Oakland Golden Grizzlies vs. Toronto Metropolitan University Bold Game Recap August 22, 2026

Oakland Golden Grizzlies Style of Play:

In this game, Oakland ran a slower paced half-court offense. They ran dribble handoffs or handoffs into catch and shoot three-pointers or drives to the rim. They have multiple three-point shooters, effective spacing, and bigs with a good enough handle to protect the ball and get it to the player receiving the dribble handoff, making this their most effective offense. They also ran pindowns and set off-ball screens freeing up shooters for catch and shoot threes. They have high-percentage efficient three-point shooters, so they are very intentional about utilizing them and creating looks for them. In the second half, they moved away from dribble handoffs and handoffs and became more of a post up oriented team. They had a big size advantage and used their physicality to get deep post positioning and back down smaller players. When they aren't running dribble handoffs, handoffs, or post ups, they run a drive and kick offense finding three-point shooters or making dump-off passes to cutters.

They dominated the glass using their size and physical advantage to get extra possessions and second-chance opportunities while limiting the opposing team's extra possessions and second-chance opportunities.

On defense, they ran a zone-heavy scheme. They would run a combination of matchup zone, 1-3-1 zone, 1-1-3 zone, and 3-2 zone. This led to Toronto Metropolitan University taking deep tough contested threes, getting sped up, and struggling to get into the paint. Oakland would give up lesser contested threes from the corner, but their ability to be quick on rotations and their length allowed them to challenge the shot. They pick up full court and apply resistance as an extension of their zone defense. They also aggressively send double teams to the ball and try to force turnovers by playing the passing lanes or trapping along the sideline to force tough contested passes through length and tight windows. This allows them to create offense from their defense when getting steals and forcing turnovers, giving them a different offensive look playing at a faster pace and getting easy fast-break points.

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Oakland Golden Grizzlies Player Analysis:

William Kassi

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 9 Inches

College Class: Senior

Age: 22 Years Old

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2028

William Kassi is a player who gets his offense at the rim. He has an effective first step and a good enough handle for his size to attack the rim. He absorbs contact and can play through it. He can also operate in the post taking advantage of mismatches and punishing smaller defenders. He is a finesse player in the post having craftiness and footwork. When he starts attracting pressure and multiple defenders in the post, he can find the open catch and shoot three-point shooter. Off the ball, he doesn't get stagnant and creates opportunities for himself by cutting to the rim, especially on baseline out of bounds plays. He shows his athleticism best on cuts where he is an athletic above the rim finisher. His main offensive limitation is that he's strictly an interior player and can't shoot three-pointers. He has a hitch in his shot and awkward shooting mechanics when expanding his range out to the three-point line. He makes the game easier for his teammates creating quality looks for them. He initiates dribble handoffs for his teammates displaying an effective two man game with guards getting them driving lanes to the rim or catch and shoot three-pointers. He also sets off-ball screens freeing shooters to get to their spots for catch and shoot three-point looks.

He is relentless on the glass, displaying his high motor. He grabs tough contested rebounds through traffic and has strong hands to maintain possession.

On the defensive end, he has length and size. He sends timely double teams and applies the pressure his team wants to implement. He has active hands to disrupt the ball.

Chris Fields Jr.

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

College Class: Senior

Age: 21 Years Old

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2027

Chris Fields Jr. is one of the few transition threats on his team. He can push the pace in transition with quickness and explosiveness bringing the ball up and using his frame to shield off defenders. In the half-court, he has a back to the basket post up game when matched up against smaller defenders. This is the type of game and matchup where he can use this skillset as one of the bigger players. He uses his strength to get deep post positioning and back down smaller and weaker defenders for high-percentage shots in the paint. He has poise, footwork, and touch when finishing in the post. He can create looks for his teammates by finding cutters out of the high post in big to big action.

