Toronto native Dalano Banton made history Thursday night, becoming the first Canadian basketball player ever to get drafted by the Toronto Raptors when the team took him in the second round, 46th overall.
The redshirt sophomore out of Nebraska features length and versatility that that makes him an intriguing project for the Raptors’ vaunted player development program, and the fact that he’s also a hometown kid is just icing on the cake.
“This is a perfect example why you have BioSteel [All Canadian Games]. That’s the first time I saw the kid play, right? We all watched him there and have continued to follow him,” said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster after the draft concluded in the wee hours of Friday morning. “To draft the first Canadian kid, I’m sure, was cool for all of us to hear on the broadcast, ‘Toronto Raptors select Dalano Banton from Toronto,’ right? That’ll probably go down for a while.
“But really talented, a bit of a roundabout way for him but that’s never deterred us in the past, because we think he’s talented, he’s big, he plays a little point guard, he sees the floor really well, can rebound really well. He was invited to the G League camp this year in Chicago and didn’t make it to the NBA camp, but maybe that was a benefit to us.
“Local kid, I think Rexdale, so shoutout to Rexdale, and I’m sure they’re all really excited for him and we’ll see what he can do.”
Here’s a little more on Banton and why the Raptors opted to make him the first Canadian the organization’s ever drafted.
First of all, in case the Scottie Barnes pick at No. 4 – in addition to players like OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam on the roster – wasn’t already a good indicator, then the Raptors opting to take a chance on Banton is as telltale sign of the kind of player the organization values the most above all others.
That is to say, the Raptors seem to really like long, versatile and positionless players, so to speak.
Banton fits this description to a tee, as his natural position is as a point guard, but because he sprouted up to six-foot-nine he became more a forward with point-guard skills
Adept already in the pick-and-roll and, because of his height advantage, blessed with ability to make passes other smaller guards simply can’t, Banton figures to be an ideal facilitator and initiator of the Raptors’ offence.
Additionally, despite his slender frame, he isn’t afraid to crash the glass against bigger bodies, and when he gets a defensive rebound, because of his tight handle and his strong decision-making, he can instantly start a one-man fastbreak.
Lastly, because of his length and his athletic ability, Banton could mold into a decent multi-positional defender, possibly with the ability to defend four positions down the line.
These are all attributes that the Raptors have proven to value over the years and have become adept at developing players in a similar mold – like Siakam.
So, at 46, this seems like a safe bet on a good Canadian story from the Raptors.
Needs to improve his shooting stroke and add strength
Of course, as is the case with most second-round picks, Banton is far from a complete product, and will need to work hard to shore up at least two areas if he’s going to stick around in the NBA for a long while.
First and foremost, Banton is going to need to put on some extra strength and weight. A large part of the versatility he could bring to the table will probably hinge on his ability to guard at least two through four, and right now he doesn’t have the body to bang with power forwards.
The advantage Banton could bring would likely come as a small-ball four, but right now he just doesn’t have the size to do so.
He doesn’t have the shooting stroke to be a threat as a floor-spacing big man, either.
Banton shot just 20-for-81 from deep in 27 games played with the Cornhuskers last season and was just a 65.9 per cent free-throw shooter.
This is an indication that Banton isn’t much of a shooter and has a lot of work to do to even become an average one.
Can he do it? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Has his own ‘Bet on himself’ story
Banton is among one of the best stories in the 2021 draft.
Earlier this week I caught up with him and some members of his representation to learn why he decided to bet on himself.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
