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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As the point guard for a Team Canada squad that includes Andrew Wiggins, Trey Lyles and Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Tyler Ennis has no shortage of weapons to feed the ball to.
Ennis and his Canadian teammates were tested big-time by Brazil Thursday at the Nike Global Challenge before persevering with a 75-71 win in the first game for both teams.
The 6-foot-3 Ennis, a rising senior at St. Benedict’s Prep, finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, including a clutch driving layup late to cut Brazil’s lead to one point in the final minutes.
The 6-8 Lyles, the Indiana commit who is not giving interviews this summer, finished with 27 points and 11 boards in a brilliant performance in front of IU head coach Tom Crean, and the 6-7 Wiggins, arguably the best high school player in North America, scored 12 points, including five of his team’s final six.
“We had to get revenge on them for beating us in Brazil,” Ennis said, referring to the FIBA Americas U18 Championship semifinals last year. “Coach stressed defense and pressure so that’s what we came out to do in the second half.”
Among those on hand to watch him were Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, Illinois head coach John Groce and Syracuse assistants Adrian Autry and Gerry McNamara.
At this point, those three schools have as good a chance of landing Ennis as anyone.
Pitino sat in the center of the gym and is targeting Ennis to run the point in Louisville beginning next year.
“It’s always good to see him text me or call me,” Ennis said. “A Hall of Fame coach and the fact that he wants me, it’s an honor.”
Syracuse is also heavily involved and Ennis has deep ties to the school, having seen his first college game at the Carrier Dome.
“Coach Autry gets out to a lot of games whenever he can, throughout the spring and school season so they show a lot of interest,” Ennis said.
Illinois has made a strong push recently.
“Coach Groce has a void in the point guard, they don’t have a point guard so they’re saying I could come in and get a lot of minutes,” Ennis said.
Ennis’ father, Canada assistant Tony McIntyre, said his son would commit in August.
“Everybody’s pretty much on the same level,” Tyler said.
Ennis and Canada will face USA East and China on Saturday in an effort to remain undefeated.
***For SNY.tv.’s exclusive video documentary on Canadian point guard Tyler Ennis, click here.
Photo: St. Benedict’s Prep
