OSBA Pre-Season Preview: Orangeville Prep

The reigning Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) champions are fully prepared to defend their title this season. Orangeville Prep had a remarkable run last year, finishing the regular season with an 18-2 record. Their only losses were to Bill Crothers and TRC Academy in two very close games, with both margins of defeat being four points or less.

This year’s version of Orangeville Prep will include a new addition in the post with Joe Jones (6’10 PF/C, Buffalo, NY) making the move to Orangeville from The Park School in Buffalo. Jones will bring a post presence to Orangeville Prep, as he led The Park School to a 17-6 record last season while averaging 15 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. Jones is the brother of former NBA first-overall pick Greg Oden. In addition to Jones, Orangeville Prep has added depth at the point guard position by adding Keeshawn Barthelemy (6’0 PG, Montreal, QC) from Cape Fear Academy in North Carolina and Ite Adekeye (6’2 PG, Calgary, AB) from St. Johns Military School in Kansas.

Orangeville will lose only two graduating players; James Karnik (6’10 PF, Surrey, BC) will compete for Lehigh University and Aaryn Rai (6’4 SG, Markham) for Dartmouth University in the NCAA this fall.

The majority of Orangeville’s championship-winning team will return this season. The team will once again be led by Ignas Brazdeikis (6’7 SG, Oakville). Some of his accomplishments include OSBA League MVP and Finals MVP in 2017, OSBA First Team All-Star in 2016, and he competed for the U17 Canadian Men’s National Team in 2016 Brezdeikis is a versatile scorer who can take over a game, which was evident in last year’s OSBA final where he had a 27-point and 10-rebound performance.  Another key retuning player is Shemar Rathan-Mayes (6’0 PG, Mississauga). The class of 2020 floor general is looking to have a big season following his experience with the U16 Canadian Men’s National Team. (https://www.basketball.on.ca/site/index.cfm?DSP=Section&ID=101&ACT=Display&NewsID=2991 ) this summer. Orangeville also returns two BioSteel All Canadians in (2018 G, Brampton) Keshaun Saunders and (2018 PG, Montreal) Junior Farquhar, who will make his way back midseason from an ACL injury.

Can Orangeville Prep be the first team in OSBA history to win back-to-back championships? They certainly have the roster to do so.