NPH Scouting Founders, brothers Elias and Tariq Sbiet in 2011
“It is a new day at North Pole Hoops for Scouting. We have exciting developments in the works and a growing team of contributors to ensure that every Canadian basketball prospect is identified, tracked, and nurtured at all levels,” says Tariq Sbiet, Founder of NPH.
At North Pole Hoops (NPH), performance is the core of our work, captured by our motto: Game Speaks. NPH values, promotes & rewards performance—This guiding principle drives how we evaluate, rank, and celebrate talent on & off the floor, ensuring that only the most dedicated, and hard working athletes rise to the top. To be ranked at NPH, you must be
Canadian
If International, you must have participated within the NPH ecosystem, which allows us to ensure that Canadian talent is measured alongside world-class athletes globally.
Evaluating Talent at NPH: Beyond the Numbers
At NPH, our evaluation of prospects is comprehensive, focusing on both tangible (measurable) and intangible (non-measurable) factors. It’s not just about size, skill, and athleticism, but also about the intangibles that can’t be measured—qualities like motor, passion & love for the game, work ethic, IQ, leadership, and communication skills. These elements often make the difference between a good player and a great one.
As Sbiet explains, “At the highest levels of any industry or walk of life, you will find these intangible traits. It’s no different in basketball. These characteristics define a prospect’s ability to maximize their potential long-term.”
Our rankings and evaluations are based on a deep understanding that skills alone don’t separate the best. Mental strength, character, and the person behind the player are often what set top prospects apart.
NPH Scouting and Evaluation Criteria
Our process emphasizes a holistic assessment of each prospect. Prospects are graded for each attribute under the different criterias (Physical, Skill, Character, and Mental). These grades are summarized and a prospect receives a score which allows us to factor all elements, when producing rankings.
Character Assessment: We look at personality, mentality, consistency, competitiveness, leadership, teamwork, coachability, communication skills, upbringing (environment).
Mental Attributes: Decision-making, game sense/feel, toughness, urgency, and clutch performance.
Critical Factors: Measurable attributes like skills, height, wingspan, hand size, and weight.
Physical: Players are assessed against their peers based on speed, quickness, motor, explosiveness, flexibility/bendability, body mass, and frame.
Skill Evaluation: We assess ball handling, shooting (3-point and free throw), finishing ability, passing, and defensive skills.
NPH scouts track prospects in various environments—club/AAU, prep, provincial programs, and top-level camps. Athletes who consistently perform across all settings demonstrate the adaptability and growth required for success at the next level. This is why Game Speaks so loudly at NPH.
NPH Scouting Correspondent Joe Moussa in the gym with college coaches
Skills alone don’t separate the best; mental strength, unique physical traits, and character often set players apart. For example, Jamal Murray distinguished himself among top players because of his exceptional mental game, which allowed him to excel beyond others with similar or much more superior physical attributes and skill levels. He produced at the highest levels in ALL environments and consistently demonstrated he is top DAWWWG—with a Triple W.
Our rankings are dynamic and subject to updates as we continually refine our evaluations & as prospects grow and progress through each game, season and their overall respective careers. Prospects will move up and down the ladder, based on performance or lack thereof.
This ensures that we do not hang on to the most overrated word in the dictionary “potential” because this P word has an expiry date, as time progresses. Most never maximize their potential due to the lack of strong intangible traits referenced above.
A Path to Future Success
Rankings at NPH are a projection of who will become the best long-term prospects. Having studied Canadian talent cycles since 2011, NPH has developed unique insight into what translates to the next level. Factors like a player’s ceiling, production, and their environment and support system all play a role in determining future success.
NCAA Prospect Language—HM (High Major) MM (Mid-Major) LM (Low Major)
With more Canadian athletes committing to NCAA Division 1 schools every year, NPH ensures that each prospect is evaluated with an understanding of their potential to impact the next level, no matter what pathway they choose—NCAA (DI-III), USports, JUCO, CCAA, or professional leagues.
Performance-Driven, Transparent, and Objective
NPH celebrates the grinders, the underdogs, and those often overlooked by politics in sports. We ensure that performance speaks louder than connections or background. This commitment to transparency and fairness allows us to identify the top basketball talent in Canada and build a culture that rewards hard work and results.
As we continue to evolve, NPH’s global vision for Canadian basketball remains focused on discovering and nurturing the next generation of stars. We believe in challenging perspectives and constantly refining our processes to ensure we’re accurate, fair, and thorough in everything we do. Our goal is to enhance a platform where every talented player can thrive, not just in basketball but in life.
NPH Showcase Exposure Camp Circuit Back in 2025
NPH Exposure Camps are back after a five-year pause due to COVID, as the company restructured into its new foundation being Exposure Leagues.
Coming Back stronger than ever, the NPH Showcase Exposure Camp Circuit will complement our scouting efforts, focusing on identifying underdog and hidden gems, who are often overlooked from coast to coast, and beyond.
These camps will serve as a key engine for our scouting process, continuing our commitment to discovering talents like Jamal Murray or AJ Lawson, before they became household names.
Our evaluations are driven by love for the game and a desire to support student-athletes.
The dates and locations for these camps will be announced shortly.
What’s New?
We are expanding NPH Scouting’s vision to be more inclusive and data-oriented, elevating our service to the basketball community for all levels beyond high school. In addition to high school player rankings, we are introducing:
NCAA Player Rankings
NJCAA Player Rankings: Top 25
USports Player Rankings: Top 25
CCAA Player Rankings: Top 25
This is just the beginning. We are committed to raising the bar in scouting and evaluation, bringing a new level of experience and professionalism to the field, globally.
Scouting Internship Program
Want to learn the game from scouting experts & those that built NPH? Want to contribute to the growth of Canadian basketball and jump start your career in the industry?
NPH- Leaders In Canadian Basketball, providing coast-coast media coverage on ALL levels of Canadian Basketball: HS, NCAA, CIS, CCAA, National program + more!
Voice your opinion: http://northpolehoops.com/discussions/
