On January 9th, Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon will host the 55th annual BRIT tournament. In my opinion, this is the best tournament in Western Canada, as it routinely showcases the top teams from the region and provides a great snapshot of how they match up against each other. Last year, Walter Murray became the first Saskatchewan team to win since Leboldus from Regina achieved the feat in 2015, defeating Holy Cross in the finals.
The tournament annually showcases some of the best teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. In previous years, teams from Ontario, Nova Scotia, Australia, and the United States have participated, and this year will see the return of a team from Quebec.
This year's competition will include four top-ten teams from Saskatchewan, the number two team from Alberta 4A, a top-five team from Alberta 3A, and two teams from Alberta vying for rankings in the next set of Alberta rankings. Additionally, there will be a top-ten preseason team from British Columbia and a top-three team from Manitoba.
This tournament is unique because, despite Bedford Road not being a basketball powerhouse, the school and the city fully support the event. It is not unusual to see people waiting 45 minutes in line to get into the gym, even though it is typically -30°C that weekend in Saskatoon. Students create large artistic murals for every team, the concession stand is excellent, and dance studios from around the city provide halftime entertainment that sometimes outshines the basketball games. I strongly recommend tuning in to the link at the end of this article.
Over the years, this tournament has featured incredible talent, and this year will be no exception. It will feature players that coaches from all levels will want to see.
West Vancouver Highlanders (Vancouver, BC)
Preview by Esher Sira - British Columbia based Scout for The Maple Minute
Reigning from Vancouver’s North Shore, the West Vancouver Highlanders will march down to Saskatchewan for the 2025 BRIT tournament. The Highlanders are a storied program led by Historic Coach Paul Eberhardt, who has over 40 years of coaching experience at the college and high school levels. Eberhardt has made many provincial runs, including finishing fourth in the province last season.
Calvin Kuzyk is the heartbeat of this team, an explosive guard who has the ability to score the ball at all 3 levels. Kuzyk was a key member of last season's provincial run finishing as one of the top ten scorers in the province. The Highlanders feature a balanced squad with 6”3 combo guard Cassius Gregorian and deep-range threat Jordan Jessop. Rounding up the squad with rebounding and defense is 6”5 forward Atila Vadaei who makes an impact on both sides of the floor.
Bedford Road Redhawks (Saskatoon, SK)
The Redhawks are entering their home tournament with a record of 2-8. They started the season on a high note, finishing third at the BOWLT Classic in Saskatoon, but have struggled to secure wins in league play and at the C4 tournament since then.
The team is led by two Grade 12 players: 5'9" guard Guillermo Rodriguez and 6'3" wing Jett Sampson.
St Joseph Guardians (Saskatoon, SK)
The Guardians enter the tournament with an 8-3 record and are ranked #5 in the Maple Minute Saskatchewan rankings. They have participated in two tournaments, winning the Carleton Invitational in Prince Albert and finishing as runners-up in their home tournament, where they lost in the finals to Holy Cross.
The Guardians have several players that coaches should pay attention to. Grade 12 guard 5'10" Nemo Arnold leads their offensive efforts, while 6'5" Grade 12 wings Demi Akinmoyero and Raph Ewejobi have attracted interest from various coaches in the ACAC and USport. Another standout prospect is 6'5" wing Mayo Alabi, who has been aggressively attacking the rim this season. Additionally, Kaiden MacAngus is an intriguing prospect in the backcourt.
Brooks Buffalos (Brooks, AB)
The Buffalos were a crowd favorite at BRIT last year and hope to make an impact this year. They are undefeated this season having only been able to play in 1 tournament so far which they easily won. Being a 3A team from Alberta, they do not get regular games against higher competition that they hope to get.
This team has seven grade 12s returning and a player returning home after several years in Ontario. They are long and athletic and attack the rim relentlessly. 6'2 "Grade 12 guard Marin Lual and 6'2" Timothy Alalimi are the team's leaders and just two of several players USport and CCAA coaches will want to tune in to see. We will also keep an eye on grade 11s 6'3 "Manyoun Dishol and 6'7" Athian Madut.
Holy Cross Crusaders (Saskatoon, SK)
The Crusaders are undefeated this season, boasting a 7-0 record and holding the #1 spot in the Maple Minute Saskatchewan rankings. They have only won their tournament so far, the Guardian Invitational at St. Joe's in Saskatoon. An exciting and telling matchup awaits them against #2 Walter Murray on the Tuesday before BRIT.
As expected for the top team in the province, the Crusaders are loaded with prospects that coaches should keep an eye on. Grade 12 player Kian Tyson is a 6'6" guard who has been drawing significant interest from teams on both sides of the border and has delivered spectacular performances at BRIT over the past two years. Another Grade 12 player, 6'3" guard Moe Osman, has received offers from several USport schools. The final Grade 12 on the team is 6'0" guard Goloom Bein, a skilled shooter that CCAA schools should monitor closely.
Beyond the Grade 12 players, the Crusaders also have their defensive ace, 6'1" Grade 11 point guard Raph Montugulo, who shows great potential for USport. Additionally, they have Grade 10 guard Lucien Tyson, known for his ability to score quickly off the bench.
Magrath Zeniths (Magrath, AB)
The Zeniths enter BRIT with a record of 5 wins and 4 losses. They began the season by participating in the Cardston Classic and the Raymond Sugar Bowl, achieving a notable victory over the Cardston Cougars, who are ranked #3 in Alberta. Magrath plays at a fast pace, excels in shooting, and has extensive experience in high-pressure games. The team is starting to find its rhythm, especially with the recent return of two key players, Seth Harding and Max Smith, who were significantly affected by injuries at the beginning of the season.
