We kick-off 2015 the right way with the most complete and competitive edition of the BasketballBuzz 2014-15 Top 10 CIS Men’s Basketball performers. By now we are all familiar with the usual suspects (Scrubb Brothers, Jonny Basketball, Javon Masters, Tyler Scott and more) and week in, week out there are guys motivate and hungry to see their name on the Top 10. With less then six weeks away from the start of post-season it’s now or never!
Johnny Berhanemeskel (G 6’3″, 175 lbs, 5th year) – Ottawa Gee-Gees
“Jonny Basketball” has pretty much cemented his name as the greatest Gee-Gee player of all-time by nailing his second career game-winning basket over cross-town rivals Carleton Ravens. At the mid-way point of the season, it’s now clear that the race for the Moser (MVP) trophy will come down to Berhanemeskel and his good pal Philip Scrubb. The only thing left for Berhanemeskel to do is win a CIS Basketball national championship and end Scrubb’s historic grip as a three-time Most Valuable Player, something that he will likely have to go through to Ravens accomplish both feats.
Jan 10. vs. Carleton Ravens W, 68-66: 21 points (8/24 FG, 3/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Philip Scrubb – (PG 6’4″, 195 lbs, 5th year) Carleton Ravens
The three-time CIS MVP scored 14 of the Ravens 20 fourth-quarter points in the loss against rivals Ottawa Gee-Gees and had zero turnovers in 39 pressure cooker minutes. Scrubb is averaging 24.6 points per game and 38 minutes against the OUA’s big three teams thus far (Ottawa, Ryerson, McMaster) compared to only 15.5 PPG and just 22.6 minutes per game against other conference opponents. A legit contender to become the first-ever player to win the Most Valuable Player Trophy four consecutive years, a feat that if accomplished will certainly catapult him into the most decorated CIS Player of All-Time!
Jan 10. @ Carleton Ravens L, 68-66: 26 points (7/16 FG, 5/11 3PT, 7/7 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Chris McLaughlin – (F 6’10″, 235 lbs, 4th year) Victoria Vikes
The most dominant big man in the country put together his most complete performances of the season in a weekend road sweep of the Manitoba Bisons. McLaughlin also put up a season-high 19 field goals and came up a rebound shy of his sixth double-double of the year. It will be hard to deny McLaughlin a spot on the All-Canadian team if he keeps putting up double-doubles and the Vikes keep on winning.
Jan 9. @ Manitoba Bisons W, 88-75: 19 points (8/17 FG, 3/4 FT), 15 rebounds, 4 blocks
Jan 10. @ Manitoba Bisons W, 85-55: 23 points (11/19 FG, 1/1 FT), 9 rebounds, 2 blocks
Tommy Nixon (F 6’6″, 220 lbs, 5th year) – UBC Thunderbirds
5th year senior forward Tommy Nixon has “saved his best for last” and is having an outstanding final season with the Thunderbirds. An accomplished violinist off the court, Nixon has strung together his best two-game stretch of the season and leads an improving and talented UBC team in scoring (19.9) and 5.9 rebounds per game, both team-highs.
Jan 9. @ Lethbridge Pronghorns W, 92-77: 36 points (11/13 FG, 3/4 3FG, 11/14 FT), 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks
Jan 10. @ Lethbridge Pronghorns W, 91-69: 21 points (5/6 FG, 2/2 3FG, 9/10 FT), 9 rebounds, 3 steals
Caleb Agada (G 6’5″, 200 lbs, 3rd year) – Ottawa Gee-Gees
You’ll be hard pressed to find another CIS Basketball player that plays a bigger role on a National ranked team than Caleb Agada. The 20-year old junior guard has been instrumental to the Gee-Gees rise to the number one spot in the country. Agada put together another great performance against the Ravens and has been nearly unstoppable all-season including strong efforts versus top NCAA teams in the preseason. At this point of the season, the discussion about Agada shouldn’t be whether he is an All-Canadian, but rather if he is first or second-team.
