Niagara’s top Basketball prospects

Thought I'd take a quick look at the Niagara Region's top Male and Female Basketball prospects. Special thanks to Brock University Coaches Brad Rootes, Si Khounviseth and Joel Whitty; and Ridley College Assistant Coach Josh Doan for their input as to player strengths and development areas needed to better compete at the University level. The prospects chosen were not restricted to being graduating high school students. These players were the majority consensus top five amongst those consulted. Hopefully there's a few future Badgers in the mix in next year's recruiting class.

Men's

Jack Daneyko - 6'6" – Small Forward/Shooting Guard - Senior

High School - A.N. Myer Marauders (Niagara Falls)

Club – Grimsby U19 Elite

Accolades – Ontario U17, 2009/10 George Hillesheim Award winner as top Male Basketball player in Niagara Falls, 2011 Niagara All-Star team

Strengths – Versatile, perimeter and spot shooter, hard to defend, dribble/drive, can dunk, quick, long

Development areas – Quicker first step/explosiveness, continue to get stronger, find his role (Power Forward, Small Forward, Shooting Guard)

Patrick Pilato – 6'2" – Shooting/Combo Guard - Senior

High School – St. Francis Phoenix (St. Catharines)

Club – Burlington Panthers

Accolades – 2010/11 Mr. Basketball Niagara, National Championship with Ontario U15 Team, 2011 Niagara All-Star team, multiple tournament MVP awards this season

Strengths – Catch and shoot, best perimeter shooting prospect, strong, athletic, defends and rebounds well for his position

Development areas – Driving and finishing at the rim, continue to improve coming off screens and midrange game

Chris Louis – 6'2" – Centre (but projected as a Small Forward) – Senior

High School – A.N. Myer Marauders (Niagara Falls)

Club – Grimsby U19 Elite

Accolades – 2010/11 George Hillesheim Award, former Mr. Basketball Niagara nominee

Strengths – Very athletic, phenomenal jump/vertical, dribble/drive to attack the rim, slasher, competitive, good instincts, defends well for his size

Development areas – Transitioning to a role better suited to his size, off-season work on overall game, develop outside shot

Geno Bullard Jr. – 6'0" – Point Guard - Senior

High School – Ridley College Tigers (St. Catharines)

Club – St. Catharines Rebels AAU

Accolades – OFSAA ‘A' Silver Medalist, 2011 Niagara All-Star team

Strengths – Aggressive slasher, good off the dribble, great drive and kick-out, court vision, quick, good vertical for his height, good ball handling and passing

Development areas – Getting physically stronger, improving defense and shooting

Mike Grantis – 6'2" – Combo Guard – Senior

High School – Governor Simcoe Redcoats (St. Catharines)

Club – Unknown

Accolades – 2011 Niagara All-Star team

Strengths – Looks to score a lot, competes hard, good ball handling

Development areas – Perimeter shooting, consistency, more efficient with his dribble

Women's

Victoria Rampado – 6'0" – Power Forward – Grade 11

High School – A.N. Myer Marauders (Niagara Falls)

Club – Niagara JUEL (Junior U19 Elite League)

Accolades – Ontario U15 team (2009), youngest winner of Harold Biggar award for Niagara's top female basketball player (2009 in Grade nine)

Strengths – Size, ball handling, awareness and positioning, versatile, competitive, good defender, good in the post, has a pull up and midrange game, fundamentally strong in many areas

Development areas – Foot speed and conditioning

Danielle Marion – 5'10" – Shooting Guard/Small Forward – Grade 11

High School – Confederation Jaguars (Welland)

Club – Niagara JUEL (Junior U19 Elite League)

Accolades – Back-to-back OFSAA ‘A' Championships

Strengths – Very athletic, competitive, very fast first step, huge vertical, quick jump, slasher, can get to the rim, defensively sound, great on-ball defender with shut down capability

Development areas – Positioning and shooting

Ainsley Camroux-Peacock – 5'10" – Shooting Guard/Small Forward – Senior

High School – Ridley College Tigers (St. Catharines)

Club – Taking a year to train, practicing in Niagara JUEL, former Niagara Falls Red Raider

Accolades – Multiple All-Star team selections

Strengths – Pure shooter, length and athleticism, good awareness and positioning, left handed

Development areas – Defending (very capable with high upside), ball handling with non-dominant hand

Nancy Kessler – 6'4" – Centre – Grade 10

High School – St. Francis Phoenix (St. Catharines)

Club – N/A but participating in the St. Catharines CYO Elite Training Basketball Program run by Brock Basketball alum Dave Picton

Accolades – Ontario U15

Strengths – Tremendous potential, height, long wingspan, mobile, can run the floor, posts up, plays around the rim, decent rebounding

Development areas – Less dependent on size, awareness and positioning, more physicality, ball handling, add a jump shot and a face up game from off the post