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NorthPoleHoops & Team Red Season Recap

  • Writer: Wahid Khan
    Wahid Khan
  • Jul 6
  • 3 min read


What is North Pole Hoops?

North Pole Hoops (NPH) is the definitive pathway for Canadian basketball. Their multi-layered ecosystem tracks student-athletes from elementary school all the way to the NBA. Virtually every top player in Canada has come through the NPH system (Jamal Murray, Shai Gilgeous Alexander,RJ Barett, & more). Historically centered in the Ontario, NPH recently expanded westward, hosting their first-ever showcase tournament in Western Canada to spotlight talent on this side of the country.


We intentionally opted out of smaller, local tournaments because we didn’t want to just play for the sake of fun or compete for the sake of competing. We chose NPH to expose our program to what real, high-level basketball looks like, forcing our boys out of their comfort zones so they can understand exactly what it takes to go further in this game.


Before taking on the biggest stage of our season, preparation was everything. We locked in with a demanding exhibition schedule, playing games against elite squads Excel, Selects, and NXTLVL. Combined with rigorous practice sessions and lifts at World Gym Sunridge, these weeks were entirely dedicated to priming our athletes for our main target: the Western Canada (NPH) Showcase.


Western Canada NPH Showcase: June 12-14 (Edmonton Sports Center)

We went in expecting high-level matchups, detailed scouting, and maximum exposure. Here is how the weekend unfolded:


Friday, June 12

  • The Matchup: vs. Peace Country Prep (A powerhouse program from Southern Alberta)

  • The Story: Straight off a 3-hour bus ride, we went right onto the court for a 9:00 PM tip-off. Predictably, our legs were heavy, leading to a tough first half. However, the second half told a different story. The boys dug deep, stringing together excellent runs and proving definitively that we belong on the same court as elite prep programs.

Saturday, June 13

  • The Gauntlet:

    • Game 2 vs. UPrep (Puma Circuit Travel Team)

    • Game 3 vs. Good Hoops (A top-tier program in Edmonton & Western Canada)

    • Game 4 vs. Genesis Black (EYBL Circuit Team)

  • The Story: Saturday we were matched up against older, highly athletic teams. While the sheer differential in athleticism gave us trouble early on, our boys showed incredible basketball IQ. We made quick tactical adjustments, executing so well that we forced elite programs to burn timeouts just to reset against us.

Roster Nuance: To match the physical demands of this tournament, we consolidated our roster, combining several athletes from Team White with our Team Red core.

Sunday, June 14

We traveled back home as a unit, giving the boys some well-deserved downtime to bond and reflect. Physically, the weekend took its toll, but mentally, the group left completely engaged and hungry for what's next. While we didn't secure a win on the scoreboard this weekend, the execution value was immense.


The Conclusion & Next Steps

This has been a long season filled with steep challenges, but weekends like this are where real growth happens. Our younger, elite players now have a clear blueprint of what they need to target in the off-season to compete at this level. For the coaching staff, this showcase was invaluable. It gave us a definitive look at what we need to prioritize in terms of roster construction and system adjustments.


At Impact, we are actively choosing to play against the absolute best. That choice comes with immense responsibility. We take the lessons from this weekend and our program will be vastly improve the next time we step into the spotlight.


Thank you to all parents, players, and staff for all your support this season.

 
 
 
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