Look up to the North: Canada's emergence as basketball power continues
"Look up to the North."
Five simple words sprawled across Thon Maker's warmup shirt offered a brief description of his journey to Canada.
The 18-year-old, 7-foot-1 center's basketball story began in Australia. Born in Sudan, Thon and his younger brother, Matur Maker, escaped the country as refugees as young boys. As a teenager, Thon played basketball in Sydney before leaving for the United States to develop his game.
A few years later, in September 2014, both Maker brothers - separated in age by one year - joined the Athlete Institute Basketball Academy in Mono, Ont.
The state-of-the-art training academy for high school students is one of few Canadian facilities that prepares athletes for their transition from prep to pro. The academy is a bid to develop basketball players in Canada, and to keep homegrown talent from migrating south to schools like Findlay Prep in Nevada, like numerous Canadians have done in the past.
The All-Canadian Game
Seven students from Athlete Institute, including the Makers, were chosen by a selection committee to fill a roster of 24 players in the inaugural BioSteel All-Canadian Game on April 14 in Toronto.
The All-Canadian Game is the country's answer to the McDonald's All-American Game, created to help eliminate the omission of Canadian talent and to produce hype around young players before they enter the collegiate level.
"We needed to create (a platform) here, and give our kids a chance to showcase their talents," selection committee chairman Tony McIntyre said.
"It shows the level of talent in Canada. If kids aren't in the game or weren't selected, it shows there are more than 24 kids capable of being in this game."
One easy selection was Kitchener, Ont., native Jamal Murray, who has been generating buzz in Canada and the U.S. The weekend prior to the All-Canadian Game, the 6-foot-5 guard led the World Team to a 103-101 win over Team USA at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., and earned MVP honors for his efforts.
At the All-Canadian Game, the 18-year-old finished with a game-high 29 points and was named Team White's MVP. (Jalen Poyser, another Athlete Institute member, earned MVP honors for Team Red.)
Murray has been criticized for his choice to remain on home soil instead of making the move to the States. He speculates his decision may be the reason why his name isn't found on ESPN's Top 100 prospects list for 2015.
"They have their reasons, but for now I'm just doing what I do on the court," Murray said.
Canada's evolution as a basketball nation
Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash was in the stands at Mattamy Athletic Centre to witness Team Red’s 99-95 victory. Since his retirement, recognition of Nash's contributions to Canadian basketball re-emerged with gusto. He's hoping others follow in his path.
"Basketball in some ways is a baby still in our country as far as our growth and development, and those kids show that we're really strong and going in a great direction," Nash said.
Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri and approximately 50 other NBA personnel were in attendance throughout the two-day event. The attraction from front offices was expected considering the last two top NBA draft picks were Ontario's Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett.
"It's natural that things are going to evolve," said Nash. "Our evolution as a basketball nation, as far as producing players, has been phenomenal … Now it's up to us to continue that and give the next generation opportunity to do the same as this one."
In July 2013, Forbes published an article with a study that found basketball the more popular team participation sport among Canadian youth aged 12 to 17. The article also suggested more Canadian youth play basketball than hockey and soccer.
Looking up
"I look forward to making history," Thon said prior to Tuesday's All-Canadian Game. "Later on down the line this will be one of the big events, like the McDonald's All-American or even better."
Thon's aspiration is confident and optimistic, however not unreasonable. For those who believe the North will become a breeding ground for homegrown talent, make like Thon and keep looking up.