Will Riley, Jalik Dunkley-Distant, Chris Tadjo lead Top 24 All-Canadian Games selections

The BioSteel era may be over, but the fervour for elite Canadian high school basketball continues, with the star-studded lineup punching their ticket for the 2024 All-Canadian Games.

As the event undergoes a rebranding without the BioSteel corporate name, which filed for bankruptcy in late 2023, the excitement surrounding the 2024 All-Canadian Games remains palpable.

The selection committee, consisting of influential basketball stakeholders, has chosen the top 24 outstanding players from a previously released watch list of nearly 100 prospects across diverse high school programs.

Fresh off his Most Valuable Player award at the 2024 Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, the list is spearheaded by potential 2025 NBA lottery pick Will Riley, reigning BioSteel All-Canadian MVP Chris Tadjo, and last year’s dunk contest winner Jalik Dunkley-Distant. The lineup boasts the majority of the top upcoming senior talent in Canadian high school basketball, blending the best players from the 2024 and 2025 classes.

Of the 24 players who punched their ticket to the big game, eleven have already committed to NCAA division I teams, with seven securing spots on high-major programs, including three in the Big Ten conference.

Much to the chagrin of many observers, Fort Erie International Academy stands out with six selections, four of them already committed, followed by Overtime Elite and five other programs securing multiple spots.

From a hometown perspective, the city of Montreal leads with four players, while Mississauga has three and Toronto has two selections. Analyzing the numbers on a provincial scale, Ontario has 14 players, Quebec has five, and Alberta follows with three.

On the international front, the 2024 All-Canadian boys’ game will feature six-foot-three American point guard Elijah Duval. Ranked as one of the top point guards in the state of Florida, he is also the younger brother of Trevon Duval, a former Duke Blue Devils undrafted one-and-done freshman.

In terms of height, seven-foot-seven Olivier Rioux, the world’s tallest teenager, tops the list, followed closely by a bevy of six-foot-ten prospects.

Not to be outdone, the Top 24 girls’ game also features household names such as Toby Fournier and Canadian national team high-risers Syla Swords, Jasmine Bascoe, and Delaney Gibb.

All four have committed to play high-major basketball at Duke, Michigan, Villanova, and BYU. In total, the lineup showcases eleven players committed to NCAA Division I teams.

When examining the school breakdown in the girls’ game, four players originate from Ottawa’s Capital Courts Academy and Crestwood Preparatory College. Additionally, three players represent Fort Erie International Academy, followed by Lincoln Prep and Royal Crown School.

The 2024 All-Canadian Games are scheduled to run from March 25 through March 30. Details regarding the locations and times of events are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

2024 Top 24 All-Canadian Games boys selections

2024 Top 24 All-Canadian Games girls selections