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Thomas Scrubb (left) and and Philip Scrubb.Darren Calabrese

The first time Carleton basketball coach Dave Smart saw Thomas and Philip Scrubb, they didn't make much of an impression on him.

Smart was in Las Vegas as part of the coaching staff of Canada's men's national team when a man from Richmond, B.C., and his two skinny teenaged sons showed up to watch. Little did Smart know that the Scrubb brothers would become the backbone of his program – one vying for its fifth successive national championship this week at the CIS Final 8 men's basketball championships at Ryerson University.

"They didn't look very good to be honest – they were pretty gangly back then … I didn't know if they'd be any good at all," Smart said with a laugh. "Phil's been a special player from Day 1, and win or lose, he's had an unbelievable career, and Tommy is probably, for me, the guy who's come the farthest ever in our program, from where he started to where he is now."

While older brother Thomas sat out for a red-shirt freshman season, and then slowly began to flourish in his first full playing season, Philip's first season earned him CIS rookie of the year. Smart says their unique intelligence and dedication were crucial. Philip was chosen CIS player of the year three times (2012, '13, '14).

Thomas received his second consecutive defensive player of the year award Wednesday, a big part of Carleton ranking first in the CIS in fewest points allowed – an average of just 56.4 a game.

Forward Thomas, 23, and guard Philip, 22, will finish their final season this weekend for top-seeded Carleton, and could join a small group of players who have won five CIS men's basketball rings. That group includes former Carleton standout Osvaldo Jeanty, as well as Eli Pasquale and David Sheehan from Victoria's dynasty in the early 1980s.

"We've had a couple of losses this year, so I think this year would be pretty important to win," Philip Scrubb said. "But I don't really think of it as a whole like, 'This is my fifth championship.' We really want to win this year and it would be special to win with this group."

Carleton went 17-2 in the regular season (with losses to Ottawa and Windsor) and 3-0 in the playoffs, en route to their eighth Ontario University Athletics title since 2002.

The Scrubbs are reportedly drawing NBA interest, particularly the younger. Smart says he believes they'll both play professionally somewhere in the world. Many past CIS standouts thrive in Europe, but few have made it to the NBA. Thomas has averaged 17.2 points and 7.6 rebounds this year, Philip 16.6 and 3.3. Both have impressed during Carleton's frequent exhibitions against NCAA teams.

The brothers were on Canada's senior national team this past summer alongside young NBA players such as Kelly Olynyk, Dwight Powell and Cory Joseph – players who made their way through the NCAA ranks.

"The winning they've done every year at Carleton – people don't take that lightly," said Rowan Barrett, assistant general manager of the men's senior national team. "You're never going to question the compete level of a player who has played for Dave Smart."

The Ravens have won 10 of the past 12 CIS titles, all under Smart. A CIS dynasty such as this hadn't been since the University of Victoria's in the 1980s, a time period when the Scrubbs's father, Lloyd, was playing for Vic. Their mother, Diane, played basketball for Bishop's. She died in 2010 to breast cancer.

"They were always hard workers, but being part of Carleton's program has shown them the benefits of hard work, and they've really thrived in that environment," said their father, reached en route to Toronto for the tournament. "We went to lots of Grizzlies games, and they always wanted to play college basketball, and I'm sure playing in the NCAA was on their minds. But you couldn't have imagined this any better; I know they've been really happy to win and win together."

The Ravens open their tournament Thursday versus No. 8-seeded Saskatchewan.

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