Where Are They Now? Looking back at NPHShowcase League Alumni
In just 3 years since its inaugural season, the NPHShowcase League has seen thousands of players at all levels. From ages as young as Grade 5, all the way to High School Seniors.
Each year the volume as well as talent in the league grows. Since enough time has now passed, we are now seeing a lot of these League Alumni graduating to the next chapters of their careers. Players we saw as young as 9th/10th graders are now going on to play at High Major NCAA D1 Programs, we might even see some of these guys make it all the way to the NBA.
Of course, NPH has been around since 2011 and has hosted a lot of the current Canadian NBA players in events such as Exposure Camps, Canadian National Invitational Tournament, and the National Prep Association. Names such as Jamal Murray, Shai, Nickeil, Shaedon Sharpe, AJ Lawson, the list goes on.
But with the NPHShowcase League, it’s only been around since 2021. Since the Showcase League runs nearly every weekend, we’re able to see much more players on a weekly basis. This means the amount of League Alumni we’ll be seeing make it to the next level in the coming years will continue to rise.
As we prepare for the start of the 2024/2025 season, we reflect on some of the top players who have played in the league.
Will Riley, University of Illinois Freshman
Seeing Will for the first time as a 9th grade from the Kitchener-Waterloo region playing with TGG Elite, his elite level skill, talent, & feel for the game stood out. However, he didn’t possess the 6’9 frame he does now. Still dominated every game he played in, hit game-winners, and won championships.
I first knew Will was special when he hit the game-winning shot in his division championship game while playing up. The confidence, poise, and IT factor were all there at a young age. No surprise to see him develop into the player and young man he is today with the support of his family, coaches, trainers, and community. Next stop, University of Illinois. After that? Potentially, NBA.
Ishan Sharma, University of Virginia Freshman
A lot of times, player progression isn’t necessarily linear. Although players are expected to make improvements year after year, things don’t always work out that way for young basketball prospects trying to mature not only as players but as young men. There are a lot of challenges that come into play. Some players peak early, some players lose the desire to work, and some players might just stay the same throughout high school.
For Virginia commit Ishan Sharma, I’m not sure if I’ve seen a player make extreme strides like he did after every year of high school since I started tracking him in 2021, playing in the NPHShowcase League with Halton Basketball Club. After every summer, he always took a big leap. It started with becoming a specialist in the art of shooting. An absolute sniper that was a lethal outside threat. Then, he began to gain more reps at the Guard position and developed reliable perimeter & decision-making skills. As he got older, he started adding a lot of muscle, strength, and speed to go with his 6’5 frame. Suddenly, all these years of hard work began to compound, and Ishan was considered among the best prospects in the country. Going on to play with Fort Erie International Academy with players like Leonard Miller, Jaden Clayton, and a handful of others he continued to rise and build his stock.
Goes to show that if you put your head down every day, work hard, continue to learn and be a sponge, have extreme focus, discipline, drive, love for the game, you will reach your goals. Ishan’s a prime example of that.
Dominic Pangonis, Stephen F Austin Freshman
Dom Pangonis had a very interesting skillset at the early stage of his career. Just like today, he was a player with extreme versatility. True swiss-army knife. Capable scorer, playmaker, defender, good size and athleticism for position, and an extremely high IQ. As the years went by he doubled-down on what he did well on the floor, which was nearly everything. Became an even better jumpshooter, got stronger and more explosive, and his confidence continued to rise. He remained local going from Halton Basketball Club to Polaris Prep, but now he leaves home to embark on his next chapter at Stephen F Austin University in Texas.
Amare Allen, Maine University
From the first time I saw him with DC United, Amare Allen’s been as reliable as they come. Always been a “get it done” type of guy. Substance over flashiness. At the time, Amare was doing majority of his damage inside. It’s been great to see how much he’s developed as a 3-level scorer, with an elite ability to fill it up from the midrange. What seems to be translating the most with players as they grow is IQ & skill, more so than physical capabilities. If you know what you have to do on the floor in order to excel in your role combined with the abilities to execute, chances are you’ll be a high impact player. Of course, none of that can be accomplished without hard work.
Maban Jabriel, Queens University (North Carolina)
Another gem of a prospect from the Kitchener-Waterloo region who suited up with the Waterloo Wolverines. Of course, the physical stature, length, and athletic ability of Maban Jabriel stood out right away at a young age. But it’s what he’s done with those tools, and how he’s turned himself into a Division 1 player. By the time he was a finished product, he combined his 6’9 frame with an intriguing combination of playmaking & scoring skills. Almost like a point-forward. To go with this, he was coached the right way and has a high level feel for the game. Talent isn’t enough to make it. But when you combine that natural talent with skill & smarts, then the sky is truly the limit.
Who’s Got Next?
As we prepare for this upcoming season, we look forward to seeing even more players than ever. Exciting to see who emerges as the next stars of Canadian Basketball.
