It's time.The end of November and beginning of December means that league play is set to begin --- or, if you're in the D10 league, you're already two regular season games deep.
That, combined with some preseason tournaments, mean that we're beginning to have an idea about some of the top teams in the CWOSSA region.
This year is unique in that when I started to do my preseason ranking, I started with a "top 10", as usual. However, parity seems to be the name of the game in CWOSSA basketball this season. Many "double digit" ranked teams have quality players and teams, and can certainly upset those that are ranked higher (some already have, in fact!).
In other words, it's probably the closest that a "17th ranked team" has been to a "5th ranked team" in the past 5 years that I've been doing this blog.
It should make for some exciting games this season!
As for the ranking, there's a couple factors that I'm using when I make my preseason rankings. Among them:
- Starters/Key Players Returning; % of Scoring Offense Returning (combined with performance from a season ago - obviously, a top-ranked team from last year returning a large chunk of their team will be favoured to have similar success this year).
- Key Junior Players Moving Up - not as big a factor the point above, several teams will see an influx of very strong junior talent which will immediately improve their competitiveness.
- Early Season Exhibition/Tournament Results - especially intra-CWOSSA games, as those provide a "benchmark".
- Other Factors. For instance - transfer players.
1. St. Mary's Eagles (Kitchener)
The Eagles, last year's AAAA champions, return probably about 90% of their scoring offense from a season ago, led by Tesloth Simon, Tyrick Thompson, Jermaine Lyle, Jermaine Stephenson, and Nathan Riley. Add in several key juniors (Adham Eleeda, Minas Abara and co.) from the CWOSSA junior squad, and you have a team that should again be heavily favoured to make some noise.
Of course, after years of flying under the radar (provincially speaking), the Eagles are now getting a lot of notice and publicity. It will be interesting to see how they fare as the "hunted" instead of the "hunters".
2. SJAM Highlanders (Waterloo)
The Highlanders have a bit of everything, including size (Nedim Hodzic + Brett Parrott) and guard play (grade eleven Simon Petrov). A decent junior crew also moves up to senior, led by their leading scorer, Justin Hardy.
Based on how good they've looked early on, I'll give the 'Landers the slight edge over Cameron Heights for 2nd spot in the CWOSSA rankings.
3. Cameron Heights Golden Gaels (Kitchener)
The Gaels return the greater majority of their scoring offense from a season ago (CWOSSA finalists / OFSAA AAAA qualifier) --- including many of their key starters (Sasha Simic, Nik Farkic, Ivan Cucak, Jackie Do). They had a solid performance at the Pinky Lewis tournament (semifinalists), and also took home the Resurrection tournament last weekend with a 3-1 record (losing to Resurrection without Cucak).
They don't look like the most athletic bunch, but they're deceptive. Attendance at a CHCI game will usually guarantee you a couple of "YouTube worthy" dunks or blocks!
4. Grand River Renegades (Kitchener)
The Rens lose Mike Moser award winner Chuder Teny, but there's still a lot of talent left over in East Kitchener. Several returning starters (David Bajic, Miro Iliev, Murtada Khamis) and two key starters from last year's WCSSAA finalist junior roster (Aleks Cvrkalj, Jake Zuzan) should keep them up there with the other contenders in the WCSSAA league.
5. St. James Lions (Guelph)
St. Mary's wasn't the only school to sweep a CWOSSA championship last year, as the Lions took honours in the "AAA" ranks for both junior & senior -- that core group of juniors all move up to the senior ranks. Among returnees, Joey Hasson is off to a great start, putting up 29 in their league win over JF Ross. The Lions also were victorious in all 3 games at their home tourney last weekend.
6. Assumption Lions (Brantford)
The Assumption Lions lost a play-in game last year to JF Ross for the right to play CWOSSA games on their floor. This year, the D5 AAAA representative will be an automatic qualifier, and the Lions should actually be in a position to make some noise, given that they return all 5 starters from last year's championship team, led by scoring sensation Andre Toic.
That said, there may be a bit of a slow start and some speed bumps given that the majority of the team also plays for the school's football team, which just finished its season.
7. North Park Trojans (Brantford)
Winners of the Brantford Tipoff Classic, the Trojans have a bunch of talent back from last year's team, including guard Matt Minutillo (who scored 20+ and 30+ this past weekend) and 6'8" big man Brandon John, who played senior last year while in grade nine.
Look for NPC to be very competitive within their league and one of the favourites to make some noise in the "AAA" CWOSSA classification.
8. Eastwood Rebels (Kitchener)
Eastwood, making an appearance in the Heinbuch this year, is undersized but makes up for it with athleticism, and I can certainly see them giving some of the top WCSSAA teams some trouble in the playoffs (much like this core group did in the junior ranks several years ago).
