BasketBall Connect

The Edmonton Chill are trying to help the Toronto Raptors find their next Jamario Moon.

The Chill have come to an affiliation agreement with the Raptors, beginning this season.

"How much more exciting can it be for a player when they come to an IBL franchise?

"These guys aren't getting rich playing in the IBL, but this is an opportunity for improvement individually so they can get better contracts next year playing overseas or wherever they play," said Chill head coach Paul Sir.

"But to now have an NBA team affiliated and looking closely at what you're doing on the court, it's a phenomenal opportunity.

"Jamario Moon played in the IBL last year and now he's with the Raptors. I think there were 12-18 kids out of the league (last year) were playing in NBA summer leagues or the D-League, so it's very good basketball."

SUMMER LEAGUE

The agreement between the two teams will give the Raptors a chance to invite players on the Chill to their summer league so they can get a better look at them as a possible fit into their system.

For the Chill, it will give them the opportunity to attract even stronger talent. If the Raptors have a prospect they want to keep their eye on, they can look at the Chill as a possible destination.

It was a big day yesterday as Chill got into the spirit of March Madness.

They are closing in on putting the finishing touches to their roster and they introduced three more players to their roster all with NCAA Division I experience.

Marques Hayden, Sean Dockery and Lee Scruggs have all played in the biggest college basketball tournament in the world with Kansas State, Duke and George-town respectively.

Scruggs is a 6-foot-11 forward who has the ability to shoot from the outside and he's a proven shotblocker. Dockery was an elite point guard at one of the most dominant NCAA schools in Duke and will give the Chill the quickness and strength needed in the back-court.

"Marques (Hayden) is a threat inside and out, both offensively and defensively," said Chill head coach Paul Sir.

"In the past he was looked at as someone who would slash to the basket, but he's got the ability to hit the three-pointer and hit shots off the bounce as well. He's very versatile."

Hayden played last season in the IBL with the Seattle Mountaineers and he's grateful at the chance to come to a franchise that now has NBA ties.

"As an aspiring athelete, it's exactly what you want. It's great to get into the database," said Hayden.

"Whether you make it there or not, it's good to get in the database and then from there if you can't get to the stars, you sleep on the moon."

The Chill now have 12 players on their inaugural season roster, five of which have at major NCAA Division I schools.

The Chill's newest trio join both Rashaun Broadus (Brigham Young) and Antone Jarrell (Portland State). Those players along with local talents like former Alberta Golden Bears Phil Scherer, Stephen Parker and Dean Whalen.

With the experience of players like Edmonton's Jermaine Bucknor, J.R. Patrick and Stephen Sir, who also have NCAA experience, the Chill have the depth to be a possible elite team in their first season in the IBL.

"One thing I am convinced you need to have in the IBL is depth. Having marquee players is great, but you need to have depth and I think we are building that," said Sir.

"What I like most about this is the intangibles, you got kids that can play, but you got kids who want to play hard. You can have all the ability in the world, but it don't matter if you don't want to play hard."

Training camp is set to open on April 9.