2015–16 Annual Report

Ontario Basketball (OBA) is pleased to present this 2015-16 annual report.

This annual report is intended to give members and other interested stakeholders information about OBA’s activities and financial performance.

The growth of Ontario Basketball and, more importantly, basketball in the province will be measured by the partnerships created with stakeholders who share the same values based on an athlete-focused, Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) environment.

On behalf of Ontario Basketball, please accept the Executive Report for 2015-16, which highlights finances, human resources, governance, Ontario Cup Provincial Championships, Ontario Basketball League, Team Ontario, Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association and Team Canada.

Ontario Basketball has experienced another successful year.

Finances
This year has once again been a significant financial success for Ontario Basketball (OBA) following the inherited deficit under previous leadership. The organization continues to implement fiscally responsible financial practices and the significant increase in revenue (and expenses) is related to the implementation of Ontario Basketball League (OBL) as well as the team registration and player fee increase. The excess of revenues over expenses reported puts Ontario Basketball into a healthy position with cash flow and provides an opportunity to replenish our contingency account.

Ontario Basketball continues to be fully supported by the Ontario government through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS). OBA will continue to be aggressive in applying for and securing available grants, and OBA will comply with MTCS’s revised Sport Recognition Policy (one of the commitments made as part of Game ON – The Ontario Government’s Sport Plan, which was released in fall 2015). The Sport Recognition Policy sets various mandates, which requires provincial sport governing bodies to oversee all aspects of their sport, to ensure that sport activities offered by Ontario’s sport organizations meet a high standard of quality, safety and effectiveness. Ontario Basketball will fully align with all Policy requirements.

Human Resources
This year saw the continued expansion of our office staff, which showcases our commitment to providing quality membership service and valuable programming. We were delighted to be joined by Linh Nguyen (Coordinator, Elite Development) and Rohan Prasaud (Coordinator, League Development).

Governance
Following the implementation of the OBA Transfer Policy last year, data were collected throughout the 2015-16 season and via a membership survey at the conclusion of the season that were presented to the OBA Governance Committee. Based on the results, the Committee made recommendations to the Board of Directors that were subsequently adopted. Highlights include the reduction of the transfer fee from $300 to $50 and the removal of an appeal process. Moving forward, the member who is transferring must pay a $50 administrative fee, which will be split between OBA and the member club the member is leaving, and all monies collected by OBA will be invested directly in grassroots, community-based basketball programming.

Ontario Cup Provincial Champions
From March through May, OBA continued the long-standing annual tradition of hosting its pinnacle event – Ontario Cup Provincial Championships. While some of the age groups and genders fluctuated in numbers, we had an increase in participating teams overall (from 1,133 in 2015 to 1,141 in 2016). Additionally, there were a record number of applications to host Ontario Cup in 2017 and 2018 and locations were announced in September.

Ontario Basketball League
This year marked a milestone for Ontario Basketball as we officially launched OBL. The formation of OBL provided a periodized competition environment for 484 member club teams for both genders at all age groups. While the league experienced expected challenges as a first-year initiative, the collaboration with member clubs to host games throughout the season saw more than 1,000 coaches and more than 5,000 athletes participate in just under 3,000 scheduled games. Ontario Basketball has invested in a new platform (http://obl.basketball.on.ca/) that will capture schedules and league standings for the 2016-17 season and beyond.

Team Ontario
We are proud that all four provincial teams made a podium appearance at the 2016 Canada Basketball National Championships. In Regina, the U17 girls defended their national title with a gold medal performance, while the U15 girls rebounded from a devastating loss in the semi-finals to capture the bronze. For the U17 team, Shaina Pellington was named as tournament MVP, while Laeticia Amihere was selected as a First Team All-Star and Christina Morra was named to the Second Team. Makayla Ennis was named to the First Team and Merissah Russell was selected as a Second Team All-Star for the U15 girls.

On the male side in Winnipeg, the U15 boys captured a bronze and the U17 lost to their new nemesis, Nova Scotia, in the finals to grab silver. Luka Sakota was named to the First Team and Addison Patterson was named as a Second Team All-Star on the U15 side, while the U17 team had Jaden Bediako and Khaleem Bennett chosen as First Team All-Stars, and Emanuel Miller as one of the Second Team All-Stars.

Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association
Following a successful inaugural season of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) with seven male teams, we were pleased to announce the inclusion of female programs for the 2016-17 season. One notable highlight from the first season saw the league’s Most Valuable Player, Thon Maker, get drafted ninth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Moving forward into the 2016-17 season, we are excited to expand the league to 11 male teams and eight female teams. We encourage you to visit www.ontariosba.ca and watch games live – either in-person or online for the Game of the Week.

Team Canada
Ontario was once again proudly represented on the men’s and women’s national teams this summer. We would specifically like to recognize the senior women’s national team that participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. The team finished in seventh place and seven of the 12 athletes were from Ontario.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, we would like to thank the OBA membership and all stakeholders for their tireless support of and commitment to amateur basketball across the province. We are excited about the recent progress that has been made and look forward to the next steps as guided by our Strategic Plan (“OBA 2020 Vision”).

Yours in basketball,

Greg Verner
President, Ontario Basketball

Jason Jansson
Executive Director, Ontario Basketball

Ontario Basketball affiliates about 180 member clubs and associations each year. Nearly 1,200 teams compete in tournaments and leagues sanctioned by Ontario Basketball with the goal of playing in the Ontario Cup Provincial Championships at the end of their season.

