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Hi everyone!

I'd just like to make a quick announcement of my U21 roster plans for the weekend:

- skills update on my tracking sheets for the main U21 opening roster candidates
- remove all players from the team, get roster to 0. I may announce early on the offsite forum which players I expect to select, but to make sure I navigate the enthusiasm reset carefully, I plan to just clear the deck for a couple days.
- on Sunday-ish, before our Monday game at home against Greece, callup the 10-12 players that will be used in that game
- post my usual writeups on each of the players that make the opening roster

The Consolation Tournament is starting today, and the U21 enthusiasm has been reset to 5. This means that for the rest of the season, any players added to the U21 will be here to stay (as removing players from the team results in an enthusiasm loss). For our first game against Greece, we will be using 11 players, and callups will be made as needed throughout the season. We have also added 2 newly drafted players to the roster already, for saving purposes.

Here is the opening roster for the season 16 U21 team:

Duncan Arsenault (17732228)

It has become common for a 20 year old Canadian big man to play heavy minutes for the U21, and this season, Duncan Arseanult has a chance to be that guy. A season 14 draftee of East Side Rangers, Arsenault received outstanding training in his first 2 seasons, and has already become the face of the Rangers franchise. With MVP potential, he also has a very high ceiling, and should end up having an outstanding two season career at the U21 level.

Théodore Breton (16415254)

As a mid-season U21 callup during his age 20 season, Théodore Breton is very excited to be back on the team as a 21 year old. Having played his whole career in Serbia, for I B S, Breton brings a lot of international experience to the table. He also brings an award winning grin; while "best grin" is an unofficial award category, it is still more highly regarded than "best nap taker," and in Breton's books, it's as good as being a league MVP.

David Castro (16416234)

David Castro played as a U21 player for his entire age 20 season, and on the court, he didn't disappoint. Now that he is 21 years old, Castro will be counted on to step up as a leader, and will likely take on a captain's role. Still a proud member of Bare Bottoms, where he has played his whole career, Castro will be looking to cast a spell on the competition in his second season on the global stage.

George Crow (16415238)

There is just one rule about Canadian U21 big men in season 17; it's all about the alphabet. If you don't qualify for the "ABC dunking spree" squad, then don't even bother trying out for the team....unless, um, you are a better player than the guys with last names that start with A, B, or C. Still, with George Crow, we have a success on both counts; he fits the alphabet theme, and he's ready to make an impact on the court. Selected with the 12th pick in the season 13 draft by the Toronto Ally Oops, Crow is the 3rd pure "draft and develop" big man on the team this season (along with Arsenault and Castro). If things go as well as hoped, by the end of the season, this is one big man that could have a lot to "crow" about.

Raymond Janelle (16415633)

A dribbling wizard, passing magician, and defensive Bilbo Baggins (with invisibility active), this point guard will not only fill up the score sheet, he'll also rescue his teammates from a giant spider attack. Janelle was drafted by Stronger Forever in the season 13 draft, and was almost immediately sold to MastersOfChaos, a well established team in Israel. Having received excellent training since day one, Janelle is arguably the most skilled Canadian at the start of the new season, and he will be counted on to act as a second coach out on the court this season.

Rien Molleman (16414811)

Half mole, half man, Rien Molleman has mastered a possibly illegal, but undoubtably awesome, "tunneling layup" move. After all, as he says himself, you can't stop a drive to the bucket if it takes place under the floor boards. Having been drafted in the first round by Mississauga Rainmakers back in season 13, Molleman was always a U21 long shot, but that didn't deter his owner. After some steady high level training, Molleman has been climbing up the depth chart every season, and few players are as excited to have earned an opening day roster spot for the U21.

Last edited by The Mogul at 8/8/2011 6:16:48 PM

Hugo Moore (16415629)

In season 13, World Alliance had a draft for the ages, and it all started with the selection of Hugo Moore in the first round. A versatile player, Moore is capable of helping the team in a variety of roles, and could end up spending plenty of time at the SF position. Wherever he plays, and for however many minutes, Hugo is a guy that always tries to leave the crowd cheering for "Moore."

