Every Canadian in D-I men’s college basketball for the 2021–22 season
For the third consecutive season, I’ve gone along and tracked all of the Division-I men’s college basketball players that were born in Canada and are currently listed on a school’s roster (as of September 4th, 2021). You can find the 2020 and 2019 iterations here.
Unfortunately — and probably largely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic preventing international scouting to take its full form, the number of athletes repping Canada has diminished in number for the first time since I’ve started this exercise, albeit barely. From my count, the database has shrunk from 155 last year, to 153 this season.
Keep in mind that I am only including players that have Canada listed as their hometown or birthplace in official publications. Players who may have been raised in Canada or played prep ball here don’t count unless the player has specifically preferred to be listed as Canadian.
Before we get into the list, here are a couple of standout facts. 131 of the 153 players are from either Ontario or Quebec, including 58 from either Toronto (including boroughs such as Scarborough or Etobicoke) or Montreal. In terms of schools, Northeastern and Santa Clara lead the way with five Canadians each on its roster. Maine slightly trails with four. All in all, there are 120 schools with a Canadian on the team, representing 31 of the 32 D-I conferences (shame, C-USA).
Without further ado, here is the list of every Canadian in D-I men’s college basketball for the 2021–22 season, some analysis on a few standouts, and a couple extra statistics below. Enjoy!
ACC:
James Karnik, Boston College — Surrey, BC
Big East:
Christian David, Butler — Milton, ON
Ryan Nembhard, Creighton — Aurora, ON
Nick Ongenda, DePaul — Mississauga, ON
Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Marquette — Montreal, QC
Matteus Case, Providence — Pickering, ON
Tyrese Samuel, Seton Hall — Montreal, QC
Stef Smith, St. John’s — Ajax, ON
Big Ten:
Caleb Houstan, Michigan — Mississauga, ON
Jevonie Scott, Penn State — Toronto, ON
Zach Edey, Purdue — Toronto, ON
Jahcobi Neath, Wisconsin — Toronto, ON
Big 12:
Kaosi Ezeagu, Kansas State — Brampton, ON
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, Oklahoma State — Toronto, ON
Emanuel Miller, TCU — Toronto, ON
Marcus Carr, Texas — Toronto, ON
Gabe Osabuohien, West Virginia — Toronto, ON
Pac 12:
Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona — Montreal, QC
Enoch Boakye, Arizona State — Brampton, ON
Joel Brown, California — Brampton, ON
Jalen Celestine, California — Ajax, ON
Keeshawn Barthelemy, Colorado — Montreal, QC
Quincy Guerrier, Oregon — Montreal, QC
Maurice Calloo, Oregon State — Windsor, ON
Jefferson Koulibaly, Washington State — Montreal, QC
SEC:
Charles Bediako, Alabama — Brampton, ON
Keon Ambrose-Hylton, Alabama — Toronto, ON
Tre-Vaughn Minott, South Carolina — Montreal, QC
Javonte Brown, Texas A&M — Toronto, ON
Trey Thomas, Vanderbilt — Toronto, ON
ASUN:
Wheza Panzo, Stetson — Mississauga, ON
America East:
Ja’Shonté Wright-McLeish, Maine — Montreal, QC
Adefolarin Adetogun, Maine — Regina, SK
