August 31, 2023

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball/Basketball Network

The Toronto Raptors’ morning session on Oct. 7, 2004, was progressing like another routine day of training camp inside the Bob Davis gymnasium on the Brock University campus in St. Catharines.

Coach Sam Mitchell was getting Jalen Rose, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Rafer Alston, Morris Peterson and the rest of the Raps ready for the real life and real drama of the 82-game schedule ... like the TSN adds used to trumpet.

Meanwhile 75.6 miles down the QEW and the Gardiner Expressway, real life was unfolding. Micah Nori, a Raptors intern coach and advance scout, had received THE call during practice that his wife Melissa’s water had broken. Micah borrowed Raptors equipment manager Kevin DiPietro’s Expedition “left directly from practice,” driving for Mount Sinai Hospital on University Ave.

Micah said he “got there in time.”

And at 1:18 pm Melissa Nori gave birth to a baby boy Dante.

Mitchell’s Raptors started off the season 3-0, beating the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and the Portland Trail Blazers. Yet, the Miracle Start did not lead to a Miracle Season as Toronto finished 33-49, fourth in the NBA Atlantic Division.

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An inferno on the bases: Now almost 17 years later Dante could be the top Canadian-born player selected in the 2024 draft. An outfielder Dante was clocked at the East Coast Pro showcase in Hoover, Ala. running a 6.24. And at the Area Code Games at the University of San Diego he was laser-timed at 6.15.

A 5-foot-11, 185-pounder, Dante is more than a ‘beep-beep’ speedster with roadrunner-like acceleration. He lost the home run derby final to C Cade Arrambide of Tomball, Tex. 12-11 at the Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic at Chase Field in Phoenix, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Dante had eight homers in the first round and 14 in the semi final, so 33 in all.

Dante has a dual citizenship and since he was born here, he is World Baseball Classic eligible. Dante only lived in Toronto for a couple of years, but Micah was here as an advance scout and an assistant coach for the Raptors from 1998 to 2013. Micah and Melissa moved to Northville, Mich., a Detroit suburb, where they currently reside. Melissa had taught American history to the children of the Raptors’ players.

“Let see,” Micah said, “we lived at 99 Harbor Square, 50 Lombard, the condos behind Tip Top Tailer, near Maple Leaf Square and the Air Canada Centre.

“I always likened Toronto to a cleaner, safer New York. It was a melting pop. For a big city you always felt safe walking home after the game. Everything was well lit.”

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Meeting new Canuck pals: Ontario Blue Jays INF Brendan Lawson (North York, Ont.) and Great Lake Canadians RHP Tate Carey (Windsor, Ont.) were also at the East Coast Pro Showcase in Hoover, Ala.

Ontario Blue Jays RHP Matt Brown (Carlisle, Ont.), joined Lawson and Carey (Riverside, Ont.) at the Area Code Games at the University of San Diego.

And Lawson and Dante were together in Phoenix as well.

“I did meet (Lawson),” Dante said. “We both kind of clicked, we were together for almost three weeks.”

Dante batted .309 (8-for-21) combined at the East Coast (4-for-10) and the Area Codes (4-for-11) with a double, four RBIs and nine stolen bases against the best high school catchers in North America. Nine steals. Beep. Beep.

Lawson is ranked 27th on Baseball America’s top 100 high schoolers in last July’s rankings. Perfect Game has Lawson as No. 1 in Canada and 63rd in north America, while Dante is the top Michigan man and No. 12 on the national list of prospects. How does Dante handle the ebb and flow of the ranking?

“They’re cool, you take it and say ‘thank you,’” he said. “But you don’t believe it when someone tells you ‘how good you are.’”

While Lawson, Carey and Brown will be at the Canadian Futures Showcase at Rogers Centre Sept. 19 to 23, Nori won’t be. He was invited by more than one Blue Jay scouts but decided against coming due a conflict with schoolwork.

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Scouting reports: Perfect Game Scouting service (Dante is rated 12th) _ “Ran a 6.15 60 at PG National topped the class, Home Run derby finalist at All-American Classic. Showed his range of tools. Outstanding barrel control. Very quick twitch athlete.”

Prospects Live (rated 24th) _ “It’s not often you find an elite, 80-grade runner who can also impact the baseball. Nori might be a unicorn in that sense. He could be the fastest player in the class. At the plate, it’s a quiet load and noise-less mechanics, stroking the ball gap-to-gap with some power coming too. Nori is still working on the routes in the field, but most project a center fielder long-term with an average to above average arm as well.”

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Friends in high places: Micah tells a story about the 2009 WBC which was staged at the Rogers Centre. The Canada-Team USA game was the most exciting game in the building that season with J.J. Putz stranding Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) at second for the final out. Votto went 4-for-5 including a homer.

“Joey phoned that weekend, he was looking for a place to work out and wanted the keys to our facility,” said Micah, who allowed Votto to enter the Raptors facility.

