Stefan Cj Cvrkalj

[LU65Participant]

Jim Thomas, author of the The Thomas Report – billed as Ontario (Canada) premier basketball portal, names Stefan Cvrkalj, one of three newcomers set to join the team in September, a first team All Ontario (Canada) Guard and a member of the All Canada 2nd Team. I guess we’re about to see firsthand a slice of the best when it comes to Canadian high school basketball. Cvrkalj, who hails from Kitchener (Ontario), attended Bluevale High School where it is said he graduated posting a 94% grade point average.

http://www.thehoop-la.com/news/the-thom … teams.html

Playing in AAU Canadian tournaments for the past two years to attract the attention of D-I schools, crownmagonline.com, reported in its 6/1/09 report:
Stefan Cvrkalj-6’4″-SG (2011) Toronto Five-O
A solid shooting guard that has a well-rounded, fundamentally sound game. He can hit the three, has a good mid-range jumper, and attacks the basket well. On the defensive end of the floor, he is a solid defender. All around, a very good shooting guard with the basic fundamentals of the game down to a science.

Checkout the human highlight reel and related Youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poCuEksf … re=related

PS Wherever you go on the internet, you see his name listed as: Stefan Cj Cvrkalj

[StablerBumParticipant]

I’m pretty excited about the addition of Stefan. Although, he is going to have to come up with another nickname for the benefit of his coaches, teammates, and us on the board. He seems to be a knockdown shooter by all accounts, both video and written (although they never show the misses on the highlight reel…).

I like his size, and if he can stretch the defense, I think he will get a lot of good looks off penetration from CJ and Mackey. Hopefully if he forces defensive respect, he can also open the floor for those two. I’m also hoping that Anthony D’Orazio, and maybe even Corey Schaefer can do this as well.

What scares me about Stefan are his athleticism and defense. I’d love to see him rise up and dunk one in these highlight videos, just to show that he has that kind of explosiveness. He also had some knee issues that I think may have been limiting his mobility this past year, so hopefully that is behind him. For this year, I think the ideal role for Stefan (unless he is way better than I anticipate) is 8-12 minutes a game, toss up a few threes, and see if he can get hot.

[LU65Participant]

Stefan was one of 20 young men selected to tryout for the national team this past weekend. Those that survive the test will represent Canada in the U-19 FIBA World Championships taking place in Latvia later on this month (June 30-July 10). No word yet if selected. Quite an honor, regardless.

http://crownmagonline.com/latest-news/j … vite-list/

Latest posts show the 6’4" sharp shooter at 188 lbs (up slightly from earlier reports). A three-point specialist, could we be looking at OJO2?

[norcalfanParticipant]

Speaking of Ojo. Will he continue to play basketball possibly overseas or another team post college. What about Prentice Small? I look forward to seeing the what the talent of this year’s team. entails.

[LU65Participant]

FlagrantFouls.com is, as they say in their home page, "proud to be your source of information on Canadian basketball prospects all over North America. We follow the development of standout players throughout the duration of their high school career, updating you on both their progress and recruitment." They go on to say they "travel far and wide, scouting a myriad of prospects and getting to know coaches and programs; ensuring no stone is left unturned. At Flagrant Fouls, basketball isn’t a passion, it’s our livelihood." Let’s hope so for they have ranked our Stefan Cvrkalj as Canada’s 15th best in the Class of 2011. Actually, they define that statement as the 15th most likely to have the "best career at the next level." Number 1 on their list is Myck Kabongo, a 6’2" pg headed to Texas.

I wonder if we retained their scouting service in landing Cvrkalj? Anyone know? Or, for that matter, did Flagrant Fouls assist Bucknell in plucking Bryson Johnson out of Pictou, Nova Scotia? Bison 137, any ideas? Have there been any other Canadian players of note to play Patriot League ball?

http://www.flagrantfouls.com/rankings/canadian/

[lfnadminKeymaster]

"norcalfan" wrote: Speaking of Ojo. Will he continue to play basketball possibly overseas or another team post college. What about Prentice Small? I look forward to seeing the what the talent of this year’s team. entails.

Last I heard both were seeking foreign opportunities to play professionally. We’ll see.

[norcalfanParticipant]

Wishing them both the best. Thanks for the update.

[Bison137Participant]

"LU65" wrote:
I wonder if we retained their scouting service in landing Cvrkalj? Anyone know? Or, for that matter, did Flagrant Fouls assist Bucknell in plucking Bryson Johnson out of Pictou, Nova Scotia? Bison 137, any ideas? Have there been any other Canadian players of note to play Patriot League ball?

1. As far as I know, BU did not use any scouting services to direct them to Johnson. I believe they first saw him when his AAU team was playing in some U.S. tournaments in the spring of his junior year. Johnson went away to H.S. in Waterloo (Ontario), not too far from Toronto, so I doubt there were too many visits to his hometown of Pictou – which is a fishing village on the north shore of Nova Scotia.

2. I don’t know about Canadian players "of note", but I can think of one or two who saw some playing time. One is LU’s Greg Page, from Montreal, who looked like he was going to develop into a solid player but had some injury and/or other issues. I believe he graduated from LU but stopped playing ball.

Another Canadian, at least technically, is Bucknell’s Enoch Andoh who was born in Montreal but moved to the U.S. at an early age. His father is from Ghana and is a civil engineer.

I wonder how many PL players over the years have come from foreign countries. Off the top of my head, I know BU has had players over the last 20 years who were born in Germany, Canada, Bahamas, Croatia, Cameroon, Slovenia, Nigeria, and probably a few others. The two from Germany mde five 1st team All-PL teams betwen them.

[gohawks63Participant]

Stefan has beautiful mechanics, although I’d have to say – based upon the video – the competition in Canada is pretty suspect. Looked like they were playing against the Washington Generals.

Without sounding too critical, I was not too impressed with AD’s jump shot mechanics. Always seemed off-balance and jerky. I don’t remember a single game where he was actually effective in the short bursts he got coming off the bench to spell CJ. Barring some serious overhaul, I would not expect major contributions ..

[Author]

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