Stephane Ingo, Maine — Mississauga, ON
Milos Nenadic, Maine — Mississauga, ON
Dylan O’Hearn, NJIT — Windsor, ON
Blondeau Tchoukuiegno, New Hampshire — Montreal, QC
Alex Christie, Stony Brook — Oakville, ON
Tre Edwards, UMBC — Hamilton, ON
Yaw Obeng-Mensah, UMBC — Toronto, ON
Eric Beckett, Vermont — Ajax, ON
Georges Lefebvre, Vermont — Montreal, QC
Samuel Alamutu, Vermont — Ajax, ON
American:
Marlon Leston, East Carolina — Montreal, QC
Emmanuel Bandoumel, SMU — Quebec City, QC
A-10:
Kobe Elvis, Dayton — Brampton, ON
Tegra Izay, La Salle — Montreal, QC
Nathan Cayo, Richmond — Montreal, QC
Matt Grace, Richmond — Hamilton, ON
Justin Ndjock-Tadjore, St. Bonaventure — Gatineau, QC
Big Sky:
Victor Radocaj, Eastern Washington — Richmond, BC
Abdul Mohamed, Montana State — Ottawa, ON
Kellen Tynes, Montana State — Dartmouth, NS
Spencer Roberts, Northern Arizona — Lethbridge, AB
Kur Jockuch, Northern Colorado — London, ON
Damion Squire, Portland State — Montreal, QC
James Jean-Marie, Portland State — Montreal, QC
Koby McEwen, Weber State — Toronto, ON
Big South:
Luc Therrien, Hampton — Vancouver, BC
Kyle Duke, NC A&T — Toronto, ON
Big West:
David Walker, Cal St Bakersfield — Toronto, ON
Jerome Desrosiers, Hawaii — Saint-Hyacinthe, QC
Emmanuel Tshimanga, UC Irvine — Montreal, QC
NO C-USA
CAA:
Matey Juric, Drexel — Toronto, ON
Jahmyl Telfort, Northeastern — Boucherville, QC
Alexander Nwagha, Northeastern — Milton, ON
Nikola Djogo, Northeastern — Hamilton, ON
Coleman Stucke, Northeastern — Oakville, ON
To Randriasalama, Northeastern — Montreal, QC
Chris Biekeu, Towson — Montreal, QC
Horizon:
Nathanael Jack, Cleveland State — Mississauga, ON
Prince Oduro, Detroit — Toronto, ON
Tafari Simms, Milwaukee — Hamilton, ON
Jalen Warren, UIC — Milton, ON
Shemar Rathan-Mayes, Youngstown State — Toronto, ON
Ivy:
Malachi Ndur, Brown — St. Thomas, ON
Nana Owusu-Anane, Brown — Burlington, ON
Kobe Antwi, Columbia — Oakville, ON
Aaryn Rai, Dartmouth — Markham, ON
Josh Hemmings, Harvard — Toronto, ON
Luka Sakota, Harvard — Toronto, ON
Noah Kirkwood, Harvard — Toronto, ON
Jaelin Llewellyn, Princeton — Mississauga, ON
MAAC:
Scott Hitchon, Canisius — Whitby, ON
Raheim Sullivan, Marist — Toronto, ON
Samuel Chaput, Monmouth — Longueuil, QC
Steven Levnaic, Niagara — Hamilton, ON
Steven Lazar, Siena — Toronto, ON
MAC:
Ben Hendriks, Ball State — Mississauga, ON
Dominic Johnson, Buffalo — Windsor, ON
Adong Makuoi, Northern Illinois — Edmonton, AB
Olumide Adelodun, Ohio — Calgary, AB
Keshaun Saunders, Toledo — Brampton, ON
MEAC:
Fahim Jenneto, Delaware State — Ajax, ON
Marko Milivojevic, Maryland Eastern Shore — Oakville, ON
Missouri Valley:
Ja’Shon Henry, Bradley — Saskatoon, SK
Okay Djamgouz, Drake — Toronto, ON
Shamar Givance, Evansville — Toronto, ON
Liam McChesney, Illinois State — Prince Rupert, BC
Aher Uguak, Loyola Chicago — Edmonton, AB
JD Muila, Southern Illinois — Ottawa, ON
Kyler Filewich, Southern Illinois — Winnipeg, MB
Darius DeAveiro, Valparaiso — Ottawa, ON
Ben Krikke, Valparaiso — Edmonton, AB
Mountain West:
Emmanuel Akot, Boise State — Winnipeg, MB
Abu Kigab, Boise State — St. Catharines, ON
