Andrew Wiggins: Future Canadian Basketball Star

Last Tuesday,

Andrew Wiggins announced he’d be attending the University of Kansas

. While others expected him to forgo his parents, Marita Payne-Wiggins and Mitchell Wiggins, alma matter Florida State University, or even join Kentucky, Wiggins ultimately chose Kansas; a big surprise to all.

His parents, friends and classmates were left in the dark, wondering where he would go. Wondering where this kid, in the lone spotlight with the biggest smile on his face, would go.

Wiggins didn’t want the attention. The quiet, teenager from Thornhill, Ontario didn’t want the limelight. He just wanted to be left alone, to enjoy his life and make his decision on his own. And that’s what Wiggins did as he announced his decision at the gym at his high school, Huntington Prep (W.Va), where there were no live cameras. Just his parents, friends, family members and a local reporter, Grant Taylor, there to tweet it out to the rest of the world. And with that, the suspense was over. Wiggins is going to Kansas.

If you followed me on Twitter, you would know how excited I am about Wiggins going to the NBA. As a Torontonian, the city hasn’t had much success in the basketball market. Sure we’re fortunate enough to have an NBA team, the Toronto Raptors, but the team hasn’t had much success. Our biggest accomplishment was obtaining the Atlantic Division title in 2007, but with all that’s said and done, we haven’t been in the playoffs since five years.

When people think of Toronto, or Canada for the matter, they don’t think about famous Canadian NBA-ers because quite frankly, we never had any great basketball players. Sure we had Joel Anthony and three-time NBA champions, Rick Fox and Bill Wennington, but if you went down your neighborhood or city and asked the casual NBA fan who those players were, they most likely wouldn’t have a single clue. They would probably know about Steve Nash, the eight time NBA All-Star. Still, he was born in South Africa (Nash moved to Saskatchewan and British Columbia at 18 months old, making him a Canadian citizen. Theoretically, his hometown was British Columbia) so he’s not a Canadian born native. I still respect him for his love of the country.

To further exemplify my proof, go ask people who Kris Joseph, Andrew Nicholson, or even Corey Joseph are and they won’t have the slightest clue. That however would change thanks to the emergence of the No. 1 high school prospect and consensus top pick in the 2014 NBA draft, Andrew Wiggins.

Ever since the founder of the game, a Canadian by the name of James Naismith (yes, basketball was invented by a Canadian. No I am not lying) created basketball, we seen the rise of many American players. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, James Worthy, Wilt Chamberlin, Bill Russell the list goes on and on. American players have dominated the league for decades, all of them creating a name for themselves as one of the best to ever touch a basketball.

How many of you can name a Canadian born athlete who would right now go down in the history books as one of the best? Neither one of you can because it never happened. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Wiggins but when he does enter the NBA next year, he’ll have an enormous impact on the game itself.

What makes Wiggins so dominate is that he’s able to practically do everything on the floor. At 6’8” and approximately 200 pounds, Wiggins can create his own shots, has amazing body control and is a dynamite in transition. Offensively, he can shot the 3 balls, the mid-range jumpers, and has strong post presence. He doesn’t hesitate at all and his ball-handling skills are off the charts. To top it all off, he’s unselfish. He doesn’t need the ball to contribute. He’s humble and would gladly share the ball.

He’s also a beast on the defensive end. His wingspan of 7’0” aids him in locking down defenders, and stopping them before they come close to the painted area. In short, Wiggins is a terrific athletic with immense athleticism. He’s a one of a kind athlete and perhaps the best athlete in the game right now since Lebron James.

Heck, even ESPN NBA insider, Chad Ford, says Wiggins would go number one overall, if he could.

"“(Nerlens) Noel is a really good NBA prospect. He’s just not a franchise-changing player,” said one GM whose team will be in the draft lottery. “[However,] Wiggins is one of the three or four best prospects in the last decade. He has the ability to completely turn around a franchise. All 30 teams would take him with the No. 1 pick if they could.”"

Case in point, Wiggins is a rare athlete and could be the heir to James’ throne. I say could because I want to give Wiggins time to develop and showcase his capabilities at Kansas.

Because of the ridiculous NBA eligibility rules which states a player must take a year off after graduating high school or attend a college for one year, Wiggins won’t go number one this draft year, however he will go number one overall next year and he should rightfully so. Wiggins needs to be drafted first overall. Aside from the fact that he’s in a different class of his own, he would create history as the first Canadian born athlete to go number one overall in the NBA draft.

He’ll essentially open the doors for Canadian basketball basically stating that Canada isn’t just filled with hockey-crazed citizens who live in igloos and have polar bears as next-door neighbors. No, Canada has some spectacular athletes and maybe, just maybe, Canadian children will witness his dominance on the court, stare in awe and aspire to make it to the NBA.

Aside from Wiggins, other prominent up and coming Canadians who are trying to make a name for themselves in the league are Anthony Bennett and Myck Kabongo, both from Toronto. Both those guys will be entering this year’s NBA draft. Tristan Thompson, another Toronto native, was the 4^th pick in the 2011 NBA draft.

The Canadian takeover of the NBA is happening. We need to embrace it and these guys, along with Wiggins may help open the door into the golden age of Canadian basketball.

If you’re like me, a proud Canadian who loves the game of basketball more than any other sport, then you’re sick and tired of players not wanting to play for Canada either on the national team in the Olympics or in the NBA. The Raptors have breed many star athletes. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh. Those guys developed their skills, flourished and took their talents somewhere else as soon as they had the opportunity. Athletes seem to not want to play for Toronto and it drives me nuts.

In an article by National Post author, Bruce Arthur, where he writes about Nash’s influence in trying to build the Canadian national basketball program, Nash puts it perfectly saying,

"“Look back 10 years or so, when players didn’t feel a need or a want to play for Canada,” Nash says. “I don’t think there’s that tangible tradition for our program. We have to be a program that really benefits the players. We used to say, ‘You have to play for Canada.’ Why? Because it’s your country. We have to do better than that.”"

I understand the money may not be there to cover the expenses it cost to cover a national team, but that needs to change. We need athletes wanting to represent Canada and maybe their efforts will receive recognition. Maybe funders will see this as a groundbreaking moment and start to throw money at Canadian basketball so these players can compete internationally and represent the country proudly.

In regards to the NBA, there needs to be another NBA team. The Raptors, which consist of 15 players at the most is already makes it hard enough to land a spot on the roster. Another Vancouver Grizzlies is in order or a new franchise in a different province so athletes, who wouldn’t mind playing for Canada, won’t have to fight for a spot on the only current Canadian team.

A win-win situation would be Canada having another franchise and the return of Seattle Supersonicsback in the NBA but of course that takes years and years to create and investors to become interested.

Wayne Parrish, the CEO of Canada basketball, who is working with Nash to further the national program, says because the demand isn’t there, they have to cut players from the team.

"“We’re heading to a place when we will have to cut NBA players for the national team,” Parrish says. “And hopefully the bond is so strong that they’ll get it.”"

Canada needs basketball back. We need it to be recognized internationally and  be known for our love of the game. Investors need to realize the opportunity and potential there is in the Canadian basketball program.

As one commenter put it,

"“Basketball was invented by a Canadian. Time to bring it back to the north."

I couldn’t agree more.