After the recent news, David Simon of Royal Crown committing to San Diego has me thinking about what big men are left here in Canada? After Mike Nwoko (Miami), Colin Muholland (Chattanooga), Braeden MacVicar (Coastal Carolina), Thomas Ndong (Oklahoma State) and now David Simon gone, the number of big men north of the border is diminishing. However there are still some diamonds in the rough available in Canada. In this blog, we'll take a look at the top 10 unsigned big men prospects (no order) in Canada's 2023 class in my personal opinion, and explore their strengths, weaknesses, and potential destinations.
Jacob Antchak | 6'8 | CTA West
Jacob Antchak is built like a machine, a man amongst boys as I've said before in my previous article with Jacob. Jacob is the kind of prospect that if you back him into a corner he's going to fight, and by this I mean he doesn't back down from any challenges thrown his way. He possesses tremendous leadership skills on and off the court. His rebounding and active hands around the rim will translate immediately to the next level. Jacob is a guy that likes to get in the paint and mix it up, a work horse to say the very least. Versatile defender, able to switch on screens with confidence, making him a catalyst on defense. Not many players, signed or not that can compete with his physicality, he's an immediate impact prospect. The only slight would be his 3-point shooting consistency, not a weakness but at the same time not a strong suit. He's drawn interest from several Division I programs, including Wyoming, Clemson, Merrimack, UC San Diego and recently picked up an offer from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.
Hunter Harding | 7'0 | Royal Crown
At 7'0, Hunter Harding is a towering presence in the paint. He's a center from Royal Crown who dominates on the defensive end of the floor. Harding is an exceptional shot-blocker, and uses his size and length to alter shots at the rim. He moves well for his size and has good footwork around the basket. Harding is still developing his offensive game, but has shown flashes of potential as a finisher around the rim. Hunter has incredibly soft mitts when catching entry passes or when in pick and pop scenario's. High release on his shot and the confidence to shoot the 3-ball as a trailing post or in the half court set. He has received an offer Cal State Fullerton as well as interest from several other mid major programs.
Ebenezer Ogoh | 6'10 | Orangeville Prep
Ebenezer Ogoh is a 6'10 power forward from Orangeville Prep, and a physical force on the court. He's a strong and athletic big man who excels in the paint. Ogoh is a ferocious rebounder, with a knack for finishing through contact. Multiple memorable rebounding outtings this past year for Orangeville where it seemed as if he was the only one on the court who could get a board on either end. He's also a solid defender, with the ability to alter shots at the rim, anticipate passes & disrupt the lanes. Ogoh is still developing his offensive game, but has shown potential as a scorer inside and outside the key. Could help a lot of LM-MM programs next season with his coachability and size. USPORTS programs should be putting on a full court press for a guy like Ogoh.
Jaxon Koroll | 6'10 | Edge School
Jaxon Koroll is a 6'10 center from Edge School with a polished offensive game. He's a skilled big man who can score in a variety of ways with experience South of the border at Long Island Lutheran as well as multiple stints in the EYBL including this year with UPLAY Western Alliance. Koroll has a nice touch around the basket, and can step out and hit the mid-range jumper with ease. He's also a good passer, with a high basketball IQ. Koroll is a solid rebounder and has the potential to be a good, if not a great defender. He's received an offer from Eastern New Mexico University & I would be shocked if he didn't receive more interest during EYBL.
Andrejs Silconoks | 6'11 | New Hampton
At 6'11, Andrejs Silconoks is a raw but intriguing prospect. He's a center from New Hampton with immense potential as he has only been playing for under 4 years. Silconoks is a long, athletic big man who runs the floor well and can finish above the rim. He's also developed a beautiful touch from beyond the arc, with the ability to hit the mid-range jumper at a high rate. Silconoks has the tools to be a solid defender and over the past season he put on some weight (238lbs) he can really be a strong presence in the paint. He's a low-risk, high-reward prospect, but one that could pay off in a big way. Silconoks has drawn interest from several D2 and USPORTS programs but could easily see him at the Division I level when it's all said and done.
