He's 15. He's six-foot-nine. He's a top Canadian hoops prospect
On and off the court, Thomas Strohmann is tough to miss.
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That happens when you're the tallest person in elementary school (adults included) by Grade 6 and one of the top basketball prospects in the nation.
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'I started watching NBA basketball in Grade 5 and around that time, my family got me a net in my driveway and every night I would play out there for a couple hours,' said the Port Dover native. 'I tried out for my Grade 6 team at Lakewood (elementary school), and then I just found my love for the game.'
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The relationship between Strohmann and basketball has been a productive one. As a 15-year-old standing six-foot-nine, he recently won gold representing Canada at the 2025 Quai 54 Tournament in Paris, France. Dubbed 'the world's biggest streetball tournament,' it featured some of the world's best amateur players from 14 nations.
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'It was nuts, especially playing the (U.S.),' Strohmann said. 'I feel like because of where we stand, we're always getting overlooked, so being able to go to an international tournament and beating an American team, it was the best feeling in the world.'
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Strohmann's path to the national program began when competing for Lakewood. A Brantford coach noticed his skills and encouraged him to give the rep level a shot. After two seasons with the Hawks, Strohmann's game evolved, and a squad in Stoney Creek courted him.
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After attending and playing for Simcoe Composite School last year, capturing an AABHN Junior South title in the process, Strohmann moved to Oakville, where he attended a specialized school with other top prospects.
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'It was waking up at five in the morning, going to practice before school, lifting and doing workouts and then going to another practice,' Strohmann said of the group's hectic, basketball-focused schedule.
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'It was constantly just getting reps. From then to now, I've seen myself get 10 times better than I've ever gotten before just through the work I've put in with them.'
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While understanding there's plenty of grinding still to do, Strohmann is confident he'll move south to an elite U.S.-based prep school and eventually to the NCAA.
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'My coach has cleared out a good path for me – he's pointed out prep schools he wants me to be at and given me things I need to work on,' said Strohmann. 'I know I will play Division 1, and then from Division 1, the sky's the limit.
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'It would just be so great to represent Canada, especially in the NBA.'
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With the likes of Jamal Murray and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading the way, basketball in Canada is producing top talent like never before. Some experts view Hamilton native Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) as the new face of the sport, having just captured both the regular season and finals MVP along with an NBA title.
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