Jan 10. vs. Carleton Ravens W, 68-66: 17 points (4/10 FG, 1/4 3PT, 8/10 FT), 10 rebounds
Javon Masters (G 6’3″, 190 lbs, 2nd year) – UNB Varsity Reds
Javon Masters is looking to become the first player in CIS history to lead the league in scoring for two consecutive seasons. The sophomore guard and former rookie of the year opened the new year and second-half of the season with a bang, ringing-up a season-best 37 points and is now averaging 25.3 points per game.
Jan 9. vs. St. Mary’s Huskies L, 95-92: 37 points (12/23 FG, 3/6 3PT, 10/11 FT), 8 assists, 2 steals
Jan 10. vs. St. Mary’s Huskies W, 107-76: 27 points (9/17 FG, 1/4 3FG, 8/11 FT), 4 assists, 3 rebounds
Jonathan Tull (F 6’4″, 195 lbs, 4th year) – Regina Cougars
Jonathan Tull has been as consistent as they come across the country and has the Regina Cougars eyeing a Canada West playoff spot. With four straight games of 20+ plus points, Tull not only has earned his fair share of national buzz and should be considered as a conference all-star. Tull and the Cougars will need to keep it going as Regina enters their toughest part of their schedule.
Jan 9. @ Trinity Western Spartans 107-89: 23 points (7/17 FG, 4/9 3FG, 5/6 FT) 6 rebounds, 7 assists
Jan 10. @ Trinity Western Spartans 96-81: 28 points (8/13 FG, 0/3 3FG, 12/17 FT), 4 assists, 4 steals
Ben Baker (F 6’3″, 182 lbs, 5th year) – Saskatchewan Huskies
How do you explain your 6’3 guard grabbing a CIS-best 24 rebounds? Ben Baker grabbed a total 35 rebounds in two games and is the Huskies second-leading rebounder at 7.9 per game, he also averages 9.7 points and 4.7 assists per game.
Jan 9. @ Brandon Bobcats W, 78-64: 13 points (5/10 FG, 1/2 3FG, 2/4 FT), 24 rebounds, 7 assists
Jan 10. @ Brandon Bobcats W, 90-82: 7 points (1/8 FG, 0/3 3FG, 5/8 FT), 11 rebounds, 3 assists
Tyler Scott (G 6’2″, 185 lbs, 2nd year) – UPEI Panthers
Tyler Scott opened-up the second-half of the year right where he left off. The UPEI guard has the Panthers atop of the AUS standings with a 7-2 record. Scott has scored 20 or more points in eight of the UPEI’s first nine league games and currently leads the country in scoring 25.4 points per game while shooting 49.7 from the floor and 44.6% from behind the arc.
Jan 9 vs. Dalhousie Tigers W, 89-82: 17 points (6/15 FG, 3/5 3PT 2/2 FT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Jan 10 vs. Dalhousie Tigers W, 94-89: 26 points (8/18 FG, 2/6 3PT, 8/9 FT), 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks
Aaron Best (G 6’4″, 183 lbs, 4th year) – Ryerson Rams
Aaron Best exploded for his second 30-point game of this season against a Top 10 opponent. Best canned 6-of-7 triples including three in the final quarter to break open a tight contest against the McMaster Marauders. The fourth-year Scarborough, Ontario guard is shooting 23-44 (52.3%) from three-pointers and ranks in the Top 15 best shooters in the country.
Jan 7. @ Toronto Blues W, 92-68: 10 points (3/9 FG, 2/5 3PT, 2/3 FT), 3 rebounds
Jan 10. @ McMaster Marauders W, 98-78: 30 points (11/13 FG, 6/7 3PT, 2/2 FT), 4 rebounds, steals
Honorable Mention:
Thomas Scrubb (F 6’7″, 215 lbs, 4th year) – Carleton Ravens
Thomas Scrubb dominated the Gee-Gees on the offensive glass pulling down 8 o-boards for a season-best 13 rebounds in the loss to Ottawa for his third double-double of the year. Despite playing limited minutes due to many blow-outs delivered by the Ravens, the fourth-year Scrubb is averaging 18.3 rebounds, 7.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists on a nightly basis.
Jan 10. @ Carleton Ravens L, 68-66: 15 points (6/18 FG, 0/2 3PT, 3/5 FT), 13 rebounds, 5 assists
