Given the current influx of talented Canadian’s at the NCAA Division one it was common knowledge that Canada was set to have a record year of NBA draftees.
Bake-in the unexpected and surprisingly new favorable NCAA rule changes — finally allowing student-athletes much-needed flexibility to test the NBA draft process and still to return to their respective schools if their name is not verbalized by Adam Silver and Co.
With the April 21st deadline for early entrants fast approaching a record 13 Canadians have declared themselves eligible for the 2019 NBA Draft. Led by R.J. Barrett — 2019 consensus All-American and Jerry West award winner as the best collegiate shooting guard — the list is heavy loaded with freshman and sophomore talent — underlining, arguably Canada’s best NCAA class to date.
Ultimately, we’ve reached a point of no return. With Canadian basketball talent bursting out of the pipelines like leaky faucets and improving NCAA rules, one should expect the annual number of declares to continue to rise year-in, year-out.
Canadian’s appetite for the sport is at an all-time high with Canada currently boasting the title as the country with the most international players in the NBA.
The current count stands at 13 active players and much like what we are witnessing at the NCAA level those numbers are expected to continue to rise in the coming years.
The Canadian players will have until May 29, 2019 (22:59 CT) to withdraw their names from the draft and retain their NCAA eligibility.
In a day and age where Twitter announcements have become the norm, below is a list of all Canadians who have put their name in the 2019 NBA Draft, and their respective messages of gratitude towards their support system, educational and athletic institutions.
RJ Barrett – (Freshman, Forward, 6’7″, 202 lbs, Mississauga, ON) – Duke Blue Devils
Brandon Clarke – (Junior, 6’8″, 215 lbs, Phoenix, AZ/Vancouver/BC) – Gonzaga Bulldogs
Luguentz Dort – (Freshman, Guard, 6’4″, 215 lbs, Montreal, QC) – Arizona State Sun Devils
Nickeil Alexander-Walker – (Sophomore, Guard, 6’5″, 205 lbs, Toronto, ON) – Virginia Tech
Mfiondu Kabengele – (Sophomore, Forward, 6’10”, 250 lbs, Burlington, ON) – Florida State Seminoles
Andrew Nembhard – (Freshman, Guard, 6’7″, 215 lbs, Aurora, ON) – Florida Gators
Simisola Shittu – (Freshman, Forward, 6’10”, 240 lbs, Milton, ON) – Vanderbilt Commodores
Lindell Wigginton – (Sophomore,
Guard, 6’2″, 188 lbs, Dartmouth, NS) – Iowa State Cyclones
AJ Lawson – (Freshman, Guard, 6’6″, 172 lbs, Toronto, ON) – South Carolina Gamecocks
Ignas Brazdeikis – (Freshman, Forward, 6’7″, 215 lbs, Mono, ON) – Michigan Wolverines
Oshea Brissett – (Sophomore,
Forward, 6’8″, 210 lbs, Mississauga, ON) – Syracuse Orange
Marial Shayok – (Senior, Guard, 6’6″, 201 lbs, Ottawa, ON) – Iowa State Cyclones
Kyle Alexander – (Senior,
Forward, 6’11”, 215 lbs, Milton, ON) – Tennessee Volunteers
2018-19 Canadians NBA Draft - List
| First Name | Last Name | Position | Team | City | Province | HT | WT | Class | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RJ | Barrett | F | Duke Blue Devils | Mississauga | ON | 6'7" | 202 | Freshman | ACC |
| Brandon | Clarke | F | Gonzaga Bulldogs | Vancouver | BC | 6'8" | 215 | Junior | WCC |
| Ignas | Brazdeikis | F | Michigan Wolverines | Mono | ON | 6'7" | 215 | Freshman | Big Ten |
| Marial | Shayok | G | Iowa State Cyclones | Ottawa | ON | 6'6 | 201 | Senior | Big 12 |
| Lindell | Wigginton | G | Iowa State Cyclones | Dartmouth | NS | 6'2" | 188 | Sophomore | Big 12 |
| Nickeil | Alexander-Walker | G | Virginia Tech Hookies | Toronto | ON | 6'5" | 205 | Sophomore | ACC |
| Andrew | Nembhard | PG | Florida Gators | Aurora | ON | 6'5" | 191 | Freshman | SEC |
| Luguentz | Dort | G | Arizona State Sun Devils | Montreal | QC | 6'4" | 215 | Freshman | PAC 12 |
| Mfiondu | Kabengele | F | Florida State Seminoles | Burlington | ON | 6'10" | 250 | Sophomore | ACC |
| Oshae | Brissett | F | Syracuse Orange | Mississauga | ON | 6'8" | 210 | Sophomore | ACC |
| Kyle | Alexander | F | Tennessee Volunteers | Milton | ON | 6'11" | 215 | Senior | SEC |
| AJ | Lawson | G | South Carolina Gamecocks | Toronto | ON | 6'6" | 172 | Freshman | SEC |
| Simisola | Shittu | F | Vanderbilt Commodores | Burlington | ON | 6'10 | 240 | Freshman | SEC |