And being a Middletown, Ohio native the father -- and therefore son Dante too -- are Cincinnati Reds fans.

“I had my picture taken with Joey when I was seven or eight on the field at Great American Park in Cincinnati,” Dante said. The picture of the youngster and future Hall of Famer -- along with other Votto shots -- hang on Dante’s walls in Northville.

Adds Micah: “Dante’s whole room is full of Joey Votto pictures.”

As a Raptor fan, Dante’s faves were DeMar DeRozan and Vince Carter.

Dante committed to the Mississippi State Rebels -- over Notre Dame -- due to coach Chris Lemonis, who guided Mississippi State to its first national title in 2021 and was named coach of the year by Baseball America.

It’s obvious Dante has a love of the game and it’s obvious where it comes from.

“My grandpa,” Dante said about grandpa Fred, now 80, played two seasons of minor league ball as an infielder, one in the Chicago Cubs system (class-A Duluth-Superior) and the second in the New York Mets organization (rookie-class Marion and class-A Winter Haven). He went 25-for-31 stealing bases in 176 games.

Fred Nori was an infielder for the Indiana Hoosiers from 1963 to 1965, compiling a .284 career batting average with five home runs and 55 RBIs before turning pro.

“My grandfather is the reason why I wanted to play and the reason I swing the way I do,” said Dante.

As as for the speed. Micah says with a laugh “it skipped a generation.”

There aren’t many Canadian-born ball players who can run that fast. Brock Ralph (Raymond, Alta.) once ran a 6.38, 60 on a bad track. Scouts guessed it was more like 6.2. Ralph became a wide receiver with the Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, catching 238 passes for 3,045 yards.

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Dante’s Honours: All he did was make the all-tournament team 16 times in the last six years.

2023 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team ... National Showcase, Phoenix ... Dream Team All-State in Michigan HS (best players from all divisions) ... With Hit Dogs Midwest _ Named to All Tournament Team (4-for-13, double, two triples, six stolen bases, 1.341 OPS) at PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) at Fort Myers, Fla. ... Earned Tournament MVP PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) ... With Canes National 17u/NY Mets Scout Team _ Made All Tournament Team (3-for-11, .273, double, three stolen bases, .919 OPS) in West Palm Beach ... All Tournament Team WWBA 2024 Grads or 17U National Championship ... Tournament Elite Batting (14 hits, three doubles, three triples, five RBIs, six stolen bases) at WWBA 2024 Grads or 17U National Championship in Marietta, Ga.

2022 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team at WWBA Workout Showcase at Marietta (Ran 1.6 60) ... Showcase Top Prospect List WWBA Workout at Marietta ... First State, All-State in Michigan HS ... With Canes Prospects _ Named All Tournament Team (batting 6-for-13 .462 with two doubles, a triple, three RBIs and three stolen bases, 1.332 OPS) at WWBA World Championship in Jupiter, Fla. ... With Canes National _ All Tournament Team (9-for-15, .533, one double, a homer, three RBIs, two stolen bases, 1.411 OPS), WWBA 2024 Grads or 16U National Championship in Marietta, Ga.

2021 season _ Showcase Top Prospect Team at WWBA Workout Showcase at Marietta ... With Scottsdale Dirtbags _ Named to All Tournament Team (6-for-9, .667, three doubles, a triple, three RBIs, three stolen bases, 1.972 OPS) 15U WWBA West National Championship at Surprise, Az.

2020 season with USA Prime Mountain National _ Tournament Elite Batting (12 hits, two doubles, three triples, eight RBIs, three stolen bases) at WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship in Hoover, Ala. ... Named to All Tournament Team (5-for-16, .313, two RBIs, two stolen bases, .813 OPS) at WWBA Freshman World Championship at Sarasota ... Gained berth on All Tournament Team (2-for-5, .400, double, three RBIs, one stolen base, 1.171) PG West MLK Championship (Underclass) at Phoenix ... Selected All Tournament (4-for-13, .308, double, triple, three RBIs, one stolen base, 1.012) PG 14U Summer Shootout in Atlanta ... Again All Tournament Team (12-32, .375, two doubles, three triples, eight RBIS, three stolen bases, 1.054 OPS) WWBA 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship at Hoover, Ala

2019 season with Motor City Hit Dogs _ Named All Tournament Team (3-for-6, .500, double, three RBIs, 1.095) PG 14U Invitational (Major) at Marietta ... With 3n2 Warriors _ All Tournament Team (13-for-21, .619, double, 12 RBIs, two stolen bases, 1.345 OPS) WWBA 14U West National Championship at Surprise, Az.

