2006 All-Canadian Game

An update to some of you readers who visit throughout the season. Like my football page, I will be writing on various topics relating to high school basketball roughly twice a week from now until Sep when the full season previews will be in full swing. Hope you enjoy the articles. The 2005 archives can be found on the links to the right.

This past Saturday, the Adidas All-Canadian game was played in Hamilton. The annual game in it's 3rd consecutive year is a showcase of the best of high school basketball players in the Country. BC was well represented in Robert Sacre, Bol Kong, Alex Murphy, Calvin Westbrook, Brent Malish, and Jared Casey for the West team. Sacre led all scorers with 23 points. The East would win the game in a thriller, 96-89. The game will be broadcast May 13 on TSN.

The importance of this now annual event cannot be understated for the game of Basketball in Canada. You only need to look down south to see how important the McDonald's All-American Game is to the game of Basketball in the US to know that the Adidas All-Canadian Game can have the same effect here in Canada. NBA scouts go to the McDonald's All-American Game to decide which players they will be drafting in upcoming drafts. Now I know that most NBA scouts aren't lining up to see Canada's best, but I'm sure the NCAA and CIS coaches were in full attendance to see what our best High School players have to offer.

Regarding the BC contingent. The fact that all 6 of the BC players at the game have already signed up to play at NCAA or CIS is enough to show that BC is a hotbed for Basketball. You could make the argument that BC is producing just as many if not more top prospects than Ontario, especially if you take into account the population difference between the 2 provinces.

There is talk that the event will come back to Vancouver next year. Organizer and creator Kevin Gavin of Hooplife.ca is from Vancouver so it's definitely a strong possibility it will come back. With Sacre the showcase player next year, it should make for an awesome event here in Vancouver.

As for TV coverage, it's too bad it won't be shown live, however TSN will broadcast the game on National TV, May 13. Last year the game was broadcast on The Score. I don't have a preference either way as both networks have terrible Basketball coverage and commentators. In any case, I'm looking foward to watching it.

Post your comments and thoughts or send me an email at BCSportsFanatic@yahoo.ca.