Toronto basketball phenom Myck Kabongo shows his skills south of the border

Toronto basketball phenom Myck Kabongo shows his skills south of the border

Myck Kabongo (Image: Chamber of Fear)

The Toronto Star’s Royson James has been on the basketball beat of late, following Canada’s top talents as they pursue their hoop dreams south of the border. Tonight, the intrepid reporter will be attending a showcase of the continent’s best prep school players as they do battle in the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Games in Chicago. Three of the 24 stars invited to this year’s event are Canadians, including Toronto’s own Myck Kabongo. By all accounts, he is one of the game’s most promising young stars on either side of the border.

From the venerable city columnist:

He’s the “Pied Piper” of elite basketball players; Mr. Personality; The Facilitator and everyone’s dream teammate.

And Wednesday night Myck Kabongo will be scheming to help America’s best high schoolers impress pro scouts, get closer to their dreams and light up the United Center here, the house that Michael Jordan built.

The Star is here to witness the annual high school classic because three Canadians are among the 24 stars chosen to showcase America’s finest young talent. They are part of a tidal wave of players who’ve migrated south to pursue their hoop dreams without forgetting their roots.

The other Canadians in the mix are Khem Birch of Montreal and Kyle Wiltjer, a dual citizen who currently makes his home in Portland—but Kabongo is the Great White North’s crown basketball jewel. Next year, he’ll be following in the footsteps of fellow Toronto-area prodigies Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph to the University of Texas, where he’ll be one of the Longhorns’ prize recruits.

History shows that roughly one third of the players in tonight’s game will make it to the National Basketball Association. Kabongo could very well be one of them.

• Canadian ballers strut their stuff at elite U.S. high school event