Oh Canada: Rick Barnes and Company Maintain Their Pipeline Above The Border

Coach Rick Barnes and his staff continue to bring in talent from Canada as three-star forward Kyle Alexander committed Thursday.

Alexander is the sixth ranked player in Canada according to Northpole Hoops, and stands at 6’10 and 200 pounds. Alexander is a natural athlete who played at Orangeville Prep in Ontario, Canada.

The addition of Alexander makes two Canadian natives in the past week who have committed to play for the Volunteer basketball team.

Last week, Ray Kasongo, a seventh ranked Canadian prospect in 2014 was brought in to beef up the front court. Kasongo stands at 6’9 and 235 pounds.

These have been two huge commits for a team with a desperate need of size with Tariq Owens leaving for St. Johns, and Willie Carmichael asking for his release this week. Barnes and staff are showing that they can maintain a pipeline of talent from places they have been before.

While at Texas, Barnes recruited a few players to play for him from Canada by the names of Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson. Joseph currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs, and Thompson resides with King James on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As Canadian basketball continues to grow, don’t expect Alexander and Kasongo to be the last two natives of the country to put on the Volunteer orange uniform.