Emmanuel Kuac, New Mexico — Calgary, AB
Taryn Todd, New Mexico — Vaughan, ON
Michael Nuga, UNLV — Toronto, ON
Northeast:
Adham Eleeda, Bryant — Toronto, ON
Arian Dehnavi, Central Connecticut State — Montreal, QC
Sebastien Lamaute, Fairleigh Dickinson — St. Bruno-de-Montarville, QC
Pier-Olivier Racine, Fairleigh Dickinson — Gatineau, QC
Patrick Emilien, St. Francis Brooklyn — Toronto, ON
Bahaide Haidara, St. Francis Brooklyn — Montreal, QC
Jahbril Price-Noel, Wagner — Toronto, ON
Ohio Valley:
Michael Matas, SIU Edwardsville — Oakville, ON
Dane Quest, Tennessee Tech — Toronto, ON
Patriot:
Brock Newton, Bucknell — Fergus, ON
Josh Bascoe, Bucknell — Milton, ON
Malcolm Bailey, Colgate — Stratford, ON
Sam Thomson, Colgate — Kitchener, ON
Louth Coulibaly, Holy Cross — Ottawa, ON
Domonic Parolin, Lehigh — Coquitlam, BC
SWAC:
Elijah Ifejeh, Prairie View A&M — Montreal, QC
Southern:
Kordell Charles, East Tennessee State — Toronto, ON
Jaden Campbell, Samford — Brampton, ON
Richardson Maitre, Samford — Montreal, QC
Southland:
Joshua Nkwo, Houston Baptist — Hamilton, ON
Josh Morgan, Incarnate Word — Brampton, ON
Daniel Sackey, New Orleans — Winnipeg, MB
Jasman Sangha, Texas A&M Corpus Christi — Brampton, ON
Summit:
Elijah Lufile, Oral Roberts — Milton, ON
Sun Belt:
Rudi Williams, Coastal Carolina — Hamilton, ON
Eliel Nsoseme, Georgia State — Hamilton, ON
Kevin Osawe, Arkansas Little Rock — Toronto, ON
Nate Tshimanga, Troy — Montreal, QC
Brandyn Talbot, Texas Arlington — Newmarket, ON
WAC:
Ty Rowell, California Baptist — Langley, BC
Sean Miller-Moore, Grand Canyon — Toronto, ON
Clayton Henry, New Mexico State — Calgary, AB
Marsei Caston, New Mexico State — Windsor, ON
Shakur Daniel, Tarleton State — Toronto, ON
Isaiah Bujdoso, Tarleton State — Hamilton, ON
Fardaws Aimaq, Utah Valley — Vancouver, BC
WCC:
Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga — Aurora, ON
Clythus Griffith Jr., Portland — Mississauga, ON
Muon Reath, San Diego — Ottawa, ON
Danilo Djuricic, Santa Clara — Brampton, ON
Josip Vrankic, Santa Clara — Toronto, ON
Jaden Bediako, Santa Clara — Brampton, ON
Miguel Tomley, Santa Clara — Surrey, BC
Jacob Holt, Santa Clara — Delta, BC
ANALYSIS:
Although brother Andrew has garnered loads of attention as a solid starter on a unanimous number-one ranked Gonzaga squad, it’s Ryan Nembhard who “technically” plays at a higher level at Creighton. Nembhard is not your typical freshman, starting at point guard for prep-powerhouse Montverde Academy as well as the U19 Canadian national team. Look for him to take the lead ball-handler duties from day-one at Creighton as he begins what is surely to be an accolade-filled college career.
Speaking of playing in the shadows, Purdue big man Zach Edey sits behind dominant Boilermaker big Trevion Williams. Despite seeing limited action, the 7-foot-3 Edey showed flashes of superstardom as a freshman, and carried the momentum by being named to the First-Team of the U19 World Cup this summer. While Edey might not reach such lofty heights in college this season, enjoy the last year of underrated play from Edey before he takes off as a starter in 22–23.