Each year Ontario Basketball organizes and stages the Ontario Cup Provincial Championships, which are open to all member clubs. Teams entered into Ontario Cup are made up of club “rep” teams.

Ontario Cup offers a competitive playing environment for every skill level by hosting numerous divisions, with division one being the highest level of competition.

Participation
The 2016 Ontario Cup Provincial Championships saw a record breaking 1,141 teams participating in the event. The high participation rate demonstrates that Ontario Cup continues to be the height of amateur basketball competition in Ontario, which is attributed to not only the quality of the tournament but also to the quality of the competition. The high level of competition is a direct result of the commitment and dedication of member clubs, coaches, athletes and parents to continue to grow the game of basketball in Ontario.

Ranking and Seeding
OBA wishes to thank Ranking Chairs Elsa Donovan and Chris Barron for their support of the ranking and seeding process. Their role continues to be an essential component to accurately rank and seed Ontario Basketball teams, which ensures teams compete in appropriate divisions at Ontario Cup.

In 2016, Ontario Basketball went back to producing initial rankings with the oversight of the ranking and seeding committee. Thank you to Ion Marghetis for his support with the computerized rankings. The computerized rankings assist the committee by having a starting point for the initial and final rankings.

Finally, thank you to all the coaches who helped during the final ranking meetings. It would not have been possible to do without your help.

Hosts
Serving in their last year of a two-year hosting commitment, Ontario Basketball would like to take the opportunity to thank our 2015 Ontario Cup hosts for their continued dedication and commitment to our sport. The success of each provincial championship is due in large part to their efforts and should be recognized. Ontario Basketball would like to thank the following member clubs and sport organizations:

• Brampton Minor Basketball
• Eastern Ontario Basketball Association
• IEM Basketball
• KW Vipers
• London 86ers
• London CYO
• London Gold Medal
• London Ramblers
• London Sport Tourism
• Milton Stags
• MUMBA Basketball
• Niagara Sport Commission
• North Bay Spartans
• Windsor Valiants
• York North

2017 Ontario Cup
The planning and preparation has already begun for the 2017 Ontario Cup Provincial Championships. Ontario Basketball will continue to work with host clubs to enhance the Ontario Cup experience. Members can look forward to the integration of other Ontario Basketball programs and events into Ontario Cup weekends, creating a festival-like atmosphere in each of the host cities.

During each basketball season, Ontario Basketball sanctions nearly 500 tournaments hosted by affiliated member clubs.

The purpose of sanctioning tournaments is that the host, in applying to have the tournament sanctioned, agrees to abide by all rules, policies and practices of OBA. Thus, sanctioning is designed to ensure that the participating teams experience a standard that meets Ontario Basketball guidelines.

The purpose of Ontario Basketball League (OBL) is to provide an inclusive, age- and ability-appropriate, province-wide league structure that provides meaningful competition for athletes of both genders in all age categories (U10 Novice to U19 Junior) to promote safe and stage-appropriate athlete development according to Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles.

The incredible inaugural season of the OBL saw 484 participating teams, 3,000 scheduled games and an OBL All-Star Showcase at the end of the season.

Additionally, Ontario Basketball was pleased to partner with the NBA to provide U14 Major Bantam teams with a Gatorade-sponsored OBL weekend that served as a qualifying tournament for the Gatorade Invitational Finals that took place during the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto at the Enercare Centre.

Looking to build on the successes of the first season, Ontario Basketball is pleased to introduce an elite division (OBLX) for the top 14 teams in the U14 Major Bantam to U19 Junior divisions in the 2016-17 season. Also new this year is the intuitive OBL website, which will help gulde teams through the registration process, keep teams connected to the latest results and standings, and display media coverage of OBL weekends.

Through Ontario Basketball’s elite development training programs, Talent Identification and Development Program (TIDP), Centre for Performance (CP) and Targeted Athlete Strategy, the best athletes are identified and subsequently train together in the GTA with the most promising among them forming Team Ontario to participate in the annual Canada Basketball national championships.

Ontario has an unprecedented record of gold medal finishes at the national championships and many of our athletes go on to represent the national team and play at the collegiate level and professionally.

Ontario Basketball’s Talent Identification and Development Program (TIDP) is comprised of two age groups: under 12 and under 14. The goal of the program is to give young athletes the opportunity to grow their personal, social and athletic skills through involvement in programming that emphasizes teamwork, leadership and learning. Participants take part in regional training sessions followed by attendance at camp. In 2016, more than 200 U12 athletes attended the centralized camp at Georgian College while 11 U14 girls’ teams and nine U14 boys’ teams participated in the Ontario Summer Games hosted by the City of Mississauga.

With well over 650 athletes participating in the regional training, the success of the program can be attributed to the involvement of dedicated coaches and to the improvements that Ontario Basketball continues to make to the delivery of the program.

U12 Talent Identification & Development Program
The U12 TID Program focuses on individual skill development and fundamental movement skills. Coach surveys collected following the 2015 centralized camp led to growth in the program for the 2016 season.

Improvements to the program made based on feedback include:

– Developing a 30-hour curriculum with practice plans for regional coaches and a coach resource Google Drive (including videos of camp drills)
– Holding a Coaches’ Meeting at the Abilities Centre, which provided coaches with NCCP credit
– Starting the program earlier in the season
– Increasing presence of provincial coaches at camp
– Increasing presence of Canada Basketball at camp
– Providing Camper of the Day prizes at camp
– Creating a Camp Wrap-Up e-mail highlighting the special guests and giving an overall summary of the camp experience

The 2016 centralized camp featured a number of special guests who worked with and spoke to the athletes on a variety of subjects from proper nutrition to how to take care of your body as a high performance athlete to individual training to what being a leader means. The feedback on the presentations was overwhelmingly positive.

