I think by now we have already heard the news that the Canadian basketball phenom Andrew Wiggins has opted not to play on the Canadian Junior National Team. Instead he will be heading to Lawrence, KS to begin prepping for his first, and likely only, college season as a member of the Kansas Jayhawks.
This was a definitely a surprise I think to a lot of people.
Why would the single best player at just about any level in Canada say no to representing the Red and White when he would a) be the star of the entire FIBA U19 Championship and b) he would be finishing something that he helped start when he helped the JMNT qualify for this tournament?
Me and a distinguished colleague, Mr. Duane Watson, were having a debate this past Friday on Wiggins' choice to not play on the JMNT. We were both not taking a particularly strong side to either for or against his decision but there were some very good points brought up that make sense.
The first was what would be the benefit of Wiggins' playing on the JMNT. This is a valid question and when you think about it some, there really isn't a heavy benefit to him playing on the team or in this tournament. The people who evaluate talent have dubbed Young Andrew the next "Big Thing" and NBA ready now. Hell, the NBA talent evaluators are saying the same things. Does it really matter that he plays in a lower age bracket and skill level right now when he's prepping for a college season? I don't think so. He's shown that he can play with the best of the best at his age level and dominate when he wants to. It doesn't really make a difference if they speak language other than English, it's still the same age group and talent level. He will look just the same overseas in a Canadian jersey as he did playing in North America. Dominant is dominant, period, and he can definitely do so.
The other point that we had brought up was if there was something brewing on the part of Canada Basketball with regards to Andrew for this summer. Of course there will be no confirmation on this until it gets announced officially but we suspected that there could something in the works for him for the Senior Men's National Team. Like Kevin Pangos, like Junior Cadougan before him and Leo Rautins before them both, Andrew may indeed get the call to play with the grown men as they try to qualify for the World Championships next summer. With nothing else to prove at the high school level (and frankly looking a little bored at times) this is a logical step in his progression as a player that Canada Basketball could take. Why play with boys when the men are taking you under their wings to show you how to play as a pro? Add to that the fact that Andrew will basically have no time off for himself this summer period if he was to play both JMNT and SMNT and go to campus to get acclimated for his freshman season. If CB had to choose one I would think that this could have been hinted to him, or flat out informed, to help him make that choice. Remember, I'm not saying that it's true but it would seem plausible if not possible.
So where does that leave us basketball fans?
Waiting with bated breath I suppose. I know that a lot of people in the basketball community were looking forward to seeing Wiggins on the JMNT this summer. I was one of them. But we can't expect him to play for every possible team in a summer particularly when he's starting off as a college freshman. My colleague Neate Sager over at Yahoo! Sports' Eh Game made a compelling point about why his decision was understandable which mirrors mine and my other colleague Tariq Sbiet at NorthPole Hoops brought up the point of someone potentially stepping in and filling the spot and role that Wiggins' absence from the team leaves.
So then are we assuming, or even expecting, a lot from this 18 year old kid?
I do. As much as him not playing on the JMNT will obviously change the dynamic of the team and may even affect the outcome of a possible medal, we can't hold Wiggins to this team and him being the only guy with the talent to hold this team in competition. If we do, we insult the talent assembled in the camp who are all very good players and can hold their own with anyone, from anywhere. Even without him the JMNT will be able to compete with the best.
Andrew is at a point now where he's beyond this particular realm of the game. He is now about to enter the world of basketball playing men so playing down seems a little ridiculous. He needs to be challenged to get better as a player and playing on the JMNT and the teams they will face is not the biggest of his challenges.
In my humble opinion, I would think that Wiggins made the right choice to go to Kansas and now. He's getting familiar with the people he'll have to live, eat, travel, study and play with for the next ten or so months. That is important at this stage of his life. Plus this move to go to Kansas allows him a few weeks of just being a college kid. He'll be a very tall and easily recognizable college kid but still a college kid. These are the moments that he'll not get to relive or recreate and right now I think this is what he needs most.
Way to buck the trend Andrew and we'll look forward to your next move.
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