- POWER RANKINGS -
WRITTEN BY: PROFESSOR X
Season 2 of the Rookie Division is already rewriting the script. What looked good on paper hasn’t always translated to wins, and some squads we slept on are making serious noise. This league wastes no time humbling expectations. We’ve seen clutch performances, shocking upsets, and breakout stars, yeah, it’s been wild. Again, we gotta thank the Commish because he cooked this season, I didn’t see it being this good! The energy is unmatched, and every game so far has felt like a playoff game. But enough small talk, rankings don’t lie. Man, there’s a lot to be said, and the only way to change your spot is to earn it between the lines. Let’s get into it.
1. HUSKIES: The defending champs are still elite! TK remains the calm, composed leader we expect, and has hit big shots late. The additions of Nahvin and Gowsh to the already stellar core of TK, Tharan, Jay, and Gideon have put this team on another level. They haven’t lost in forever, and they don’t look like they will anytime soon. The crown is theirs, and if you want to take it, you'd better bring your A-game, otherwise, these guys will mop the floors with you. Previously 1.
2. HORNETS: They had a close opening loss but bounced back like vets. Jeroy has been that guy, and so has Aaron. They both are aggressive, efficient, and unfazed. Waqar’s coaching adjustments in Game 2 were key as they absolutely dominated their opponent. The team looks locked in when they push the pace, and their aggressive defense has teams nervous to play against. Don’t go up silly, otherwise Ronald will come out of nowhere to send that s*** away. If they can clean up on the little mistakes, the Hornets are a problem! Previously 8.
3. SHOTTAS: Let’s talk glow-ups. Shottas were somewhat on my radar heading into the season, but now they’re sitting pretty at the top. Terrell looks like a seasoned vet and has his team firing on all cylinders. Their bench has been elite, everybody contributes, nobody hides. Current MVP favourite Isaiah has been playing some incredible basketball, most recently hitting a dagger 3 in the clutch to will his team to the win. The chemistry issues everyone predicted are nonexistent. These guys are the early surprise juggernaut, and until someone proves otherwise, they look like an early title contender. Previously 9.
4. PHANTOMS: Talk about a leap. The Phantoms went from being counted out to making noise. But in our defence, they were an unknown team, but they are definitely known now. Dawin Cruz has been the X-factor, stepping up as a scorer and vocal leader. But don't be fooled, they're not a one-man show, they've got a deep roster with shooters everywhere. They’ve felt the highs and lows in the first two weeks, winning a close game in week 1 and losing to a heartbreaker in week 2, but they did play 2 of the top 5 teams in the league, which is why we have them this high. If they build on this momentum, they could rise even more. Massive credit for proving me wrong. Previously 12.
5. LAKERS: This team came in with hustle and hasn’t let off the gas. In week 1, Abhiram looked like the early MVP favourite. He came back to reality in week 2, but still had a good performance. But what I liked seeing was the total team effort on defence and on the glass that the Lakers have shown. Akash and Robinson are doing the dirty work, Ashwin’s been a silent killer, and Punch has been one of the better bigs in the league. Every possession feels intentional. They’re moving with purpose, and you can tell this squad believes they belong. Quietly dangerous. Previously 5.
6. SWISH: No longer under the radar. Swish has that old-school, team-first style. Prem’s leadership shines through in how composed this group plays. They’re not flashy, but they make winning plays, cutting, passing, spacing. Their ceiling might depend on who becomes the guy when the game gets tight. They have 3 guys that can in James, Brennan, and Malcolm, but I see James stepping into that role as he has shown flashes of being that guy. Previously 6.
7. DEMONS: This team has been good and bad. Gopal and Thivaas have been solid to start the season for this squad, but the cohesion just isn’t there yet. In their Week 1 game, they got dismantled, but they came back in Week 2 with a gritty 1-point win. Defensive lapses and shaky bench play are concerns. There’s talent, no doubt, but it hasn’t translated to consistent impact. They have been without Nirjan up until this point, and with him, I see a lot of potential in this squad. Previously 7.
8. FALCONS: They got humbled in Week 1 but came back sharper. Tiv looks like he’s putting together an MVP-caliber season, and Pravinnath's shot creation and tempo control were huge in their bounce-back win. This team is still raw and figuring it out, but if their defensive intensity holds, and they keep bringing that loud crowd, they’ve got dark horse potential. Previously 11.
9. HELLCATS: Viz has taken a step back and let Abishan run the show, but it hasn’t translated in a way they’d like. The team hasn’t quite clicked. They found their rhythm and came out with the gritty come-from-behind win in their opener, but chemistry looks off, and they lacked poise late in their 2nd game. Once Divya and the supporting cast step up and Viz gets back to playing like an MVP, this could be a dangerous team going forward. Still waiting on that dominant stretch. Previously 3.
10. SHOOTING STARS: This one’s shocking. The talent is there, Ayub, Arjun, Clayton, Jake, but something’s off. Chemistry feels flat, and no one’s taken over when it matters. Their shots aren’t falling, and the defense hasn’t been enough to compensate. They’ve got bounce-back potential, but time is ticking. The slide is real. Can GM Randy do something to get his team back in it? Previously 4.
11. CAVS: The biggest letdown so far. This team had top-3 potential but has looked totally out of sync. Abilash hasn’t imposed his will, Eman’s presence inside has been inconsistent, Gauka is nowhere to be found, and nobody has stepped into a leadership role. It’s early, but the Cavs are looking more like a rebuild than a contender. Time to regroup and respond. Much like their time in the other tier, it doesn’t look like LeBron is gonna come and save them. Previously 2.
12. TMC: It’s been a tough start for TMC, but we did have them near the bottom. Xavier, Kumssa, and Kyron have underperformed, and we thought Kugatharsan would come in and be one of the better shooters in the league, but they all just haven’t clicked. They play hard, sure, but they haven’t found a rhythm offensively. Game 2 was encouraging, losing by one shows they’re close, but "almost" doesn’t count in this league. Previously 10.