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2012 TEAM TAKEVOER-CANADA DUO HEARING FROM COLLEGES

Bennett, Webster-Chan readying for U17 World Championships with Team Canada

The migration south of talented basketball players from Canada into the United States is continuing, and actually picking up speed. The class of 2011 is highlighted by Texas commitments Tristan Thompson and Myck Kabongo while Cory Joseph was one of the most highly recruited players in the class of 2010. Now a couple more prospects in the class of 2012 have been getting a lot of attention from college coaches and will be highly sought after players in the near future.

Anthony Bennett, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward and Negus Webster-Chan, a 6-foot-7, 175-pound guard, both have had their phone ring often the last two days with college coaches on the other end.

“Calls from Pitt, Florida, UNLV and a couple others, but I keep missing their calls,” answered Bennett, who attends Mountain State Academy in West Virginia when asked what colleges have been in contact this week.

NBE was lucky enough to catch Bennett in action this year during Day One of the ESPN RISE NHSI as well as Day Two of the NPSI and the National HS Hoops Festival last December.

At the NHSI Jeff Borzello got a good glimpse of his potential, noting that Bennett has the potential to be one of the top players in his class. The Canadian forward has great fundamentals and is developing at a rapid rate. He showed his perimeter touch by knocking down a three, but is more comfortable scoring around the rim and in the mid-range. Bennett has solid post moves and controls the ball well. He has good hands and gets good position in the paint.

Bennett told NBE tonight he has been offered by UNLV, Virginia, Connecticut, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Iowa State, Cincinnati and East Carolina, among many others.

Bennett recently performed at the Pangos AA camp, however, he might be missing much of the action in July with his commitment to his national team.

“I’m doing Team Canada this summer so its going to take up everything,” said Bennett. “So I wont be able to go to any camps.”

Team Canada will head to Germany for the U-17 World Championships which run from July 2-12. One of Bennett’s teammates is Negus Webster-Chan, a fast-rising prospect in his own right.

Webster-Chan has recently decided he will bring his game stateside by attending Huntington (WV) Prep and playing for coach Rob Fulford starting in the fall. He has also been standing out on the AAU circuit this spring with Team Takeover-Canada. Word has spread to college coaches and they have made their preliminary interest known this week.

“So far schools like Washington, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, UNLV, Cincinnati, USC, Charlotte, and a couple more [that I] can’t remember right now,” replied Webster-Chan when asked who he has been hearing from. “But no offers yet, hopefully when I’m finished on the AAU circuit this summer I will have [some].”

Even with the Team Canada schedule taking up much of his time, Webster-Chan is anxious for the AAU circuit and plans to be playing with the Team Takeover-Canada squad in West Virginia for the Hoop Group Jam Fest July 14-16 and then close the summer in Orlando for the Super Showcase and AAU Nationals.

The 6-foot-7, 175 pounder is listed anywhere from a wing to a guard to even a point guard as he has been known to play on the ball for extended periods of time for his AAU team. While he has no real list of favorites, although mentioning USC, Ohio State and Washington have seemed to hold his interest more than others, he does have a sense of what he will look for in his eventual college choice.

“Am I comfortable in the area, relationship with the coaching staff, who’s coming in [and] who’s going out,” cited Webster-Chan when asked for a list of factors playing an important role in his selection of a college. “Also history of the school and my family.”

Stay tuned…the Canadian invasion seems to be only picking up steam!

Editor’s note - Anthony Bennett is a member of Team Takeover - Canada as well (not Grassroots Canada like it was erroneously mentioned in original posting)

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Stay tuned to the NBE Basketball Report for another series of recruiting updates today. We also start our early summer coverage blitz today as Ray Mernagh travels to the University of Virginia to cover the NBAPA Top 100 basketball camp. Here is our early summer coverage schedule:

June 16-18: NBAPA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville (VA)
July 6-8: Adidas Invitational in Indianapolis (IN)
July 6-7: Lebron James Skills Academy in Akron (OH)
July 7-8: Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading (PA)
July 8-9: King City Classic in Cleveland (OH)
July 9-11: King James Summer Showdown in Chicago (IL)
July 10: BasketBull’s First 8 in Springfield (MA)
July 11: Hall of Fame National Invitational in Springfield (MA)
July 12-15: NY2LA Summer Slam in Milwaukee (WI)
July 12-16: Nike EYBL Peach Jam in N. Augusta (SC)

Other event possibilities include the Team Takeover Tournament (June 18-20), Hoop Group Summer Classic (July 12), Playaz Ball (July 14-15), West Virginia Harley Jam Fest (July 14-16).

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to keep up to date all summer with our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage. But hurry, the introductory rate will not last forever…

Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com - The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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