Dope... Dope.... Article on Memphis. Kinda reassures why the NBA took away the Vancouver Grizzlies and moved them to Memphis. Two of my favorite college players played for the Tigers (NCAA) Penny Hardaway and Derrick Rose. In a community whose love for basketball has often been its greatest currency, this playoff run is just the most recent layer in a civic history that has perhaps been underappreciated on a national scale The story of how Memphis became one of America's top basketball destinations is now 40 years in the making. But perhaps it is best told through those who came to appreciate it from the outside. Here, in the little basketball Mecca on the banks of the Mississippi River, three generations of fans have grown accustomed to those sleepy summer days when people of all races and socioeconomic strata pack sweaty inner-city gyms to watch superstar pros, college players and street legends play glorified pick-up games and cheer with the intensity of a Final Four matchup. And here, from the grassroots on up, it is considered a formality that Memphis — a metro area of 1.3 million — will produce more talent every year than cities three times its size, adding to a legacy that began when a team led by local players cracked the national consciousness at the 1973 Final Four.

Over at Grantland, Andrew Sharp has written an article lamenting the fact that the Spurs were able to get a player as good as Kawhi Leonard with the 15th pick. Sharp, who is a Wizards’ fan (my condolences), says that watching Kawhi Leonard play drives him especially insane because his Wizards had a chance to draft Leonard, but passed. How could the Spurs — who, due to their consistent regular season success, typically draft in the the 25-30 range — get their hands on such a productive young player? Click here to read more!

With so many dope articles about Andrew Wiggins here is one that had some strong points in relationship to the impact Wiggins will have on the next generation of Canadian basketball players and the landscape of the game up North. How many of you can name a Canadian born athlete who would right now go down in the history books as one of the best? Neither one of you can because it never happened. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Wiggins but when he does enter the NBA next year, he’ll have an enormous impact on the game itself. “We’re heading to a place when we will have to cut NBA players for the national team,” Parrish says. “And hopefully the bond is so strong that they’ll get it.” Canada needs basketball back. We need it to be recognized internationally and be known for our love of the game. Investors need to realize the opportunity and potential there is in the Canadian basketball program. As one commenter put it, “Basketball was invented by a Canadian. Time to bring it back to the north.

The Memphis Grizzlies have a tall order to climb out of their 0-2 series hole against the San Antonio Spurs as the series switches to the Memphis for game three of their best of seven series. The Grizzlies fought hard to force overtime after falling behind 18 points and trailing by 13 as they entered the fourth quarter. One of those spark-plugs was Quincy Pondexter who climbed the ladder against the Boris Diaw, forcing the french veteran basketball player to hide his face.

A few days ago, Larry Brown declared that for basketball, advanced stats “don’t work”. But when you read what he has to say, you get the sense that Brown thinks that some advanced stats don’t work. In other words, I think there are some “advanced stats” that Brown might like. Click here to read more!

When Russell Westbrook went down in Game 2 of the Thunder’s series against the Rockets, many people thought that ended OKC’s chance at this year’s NBA championship. And they were right. Just not in the way that most people were expecting.

Ottawa - (BasketballBuzz) - St. Patrick's Irish Guard Roydell Clark shut down the 2013 Ottawa National Capital High School All-Star Game with this huge cock-back dunk over his defender - Adam Constazo (Nepean High School) during the 2013 Ottawa High School All-Star Game at Ravens Nest at Carleton University. Clark (Class 2013) is a shifty left guard with major bunnies and played an integral role in the Fighting Irish run towards a silver medal at the 2013 OFSAA AAA High School Basketball championships held in Windsor, this past March.