Kevin O'Dwyer (16414736)

Last season, Dwain Hadley and Diant Stronks were two of the biggest stars for the U21, as they battled all season for the title of the utlimate Griffin. It appears that Stronks won out, as Hadley was sold at the end of the season. Into Hadley's place, another great SG has stepped up for Herman Griffins, in the form of Kevin O'Dwyer. O'Dwyer was drafted by the Griffins in the first round of the season 13 draft, and always dreamed of following in the footsteps of Dwain Hadley. This season, O'Dwyer has earned that chance, and he will be counted on to "make it rain" all season long for Team Canada.

Joe-Max Phillips (16415669)

Having selected Hugo Moore in the first round of season 13, World Alliance kept the ball rolling in the second round, with the selection of Joe-Max Phillips. Like Moore, Phillips is a solid all around player, and could end up playing heavy minutes at SF. Is it possible that the two main U21 small forwards this season will have been drafted and developed by the same manager? Time will tell, but whatever happens, Phillips and Moore will be looking to show the whole world the power of their alliance on the court.

Delain Sanderson (16416618)

The top guard prospect in his age group since day one, Sanderson's progress as a basketball player has not disappointed, and he will be counted on to do some great things for the Canadian U21 team. Having been drafted by the Sunn O)))s in the first round of the season 13 draft, Sanderson has developed there ever since, and has already become a 2 time all-star at the league level. His next challenge will be to step up, and become a star at the international level, and if anyone can do it, it's the guy who is used to playing in the sun.

Jim Tharp (16415817)

Few players look as sharp as Mr. Jim Tharp. A precision weapon on the basketball court, there are few things that Tharp can't do with the ball in his hands, or even with the ball not in his hands. Need someone to complete a backflip with a twist alley oop dunk in traffic? Well, Tharp might not pull that kind of move off, but he's willing to try! A season 13 draft pick of Fundamentally Sound, Tharp was quickly sold to No Potential, and he has been playing in the U.S.A. ever since. As yet another member of the strong Canadian guard contingent in season 17, Tharp will be looking to help lead the way either to victory, or to the hospital. For a player like Tharp, there's no third option.

And there we have it, the 11 player opening roster for season 17!

Additional notes:
- every player on the team starting training early in their age 18 season.
- The number of draft and trains is very high, with 8 guys never leaving the Canadian squad that drafted them. The other 3 players were sold right after they were drafted, and haven't moved after that, with 1 player going to Israel, 1 to Serbia, and 1 to the U.S.A.
- none of the opening roster players were rescued by NT saving efforts (which is the first time in recent memory that player saving didn't help provide any of the opening roster players).
- Positionally, we have 2 PGs, 5 SGs, and 4 Cs, but never fear! We have several guys that are well suited to also playing at SF or PF.

Let's hope for another exciting U21 season! :)

Last edited by The Mogul at 8/8/2011 6:33:46 PM

Great write-ups. Lets kick some ass...

check out my team i think i might have some invites just check because im not sure

Today, another guard was added to the U21 roster. This move was mainly made to help cover for the recent injury to Joe-Max Phillips. With that said, the team is adding a very good player. Here he is:

Anton Rickard (16416588)

Drafted by Sock Pants as an 18 year old, Anton Rickard was always believed to have a very bright future. Stories say that in high school, he used to dribble 4 tennis balls in the hallway whenever he walked between classes. As a child, his biggest dream was to one day touch the ceiling of his house. He did it at age 5, by building a pillow tower on the couch, and leaping like few 5 year olds could leap. Before he was born, on the ultrasound, the doctors were very surprised, as he looked like a basketball. Yes, these are just some of the stories of Anton Rickard. Now that he has been added to the U21 team, what stories will Anton Rickard create? Time will tell, my friends. Time will tell.