementing their worth in respective regions. However, it won’t be easy as each player will meet a tough match up against highly-ranked talent. The question is, who will shine the brightest?

Match Up

Below you will find proposed match ups which are NOT exclusive, as switches will be made throughout course of the game. However, the NPH team has pinned prospects in competition based off of position, size and skill set. How will players react to higher level competition both mentally and physically? Who will bring the edge and which players will DISTINGUISH themselves among this group???

All these questions will be answered on Boxing Day.

Analysis 

After four years at St Mike’s in Toronto, Duane Notice continues to impress in his post grad year at St Thomas More (Connecticut), most recently at the National Prep Showcase where NPH was in attendance. Trevon McNeil is another true combo guard who has established himself in Canada and will get a chance to match up against the junior national team member. Both possess good athleticism and strength; one an elite slasher, while the other an assassin on the pull up jumper.

A lot of personality and swagger in the Francis Kiapway/ Tyler Storie match up. Arguably Hamilton’s best scorer against Windsor’s killer. Rest assured, both will bring the killer instinct.

Marko Pirovic, another junior national team member has evolved his game over recent years, along with a rise in confidence. Mamadou Gueye out of Quebec City is the reigning CEGEP & NPH Showcase MVP, on pace to repeat as the league’s most valuable player. Gueye is averaging 21.6 PPG (#1 CEGEP), 10 RPG (#3) and 1.6 BPG (#1). This will be interesting.

Gilmore and Ryan are no strangers, know each other’s game quite well. Both players have been working to expand their game (inside and out).

Leonard Riley was a major sleeper that was awakened not too long ago breaking out last month in the private school invitational tournament, earning an invite to  the NPH Platform; a 40-point game, triple double and lead tournament averaging 30+ PPG. However, he now steps into a different environment with much stronger competition. Hamid Nessek, (who could be Ivy league bound) will be Riley’s counterpart…strong PG match up!

Nemanja Zarkovic is arguably Quebec’s top shooter. Filip Music has bounced around in the last few years, originally from Oakwood. Similar skill set…oh and if you couldn’t tell by the last name, both are of Serbian background.

Voll VS Stone should be fun. Both very underrated forwards that will have a chance to prove themselves.

It will be a match up of skill vs athleticism in the Kovac/Taylor battle. Kovac is a very versatile forward from Windsor, Taylor could be the highest leaper in Canada; but has the Brampton contingent added to his game???

The Oakville PG battle features Cadet National Team Player Jake Babic against Nolan Mackenzie. Babic has the size advantage but never count out the fiesty Mackenzie, always ready to scrap and attack the defence. Bragging rights written all ver this one!

Abednego Lufile is a returning Platform participant with an added year of experience under his belt. Physically, the most impressive player in Canada but will that translate over to the floor? Naseem Hadrab has the size and aggressiveness to withstand Lufile’s power…or does he?

Both Reid-Knight and McCullouch can defend at a high level; they could cancel each other out here. Reid-Knight has proved his worth at every level and we are interested to see what he has added to his game. McCullouch, a past first PG with high IQ will have a crack against TRK’s lock down D.

Last, but surely not least we have Donnovan Hastings VS. Mikyle McIntosh. This could be the most exciting battle as McIntosh has evolved his game from strictly a power forward in his younger years, to adding a perimeter game which we are EXCITED to see! Both Hastings and Big Mac have the combination of size, skill and athleticism to provide the crowd with great entertainment.

NPH Platform Prospect List: Upperclassmen

Coaches: 

• Gus Gymnopoulos (Vaughan)
• Kevin Jeffers (Eastern Commerce)
• Dwayne Washington (MacNab)
• Martin Vallaincourt (ACMT)

Duane Notice (2013 6’3 G/ St Thomas More-St Mikes) VS. Trevon McNeil (2013 6’1 PG/ Holy Trinity)

Francis Kiapway (2014 6’2 G/ MacNab) VS. Tyler Storie (2013 6’2 G/ Herman)

Marko Pirovic (2013 6’8 F/ Thornlea-Robert F. Hall) VS. Jack Simmons (2013 6’8 F/ Galt)

Connor Gilmore (2014 6’7 F/ Martingrove) VS. Cassidy Ryan (2014 6’6 F/ Mount Carmel)

Leonard Riley (2013 6’2 PG/ Stanstead) VS. Javon Masters (2013 6’1 PG/ SJK)

Kedar Wright (2013 6’2 G/ Campion) VS. Filip Music (2013 6’3 PG/ REDA)

Adam Voll (2013 6’7 F/ St. John’s Kilmarnock) VS. Tyler Stone (2013 6’7 F/ Eastern Commerce)

Jalen Griffiths (2013 6’5 W/ Pickering) VS. Matthew Taylor (2013 6’5 W/ FCP-Chinguacousy)

Nolan Mackenzie (2013 5’10 PG/ Holy Trinity) VS. Jake Babic (2014 6’4 PG/ Loyola)

Naseem Hadrab (2014 6’9 PF) VS. Abednego Lufile (2013 6’7 PF/ REDA)

Pat Pilato (2013 6’2 PG/ St Francis) VS Troy Reid-Knight (2013 6’1 PG/ Thornlea-Vaughan)

Donnovan Hastings (2013 6’6 SG/ FCP-Notre Dame) VS. Mikyle McIntosh (2013 6’6 SF/ CFCA)