Looking to 2017, Ontario Basketball has collected data from parent and coach surveys and is exploring new partnerships to make TIDP more relevant for athletes and coaches and to improve the overall experience for everyone involved.

U14 Talent Identification & Development Program
The U14 TID Program provides opportunities for athletes to refine fundamental skills and put them into practice in game-like situations. In 2016, the athletes participated in the Ontario Summer Games at the University of Toronto Mississauga. This four-day tournament was an excellent opportunity for the athletes to put all of their hard work and commitment on display. The event drew hundreds of parents and fans that filled the gyms each game – the atmosphere was incredible! Among the fans were prep school, provincial team and national team scouts checking out the next crop of elite athletes in Ontario. The Mountain (Hamilton and the surrounding area) won the gold on the girls’ side while the Kawartha team (Whitby and the surrounding area) won gold on the boys’ side. We look forward to the next Ontario Summer Games in 2018 in London!

In 2017, the U14 TID Program will return to the regional training and centralized camp model. As with the U12 program, Ontario Basketball continues to improve the quality of the programming by soliciting feedback through coach and parent surveys and by exploring new partnerships to keep TIDP relevant, focused on development, and fun for everyone involved.

Centre for Performance (CP) is a program designed to provide on- and off-court instruction for athletes (aged 13 to 17) by national level coaches in the area of basketball skill development as well as providing an introduction to sport science techniques offered by experts from the National Sport Centres. The program is divided into regional training groups (pods).

Overseen by the technical leadership of Agnes Borg (Girls) and Jason Dawkins (Boys), the girls’ program offered six regional pods while the boys’ side offered eight. Overall, more than 200 student-athletes participated in regional pods, which is an increase from the previous year.

The Team Ontario program is comprised of U15 and U17 male and female teams. With the objective of developing the best team in the country, a total of 60 athletes and 13 coaches compete in Canadian and US events in preparation for the national championships that take place each summer.

Team Ontario represents the pinnacle for high performance athletes and coaching development in Ontario. With four medal appearances at the 2016 Canada Basketball National Championships, Ontario kept the tradition of competing at the highest level intact. The focus for the provincial team program moving forward will be to create a sustainable and fiscally responsible program, while providing an optimal training and development environment for coaches and athletes.

The 2016 Under 15 and Under 17 Girls’ National Championships took place at the University of Regina (Centre for Kinesiology Health and Sport) in Regina, Saskatchewan from July 25-30, and the 2016 Under 15 and Under 17 Boys’ National Championships took place from August 1-6 at the University of Winnipeg (Duckworth Centre and True North Court) in Winnipeg, MB.

U15 Girls

Back Row: Michelle Abella (Assistant Coach), Gord Everett (Assistant Coach), Emily Martindale, Maryama Turkstra, Sophia Zulich, Makayla Ennis, Mide Oriyomi, Merrissah Russell, Lexie Sananes (Assistant Coach), Fabienne Blizzard (Head Coach), Lindsey Parent (Athletic Therapist)
Front Row: Aerial Wilson, Mya Iriah, Keturah Balabyekkubo, Ahriahna Grizzle, Sarai Bailey, Kallie Hall, Andrea Dodig

In her first year as head coach, Fabienne Blizzard, alongside assistant coaches Lexie Sananes and Michelle Abella, led the U15 girls to a bronze medal finish in a heart-pounding game in which Ontario edged out Manitoba, 39-37. Makayla Ennis led the scoreboard with 10 points, while Kallie Hall followed with 8 points overall. Hall also showed off her strength by collecting 10 rebounds, 7 offensive and 3 defensive. The team attended the SLAM Camp Summer Tournament in Quebec and the Nike National Invitational in Chicago prior to competing at the championships.

Game Results
July 25: Ontario (66) vs. New Brunswick (36)
July 26: Ontario (71) vs. Quebec (52)
July 28: Ontario (72) vs. Alberta (30)
July 29: Ontario (51) vs. British Columbia (54)
July 30: Ontario (39) vs. Manitoba (37)

First Team All-Stars: Makayla Ennis
Second Team All-Stars: Merissah Russell

U17 Girls

Back Row (Left to Right): Brittany Hedderson (Assistant Coach), Julia Chadwick, Mackenzie Obermayer, Kate Moran, Keahna Riley, Laeticia Amihere , Christina Morra, Samantha Gucciardi, Jennah Taylor
Middle Row: Christa Eniojukan (Head Coach), Lindsey Parent (Athletic Therapist), Kylee-Anne O’Hara, Shaina Pellington, Marin Scotten, Jama Bin-Edward, Laura Donovan, Nell Hoogeveen, Charlotte Clayton, Leyki Sorra, Lauren Boers, Lee Anna Osei (Apprentice Coach), Karen Bremner (Assistant Coach)
Front Row: Hanna Hall, Keishana Washington, Tiara Davis, Tayler Featherstone

The coaching staff comprised of Christa Eniojukan (Head Coach), Karen Bremner (Assistant), Brittany Hedderson (Assistant) and Lee Anna Osei (Apprentice). The girls were victorious over Quebec winning 76-53 in the gold medal game. Scoring 23 points was Laeticia Amihere, who shot an impressive 75% field goal average, 50% from the three-point line and another 50% from the free throw line. Racking up rebounds, Amihere managed to get 8 in total, 6 offensive and 2 defensive. Christina Morra also hit double digit points, putting up 17 overall. Morra was 7 of 11 from in and around the paint, 50% from the free throw line and pulled down 7 rebounds in total. The team attended the U.S. Junior Nationals in Cincinnati and the Nike National Invitational in Chicago prior to competing at the Canada Basketball National Championships.