He is another rebounding threat for his team generating extra possessions and second-chance opportunities while limiting them for the opponent. He grabs tough contested rebounds through traffic. He jumps high for rebounds and has strong hands to maintain possession. When grabbing defensive rebounds, he can push the pace and advance the ball as a ball-handler in transition.

He stands out on defense. He provides timely help defense and switches in the pick and roll. He can stay in front of the pick and roll ball-handler with his strength and physicality. He is quick on rotations and closing out to three-point shooters using his length to force tough contested threes. He is disciplined and defensively sound getting a hand up to contest the shot without jumping into shooters and fouling. He plays the passing lanes, anticipating and getting steals and deflections, which lets him create offense from his defense.

R.J. Taylor:

Position: PG

Height: 5 Feet 11 Inches

College Class: Senior

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2028

R.J. Taylor is the primary ball-handler. He advances the ball quickly and has a tight handle that limits turnovers. He gets his scoring opportunities off the ball by receiving dribble handoffs or relocating to open space and getting into catch and shoot three-pointers. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He is shot ready and doesn't hesitate, showing confidence as a shooter. He wasn't afraid of the moment and whenever the opposing team made a run to come back in the game, he made timely catch and shoot threes to stop momentum and keep the game from getting close. As an undersized guard, he struggles to get to the rim against bigger and more physical defenders.

Despite being an undersized guard, he finds ways to be effective on the defensive end as a scrappy defender and defensive pest. He makes the right reads on double teams and help defense going towards the ball and pressuring. He has quick, strong, and active hands to strip the ball away when bigger players bring it down. He has intangibles being loud and communicating defensively on the floor.

Nassim Mashhour

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

College Class: Junior

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2029

Nassim Mashhour operates as a catch and shoot three-point threat. He constantly moves along the three-point line, making it exhausting for defenders to chase him and allowing him to find open space. He is shot ready and shoots confidently without hesitation. When he doesn't get three-point looks, he can get to the rim receiving dribble handoffs but struggles to finish in the paint. For his frame, he sets effective off-ball screens and hard picks that free up teammates and make the game easier.

Belal El Shakery

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 8 Inches

College Class: Senior

Age: 22 Years Old

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2028

Belal El Shakery is a post up big with size. He uses that size to get deep post positioning and shoot hook shots over smaller defenders. He gets extra possessions and second-chance opportunities in the paint. His rebounding comes from his ability to gain interior positioning and use his body to block out the opposing team's rebounder.

Brady Swartz

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 7 Inches

College Class: Sophomore

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2029

Brady Swartz is a catch and shoot three-point specialist. He has a quick release and fluid shooting mechanics. He gets his threes by getting to his spots after coming around pindowns and off-ball screens.

Ryder Bradley

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 3 Inches

College Class: Sophomore

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2029

Ryder Bradley is a slashing guard who can play off the catch, put the ball on the floor, and get to the rim attacking closeouts. He has a quick first step and changes speed and direction, keeping the defense on its heels. He doesn't shy away from contact and can absorb it and finish through it.

Warren Marshall IV

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

College Class: Junior

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2029

Warren Marshall IV is a player whose impact is felt more on defense. He picks up ball-handlers from the backcourt and applies resistance. He has disruptive length and is physical making it tougher for smaller guards to advance the ball against him.

Hamoudy Mashhour

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches

College Class: Sophomore

Age: 19 Years Old

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2030

Hamoudy Mashhour on the defensive end is quick on rotations and closing out to three-point shooters forcing tougher contested lower percentage threes.

Nate Ahner

Position: F

Height: 6 Feet 8 Inches

College Class: Junior

Age: 22 Years Old

Team: Oakland

Draft Year: 2028

Nate Ahner is player who moves well along the baseline to try and get post up opportunities.

