Nine Ontario Athletes Named to Men’s U19 Exhibition Roster Ahead of FIBA U19 World Cup

Canada Basketball has announced the 13 athletes selected to participate in upcoming exhibition games in preparation for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019.

Team Canada will face New Zealand on June 22nd and France on June 23rd in Compiegne, FR. Following these exhibition games, Canada will finalize its roster for the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Heraklion, Greece June 29 to July 7. Canada will compete in Group B with Mali, Australia, and Latvia.

Canada earned its first gold medal in this event in Cairo, Egypt in 2017. This was the team’s first gold medal and highest placement since a fifth place finish in 2015. The team will looks to continue their success in Greece this summer.

Of the thirteen players named to the roster, 9 athletes are from Ontario:

NameHeightHometownCurrent School Team
Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe6'6"LakeshoreOrangeville Prep (OSBA)
Keon Ambrose-Hylton6'8"WhitbyAndrews Osborne Academy
Charles Bediako6'11"BramptonAndrews Osborne Academy
Jaden Bediako6'10"BramptonRidley College (OSBA)
Joel Brown6'2"BramptonBrewster Academy
Thomas Kennedy6'9"WindsorUniversity of Windsor
AJ Lawson6'6"TorontoUniversity of South Carolina
Jahcobi Neath6'4"TorontoCrestwood Prep
Josh Primo6'4.5"MississaugaHuntington Prep

* Four athletes are also current and former OSBA athletes:

  • Jaden Bediako – Ridley College – Committed to Santa Clara University (NCAA – Division I)
  • Thomas Kennedy – Southwest Academy – University of Windsor
  • Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe – Orangeville Prep – Uncommitted
  • Tyrese Samuel (from LaSalle, QC) – Orangeville Prep – Committed to Seton Hall University (NCAA – Division I)

Additionally, seven team coaches and staff are from Ontario:

NamePositionHometownAffliation
Dave DeAveiroAssistant CoachToronto, ONMcGill University
Chris ChengAssistant CoachScarborough, ONUniversity of Windsor
Nate PhilippeAssistant CoachToronto, ONYork University
Scott WaitheTeam Manager Scarborough, ONSeneca College
Krisjon VargasAthletic TherapistToronto, ONCanada Basketball
Onika GreenTeam PsychologistOakville, ONUniversity of Ottawa
Dr. Fahim MeraliTeam Physician (France)Toronto, ONUniversity of Toronto

Good luck to all Ontario players and coaching staff heading to France with Team Canada this weekend.

View the full Canada Basketball release here.