Game Results
July 25: Ontario (75) vs. British Columbia (65)
July 26: Ontario (79) vs. Saskatchewan (65)
July 27: Ontario (73) vs. New Bruinswick (49)
July 29: Ontario (80) vs. Manitoba (64)
July 29: Ontario (76) vs. Quebec (53)

Tournament MVP: Shaina Pellington
First Team All-Stars: Laeticia Amihere
Second Team All-Stars: Christina Morra

U15 Boys

Back Row (Left to Right): Phillip Jevtovic (Assistant Coach), Warren William (Head Coach), Ahmad El-Osta (Apprentice Coach), Ryan Heim, Liam Rietschin, Johnny Vrdoljak, Josh Hemmings, Sam Thomson, Ben Shoveller, Jesse Serresse, Brock Bourgase (Assistant Coach)
Front Row: Matthew Alexander Moncrieffe, Sebastian Campbell, Jonathan Avgousti, Addison Patterson, Luka Sakota, Justice Prentince, Darius DeAviero
Missing: Kyle Duke

The coaching staff comprised of Warren Williams (Head Coach), Justin Serresse (Assistant), Brock Bourgase (Assistant), Phil Jevtovic (Apprentice) and Ahmad El-Osta (Apprentice). The boys beat Saskatchewan in the bronze medal game. The Ontario boys put in an incredible effort as Justice Prentice, Addison Patterson and Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe all tied with a game high of 13 points. The bronze medal game was truly a team effort as Johnny Vrdoljak also scored a total of 12 points and had nine rebounds and two blocks.

Game Results
August 1: Ontario (92) vs. Saskatchewan (48)
August 3: Ontario (95) vs. Quebec (99)
August 4: Ontario (92) vs. Alberta (57)
August 5: Ontario (89) vs. Nova Scotia (93)
August 6: Ontario (89) vs. Saskatchewan (68)

First Team All-Stars: Luka Sakota
Second Team All-Stars: Addison Patterson

U17 Boys

Back Row (Left to Right): Marlon Greene (Apprentice Coach), Marla Gladstone (Apprentice Coach), Jason Dawkins (Head Coach), Kobey Lam, Andreas Skenderij, Owen Boisvert, Benjamin Hendriks, Malcolm Bailey, Fred Grannum (Assistant Coach), Patrick Szyller (Athletic Therapist), James Campbell (Assistant Coach)
Middle Row: Emanuel Miller, David Quinn, Khaleem Bennett, Eric Beckett
Front Row: Joel Brown, Jaren Jones, Noah Wharton , Matthew Kiatipis, Kevaughn Ellis
Missing: Jaden Bediako

In his first year as U17 head coach, Jason Dawkins and his coaching staff comprised of Fred Grannum (Assistant), Jamie Campbell (Assistant), Marla Gladstone (Apprentice) and Marlon Greene (Apprentice) led the team to their third consecutive silver medal at nationals. The Ontario boys made it to the finals against the defending champions, Nova Scotia. Playing a close game, the boys fell short by six, losing 86-80. Emanuel Miller would not give up the fight for gold as he scored 31 points. Determined to be named champions, Miller collected 11 rebounds and 2 steals and shot 14 of 21 from in and around the paint. Khaleem Bennett put in work scoring 13 points in total, making 2 of 5 from the three-point line. Jaden Bediako showed his strength down in the post collecting a high of 16 rebounds, 9 defensive and 7 offensive.

Game Results
August 1: Ontario (88) vs. Quebec (64)
August 3: Ontario (72) vs. British Columbia (78)
August 4: Ontario (84) vs. Alberta (64)
August 5: Ontario (101) vs. Manitoba (97)
August 6: Ontario (80) vs. Nova Scotia (86)

First Team All-Stars: Jaden Bediako, Khaleem Bennett
Second Team All-Stars: Emanuel Miller

OBA was selected to be part of Canadian Sport Institute Ontario’s (CSIO) High Performance Program for 2015-16. Women’s basketball was among 18 sports that were chosen into the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI).

The aim of OHPSI is to develop a comprehensive provincial high performance sport system, which will allow for future sustained success of athletes and coaches at the highest levels of international sport. Through OHPSI, CSIO provides leadership, coaching support, sport science and sport medicine services, equipment and technology, and facility access to create an optimal daily training environment for Ontario athletes.

The Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) is committed to the pursuit of excellence by providing world-class programs, services and leadership to high performance athletes and coaches to enhance their ability to achieve international podium performances.

The goal of the Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI) is to identify, develop, and support Ontario athletes best capable of achieving future international podium success on senior national teams in targeted summer and winter Olympic/Paralympic Games and Pan/Parapan American Games sports.

The goal of the Targeted Athlete Strategy – Ontario is to identify, develop, and support targeted Ontario athletes to achieve the goals of:
1. Developing Ontario athletes for the senior women’s national team who meet Gold Medal Standards and lead Canada’s senior national team to consistent podium success, and
2. Increasing the number and quality of Ontario athletes on the age group national teams (seven of 12 Cadette (U16/U17) athletes and seven of 12 Junior (U18/U19) athletes) while supporting Canada Basketball’s high performance goal of developing athletes who meet stage-appropriate Gold Medal Standards with the ultimate goal of future international podium success for the senior national team.