2018 season with 3n2 Warriors _ All Tournament Team (6-for-9, .667, double, four RBIs, one stolen base 1.505) PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier at Goodyear, Az. ... Tournament MVP PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier ... All Tournament Team (3-for-9, .333, one double, one RBI, .844) PG Super25 14U or 2023 Grads Las Vegas Super Qualifier at Henderson, Nev. ... All Tournament Team (8-for-17, .471, three RBIs, one stolen base, .915) 13U Super25 National Championship at Sanford, Fla.

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Micah’s path north: A former standout middle infielder for Indiana from 1994 to 1997. Micah was part of the 1996 team that won the Big Ten tournament, advancing to the NCAA Midwest Regional, batting .340 in three games.

He closed his career with a .305 average, 20 home runs, 127 RBIs, 116 runs, 35 doubles and 18 stolen bases. His name is still scattered throughout the IU record book, sitting among the top 20 in home runs, RBIs, doubles, hits (180), slugging percentage (.483) and extra base hits (60).

In 1997, Micah led the team with a .365 batting average, 66 hits, 12 home runs, 59 RBIs, two triples and a .635 slugging percentage. He also earned the Jake Gimbel Award for outstanding mental attitude.

After graduating from Indiana, Micah worked as a graduate assistant under coach Tracy Smith with the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks. Then, Micah returned to Indiana as an assistant for Smith. Brother Brady Nori, an outfielder, played for Smith at Miami before graduating in 2000.

You would be right if you thought that there was a Smith-Micah connection, but Micah’s Middletown, Ohio roots is what brought him north of the border in 1998. Middletown native and family friend Butch Carter approached Micah about working as an intern coach for the Raptors.

Micah: “I’ve been hitting baseballs for a few years I’m not going to be able to be able to coach NBA players.”

Carter told Micah: “Sports is sports. It’s not like I’m going to teach you to teach Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady how to shoot a jump shot. I’ll teach you the X’s and O’s and we’ll go from there.”

Raptors’ boss Glen Grunwald and Carter hired Micah.

“My first year was Vince Carter’s rookie year,” said Micah who has been impressed by the hoops talent coming out of Canada in recent years. Like Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Toronto, Ont.), RJ Barrett (Mississauga, Ont.), Dillon Brooks (Mississauga, Ont), Luguentz Dort (Montreal, Que.), Zach Edey (Toronto, Ont.), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Hamilton, Ont.), Cory Joseph (Toronto, Ont.), Kelly Olynyk (Kelowna, BC), Jamal Murray (Kitchener, Ont.), Dwight Powell (Mississauga, Ont.), Tristan Thompson (Brampton, Ont.) and Andrew Wiggins (Thornhill, Ont.)

After Micah served as an advance scout for Raptors coaches Carter, Lenny Wilkens, Kevin O’Neill, Sam Mitchell, and Jay Triano, he was an assistant coach under Triano and Dwane Casey from 2009 to 2013.

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Dante’s awards: 2023 season _ Top 10 60 yard dash (1st of 10, 6.15) at National Showcase ... Preseason Underclass Perfect Game/Rawlings All American Central All-Region First Team ... With Canes National/NY Mets Scout Team _ WWBA Champion Ultimate Championship-East ... With Hit Dogs Midwest _ WWBA Champion PG East MLK Championship (Underclass) … 2022 season _ Preseason Underclass Perfect Game/Rawlings All American Central All Region Second Team ... With Canes National WWBA Champion 16U Ultimate Championship-East … 2021 season _ Preseason Underclass Perfect Game/Rawlings All American Central Region ... With Precision Patriots _ PGBA Tournament Champion 15U PG Nashville World Series ... 2021 USA Prime National _ WWBA Champion PG 15U National Elite Championship ... WWBA Champion WWBA 2024 Grads or 15U National Championship ... 2021 Ultimate Championship-East Showcase Top Prospect List WWBA Workout Showcase at Marietta … 2020 with USA Prime Mountain National _ Youth Tournament Champion PG 14U Summer Shootout at Atlanta ... WWBA Champion 2024 Grads or 14U National Championship … 2019 season with 3n2 Warriors _ WWBA Champion West National Championship … 2018 season with 3n2 Warriors _ PG Super25 Champion 14U or 2023 Grad Southwest Super Qualifier Goodyear, Az. … 2017 season with 3n2 Warriors _ PG Super25 13U Kansas City Super Qualifier at Shawnee, Kan.

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Micah’s background: Micah joined the Sacramento Kings as an assistant for Mike Malone and Tyrone Corbin from 2013 to 2015 and then the Detroit Pistons as an assistant for Dwane Casey from 2018 to 2021.

From there, he moved to Minnesota Timberwolves, assisting coach Chris Finch, where he currently still is.

In fact, Micah represented the Timbervolves at their booth at Minnesota State Fair on Thursday ... which is a long way from Middleton, Ohio, the Rogers Centre or Chase Field, where Dante put on a show.

And Dante is a lot closer to Target Field or Comerica Park or Great American than most grade 12 students.