My pick for most improved Canadian this season would probably go to Oklahoma State forward Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe. The rangy forward’s freshman season was overshadowed by the brilliance of first overall pick Cade Cunningham, but Moncrieffe is ready to step out into the spotlight for what should be a Top 25-level Cowboys squad. Coach Mike Boynton has hinted at trying out Moncrieffe at point guard this season, which could allow the long, 6-foot-7 forward to get some serious NBA looks by season’s end.
One of two potential, if not likely lottery picks out of this Canadian class (Michigan’s Caleb Houstan being the other), Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin is looking to put together flashes shown both as freshman in college and a leading option on the aforementioned U19 squad, and truly break out in his second year with the Wildcats. Mathurin can do it all on the floor — he’s an excellent spot-up shooter, his size and athleticism allows him to play lockdown defense, and his burgeoning floor game could push his NBA potential from 3-D role player to something much more.
Moving from high-majors to mid-majors, we begin with a player who made the same move as Kobe Elvis transferred from DePaul to Dayton this offseason. While Elvis showed tremendous promise at DePaul, he arguably put himself into a better position for a professional career down the line by becoming a featured player at a high quality mid-major program that has been known to develop talent. As Elvis puts on more strength, he’s the type of guy that can eventually be the driving force towards a tournament berth for the Flyers.
Speaking of down-transfers, Weber State’s Koby McEwen made the decision to transfer out of a coaching change at Marquette and become arguably the most talented player in the Big Sky. McEwen’s ability to score and get to the rim at will should make him a dominant scorer for the Wildcats, and he might be the catalyst to get one of the favourites in the conference to the NCAA Tournament this season.
While we haven’t seen Ivy League hoops in two years, don’t forget about Harvard star Noah Kirkwood. The forward was Harvard’s leading scorer two seasons ago, and should do so once again this time around. Kirkwood’s all-around versatility makes his a constant mismatch at the mid-major level, and his intelligence and Team Canada experience should keep him unphased from the pressure. It should be fully within reason to expect Kirkwood to be on the short list for Ivy League Player of the Year.
UNLV’s Michael Nuga has had quite a whirlwind college basketball career, moving from Eastern Florida in the JUCO ranks, to Portland State, then Kent State, and now is set to finish at UNLV. Nuga was brilliant in 12 games last season before getting hurt, and should feature prominently offensively for a new-look UNLV team under Kevin Kruger. If you haven’t had the chance to watch this electric guard, I’d suggest tuning into a Runnin’ Rebels game this year.
Probably the deepest sleeper I’ve written about, Cal Baptist’s Ty Rowell was absolutely sensational last season in the WAC. The British Columbia native made the conference’s First-Team while leading all players in assists and finishing third in points. The Lancers play an up-tempo style and Rowell is the conductor of the offense. With tons of talent alongside him, it’s not out of the question to see Rowell’s name amongst the very top assist-getters in the entire nation.
PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN:
101: ON
30: QC
9: BC
7: AB
3: MB
2: SK
1: NS
TOP CITIES:
Toronto: 34
Montreal: 24
Brampton: 11
Mississauga: 9
Hamilton: 9
Ajax: 5
Milton: 5
Ottawa: 5
TOP SCHOOLS:
Northeastern: 5
Santa Clara: 5
Maine: 4
Vermont: 3
Harvard: 3
Alabama: 2
California: 2
Tarleton State: 2
New Mexico State: 2
Samford: 2
Bucknell: 2
Colgate: 2
Fairleigh Dickinson: 2
St. Francis Brooklyn: 2
Boise State: 2
New Mexico: 2
Southern Illinois: 2
Valparaiso: 2
Brown: 2
Montana State: 2
Portland State: 2
Richmond: 2
UMBC: 2