The goal of Canada Basketball’s Targeted Athlete Strategy and Targeted Coach Strategy is to identify, develop and support nationally targeted athletes in meeting Gold Medal Standards and providing world class technical and basketball-specific intergrated sport team leadership and education to provincial basketball associations and targeted women’s basketball coaches.

The partnership between Ontario Basketball, Canada Basketball and the CSIO is driven towards the coordination and implementation of various talent selection, identification and high performance athlete development programs within the province of Ontario to achieve international sporting excellence.

In May 2015, OBA announced a partnership with Pretty River Sports & Entertainment to launch the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA). The league is part of an overall shift in Ontario high school-aged basketball competition.

The vision of OSBA is to identify, develop, and support targeted Ontario athletes to achieve the goals of developing Ontario athletes for post-secondary, national and international competition and increasing the number and quality of Ontario athletes competing in the province at the Train to Compete stage of the Long-Term Athlete Development model.

The inaugural 2015-2016 OSBA season concluded on February 29 as Athlete Institute Prep defeated Orangeville Prep, 82-71, in overtime to win the OSBA Championship Series (2-0) at the Athlete Institute Fieldhouse.

Athlete Institute Prep took Game 1 in convincing fashion, 95-76, behind Notre Dame commit Nikola Djogo’s 23 points and Thon Maker’s 19 points, 17 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 blocks.

The deciding Game 2 became an instant classic when Orangeville Prep’s Jahvon Blair hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, AI Prep’s resiliency proved to be too much for the younger Orangeville Prep squad to overcome.

Thon Maker’s dominating performance earned him Finals MVP honours as he tallied 27 points, 13 rebounds, 7 blocks, and 3 steals. UMBC commit Cole Long added 17 points, while Nikola Djogo notched 14. Matur Maker had a strong all-around performance with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

“The success of the inaugural season is credited to the depth of talented student-athletes, quality of coaching, and support from the participating schools and administration,” said OSBA Commissioner, Carmelo Mallia. “We are excited at the growth potential and to be able to provide more athletes with a high performance competition structure where they can develop at a world class level in Ontario.”

The OSBA is proud to announce the award winners for the 2015-2016 inaugural season, as voted by the coaches.

Regular Season & Finals MVP
Thon Maker, Athlete Institute Prep

First Team All-Stars
Thon Maker, Athlete Institute
Eugene Omoruyi, Orangeville Prep
Justin Jackson, Hill Academy
Ignas Brazdeikis, Orangeville Prep
Godwin Boahen, Hill Academy

Second Team All-Stars
Matur Maker, Athlete Institute
Nikola Djogo, Athlete Institute
Jahvon Blair, Orangeville Prep
Stefan Smith, Bill Crothers
Ahmed Ali, BTB Prep

Academic All-OSBA
Aaryndeep Rai, Orangeville Prep
David Penney, St. John’s Kilmarnock
Dean Andrade, BTB Prep
Julian Walker, The Hill Academy
Mabior Ater, Father Henry Carr
Quinton Gray, Athlete Institute
Stefan Smith, Bill Crothers

On April 3, Thon Maker declared for the 2016 NBA Draft, joining fellow Athlete Institute grad Jamal Murray, who declared on April 1. Maker was then selected with the tenth overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, becoming the first high school player taken in the first round since the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement went into effect.

The OSBA has announced plans to grow for the 2016-2017 season. This includes the introduction of a new girls’ league, which will have eight teams, and the addition of four new programs to the established boys’ league.

For more information, visit www.ontariosba.ca.

Ontario Basketball’s community portfolio has grown immeasurably in recent years: in 2015-2016, OBA ran, facilitated and supported programming for nearly 7,500 youth across Ontario. With our physical literacy-based curriculum we delivered Mega Hoops programming through schools and at special events, through our website we facilitated programming registration for Steve Nash Youth Basketball (SNYB), and we supported, through program delivery, gear and monetary donations, pre-existing programming that is affecting change in the communities where it is needed most.

Mega Hoops is Ontario Basketball’s community program that delivers fun, age-appropriate basketball curriculum to youth ages four to 16 across the province.

The goal of the Mega Hoops program is to provide a fun introduction to the game of basketball. Participants take part in a series of drills and games aimed at developing fundamental movement skills and fundamental basketball skills. Clinics are delivered as large-scale events with more than 50 participants or as smaller sessions run through schools and community centres over the course of several hours, days or weeks.

In 2015-2016, Ontario Basketball delivered Mega Hoops programming to 5,000 youth in schools and at special events across the province. This means that fun, smiles, fundamental movement skills and (hopefully) a genuine love for the game have been imparted to thousands of youth across the province.

For special event programming, Mega Hoops partnered with the Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA) to deliver wheelchair basketball clinics in conjunction with Ontario Cup provincial championships and also delivered programming at the Dimes 4 Time Event, Ontario Summer Games 101, Power Play programming through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering, and Lay-Up Youth Basketball Camps.

In 2017, OBA looks forward to working with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to run programming at 12 TCDSB schools in traditionally underserved areas (formerly Neighbourhood Improvement Areas). OBA, in conjunction with the TCDSB, was the recipient of a 2016 RBC Learn to Play grant. The grant will cover teacher training in the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) FUNdamentals course, basketball materials for the schools, and OBA clinician instruction in gym classes.

