By Canadian Press

Raptors Uprising GC add some familiar faces in NBA 2K League draft

Mar 6, 2019 | 1:00 PM

TORONTO — For Raptors Uprising GC, the band’s back together.

Well almost, after the Toronto esports team reclaimed Seanquai (KingQuai614) Harris and Joshua (TsJosh) McKenna in Tuesday’s NBA 2K League draft in Brooklyn, N.Y. Both helped Raptors Uprising reach the playoffs in the esports league’s inaugural 2018 season.

Teams were allowed to retain two players from their 2018 roster with Kenneth (Kenny) Hailey and Trevion (All Hail Trey) Hendrix the holdovers from the Raptors Uprising squad that lost to Cavs Legion GC in the playoff quarterfinals. 

Raptors Uprising GC took Freddy (Im So Far Ahead) Mendoza in the first round (15th overall) and Georgio (OOC Slim) Bonte in the second round (35th overall). They then used their third and fourth round picks (49th and 69th overall) to bring Harris and McKenna back into the fold.

“We knew that we really liked our team last year,” said Shane Talbot, esports manager at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. “What we didn’t know is what was the value of the draft picks that we would have to give up in order to retain those players. What round would those players fall in?” 

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The two other members from the 2018 squad went elsewhere in the third round. Christopher (Detoxys) Doyle was taken by Lakers Gaming (44th overall) while Toronto native Yusuf (Yusuf_Scarbz) Abdulla went to Kings Guard Gaming (53rd overall).

Talbot’s team should be in town next week to prepare for the coming season.

Jazz Gaming, by virtue of winning the NBA 2K League draft lottery, took Spencer (Ria) Wyman with the first overall pick. Magic Gaming chose Daniel (DT) Tlais of Windsor, Ont., in the second round (29th overall), the first international player taken.

Chiquita (chiquitae126) Evans became the first woman drafted by the esports league when she went in the fourth round (56th overall) to Warriors Gaming Squad.

“I think it was a huge moment for the NBA 2K League and for esports in general,” said Talbot. “There’s been clear consensus that there’s no reason why women shouldn’t be able to play esports at the pro level with men. We don’t need to have female pro leagues the way that you might in traditional sports due to physical differences.

“I think what we’re going to see in the next generation is enough young female gamers getting into the scene that we can find those individuals who are born with that same raw talent and who are as focused on it as all the little boys who grew up in the last decade were to reach the peaks that they’re now at.

“Really awesome draft pick. She was on our radar as well.”

Evans was one of two women among the 198 gamers eligible for the draft.

“It feels surreal. It’s an amazing experience,” she said draft night. “I’m very glad to be here, excited to be here. It’s a very humbling experience. Women actually got me through this — a lot of my friends who play 2K with me. They’ve been pushing me to get through everything, especially when I found out that I made the draft pool.

“I’ve had amazing support both male and female, and I’m just very, very excited to be in the position that I’m in.”

A former college and semi-pro basketball player, the 30-year-old Chicago native had been working as a trainer at Planet Fitness.

There were six Canadians among the pool of talent eligible for the four-round, 21-team draft. In all, there were 22 international players from Canada, Australia, China, France, Germany, New Zealand, the Philippines, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Mendoza was a fifth-pound pick of Pistons GT last season, who impressed Talbot and his players when the two teams met for a boot camp. He also competed with Raptors Uprising players during the off-season.

Bonte is also well-known to Talbot’s players.

Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have joined the esports league for its second year, which opens April 2.

Knicks Gaming defeated Heat Check Gaming 2-0 in the NBA 2K League finals last August to become the inaugural NBA 2K League champions.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press