10 questions for 2015: Canadian basketball notebook

From Andrew Wiggins going No. 1 overall in the NBA draft to the Raptors having their most successful season in franchise history it was an eventful year for basketball in Canada. So, what's next? Here are 10 questions that will shape how 2015 unfolds for Canadian hoops.

1. Just how good are the Raptors?

Through the first two months of the NBA season the Toronto Raptors are 24-10 and are tied with Chicago for the second best record in the Eastern Conference. Kyle Lowry is likely to be named an All-Star. They survived a month without DeMar DeRozan. It's a good bet the Raptors will set a franchise record for wins, besting last season's mark of 48. The real question is how far can they go in the playoffs?

The Bulls, Wizards, Hawks, and Cavaliers (after some roster tweaks) are all legitimate contenders to come out of the East. Toronto's part of that group too and it's going to be an absolute blast to watch them make a run.

2. Will Andrew Wiggins win Rookie of the Year?

The smart money is on yes. Wiggins has had his ups-and-downs but leads all rookies in scoring with 13.8 points per game and has put together a number of strong performances. Jabari Parker, his main competition for the award, is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL and the rest of the rookie class isn't putting up much of a fight.

The Timberwolves are 5-27 but Wiggins has improved noticeably since his first game. Expect that to continue even if the wins are hard to come by.

3. Can Trey Lyles and Kentucky go undefeated?

Yahoo's Pat Forde anticipates that Trey Lyles and the Kentucky Wildcats will enter the NCAA tournament with a 34-0 record. Right now they're 13-0 and Forde doesn't see a team left on their schedule that can handle their overwhelming defence. Lyles has done his part in keeping Big Blue perfect so far this season. The 19-year-old Saskatoon-born forward is averaging 7.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in just over 20 minutes per game coming off the bench for coach John Calipari.

4. What's next for Steve Nash?

Nash was ruled out for the entire 2014-15 season with nerve damage in his back but he has yet to make his retirement official. He has stayed away from the Lakers and has stayed quiet about his future. At the very least we know he'll continue to work as general manager of the Canadian senior men's national team and that when he's eligible in a few years, he'll be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

5. Outside of Kentucky, which teams with a Canadian link are worth watching?

No. 3 Virginia with Marial Shayok, No. 6 Villanova with Dylan Ennis, No. 7 Gonzaga with Kevin Pangos, Kyle Wiltjer, and Dustin Triano, No. 9 Iowa State with Naz Long, and No. 10 Utah with Dallin Bachynski are all in a position to be a high seed come March and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

6. Is Carleton headed to a fifth straight national championship?

The Carleton Ravens are once again the No. 1 team in CIS and are eyeing a fifth straight national championship. So far this season Carleton is 8-0 and Ottawa, also 8-0, seems like the only team in the country that can stop the Ravens from making it five titles in a row. The two teams meet on Saturday, January 10 and again on February 6. Odds are they'll face off again this year, at least once but probably twice, with a trophy at stake.

7. What will hosting the FIBA Americas do for the Canadian women's program?

Edmonton is the host city for the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship for Women in August. It's a tremendous opportunity for the senior women's program and its players to gain exposure by playing meaningful games on home soil.

8. How many NBA players will represent Canada at the 2015 FIBA Americas?

Last summer Cory Joseph, Kelly Olynyk, Andrew Nicholson, and Robert Sacre made up the NBA contingent that suited up for Canada on their 11-game international exhibition tour of Europe. That number could swell to nine for the upcoming FIBA Americas tournament in Mexico, assuming those four return and they're joined by Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, Tristan Thompson, Tyler Ennis, and Nik Stauskas.

The top two teams at the tournament qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The USA is already in, setting up a real battle for the remaining teams from the Americas zone. A roster full of NBA talent would go a long way in helping secure Canada's first Olympic appearance since 2000.

9. How many Canadians will be selected in the 2015 NBA draft?

Should Lyles declare for the upcoming draft he's a lock to go in the first round and could go in the lottery. If he decides to stay at Kentucky for his sophomore season, there's a chance Canada goes unrepresented on draft night for the first time since 2009.

Pangos or Boston College's Olivier Hanlan have been mentioned as possible second round picks but it's far from certain they'll hear their names called.

10. Where will Canada's top high school players go to play college ball?

The next wave of talented hoopsters are on the way and ready to make the next big decision for their basketball careers. Jalen Poyser, the top Canadian from the class of 2015, has already committed to UNLV. Justin Jackson, a highly regarded swingman set to graduate in 2016, is also headed to Las Vegas. The next big name to watch? Jamal Murray, a 2016 guard who has received offers from a long list of schools including Michigan State, Maryland, Ohio State, and Indiana.

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Israel Fehr is a writer for Yahoo Canada Sports. Email him at israelfehr@yahoo.ca or follow him on Twitter @israelfehr.