Steve Nash Youth Basketball (SNYB) is a national youth basketball program designed to develop fundamental skills, sportsmanship, and a love of the game in young athletes ages 8 to 12. SNYB is a turnkey program, providing hosts with the full curriculum, participant materials, and coach training required to deliver the programming. The curriculum is updated regularly and provides a wealth of resources for coaches and parents.

In 2015-2016, SNYB programming benefited over 2,500 participants across the province, a marked increase from previous years. For 2016-2017, Canada Basketball has added SNYB Ambassadors to draw even more participants to the program and Canada Basketball has become a Jumpstart partner to increase SNYB programming in Aboriginal Communities and underserved areas across the GTA.

Through SNYB (and Mega Hoops), OBA also provides coach training in the National Coaching Certification (NCCP) FUNdamentals community coaching course. In 2015-2016, 100 coaches were trained across the province.

Hoops & Spikes is a new collaborative program between Ontario Basketball and the Ontario Volleyball Association (OVA) that was launched in Spring 2016 with the generous support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The program is designed for children ages 6 to 9 and teaches fundamental movement and sports skills through games and experimentation. Hoops & Spikes is a turnkey program, providing program hosts with the full curriculum, participant materials, and coach training required to deliver the programming. The program provides participants with the competence and confidence to be active for life not only in basketball and volleyball, but in a variety of activities.

Respected S4L (Sport for Life) expert, Paul Jurbala, led the all-star Hoops & Spikes curriculum writing team that included Kathy Brook (basketball) and Shayne White (volleyball). The 12-week program is currently being run by the City of Markham and Ontario Basketball is in talks with municipalities across the province to deliver the programming in the New Year.

Ontario Basketball is also in the process of creating resources for the Hoops & Spikes program. Video sessions are underway to create practical guides for coaches looking to deliver programming, an interactive PDF is being created, and the Parent Resource Guide is being finalized. At the end of the grant period, 600 youth will have participated in the programming, 400 community leaders will have taken the National Coaching Certification (NCCP) Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) training, and dozens of programs will have been run across the province.

Jr. NBA Rookie Division is a national youth basketball program for children ages 5 to 7 that encourages a fun, active and healthy learning environment. The 12-week curriculum complies with Sport 4 Life’s Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD) and is aligned with Canada Basketball’s Development Pathway. Jr. NBA Rookie Division is a turnkey program, providing hosts with the full curriculum, participant materials, and coach training required to deliver the programming. Not only will participants learn the fundamental skills of the game of basketball through fun, engaging games, they will also be taught essential life skills including leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, and respect.

In 2016-2017, OBA will be working more closely with NBA Canada to promote and facilitate registration for Jr. NBA programming. The program is growing rapidly across the province and has a target of 75 clubs for the coming year.

A focus on 3×3 is a priority for both Ontario Basketball and Canada Basketball. Ontario Basketball believes that 3×3 basketball will play a vital role in the development and growth of the sport in this province and country. 3×3 is gaining steam worldwide with the FIBA men’s 3×3 World Tour and men’s and women’s World Championships.

OBA hosted the FIBA 3×3 Canada Quest East Finals on July 9 at Humber College in Toronto. The event attracted four men’s teams from across the province and one team from Winnipeg. Team Hamilton won the tournament and the team competed at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Qualifier in Mexico City on July 16 and 17.

In the coming year, Ontario Basketball will provide additional 3×3 opportunities to youth and the organization’s long-term goal is to integrate the discipline into the competition stream.

Through various community-based partnerships, Ontario Basketball supports amazing programming being run by inspiring individuals and organizations across the province. In 2015-2016, Ontario Basketball supported, both financially and through volunteer commitment, the following organizations: Their Opportunity Dimes 4 Time Event, Power Play programming through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering, ASWCO First Nation Basketball Tournament, Brooklin Spring Fair, 4Reasonz Phoenix Classic Anti-Gun Violence Basketball Tournament, Beyond at Risk Basketball Tournament, Lady Ballers Basketball Camps, Midnight Basketball, The Esplanade Youth vs. Police Tournament, Lay-Up Youth Basketball Camps and many other programming events through schools, community centres, and community initiatives.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters programming is a particular highlight as OBA clinicians deliver eight-week programs to community youth, providing fun, engaging basketball drills and skills along with life lessons. Another highlight in 2015-2016 was working closely with the NBA to facilitate the participation of over 700 youth in NBA All-Star Weekend community programming at the Enercare Centre – with 300 of those youth coming from community partner organizations.

OBA has developed a coaching pathway that provides a clear vision for prospective or established leaders looking to coach at any level (from grassroots to high performance) in Ontario. The pathway is aligned through the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) with the appropriate stages of Long-Term Athlete Development.

Through this pathway, and via mandatory NCCP certification for rep team coaches, OBA certifies hundreds of coaches annually.

2015-16 Coach Certification Summary
FUNdamentals: 242 coaches trained
Learn to Train: 363 coaches in-training/trained
Train to Train: 191 coaches in-training/trained
Train to Compete: Canada Basketball has taken over the delivery of T2C

The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), launched in 1974 and delivered in partnership with the government of Canada, provincial/territorial governments, and national/provincial/territorial sport organizations, gives coaches the confidence to succeed.

NCCP workshops are designed for coaches who work with athletes at any stage of the Long-Term Athlete Development model.

Ontario Basketball has continued to deliver National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) clinics throughout Ontario. The aspects below have been standardized across the province:

Cost
FUNdamentals Clinics: $85
Learn to Train Clinics: $325
Train to Train Clinics: $350
Train to Compete Clinics: Approximately $250 per modules (Delivered by CB)

Hosting
All coaching clinic registrations (including payment) have been centralized to Canada Basketball’s Game Plan website. All NCCP clinic hosting requests can be made by contacting Ontario Basketball’s Manager of Coaching Development.

