Shows
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 19: Jamie McNeilly and Canadian club basketball talk with Efe AshakahHost Jason Thom welcomes TCU Assistant Coach Jamie McNeilly who talks about his 10+ years coaching in the NCAA and his time with the Canadian Men's Basketball program including winning a U19 World Cup Gold Medal. McNeilly also talks about why helping the next wave of Canadian coaches and players is so important to him, while also retelling his experience with Hurricane Katrina as a student athlete at the University of New Orleans. NPH Lead Scout Efe Ashakaha also joins the show to talk about the return of club basketball in Canada.2021-08-1646 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 17: Marcus Carr, Winta Desta and Efe Ashakah reviews the NBA DraftNewest Texas Longhorn Marcus Carr joins host Jason Thom to talk about his journey through the NCAA to this point, coach and registered physiotherapist Winta Desta talks about female coaches and the differences of coaching young men. NPH Lead Scout Efe Ashakah checks in to recap the 2021 NBA Draft.2021-08-1245 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 18: Justin Jackson and NBA Summer League with Efe AshakahHost Jason Thom talks with G League Champion Justin Jackson, who joins from NBA Summer League to talk about his path through Canadian basketball and why it's important for him to give back to the basketball community back home. While Efe Ashakah checks in to talk about Canadians in the NBA Summer League.2021-08-1144 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 16: Canadian Senior Women's National Team SpecialJust before the start of the competition schedule for Canada's Senior Women's National Team at the Tokyo Olympics, host Jason Thom revisits interviews with team veterans Miranda Ayim and Kayla Alexander, along with Head Coach Lisa Thomaidis.2021-07-3045 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 15: Lindell Wigginton, Keevan Veinot and Bryson JohnsonIt's an all Nova Scotia episode with Lindell Wigginton and Keeven Veinot of the CEBL's Hamilton Honey Badgers talking about their different paths to this point. Lindell talks about how much undiscovered talent there is in his home province which included Keevan Veinott, who has exploded onto the scene as an AUS Athlete of the Year and now in his first pro season coming out of a village of just 1,200 people in Port Williams, NS. Then it's fellow scotian Bryson Johnson who played four years in Division-1 basketball with Bucknell University before getting into the coaching ranks...2021-07-2145 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 14: Canada Basketball Men's ProgramHost Jason Thom recaps Canada's Senior Men's National Team missing out on the Tokyo Olympics and suggests a new plan going forward. North Pole Hoops CEO Tariq Sbiet gives his opinion on the program and what is needed going forward. While NPH Lead Scout Efe Ashakah shares his thoughts on the U19 Mens Team that recently won a bronze medal at the 2021 U19 FIBA Men's World Cup.2021-07-1443 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 13: Efe Ashakah Canada U19 Preview, Michael Linklater, Abu KigabCanada Basketball’s Senior Men’s team is back on the court on home soil as they attempt to qualify for the Olympics which is less than a month a win. Canada is two wins away from winning their qualifier in Victoria while the men’s U19 team is also starting up their schedule in Latvia at the U19 FIBA World Cup. North Pole Hoops Lead Scout Efe Ashakah joins host Jason Thom to talk about both competitions including who to watch for in the younger age group.
Abu Kigab saw last season come to an early end du...2021-07-0345 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 12: Canada Basketball talk, Melvin Ejim, Lisa ThomaidisWith the Canada Basketball SMNT about to tipoff their Olympic Qualifier, the U19 team a week away from competition and some of our Canadians working their way through the draft process, North Pole Hoops lead scout Efe Ashakah makes his podcast debut to break it all down! Follow Efe on Twitter: @Eshakah
Jason Thom then talks to Canada Basketball veteran Melvin Ejim just days before he was forced to withdraw his name from the roster of players involved in the Victoria Olympic qualifier. Ejim speaks about what representing Canada means to him and why he...2021-06-2845 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 11: Amidou Bamba, K. Braeden Anderson, Kemy OsseHost Jason Thom talks with Guelph Nighthawks forward Amidou Bamba about why is playing in the CEBL, what it took to win a U19 FIBA World Cup gold medal and why perfecting the position of role player on a basketball team should be celebrated at all levels! As a financial major in the NCAA, Amidou also speaks on the need for financial literacy to be taught at an early age, especially for student athletes.
