This season’s starting five for boys basketball is an international affair with players from India, Serbia, the Cayman Islands and, of course, Toronto
Leon Alexander – Richardson Storm – Ajax
Small Forward || 6-foot-3, 190 lbs. Team record: 49-5 Age: 17 Grade: 12 Academic avg.: 73 per cent Born: Cayman Islands Best game: To qualify for the provincial playoffs, scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and went 16 for 20 from the free throw line in a Durham Region win over Notre Dame of Ajax. Next year: Returning for a fifth year to Richardson. Skinny: Won the MVP award at three tournaments: Preston Memorial (Pickering), Guy Vetrie Invitational (Sault Ste Marie) and Notre Dame (Ajax). . . . Made the Durham Region all-star team last year. . . . All-star at the Mother Teresa Invitational. . . . School basketball MVP in grades 10 and 11. . . . Top scorer for his team in three of four games to win the Mother Teresa tournament (Toronto). NBA role model: Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets 2009-10 averages Pts Reb Ast 18 6 4 Blk 2
Stefan Nastic – Thornhill Tigers – Thornhill
Post/Centre || 6-foot-11, 225 lbs. Team record: 12-10 Age: 17 Grade: 12 Academic avg.: 87 per cent Born: Serbia Best game: Scored a team-high 30 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and had six blocked shots in a nine-point loss to Loyola (Oakville) at a Richmond Hill tournament. Next year: Attending Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. Skinny: One of Canada’s premier big players. . . . Member of the Serbian national under-16 team in 2008 and invited to Serbian under-18 team training camp last year. . . . Also recruited by Duke and Maryland. . . . Thornhill basketball MVP. . . . All-star at George Harvey, Seneca and Richmond Hill tournaments. NBA role model: Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers 2009-10 averages Pts Reb Ast 26 11 3 Blk 4
Manvinder Sahota – St. Marguerite d’Youville Panthers (Brampton)
Small Forward || 6-foot-6, 193 lbs. Team record: 34-7 Age: 18 Grade: 12 Academic avg.: 88 per cent Born: India Best game: Scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds in a Peel Region league game, winning by 26 points, over rival St. Edmund Campion. Next year: Attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Skinny: MVP at the Sheridan Cup (Brampton) and Dunning Invitational (Ottawa). . . . Selected an all-star at the Ontario Catholic Classic (St. Catharines) and Southern Ontario Shootout (Hamilton). . . . Former school athlete of the year. . . . Member of his school leadership council that raised $10,000 for victims of the Haiti earthquake. . . . Top scorer in the league championship win over Campion. NBA role model: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-10 averages Pts Reb Ast 20 10 4 Blk 3
Matthew Wright – Martingrove Bears – Toronto
Point Guard || 6-foot-3, 180 lbs. Team record: 34-9 Age: 19 Grade: 12 Academic avg.: 74 per cent Born: Toronto Best game: Scored 37 points in three quarters in his final high school league game — a 63-61 come-from-behind win over Jarvis for the Toronto District School Board Triple-A title. Next year: Likely going to the NCAA and being recruited by Maine, St. Bonaventure, Duquesne and Santa Clara. Skinny: His mother is Filipino, so he played for the Philippines in the FIBA Asia under-18 tournament in Iran in 2008. . . . Started playing basketball at age 10. . . . Big factor in the Bears winning an Ontario Triple-A gold medal. . . . Former athlete of the year at Bloorlea Middle School. . . . Scored 25 or more points in 10 games this year. . . . All-star at the Mark Walton (Hamilton) and Vaughan Road (Toronto) tournaments. NBA role model: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 2009-10 averages Pts Reb Ast 23 4 7 Blk 2
Julian Clarke – Oakwood Barons – Toronto
Shooting Guard || 6-foot-3, 195 lbs. Team record: 39-4 Age: 17 Grade: 12 Academic avg.: 91 per cent Born: Toronto Best game: Season-high 45 points, seven assists and nine rebounds but still lost 67-66 to Eastern Commerce in the Toronto District School Board South region final. Next year: Recruited by a number of NCAA schools but leaning to either Santa Clara, Duquesne, Eastern Kentucky or Butler. Skinny: Five consecutive three-point baskets, late in the fourth quarter, in a 47-34 Ontario Quad-A gold medal win over St. Thomas More of Hamilton; member of the Ontario under-17 basketball team last year. . . . Trying out this summer for the national under-18 team. . . . Chosen MVP at the Heinbuch Classic in Waterloo, Silver Fox and Southern Ontario Shootout Invitational, both in Hamilton. . . . All-star at the Guy Vetrie (Sault Ste. Marie) and St. Michael’s (Toronto) tournaments. NBA role model: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers 2009-10 averages Pts Reb Ast 23 11 9 Blk 3
“Tremendously athletic and a huge contribution to our team success”
Coach Mike McFetters
“Incredibly dominant player and never coached anyone of his ability and work ethic.” Coach Doug Hawkins
“Unselfish, great leader with best combination of basketball skills and grades.” Coach Carlo Zoffranieri
“The real deal and the best perimeter shooter I’ve ever coached.”
Coach Shawn Gray
“A true leader who inspires those around him to be better.”
Coach Anthony Miller
REGIONAL ALL-STARS
Players were chosen based on performances this season for their school teams. Selections were done following consultations with high school, college and university coaches as well as game officials and fans.
CISAA
George Daniel, Villanova
George Mason – St. Michael’s
Duane Notice – St. Michael’s
Cooper Rigg – Ridley
Chris Tugman – Upper Canada
DURHAM REGION
Justin Edwards – Anderson
MiKyle McIntosh – Pickering
Natiel McKenzie – Pickering
Adam Plumber – Pine Ridge
Aaron Redpath – Richardson
HALTON REGION
Jordan Catterall – Holy Trinity
Michel Clark – Nelson
Mike L’Africain – Loyola
Adam Presutti – Loyola
Mike Wright – Assumption
PEEL REGION
Chris Anderson – Mount Carmel
Tychon Carter – Campion
Jordan Clennon – Campion
Jamal Jones – Mississauga
Joseph Ojelade – Central Peel
TDCAA
Hassan Abdullahi – Pope John
Paul Seth Evershed -Michael Power/ St. Joseph
Raheem Isaac – Father Henry Carr
Ritchie Kanza -Mother Teresa
Shane Reader – Father Henry Carr
TORONTO (EAST)
Anthony Lyle-Wade – Borden
Jason Helwig – Thomson
Jahlove Lynch – Woburn
Daniel Mullings – Laurier
Kevon Parchment – West Hill
TORONTO (WEST)
Justin Bakuteka – Martingrove
Fidel Benjamin – George Harvey
Theilus Chambers – Vaughan Road
Steve Manjlovic – Martingrove
Scott Morrison – Richview
TORONTO (NORTH)
Yusuf Ali – Fleming
Brandon Chase – Georges Vanier
Andi Hasaj – Newtonbrook
Anthony Ottley – Emery
Tylor Wilson -Westview
TORONTO (SOUTH)
Aaron Best – Eastern Commerce
Kevin Blake -Oakwood
Cameron Robertson – Eastern Commerce
Erico Sassa – College Francais
Aaron Shadrach – Jarvis
YORK REGION
Brandon Bos – Markham
James Choi – Vaughan
Jude Gouveia – GW Williams
Kevin Pangos – Denison
Cy Richard Samuels – Vaughan