Canadians to watch at March Madness: Nembhard, Swords, Fournier, Riley look to shine

With Selection Sunday in the books, First Four games underway and Round 1 of the tournaments set to tip off on Thursday, the clock has already begun ticking for brackets to get filled.

Yes, the Madness is ready to begin.

Although that may seem daunting, considering it means pondering over 128 teams between the men's and women's sides of the NCAA basketball championship tournaments, take solace in the fact that just about anything goes when making selections this time of year.

Picking based on mascots, preferred vacation destinations, or even something as simple as a coin flip, are all viable strategies — that's the beauty of high-stakes, one-and-done college hoops.

For the folks from Canada, why not consider riding with talent from north of the border? More than 40 players will represent the red and white this year and plenty of them have compelling stories.

To make things a bit easier, here are some Canadians (or players with Canadian ties) to watch in this year's tournaments.

Men's side

Emanuel Sharp — (1) Houston

The dynamic junior is one of only a few players with Canadian ties entering the tournament with a No. 1 seed this year.

In Sharp's case, that's in no small part thanks to his own effort in the Big 12 tournament as he averaged 20.7 points through three games en route to a conference title and the Midwest Region's top spot. The Cougars guard was subsequently named most outstanding player of the Big 12 tournament after dropping 17 points in Houston's title-clinching victory.

Although Sharp was born in Israel, his ties to Canada run deep through his mother Justine Ellison Sharp, a Hamilton, Ont. native. Ellison Sharp, a basketball player herself, was inducted into the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Hall of Fame in 2009. She led U of T to two national silver medals and was named the women's university athlete of the year in her senior season (1995-96).

Now, Emanuel Sharp looks to carry the mantle as one of Houston's key offensive cogs. The 21-year-old, who spent much of his youth in Florida, averaged 12.5 points through 33 games (second-most on the Cougars) while shooting a stellar 42.8 per cent from beyond the arc.

Aden Holloway — (2) Alabama

Like many other Canadians in the tournament, the guard is a sparkplug that spearheads a second unit. Holloway's sizzle, however, also extends beyond the court.

The dual citizen's path to No. 2 Alabama — aside from taking a detour through Calgary, where his mother is from — comes by way of transfer from Southeastern Conference rival Auburn. Turns out the sophomore left a team that's this year's No. 1 overall seed.

However, Holloway is happy with the move. In an interview with ESPN, while giving his former Tigers some love, Holloway didn't mince words when asked about leaving. "It just didn't fit me, like for my development," he explained. The 20-year-old also credited the Crimson Tide's system for allowing him to be a "play initiator" because "I wasn't really making the decisions or reads (with Auburn)."

Subsequently, Holloway's been a key contributor this season, averaging 11.4 points off the bench (fourth-most on Alabama). He's also been a marksman from deep, converting at a 41.7-per-cent clip, joint-first on the team for total makes (78).

For Holloway to take on his former squad in the tournament, however, both sides would have to go all the way to the end. And while unlikely, expect fireworks if it did happen. Alabama and Auburn split the season series, with the Crimson Tide taking their regular-season finale by two points in overtime.

Will Riley — (6) Illinois

March Madness is the perfect stage for microwave scorers, players who can change the tides of a game in an instant. Riley, a Kitchener, Ont. native, has been exactly that for the Midwest Region's No. 6 seed.

The Big Ten conference's Sixth Man of the Year, Riley was second in scoring on the Fighting Illini, averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists off the bench. And don't be fooled by his 32.1-per-cent rate from beyond the arc, as the 19-year-old can get hot in a hurry. He has six games with at least three made triples, including a season-best, five-of-six performance in his college debut back in November. His lights-out shooting effort was part of a 31-point night — setting an Illinois freshman debut record — with 26 of those coming in the second half.

In two games in the Big Ten conference tournament, Riley averaged 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists while shooting 55.6 per cent from the field and 33.3 per cent from beyond the arc.

Ryan Nembhard — (8) Gonzaga

The Nembhard family knows all about the one-and-done tournament. Ryan's brother Andrew, who's now a member of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, made a run all the way to the tournament final with Gonzaga as a sophomore in 2021. And while the older Nembhard's squad ultimately fell to Baylor, it set a bar that Ryan is now trying to clear.

While neither brother has been bounced before reaching at least the Sweet 16 with the Bulldogs, Gonzaga will need the best of Ryan to make a run. The senior is arguably the top floor general in college hoops, leading all DI players with 9.8 assists per game. He's racked up at least 10 dimes in 18 of his 33 appearances with a season-high 16 (on just two turnovers) in a 20-point win against USF three weeks ago. He's also no slouch scoring the ball, averaging 10.8 points, joint-fourth on the Zags, while shooting 39.3 per cent from distance.

The Aurora, Ont. native has been the engine that made the West Coast Conference champions go this season, and if they make a run through the bracket as a No. 8 seed, expect Ryan's impact to be a big reason why.

Josh Omojafo — (15) Robert Morris

Upsets are inherently engrained in the fun of March Madness. And if that's your favourite part, rooting for Hamilton native Josh Omojafo shouldn't be hard as he's the embodiment of an underdog story.