Eli Steed, Westin Balderson, and Max Smith make up a dynamic trio for the team. This combination offers a well-balanced mix of shooting, playmaking, and effective play around the rim. The Zeniths are currently in a rebuilding phase while also aiming to win now.
Archbishop O'Neill Titans (Regina, SK)
The Titans enter the Christmas break with an 8-4 record and are currently ranked #10 in the Maple MInute Saskatchewan rankings. They won their home tournament to open the year and then traveled to Calgary, AB, to play in the Nelson Mandela tournament, where they were 3-1 for a third-place finish. They will have one more league game before traveling to Saskatoon for BRIT.
They will enter BRIT having just lost 6'6 grade 12 big man Cher Madol who has transferred to Victory Rock Prep in Tampa, Florida. They will now be counting on 5'10 grade 12 point guard Kylan Wol-Harden and 6'4 wing Anaias Castillo both players CCAA coaches will want to keep an eye on. 5'11 Grade 10 point guard Lincoln Dickson will be one to watch all weekend, he will be up next for the Titans with the departure of Madol.
St Francis Xavier Rams (Edmonton, AB)
Preview by Harrison Paulichuk - Alberta based Scout for The Maple Minute
The Rams head into the BRIT with an outstanding season record of 13-1. They have won two out of their first three tournaments so far including the Sugar Bowl and the Mike Dea Classic and only lost by five in the finals of the REB. This team earned a silver medal in the Alberta 4A provincials last year and looks just as dominant at the start of their 2024/25 campaign. FX prides themselves on their hustle and defense year after year and has a team full of players that can shut down even the best offensive stars.
This group for the Rams has several players to keep an eye on heading into the tournament for scouts and coaches alike. The most athletic prospect out there is 6’5 Nathan Yamba-Yamba. A forward who can score from all three levels and uses his size and reach to lock down players in the paint and on the perimeter. Their 6’6 Grade 12 Centre, Aleks Popovic controls the paint and has the size and strength to outmatch most opponents. Their main ball handler is 5’10 guard Elijah Thomas, who can score through any defense and also create space for his teammates. This group may not be filled with high flyers or crazy athletes, but they play a great brand of basketball and are a must watch team.
Kildonan East Reivers (Winnipeg, MB) Preview by Elliot Russenholt - Manitoba based Scout for The Maple Minute
The 2024-2025 campaign for KEC is still in its early stages, but they have already started strong with a 2-0 record in league play. The team features a mix of returning key players from last season and new talent. Leading the squad are two promising underclassmen: 6’5” sophomore guard Terry Ogbeide and 6’8” junior forward Settimo Yugu.
Ogbeide is an athletic force when attacking the rim, consistently looking to finish strong against any help defender trying to protect the basket. His strength and solid ball-handling skills enable him to reach the rim effectively. Yugu, on the other hand, has a long, wiry frame that he utilizes to create scoring opportunities for himself off the dribble from the perimeter. He can handle the ball, occasionally running the offense, and possesses the shooting range to score from long distance.
Medicine Hat Hawks (Medicine Hat, AB)
The Hawks basketball team competes in the highly competitive Alberta 4A Boys South Zone, a league known for its intense competition. After claiming the South Zone title last year, the team aims to continue its success this season, despite being largely composed of young and inexperienced players.
Grade 12 player Ryder Parker, a 5'10" guard, is the only returning starter from last year's team. Despite a torn ACL sustained during football, Ryder has strengthened and rehabilitated his knee enough to play. He is one of the team's best defensive players, demonstrating resilience through his injury.
Another key player, Grade 12 Ira Hozack, is a 6'4" athletic forward and one of the team's best rebounders. He has signed with the University of Calgary to play football. Hayden Van Marrion, a 5'10" point guard, is currently leading the team in scoring, assists, and rebounds.
Additionally, two up-and-coming Grade 10 players to watch are 5'11" Lado Pitia, a shifty scorer, and 6'5" Jaxton Studer, an athletic big man.
Walter Murray Mauraders (Saskatoon, SK)
The Mauraders have a 5-2 record after suffering a tough loss to the host Ross Sheppard Thunderbirds in Edmonton at the Totem Classic. They are currently ranked #2 in the Maple Minute Saskatchewan rankings but have a rematch with Holy Cross just 2 days before BRIT.
Murray is loaded with intriguing prospects that coaches will want to keep an eye on. Of course, we can't talk about them without first mentioning 6'1 "grade 11 Guard Zach Hawley, who not only is shooting the lights out this season but also finishing above the rim and rebounding at a high rate. 6'1" Grade 12 guard Faisal Mahadi has taken on the role of lead guard and makes everything go for this team. He is drawing attention from USport and coaches south of the border.
Murray also has a few up-and-coming prospects to watch. 6' grade 11 Guard Isak Larson is an excellent defender and shooter, 6' grade 10 guard Andrew Hawley can knock down shots from anywhere, and 6' 5' grade 11 big man Zach Mochoruk has been finding his stride early this season.
Seminaire St Joseph Vert et Or (Trois Riviere, QC)
The Vert et Or have participated in BRIT before, so they are familiar with the upcoming challenges. The team has started the season with a record of 1-3 in Quebec's Division 2 and recently attended a jamboree in New Hampshire, where they performed well. Many players on the team also participated in football, and they are gradually transitioning to the basketball season.
Coaches will want to monitor several standout players, including grade 11 guards 5'11" Charles-Edouard Paille and 5'10" Eduard Chaput. Additionally, upcoming grade 10 forward 5'11" Zaac Bastarache is expected to excel throughout the tournament.
BRIT is always an amazing tournament with players going on to compete at all levels. They do an outstanding job streaming and I highly recommend everyone tune in to games.
Also, follow me on X as I will be at every game all 3 days highlighting teams and players to watch.
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