NCAA Tournament 2024: 5 Canadians to watch in March Madness
By Kyle Craib
This past year has been a historic one for basketball in Canada.
A record 26 Canadian players have suited up for NBA clubs this season, the most of any nation outside of the United States. Hamilton’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued his meteoric rise with the Oklahoma City Thunder to average 30.9 PPG, second-best in the NBA only trailing Slovenia’s Luka Dončić.
Shai’s strong play has also translated into the international program. Alongside his fellow countrymen, Team Canada’s men’s national team has asserted themselves as one of the powerhouses in the world. The Canadians steamrolled their way through the FIBA Basketball World Cup to a podium finish, earning their place in the 2024 Paris Olympics and ending the program's 24-year drought.
On the women’s side, Canada’s presence is stronger than ever. Team Canada’s women’s national program currently ranks fifth in the world and is poised to build on that position heading into the 2024 Games. In the pros, four current WNBA players hail from the “Great White North", with more expected to be on the way. Kingston, Ontario's Aaliyah Edwards headlines that list, averaging 17.8 PPG and 9.3 RPG in her senior year at UConn.
As the First Round of the men’s NCAA Tournament approaches, the next generation of Northern stars are getting ready to suit up with a chance to add their name to the growing list of Canadian basketball icons. Let’s take a closer look at five tournament-bound Canucks that could make a difference in the Big Dance.