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Toronto Metropolitan University Bold Style of Play:

In this game, Toronto Metropolitan University struggled against Oakland's size, length, and physicality. They struggled to get into the paint and settled for a lot of tough contested catch and shoot deep three-pointers. They struggled to break down Oakland's zone defense, not screening and cutting to the rim. They kept trying to operate in drive and kick situations and off dribble penetration, which is what the zone is designed to limit. Their drive and kick offense came from the top of the key rather than getting deep in the paint and collapsing the defense. Some of their threes came late as the shot clock was running out due to their struggles getting into the paint. Some of their players struggled against the pressure, lacking the decision making and processing speed. Toronto Metropolitan University really struggled with rebounding. They had a massive size disadvantage, which made it hard to rebound. They allowed many extra possessions and second-chance opportunities while not getting extra possessions and second-chance opportunities themselves. On the defensive end, they struggled to defend Oakland's free-flowing movement offense. They didn't have the glue guys who could be physical and limit quality off-ball movement along the three-point line and cuts to the rim. They were allowing a lot of quality three-point looks off dribble handoffs or drives to the rim that they could convert. When Oakland moved away from this offense in the second half and went to a more post up heavy approach, Toronto Metropolitan University didn't have the physical presence to wall up in the post and limit deep post positioning.

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Toronto Metropolitan University Bold Player Analysis:

Tobe Ezeokafor

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 5 Inches

College Class: Sophomore

Team: Toronto Metropolitan University

Tobe Ezeokafor is a high-level catch and shoot three-point shooter. He has a quick release, fluid shooting mechanics, and lift and elevation getting off the ground. Even when his three-point shots aren't falling, he spaces the floor for his teammates with the volume of three-point shots he takes. He can make catch and shoot three-pointers off dribble penetration and drive and kick in the half-court and catch and shoot pull-up threes in transition. He is the type of player that needs to be in a rhythm. When he is in rhythm, he makes threes in bunches and it comes out of his hands cleanly; when he isn't in rhythm, he misses threes in bunches and his shot comes out flatter.

Javordo Mitchell

Position: C

Height: 6 Feet 10 Inches

College Class: Senior

Team: Toronto Metropolitan University

Javordo Mitchell operates as a backdoor cutter to the rim. He gets to the open space for catch and finish opportunities inside. He is one of the few players who gives his team an interior offensive presence rather than settling for jump shots on the perimeter.

On defense, he is relied upon for rim protection as one of the bigger players on the team. He has timing and instincts when blocking shots.

Ares Culley-Bremner

Position: PF

Height: 6 Feet 8 Inches

College Class: Senior

Team: Toronto Metropolitan University

Ares Culley-Bremner brings physicality on the defensive end. He is the only player on his team who could match up physically and size-wise against Oakland. He is an effective post up defender walling up, making it hard to get deep post positioning, having a strong base, and not getting backed down which results in tougher post up shots. He protects the rim and blocks shots rotating from the weak side.

Gurdeep Kalsi

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 6 Inches

College Class: Sophomore

Team: Toronto Metropolitan University

Gurdeep Kalsi operates as a catch and shoot three-point shooter. He is slow getting into his shot and getting it off.  He took a lot of deep contested tough threes. When he tries to put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts he lacks blow by speed and struggles against bigger more athletic defenders, making it hard for him to get to the rim and into the paint. As a passer, he operates in drive and kick situations finding catch and shoot three-point shooters or cutters at the rim. His drive and kick passes come from the top of the key rather than getting deep in the paint and collapsing the defense.

Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow

Position: G

Height: 6 Feet 2 Inches

College Class: Senior

Team: Toronto Metropolitan University

Javier Gilgeous-Glasgow struggled to score on the offensive end. He settled for a lot of three-pointers and didn't get many paint touches. He isn't a quick and explosive guard getting to the rim; he's more of a finesse player who uses angles and gets through tight spaces.

On the defensive end, he is one of the better off-ball defenders on his team, being a glue guy who stays with his matchup and does not allow quality off-ball movement along the three-point line and cuts to the rim.