TORONTO, ON (March 12, 2018) - March Madness is almost upon us and Canadian college hoops fans will have plenty to cheer about as 22 players from North of the border are set to participate in the 2018 NCAA Tournament.

Coming off SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player honours, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be hoping to take a deep run with the Kentucky Wildcats. After an excellent rookie season, the Hamilton, Ont. native was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team and All-SEC Second Team. Gilgeous-Alexander will be looking to become just the sixth Canadian player to win the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and first since Kyle Wiltjer won with Kentucky back in 2012.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker, cousin of Shai, is hoping to take Virginia Tech all the way after averaging 10.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG. No. 8 seed Virginia Tech has a tough opening round matchup against No. 9 Alabama on Thursday night.

Oshae Brissett had strong freshman year at Syracuse making the ACC All-Freshman Team, averaging 14.8 PPG with 8.8 RPG. However, the Orange find themselves in the First Four and will have to defeat Arizona State on Wednesday to secure their spot in the tournament.

Last year's tournament had 22 players making the tournament with one making it to the National Championship game. Dustin Triano, son of Canada Basketball head coach Jay Triano, played for the Gonzaga Bulldogs who in the end lost to the North Carolina Tarheels.

Below is the list of Canadians playing this year:

Emmanuel Akot - Arizona - L 68-89 vs. (13) Buffalo

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Gabriel Osabuohien - Arkansas - L 62-79 vs (10) Butler

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Kimbal Mackenzie - Bucknell - L 78-82 vs (3) Michigan State - 10 pts, 6 asts

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Dominic Johnson - Buffalo -

W 89-68 vs (4) Arizona

L 75-95 vs (5) Kentucky

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Christian David - Butler -

W 79-62 vs (7) Arkansas

L 73-76 vs (2) Purdue

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Jackson Rowe - Cal State-Fullerton - L 48-74 vs. (2) Purdue - 10 pts, 3 rebs, 1 asts

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Kentucky -

W 78-73 vs (12) Davidson - 19 pts, 8 rebs, 7 asts

W 95-75 vs. (13) Buffalo - 27 pts, 6 rebs, 6 asts

Mfiondu Kabengele - Florida State -

W 67-54 vs (8) Missouri - 14 pts, 12 rebs

W 75-70 vs (1) Xavier - 9 pts, 6 rebs

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Kassius Robertson - Missouri - L 54-67 vs (9) Florida State - 19 pts, 4 rebs

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Kalif Young - Providence - L 69-73 vs. (7)  Texas A&M

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Nolan Narain - San Diego State - L 65-67 vs (6) Houston

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Nelson Kaputo - St. Bonaventure - L 62-77 vs. (6) Florida

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Oshae Brissett - Syracuse -

W 60-56 vs (11) Arizona State - 23 pts, 12 reb, 2 asts

W 55-53 vs (3) Michigan State - 15 pts, 9 rbds

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Howard Washington - Syracuse -

W 60-56 vs (11) Arizona State -

W 55-53 vs (3) Michigan State -

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Kyle Alexander - Tennessee -

W 73-47 vs (14) Wrjgbt State - 6 pts, 4 rebs

L 62-63 vs (11) Loyola - DNP

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Isiah Jasey - Texas A&M -

W 73-69 vs (10) Providence

W 86-65 vs (2) North Carolina

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Jelani Mofford - UNC Greensboro - L 68-64 vs (4) Gonzaga

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Nickeil Alexander-Walker - Virginia Tech - L 83-86 vs. (9) Alabama - 15 pts, 2 rebs, 3 asts;

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While members of tournament bound teams, Canadians Elijah Mitrou-Long (Texas), Aher Uguak (Loyola-Chicago), Jalen Poyser (St. Bonaventure) Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga) will not play this year due to NCAA rules after transferring.

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