Then it's first men's basketball player to become a lawyer while still playing collegiate basketball. Braeden Anderson who has one of...2021-06-2844 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 10: Mike Morreale, Jonathan Kabongo, Dejan KravicA current builder in Canadian basketball, a player who had to walk away from the game in his prime and someone who almost gave it up but has now made history across the world.
Host Jason Thom speaks with CEBL Commissioner Mike Morreale about the challenges the league has faced since starting up 3-years ago and why advocating for the sport of basketball is needed now more than ever.
Then Jonathan Kabongo talks about being forced into retirement at 20yo due to injuries and the advice he has for young players to ensure they...2021-06-2844 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 9: Kayla Alexander, Duane Notice, Dylan EnnisHost Jason Thom is joined by three current professional Canada basketball players. Kayla Alexander's love for basketball has led her around the world to experience things she never would have imagined. It has been so inspiring, that she wrote and illustrated a kids book called 'The Magic of Basketball' with her younger sister. Now, Kayla has her eyes set on the Olympics with Team Canada to add another chapter to her amazing basketball story. For more on Kayla and to order her book visit: www.kaylaalexander.net
Duane Notice is rehabbing from an...2021-06-2845 min
The North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 8: Miranda Ayim on the SWNT and her pro career and Kevin Pangos on EuroLeague success and the importance of familyThis week Jason Thom brings listeners two more outstanding people in the world of Canadian hoops. First, Miranda Ayim joins the show to talk about going out a champion in the French league, retiring from her professional career, trials and tribulations in Turkey, taking care of the body and mind, Canada basketball growth, women's basketball growth, mental health, the Canadian SWNT and more! Second, Kevin Pangos talks about playing in the top leagues in Europe and Russia, his daughter and wife, Gran Canaria, Lithuania, fun Gonzaga stories, injuries, handling the pandemic, the Canadian National team, his basketball journey and...2021-05-3046 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 7: Tamara Tatham on the growth of the Canadian SWNT, Carly Clarke on preparing for the Olympics and Grant Shephard on why he chose U Sports over the NCAAThis week host Jason Thom is joined by three more fantastic guests. First, Tamara Tatham joins the show to talk about taking over the head coaching job at U of T, her open tryout that led to her making Canada's Senior Women's National Team, mental health, recruiting, growing Canada's women's program, her family and much more! Next, Ryerson Rams head coach and Canadian Senior Women's National Team assistant coach Carly Clarke talks about the impact of COVID-19 on U Sports, WNBA growth, women's basketball coaching hires in U Sports, WNBA Expansion to Toronto, heading to Tampa for Olympic training...2021-05-2345 min
Sports N StuffWhat @northpolehoops is doing for Canadian Basketball@northpolehoops is the leading movement in making Canadian Basketball known for the rest of North America to see. With showcases, tournaments, and recruiting videos as well as so much more, they are providing a space for Canadian-born players to be noticed nationally for the talent they have. With guys like SGA, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and RJ Barrett going through this system you can easily see the success they are building. I got to talk to Efe, the Lead Scout Correspondent for NPH and we got to talk today about how he got into helping and ending up working for the...2021-05-2153 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 6: Jasman Sangha on earning a NCAA D1 scholarship, Adika Peter-McNeilly on the CEBL and 3x3 Olympic Basketball and Dr.Julian Clarke on his path from Mr. Basketball Canada to NeurosurgeryThis week host Jason Thom is joined by three more fantastic guests. First, the new Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi commit Jasman Sangha on earning a division one scholarship, representing his family, Indian basketball players, the Peel Region and much more! Then, Former Ryerson Rams men's basketball star Adika Peter-McNeilly explains the transition to 3 on 3 basketball, how Olympic qualifying is going, playing U Sports, JUCO basketball, representing Scarborough and much more! Finally, the 2010 Mr. Basketball Canada Julian Clarke joins the show to talk about his journey from Canadian basketball standout to now medical school graduate and future neurosurgeon...2021-05-1646 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 5: Aislinn Konig on trying out for the WNBA and SWNT Olympics, Kyle Julius on growing the game in Canada and Asia and Jack Armstrong on Canada's basketball futureThis week host Jason Thom is joined by three more fantastic guests. Aislinn Konig joins