Sunday August 7 2011 – 11:57pm Eastern – Toronto, ON

The final score of the championship game still hasn’t rolled in yet (the game is in progress as I type this) but for those that aren’t aware … Canada is trying to knock off the USA/Midwest team for the crown.

What is the NIKE Global Challenge?

It’s an 8-team, 12-game tournament (over 3 days) that features the top 30 high school players in the U.S. and elite international ballers from around the globe.

Competing for Canada:

Kevin Zabo - PG -  6’03 - 180 – Montreal
Tyler Ennis - PG - 6’03 - 182 – Brampton
Nazareth Long - PG - 6’03 - 195 – Mississagua
Xavier Rathan-Mayes - SG - 6’04 - 185 – Toronto
Dyshawn Pierre - SF - 6’06 - 193 – Whitby
Negus Webster-Chan - SG - 6’07 - 186 – Toronto
Andrew Wiggins - SF - 6’07 205 1995 Vaughn
Anthony Bennett - PF - 6’08 - 220 – Brampton
Isaiah Watkins - PF - 6’08 - 210 – Toronto
Tanveer Bhullar – C - 7’03 - 240 – Toronto
Sim Bhullar - C - 7’05 - 300 - Toronto
Olivier Hanlan - SG - 6’03 - 195 – Gatineau

Joining Canada in the tournament were:

Brazil, Germany, Chinese-Taipei, Puerto Rico, and clubs from USA/East and USA/West (in addition to the USA/Midwest team already mentioned above).

The three American teams were heavily-favoured heading into the tournament but many believed that if there was one team that could make some noise and possibly upset any of the U.S. squads … it was Canada.

This is the 5th year for the NIKE Global Challenge and success at a tournament like this is certainly another fine example of the young basketball talent that Canada is producing these days (NOTE:  Canada is ranked 6th in the world (Boys) by FIBA (the Senior Men’s Team is ranked 23rd)).

Players who have competed in this tournament in the past include:

John Wall
DeMarcus Cousins
Kyrie Irving
Anthony Davis
Austin Rivers
Kemba Walker
Tristan Thompson
Brandon Knight
Greg Monroe
Tyreke Evans
….. and Toronto Raptors swingman, DeMar DeRozan

E. Smith

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NOTE:  Canada was up by 2 at the half, 57-55 when this blog was posted.

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NOTE:  Around 12:15am on Monday August 8 2011 … Canada led at the end of 3 QRTs (81-78)

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NOTE:  8:20am on Monday August 8 2011 … Canada lost the championship game, 99-94.  Anthony Bennett led the Canadians in the loss with 20 points

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