(Huntington, W.VA) - (BasketballBuzz) - The wait is officially over! Canadian basketball sensation Andrew Wiggins will be attending the University of Kansas to play for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. In a low key fashion, Wiggins made it official by inking his name on the letter of intent in a private ceremony reserved for family and friends. Wiggins, a 6-8 forward from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep who scored 23.4 points and grabbed 11.2 rebounds per game this season on his way to grabbing every available national high school award in the process. The announcement is a big scoop for the Jayhawks program, who came in late in the recruiting process but clearly had just a much to offer as the other three candidates, North Carolina, Kentucky and Florida State. Many analysts including the likes of Dick Vitale had predicted that the talented Canadian would take his talent to Florida State given his parents connection with the school and head coach Leonard Hamilton early recruiting start. While others swore on all religions that Wiggins was bound to Kentucky to join an already stacked Wildcats squad. But instead, nobody saw it coming. Brotherly Love, are two strong words! In a factor that clearly outweighed the opportunity to continue the family tradition at Florida State and a crack at national glory with his good friend and fellow Canadian Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Instead, Wiggins passed all of that, and proved just about everybody wrong by deciding to play at Kansas and stay closer to his brother Nick Wiggins who is also expected to play a bigger role in near by Wichita State. Wichita State also shocked the college basketball world by making an improbable run to the 2013 Final Four as a 9th-seed. The decision absolutely makes sense, Andrew Wiggins is really only going to college because David Stern had enough of seeing Jermaine O'neal, Kobe, Garnett and others make the leap from high school straight to the NBA. Pause for a second! and think about that. No David Stern, and we would have seen a Canadian high school basketball player go from Vaughn, ON, Canada straight to L. Yeah hard. The 2013-2014 Jayhawks roster features one of the best recruiting classes in the Bill Self era and will give Wiggins the opportunity to operate freely while learning the X's and O's from one the finest coach in the business. Kansas is losing leading scorer Ben McLemore who many expect to be a lottery pick in the upcoming 2013 NBA Draft. Not to mention, Wiggins being in the state of Kansas will also keep him close to his brother, help develop Nick's game and hopefully get him a look at the League, from a Junior College! Not to mention, the choice to play at Kansas also benefits his parents (FSU graduates) and offers them opportunity to also attend both of their games when possible. The Decision. Finally concludes the chapter on a historic recruiting process that will go down in the history books of Canadian basketball. As Toronto Sun communist Ryan Wolstat put it in the tweet below, Wiggins is also in good company in Kansas.

Canada's best-ever hoops prospect heading to James Naismith's old stomping grounds. Kind of fitting. #Wiggins @22wiggins

May 14, 2013

Andrew'sDad Mitchell says final 2 were Kansas and Florida State..but Andrew said all the schools were great..tough choice

May 14, 2013

How good is Andrew Wiggins? Depending on who you ask and where you saw him play, he is either Harrison Barnes 2.0 (overrated no. 1 prospect destined to tantalize but ultimately drive college fans insane) or something like Kevin Durant 2.0 (the next NBA superstar, limitless potential, future member of the Illuminati, etc.). For now, let's say he's something in between. Probably not good enough to justify all this hype, but definitely good enough to make a dent in college hoops next year and turn just about any school into a contender.

The coaching changes continue across the country as Brad Rootes - the youngest coaching in CIS Men's Basketball History decided to step down to join the local police force in the Niagara region. "It's a decision that I made in the best interest of my family," said Brad Rootes. "It's bittersweet because I am walking away from something I love doing. On the other hand I am extremely excited to begin my new career with the NRPS. I would like to thank all of the people at Brock University and in the Niagara community who have been so great to me and my family over the years. I would like to thank Ken Murray, Dr. Lorne Adams, Chris Critelli and Robert Hilson for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, while guiding and supporting me along the way. I would also like to thank all of the coaches and staff that I had the privilege to work with for the past five years. Brock has been my second home for a long time. I will always cherish it and will forever be a Badger!" In the Brock record books, Rootes is the all-time leader in career free throws made (732-for-922) and steals (327). He also finished his university career ranked 2nd all-time in scoring (2790), assists (1173) and three-pointers made (376-for-1059). At the first annual Brock Basketball Gala in 2008, Rootes became the fourth Brock basketball player to have his jersey retired. In 2010, he was inducted into both the Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame and the A. N. Myer Sports Hall of Fame.