Experience is in abundance, with 5th years Ousmane Kromah, Izzy Nemeth, and Sydney Stewart. Big man Cham Ujullu, who improved tremendously throughout last season (becoming a WCSSAA all-star in the process), will be huge in determining ECI's fortunes.
9. JF Ross Royals (Guelph)
Despite losing a couple key players in Kristian Vande Kemp and Ryan Stulp, the Royals should again be very competitive in the D10 circuit. Tommy Yanchus and Andrew Folkerson should provide the bulk of the scoring options for the Royals, who had a close loss to CHCI and a 2-point win over Resurrection last weekend.
10. St. Benedict Saints (Cambridge)
For a team that struggled last year at the senior level, immediate help has arrived in the form of one of the top two junior squads in the CWOSSA region a season ago.
Zubair Seyed, Justin Malernich, Alex Douglas and co. will dramatically bolster an SBCSS squad that finished 4th in the D8 loop last year.
11. Bishop Macdonell Celtics (Guelph)
Off to a 2-0 start in league play, it's clear that the Celtics could (and probably should) certainly be ranked higher. I'll put them in the #11 spot with a huge asterisk, as I want to see a couple more games from them before passing judgement.
They did lose several key players from a season ago, including leading scorer Jesse Kendall (UNB) and Owen Brombal. That said, a core group of grade 10s that played up on the senior team last year are back, led by Chris Poloniato, Evan Hosker and Jake Chaput. That means that the Celts should be challenging for a D10 (and CWOSSA) title again.
12. Resurrection Phoenix (Kitchener)
Despite losing 4 starters, and much of their scoring offense from a season ago (Patric McGlynn & Jake Gilbert), the Phoenix do return D8 all-star Korbil Gany and have a solid crop of juniors moving up from my #3 ranked CWOSSA junior squad.
Guards Ali Rashid, Jake Rush, G/F Muyang Iluya and F Jordan Kenning (who grew to 6'7" over the summer) should all play an impact for the Phoenix. Expect some early growing pains, as this group adjusts to senior basketball, but the talent is there to pull some upsets at the same time.
13. Forest Heights Trojans (Kitchener)
The Trojans certainly impressed me at the Resurrection tournament last weekend, and definitely have the roster capable of making some noise in WCSSAA this year. Jalen Nong, Rakesh Arjun, Manraj Jugpal and Amir Meftuh form a solid nucleus with some upset potential.
14. Waterloo CI Vikings (Waterloo)
Fresh off a tournament victory at the CWDHS tournament (defeating the host Falcons by 7 in the final), the Vikes are another one of those teams that has a couple key returnees combined with several solid juniors coming up (most notably Aaron Grubb, one of the top guards in junior basketball).
Look for the well-coached, disciplined Viking team to again be in the mix come playoff time.
15. Centennial Spartans (Guelph)
Mark Shinouda, Andy Ly, and Chris Jin are back for a Spartan team that had a disappointing 4-10 season last year in D10 play. However, early returns are certainly promising, including a win yesterday over Lourdes.
16. Galt Ghosts (Cambridge)
Any time you have arguably the best scorer in CWOSSA on your team, you'll always be competitive. That's certainly the case with the Galt Ghosts, who have superstar TJ Lall back in the mix for his 5th and final season at the castle.
Look for the Ghosts to be among those WCSSAA teams that qualify for "AAA" CWOSSA.
17. Lourdes Crusaders (Guelph)
Despite losing Kevin Roche, several key returnees --- most notably Craig Valeriote and David Khayipangi --- should keep the Crusaders in the thick of the D10 race.
Another school that had an extended football season, and perhaps that has shown in their two early games, both league losses (albeit to arguably 2 of the top D10 teams). Time will tell with this bunch, but I expect them to improve as the season progresses.
18. CWDHS Falcons (Fergus)
The Falcons finished second in their home tournament (7 point loss to WCI) and are 1-1 in league play to this point. They return the bulk of their scoring offense from a season ago, including James Scott, Ty Uhrig, and Sam Goindi, among others.
19. St. John's Green Eagles (Brantford)
Projected to finish 3rd in the D5 standings is unfamiliar territory for the Green Eagles, but a balanced roster and good coaching will keep them in games with the ability to pull upsets over some of the higher ranked teams that may overlook them. Early-season results (including a big loss to rival NPC) mean that I'll be a bit cautious with their early season ranking, but this is another team that could move up over time.
20. KCI Raiders (Kitchener)
The Raiders should again be solidly in the mix for a CWOSSA "AAA" berth, led by one of WCSSAA's top scorers (and first-team all-star last year) Stefan Simic. They suffered a 68-49 loss last week to #5 St. James in tournament play, but you can never discount a team led by Coach White.
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