the show first to talk about trying out for the Washington Mystics and the WNBA, playing for the Canadian Women's National team, the upcoming Olympics, making it professionally in Europe after a great career at NC State. Then, Kyle Julius talks about the CEBL, creating a culture with the Fraser Valley Bandits, growing the game in Taiwan and Vietnam, his work training future pros like Kevin Pangos and Duane Notice and what players can do to get through COVID-19 lockdowns. Finally, Jack Armstrong on...2021-05-0959 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 4: Danilo Djuricic on graduating from Harvard and transferring to Santa Clara, Kaza Kajami-Keane on U Sports vs the NCAA and pro in Europe and Jermaine Anderson on the CEBLThis week host Jason Thom is joined by three more fantastic guests. Up first is recent Harvard Graduate Transfer Danilo Djuricic. Together they talk about his time at Harvard, his new school, Santa Clara, representing Canada and more. Then, Kaza Kajami-Keane joins to speak about the impact Carleton and U Sports had on his career after initially going D1, playing pro in Europe, representing Canada, U Sports vs the NCAA and more. Finally, Jermaine Anderson of the Shanghai Sharks and Hamilton Honey Badgers is interviewed. Anderson and Thom talk about the Chinese Basketball Association, CEBL, Canada Basketball point guard...2021-05-0245 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 3: Kadre Gray on the CEBL, Wendy Sparks on her son Khem Birch's journey and Raptors 905 Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations Courtney CharlesThis week, Jason Thom is joined by another exciting trio of guests. First, he talks about the CEBL U Sports draft and interviews Laurentian grad Kadre Gray who recently signed his first professional contract with the CEBL's Ottawa Blackjacks. Then, Wendy Sparks, the mother of the newest Raptor and Team Canada member Khem Birch, talks to Thom about her son's 10-year journey to the NBA and what it means to have him represent Canada, and specifically, his hometown of Montreal. Finally, Courtney Charles, the Raptors 905 Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations, joins the show to speak about the...2021-04-2945 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 2: AJ Lawson and the NBA Draft, National Champion Matt Gray and Edmonton Stingers and Lethbridge Pronghorns Head Coach Jermaine SmallThis week, Jason Thom is joined by another exciting trio of guests. First Thom talks to AJ Lawson about declaring for the NBA Draft, his time at South Carolina and much more. Then, Baylor Graduate Assistant Matt Gray joins the show. Gray explains what it feels like to win a national championship, how he got into coaching and what's next. Finally, Jermaine Small comes on to talk about the CEBL, U Sports and what's next for both. It's another jam-packed episode!2021-04-2545 minThe North Pole Hoops PodcastEpisode 1: Dr Andrew Morris, NCAA Champion Alyssa Jarome, NCAA Finalist Shaina PellingtonIn this episode, host Jason Thom opens the show with a monologue on where basketball in this country currently finds itself thanks to COVID-19. Then, Thom is joined by Dr. Andrew Morris, a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the Medical Director of the Sinai Health System-University Health Network Antimicrobial Stewardship Program. Dr. Morris is an infectious disease specialist.
More than just a doctor, Dr. Morris is also a longtime basketball coach in the community. Together Thom and Dr. Morris talk COVID-19, its impact on the basketball community and when we could see some...2021-04-1945 min
Thinkspace PodcastMINISODE: ELIAS SBIET on your Identity MisconceptionElias was named one of the top 20 most powerful figures in Canadian basketball by SportsNet. He is an individual that feels a sense of responsibility to develop the sport to a world-class level here in Canada, doing such from extremely humble roots. Co-founder of North Pole Hoops as well as the National Preparatory Association, Elias works with executives and players alike on the NBA, Olympic, NCAA, USPORT, and high school levels. This conversation is about the methodologies around creating elite players, prosperous cultures and a profitable basketball ecosystem in Canada as well as many other topics.
...2020-02-2509 min
Thinkspace PodcastCultural Architect ELIAS SBIET is Creating Canadian BasketballElias was named one of the top 20 most powerful figures in Canadian basketball by SportsNet. He is an individual that feels a sense of responsibility to develop the sport to a world-class level here in Canada, doing such from extremely humble roots. Co-founder of North Pole Hoops as well as the National Preparatory Association, Elias works with executives and players alike on the NBA, Olympic, NCAA, USPORT, and High School levels. This conversation is about the methodologies around creating elite players, prosperous cultures and a profitable basketball ecosystem in Canada as well as many other topics.
...2020-02-181h 06