Rising from relative obscurity, playing for Divison II Gannon University through his first two collegiate seasons, Omajafo is now the fourth-leading scorer (11.4 points per game) on DI Robert Morris. Omojafo started 32 games for the Pittsburgh-area school, averaging the second-most minutes (30.1) while providing impact both as a defender (106.6 defensive rating) and floor spacer (38.4 per cent from distance).

In the Horizon League final, the junior guard tallied 24 points and 13 rebounds en route to victory. If the Colonials want to play spoiler and make a run through the East Region, Omojafo will have to be an X-factor. And he'll need to start as soon as the first round when Robert Morris tries to upset fellow Holloway and No. 2 Alabama.

Honourable mentions - Baraka Okojie (No. 5 Memphis), Michael Nwoko (Mississippi State), Kobe Elvis (No. 9 Oklahoma) and Jalen Celestine (No. 9 Baylor)

Women's side

Avery Howell — (1) USC

The freshman is the lone Canadian on a No. 1 seed for the women's side. The dual citizen — who gets her northern roots from her mother, a native of Salmo, B.C. — was an alternate for the Canadian women's Olympic roster last year.

She's been a go-to sharpshooter for the top-seeded Trojans all year, averaging the fifth-most points on the team (6.8) while ranking second for three-point percentage (39.3).

While Juju Watkins — arguably the top star in all of college hoops — was the straw that stirred USC to a 28-3 record and the No. 1 spot in Regional 4 Spokane, Howell has done her part.

In the Trojans' double-digit victory over Michigan in the Big Ten tournament semifinal, Howell put up 11 points, two rebounds and a steal while knocking down two triples. Against fellow No. 1 seed UCLA, she sank back-to-back triples late to punctuate USC's 13-point regular-season win over the conference rival.

Toby Fournier — (2) Duke

There's not one, but two Duke freshmen Canadians should be keeping an eye on this week. While fans of the struggling-to-tank Raptors daydream about Cooper Flagg, they shouldn't let it detract focus from the Toronto-born Fournier, who's been shining for the Blue Devil women.

Fournier has more than lived up to the hype in her freshman year as she's averaged a team-best 13.4 points per game along with 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks despite not starting a single contest and playing less than 20 minutes a night.

The 19-year-old has put up at least 20 in nine appearances this season, her career-high of 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting coming against No. 6 Florida State in Duke's important regular-season finale.

Fournier was named ACC Freshman of the Year for her efforts while making the All-ACC first team as she helped the Blue Devils to an Atlantic Coast Conference title and the No. 2 seed for Regional 2 Birmingham.

Cassandre Prosper — (3) Notre Dame

Playing in the tournament is a win in its own right for the junior out of Montreal, considering she only got to play five games as a sophomore due to a leg injury.

Prosper's return to health has been a welcomed addition for the third-ranked Fighting Irish as she's been a consistent contributor off the bench. While sophomore Hannah Hidalgo — the fourth-best scorer on the women's side, averaging 24.2 points — has led the charge, the Canadian has put up 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in her 22.5 minutes a game. Prosper's best game of the season came against unranked Eastern Michigan in December, notching 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in a blowout win.

Sarah Te-Biasu — (4) Maryland

There are few players who enter March with a proven track record of being able to deliver in the biggest moments. Montreal's Te-Biasu is certainly one of them.

With seven seconds to go and Maryland tied 90-90 against No. 4 seed Ohio State in its regular-season finale, the senior guard nailed a clutch shot. Not only did she rise up in semi-transition and drill a one-legged triple, but she also had the poise to bring the ball up from the backcourt without rushing herself and using just about every second she could before taking the shot.

It's the kind of awareness you get from a five-year starter — she played her first four seasons with VCU before transferring to Maryland — and exactly the presence of mind the Terrapins will lean on throughout the tournament. Te-Biasu has started in 27 of 29 games this season, leading the team in minutes (31.4) while averaging 9.7 points (sixth on Maryland) and shooting 41.9 per cent from deep (second).

Syla Swords, Mila Holloway — (6) Michigan

Swords, a Sudbury, Ont. native, is another strong Canadian freshman on the women's side. She was a member of the 2024 women's Olympic roster, and now ranks second in scoring for the No. 6 seed Wolverines, averaging 16.1 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds through 31 games.

The 19-year-old led Michigan in minutes (32.2) while also ranking top-five on the roster for points, rebounds, assists (2.6), steals (1.1) and three-point percentage (34.9). Swords racked up plenty of hardware, being named to the All-Big Ten second team, Big Ten All-Freshman team and the Big Ten All-Tournament team.

And maybe her most impressive trait is the ability to step up against the steepest competition. Swords' career-high of 30 points came against No. 1 UCLA in January, and then against another top seed in USC, she put up 26 points, six rebounds and three steals, albeit in a loss in the Big Ten tournament semifinal.

Meanwhile, Swords isn't the only freshman guard with Canadian ties making a difference for Michigan. Mila Holloway, youngest sister of Alabama's Aden Holloway on the men's side, has been an impressive playmaker for the Wolverines as well.

She leads the team in assists (4.3) and three-point percentage (40.5) while averaging the fourth-most points (9.8) in her 28.8 minutes a game.

Honourable mentions: Shayeann Day-Wilson (No. 3 LSU), Phillipina Kyei (No. 10 Oregon), Marah Dykstra (No. 13 Montana State)