CNIT U16 Division Announced – Canadian Class of 2017 is LOADED!

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The U17 division was announced earlier this week, and now it’s time for Canada to learn about the U16 CNIT participants.

It will be an exciting field loaded with 2017 Canadian prospects for post-secondary programs to evaluate. The competition will be fierce and, one team will walk away CNIT champion.

Feature Canadian Prospects (2017)

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (6’5 G), Matur Maker (6’10 SF) Jordan Henry (5’10 PG | Canada Elite))
• Christian David (6’6 SG | S-Elite)
• Shakwon Barrett (6’3 PG | Grassroots Canada)
• Korbil Gany (6’1 G | Waterloo Wolverines)
• Axel Okongo (7’0 C | Thetford)
• Chris Poloniato (6’1 PG | Guelph CYO)
• Sean Fasoyiro (6’1 G | Hoops Canada)
• Jonathan John (6’1 PG | BTB)
• Shamarke Warsame (5’11 PG | Motion West)
• Adnan Begovic (6’7 F | Mississauga Monarchs)

U16 Team Previews

(Alphabetical order)

BTB

BTB will be guard heavy with talent; Jamal Mayali, John Jonathan, Nathan Collins and Ali Sow will take lead, and you can expect uptempo action with this crew. However, this team can mix it up with some versatile personnel.

There is no shortage of talent, size or athleticism on this team. In just their first season together, the team has become battle tested. They key for our guys will be to continue building experience as a team. – Head Coach Adeel Sahibzada

Canada Elite

This could be Canada Elite’s deepest group in the program. The addition of Matur Maker has taken this team to new heights; CE was already a high powered team without Maker, and now ranked Top-10 Nationally in America.

It will all come down to chemistry for CE as talent won’t be enough in this division…this core crew has made strong progress over the last two years and look ready to put on a show on Canadian soil.

Guelph CYO

The only team representing Guelph, Ontario at CNIT regardless of age, CYO will bring some talent to the table that most have never heard of. That’s when scouts and college coaches get excited; everyone is looking for the “hidden gem” you will find some here.

Expect a hard working, fundamentally sounds group lead by Chris Poloniato, Jake Chaput & Justin Hardy.

We have great team chemistry and like to share the ball. Many players have grown up and played together for many years, with our greatest accolade being crowned this year’s U17 Ontario Provincial Champions. We are excited to be competing at the CNIT. – Guelph CYO Coaching Staff

Grassroots Canada

This GRC squad is hungry and ready to compete at a high level, highlighted by floor general of Findlay Prep, Shakwon Barrett, 6’6 SF Gabe Osabuohien, 6’3 G Christian Bentley, 6’4 G Chris Hankins. Speed and athleticism will be a big part of their game on both ends of the floor, and Grassroots will be confident entering CNIT.

Our 16s are coming into their own right now and after a strong showing at the Top Gun event winning the championship, we are clicking very well. We are one the deepest teams around and that will pay dividends in the CNIT. – Program Head, Ro Russell

Hoops Canada

Not many big names here…at least not yet. Hoops Canada is building brick by brick and will use CNIT as both a measuring stick and an opportunity to show out. Sean Fasoyiro, David Okoroafor and Dimitri Lin are expected to lead the way.

This is a team of guys that really love to compete and play for each other. They truly started from the bottom but with hard work and commitment they are showing everyone what our program is about! – Head Coach Jermaine Holness

Mississauga Monarchs

The Mississauga Monarchs have had a successful run winning the ABS league regular season championships before suffering injuries to key players at the end of the season. They also won two American tournaments in Detroit and in Buffalo. The team is powered by 6’7″ forward Adnan Begovic who was chosen ABS League season MVP averaging 18.1 ppg and 6’6″ Stefan Jovcic averaging a double double with points and assists. Jonathan Kasongo and Oge Nwoko were also ABS all-stars. The team core has been together since grade five and coached by head coach Ricardo Bowen and assistant coach Nick Lambevski.

The CNIT is a great opportunity to play against elite competition in front of NCAA coaches without having to travel to the United States. Our team plays tough defence and hopefully our players will be fully healed and we will turn some heads. – Coach Ricardo Bowen

Motion West

“A hard nosed group of players that are looking to make a name for themselves in the province and push the pace offensively and defensively at any opportunity. Shamarke Warsame, Joshua Sarfo-Boateng and Dwayne Lambert-Cadore are the trio of guards that are going to push the team to greater heights at the CNIT- Head Coach Dwayne Peddie

S-Elite

S-Elite U16’s come into the CNIT after a very strong spring start, winning both the King James Classic and Hoop Group New Jersey Jam Fest.

After a very emotional break, this team looks to continue their team oriented winning ways lead by Christian David, Jordan Brathwaite, Xavier Ochu and spark plug Daniil Shesternin.

Thetford

New interesting prospects to learn about at CNIT, courtesy of Thetford, some incoming from France. All together, this group has six player 6’6 and taller…all will be new to the NPH National Radar–all U15 (2018 talent), playing up.

Coach Igor Rwigema brings this crew from Thetford, Quebec, who are no strangers to Ontario competition, are a well travelled program for the last several years, but the first time in Canada during an NCAA live event.

Waterloo Wolverines

Korbil Gany, Simon Petrov, Adham Eleeda and Zubair Seyed will fuel Waterloo. Expect sharpshooting, hard-nosed, scrappy basketball. The group has been battle-tested through some injuries but have seen success regardless, winning gold in the Guelph CYO tournament, silver in the Missisauga tournament, and silver in the OBA Cup (D1). At the Pittsburgh Jam Fest, they battled some tough New York and Philadelphia competition, and went 2-2 in a quality division.

We’ve seen tremendous improvement with our guys this season. For some, this season has been their first time playing against this type of elite competition. Our record in CYBL (7-1) speaks for itself. We expect to make some noise and surprise some teams in the CNIT. – Head Coach Cedric Daley