Coaching Development
Ontario Basketball is continuing to grow the network of Coach Developers (Learning Facilitators/Evaluators) within the province, with a specific focus on underserviced areas. Professional development clinics will be introduced this year for certified coaches who need to attain their professional development (PD) points to maintain their certification.

Quest for Gold (Q4G) provides education-based subsidies for competitive and high performance coaches, including those at the club, high school and university levels.

Quest for Gold is also instrumental in delivering financial assistance to Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) for coach-related costs.

Q4G aims to ensure that Ontario’s developmental and high performance athletes receive the best coaching possible by providing a series of enhancement programs and resources for coaches and PSOs.

Business

Ontario Basketball would like to acknowledge and thank its corporate sponsors and funding partners. It is through their support that OBA is able to deliver high-quality basketball programs to our members.

Corporate Partners
Nike
Spalding
Sport-Travel
Olympia Sports Camp
Entripy Custom Clothing
Nikon
National Sports
Aran Awards
Abilities Centre

Funding Partners
Government of Ontario
Government of Canada
Ontario Trillium Foundation

Ontario Basketball also thanks its partners in development who are committed to supporting the growth and development of basketball in the province and country.

Partners in Development
Canada Basketball
Ontario Association of Basketball Officials
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Ontario University Sport
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Toronto Raptors
NBA Canada
Coaches Association of Ontario
Sport for Life

The financial statements of OBA have been audited by Day & Day Chartered Accountants and found to present fairly, in all materials respects, the financial position of the organization and the results of its operations and cash flows for the fiscal year-ending August 31, 2016.

Ontario Basketball 2014-15 Audited Financial Statements (.pdf)
Ontario Basketball 2015-16 Audited Financial Statements (.pdf)

Fiscal responsibility, prudence, a balanced budget and oversight continued to be the driving factors at the forefront of all processes at Ontario Basketball in Fiscal ’16. With the goal of financial recovery within reach, we sought to find areas for financial growth within our current structure and through strategic change. Realizing that financial strength is an essential pillar for all that OBA wanted to accomplish, we continued on the path of not being complacent, but rather made strides to become self-sustainable through proper management of funds and programs, maintaining and building new partnerships with corporate sponsors and applying for government funding that corresponds with our mission, vision and values.

Our financial position at year end reflects that we have, as an organization, a better grasp on what our needs are and that, when challenged, we can always do better. The strategy was and will continue to be: work harder, work smarter and decrease costs where possible while continuing to improve internal processes, services and communication.

Ontario Basketball had a great year for a both growth and transition, going from a $2.5 million to a $3.4 million organization with growth in revenue in direct alignment with expenditures. The organization is at a point where we have improved our financial position so that we not only meet our obligations, but have cash for reinvestment in areas such as staffing, programming, community objectives and future endeavors.

Total revenue for Fiscal ‘16 increased by approximately 33% from the previous year, largely due to the program addition of the Ontario Basketball League, sponsorships (Gatorade Invitational and NBA All-Star) and a smaller portion realized in relation to raising membership fees.

Expenditures saw a substantial increase of 40%. This increase, however, is in direct correlation to the increase in revenue and the addition of the Ontario Basketball League.

Net income or excess of revenues over expenditures at year end is $323,400, compared to last year’s ending balance of $365,813 and an ending net asset position of $788,436.

Fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget will continue to be strategic priorities for Ontario Basketball for Fiscal ‘17. We will continue to review our core operations to ensure that they are self-sustainable and not reliant on various programs to offset costs. Our hope is to have continued growth to allow us to better facilitate and add value to our programming and continue to build on our community commitments.

On January 1, 2016, Day & Day Chartered Professional Accountants merged leadership with MacNeill Edmundson Professional Corporation and will operate going forward as MacNeill Edmundson Professional Corporation. As such, the financial statements of Ontario Basketball have been audited by MacNeill Edmundson Professional Corporation and have been found to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the organization and the results of its operations and cash flows for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2016 in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations.

Ontario Basketball (OBA) is the sport governing body for basketball in the Province of Ontario. Created nearly 70 years ago as the Ontario Amateur Basketball Association, the organization is a not-for-profit association and was incorporated as such in 1977.

OBA has a sound governance model and is directed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are elected by the membership to represent, guide, govern and manage the affairs of the association. The professional staff, under the guidance of the Executive Director, manages the daily administrative operations of Ontario Basketball.

Greg Verner, President
Stephanie Rudnick, Vice President
Sam Moncada, Director of Finance
Mike Quigley, Secretary
David Coulthard Director
David Errington, Director
Sam Hill, Director
John Lovett, Regent

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Jason Jansson – Executive Director
Lindsay Walsh – Director, Basketball Development
Trina Savoie – Director, Finance and Administration
Mike Barbin – Director, Clubs and Competitions
Carmelo Mallia – Manager, High Performance
Linh Ngyuen – Coordinator, Elite Development
Mike Selliah – Manager, Coaching Development
Nicola Venosa – Administrator, NCCP
Bess Lennox – Manager, Community Development
Spencer Gibson – Coordinator, Community Development & Social Media
Tyler Harding – Manager, Competitions Development
Vasim Kapadia – Coordinator, Club Development
Rohan Prasaud – Coordinator, League Development
Emerson Molina – Coordinator, Membership Services
Bruce Covert – Manager, Officiating Development
Katrina Krawec – Coordinator, Business & Communications

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Ontario Basketball would like to thank all of the athletes, coaches, volunteers and parents for helping establish an outstanding period of success. The milestones listed show what the basketball community has accomplished in 2015-16. With the continued dedication of our stakeholders, Ontario Basketball’s impact will continue to be felt on local, provincial, national and international levels in 2016-17 and beyond.