While the top tier of big men in Canada high school basketball is loaded with talent, there's also a strong second tier of prospects who have the potential to make an impact at the next level. In this article, we'll take a closer look at five of the top unsigned big men prospects in Canada.
Elijah Amas | 6'8 | Fort Erie International Academy
Elijah Amas is a 6'8 power forward from Fort Erie who has shown steady improvement throughout his high school career as he has only been playing for 3 years. My pro comparison for Elijah would be a Paul Millsap prototype. He's a strong and athletic big man who excels on the defensive end of the floor. Amas is an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder, with a ridiculously high motor and good instincts. A high academic prospect to boot. He's still developing his offensive game, but has the ability to create second chance opportunities or be a put-back dunk threat around the rim. Amas has drawn interest a plethora of USPORTS programs as well as NCAA Division 2 programs. As a high academic prospect Elijah is a high ceiling/ safe floor type of recruit in my eyes.
Ali Sakho | 6'8 | Fort Erie
Ali Sakho is a 6'8 power forward from Fort Erie who is a dynamic piece on the court alongisde Elijah Amas. He's a strong and athletic big man with a ton of finesse who can finish through contact around the rim. I think my pro comparison for Ali would be a mixture between David West with Rasheed Wallace's competitive spirit. Sakho plays with his heart on his sleeve and can really impact the momentum of the game on either end of the floor. He's still developing his offensive game, but has shown potential as a pick & pop threat. Would like to see where he ends up in a couple of years as he develops even further in the collegiate ranks.
Affan Razaq | 6'8 | V3 Prep
Affan Razaq is a 6'8 power forward from V3 Prep who is a versatile scorer. He's a skilled big man who can score in a variety of ways. A quiet leader, who shows great level of commitment to his craft and has been an integeral part of V3 Prep. Affan always stands out when I see him with his Toronto NuStep AAU program, as a unique prospect who could do a lot more given the opportunity. Amongst this list he's the most in between prospect when it comes to "is he a 4 or a 5?" However I believe Affan would make an incredible small ball 5-man at the USPORTS or CCAA level. A serviceable prospect with a ton of upside.
Declan Cutler | 6'10 | St. Thomas Aquinas
Declan Cutler is a 6'10 center from St. Thomas Aquinas who has shown steady improvement throughout his high school career. Declan is also running with Western Alliance (UPLAY) in the EYCL where he is 2nd on the team in FG% at 63.9 and he is also tied for 2nd on the team in rebounds with 36. He's a skilled big man who can score with efficiency using his soft touch. Declan is also currently 3rd in the EYCL with 1.9 blocks per game and is leading his team with a total of 13 blocks through two sessions. The one thing, like most big men, is his shooting touch could be developed some more. He's also a good passer, with a high basketball IQ. Declan is a solid rebounder and has the potential to be an elite rim protector at the collegiate level. He's sure to pick up some interest after the EYBL if he continues to defend the paint at a high clip.
Sam Lufuluabo | 6'11 | United Scholastic Academy
Sam Lufuluabo is a raw but interesting prospect. He's a 6'11 center from United Scholastic this past season and played with CTA as well in the past. Lufuluabo is a long, multifaceted big man who runs the floor well and can finish above the rim. He's also shown flashes of a developing outside game, and a fairly polished mid-range game. Lufuluabo has that finesse you need as a new age big man where he can put the ball on the ground and the 3-point line and get to the rim against slower defenders. Lufuluabo has been flying under the radar as he plays behind Arden Begaj who is one of the top prospects in 2024. Could be a major sleeper with size that you simply cannot teach.
In conclusion, while the top tier of big men prospects in Canada high school basketball gets the most attention, there are also plenty of talented players in the tiers below who are worth keeping an eye on.