2015 Dates

September 9 & 10: Ottawa Guardsmen, winners of Ontario’s FIBA 3×3 World Tour qualifier, compete in FIBA 3×3 World Championships in Mexico City

October 17: Inaugural Basketball for Life Career Symposium for high school girls presented with support from the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity and the Ryerson women’s basketball team

October 23–25: OSBA pre-season tournament at Bill Crothers Secondary School in Unionville

October 31: Annual Meeting of Members hosted at the Concorde Corporate Centre in Toronto

November 3: Inaugural season of the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association begins

November 7: First tip-off for Ontario Basketball League (OBL) at HoopDome in Toronto

December 5 & 6: Girls’ Centre for Performance (CP) first centralized session at Abilities Centre in Whitby

2016 Dates

February 3: OSBA announces expansion of league to include girls’ programs in second season

February 12-14: In conjuction with the 2016 NBA All-Star Game Weekend, Gatorade and Ontario Basketball collaborate to host the the 2016 Gatorade Invitational at the Enercare Centre in Toronto. Ontario Basketball also works with the NBA to facilitate the participation of over 700 youth in community programming at the Enercare Centre.

February 25: Mega Hoops clinic at Their Opportunity: Dimes 4 Time event at Civic Recreation Complex in Oshawa

February 29: Athlete Institute defeats Orangeville Prep in the finals for the inaugural OSBA season

March 12 & 13: Girls’ CP final centralized session at Abilities Centre in Whitby

April 1–3: U10 Novice Girls Ontario Cup in London, hosted by London CYO, London Ramblers & Tourism London

April 1–3: U11 Atom Girls Ontario Cup in London, hosted by London CYO, London Ramblers & Tourism London

April 1–3: U12 Major Atom Girls Ontario Cup in York Region, hosted by IEM Basketball League

April 8–10: U10 Novice Boys Ontario Cup in London, hosted by Gold Medal Basketball Club & Tourism London

April 9: OBA & Ontario Wheelchair Sports Association (OWSA) Sport Day clinic at St. Benedict CES in Milton

April 8–10: U11 Atom Boys Ontario Cup in Niagara Region, hosted by Niagara Falls red Raiders & Niagara Sports Commission

April 8–10: U12 Major Atom Boys Ontario Cup in Milton, hosted by Milton Stags Basketball Club

April 15–17: U13 Bantam Girls Ontario Cup in Windsor, hosted by Windsor Valiants

April 15–17: U14 Major Bantam Girls Ontario Cup in Brampton, hosted by Brampton Minor Basketball Association

April 16: OBA & OWSA Sport Day clinic at University of Windsor

April 22–24: U13 Bantam Boys Ontario Cup in Niagara Region, hosted by Niagara Falls Red Raiders & Niagara Sports Commission

April 22–24: U14 Major Bantam Boys Ontario Cup in London, hosted by Gold Medal Basketball Club, London 86’ers, London CYO, London Ramblers & Tourism London

April 29–May 1: U15 Midget Girls Ontario Cup in North Bay, hosted by North Bay Spartans

April 29–May 1: U16 Major Midget Girls Ontario Cup in Ottawa, hosted by Eastern Ontario Basketball Association

April 30: OBA & OWSA Sport Day clinic at Ecole Secondaire Catholique Algonquin in North Bay

May 2: Mega Hoops clinic at Ontario Summer Games 101 event in Mississauga

May 6–8: U17 Juvenile Girls Ontario Cup in Kitchener-Waterloo, hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Basketball Association (Vipers)

May 6–8: U19 Junior Women Ontario Cup in Kitchener-Waterloo, hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Basketball Association (Vipers)

May 13–15: U15 Midget Boys Ontario Cup in Niagara Region, hosted by Niagara Falls Red Raiders & Niagara Sports Commission

May 13–15: U16 Major Midget Boys Ontario Cup in Ottawa, hosted by Eastern Ontario Basketball Association

May 14: OBA & OWSA Sport Day clinic at Sir Robert Borden HS in Ottawa

May 27–29: U17 Juvenile Boys Ontario Cup in York Region, hosted by York North Basketball Association

May 27–29: U19 Junior Men Ontario Cup in Kitchener-Waterloo, hosted by Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Basketball Association (Vipers)

May 29: OBA & OWSA Sport Day clinic in York Region

June 11: Ontario Basketball League (OBL) hosts first annual All-Star Showcase at HoopDome in Toronto

July 3-6: Under 12 TIDP Girls’ Camp at Georgian College in Barrie

July 6-9: Under 12 TIDP Boys’ Camp at Georgian College in Barrie

July 9: Men’s 3×3 Canada Quest East Finals at Humber College in Toronto; Team Hamilton qualifies for the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Qualifier

July 16 & 17: Team Hamilton competes in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Qualifier in Mexico City

July 25–30: U15 and U17 Team Ontario Girl’s National Championships takes place at University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan

August 1—6: U15 and U17 Team Ontario Boy’s National Championship takes place at the University of Winnipeg in Winnipeg, MB

August 11-14: Under 14 TIDP teams participate in Ontario Summer Games at University of Toronto Mississauga