Ontario Athletes Stand Out at Basketball Without Borders Camp in the Bahamas
The ninth edition of the Basketball without Borders Americas camp was held from July 5-8 in Nassau, Bahamas. A total of 66 athletes born in 2000 were invited from 16 countries and territories within the Americas to learn from NBA and FIBA players, alumni and coaches and to train with and compete against the best young players from each nation.
Of the 66 athletes who attended camp, 11 were from Ontario. Eight athletes were invited for the boys’ camp and four for the girls’ camp.
The list of Ontario athletes who were invited to the camp are listed below.
| Name | Hometown | School |
|---|---|---|
Boys |
||
| Jaden Bediako | Brampton | Ridley College |
| Joel Brown | Brampton | CGM Prep Academy |
| Ben Hendriks | Mississauga | Athlete Institute |
| Thomas Kennedy | Windsor | Southwest Academy |
| A.J. Lawson | Brampton | GTA Prep |
| Emanuel Miller* | Toronto | Bill Crothers S.S. |
| Wheza Panzo | Mississauga | Hamilton Heights |
| Addison Patterson | Milton | Athlete Institute |
Girls |
||
| Lauren Boers | Milton | King’s Christian Collegiate |
| Piper Doo | Barrie | Southwest Academy |
| Naomi Ganpo | Brampton | Guelph Prep |
| Emily Martindale | Hamilton | Lincoln Prep |
Ontario’s presence was clearly evident at the camp as Joel Brown, A.J. Lawson, Wheza Panzo and Addison Patterson were named to the boys’ all-star teams, while Lauren Boers, Piper Doo and Emily Martindale were named to the girls’ all-star teams. Panzo was named the Most Valuable Player for the boys’ all-star game, and Lawson won the 3-point shootout for the boys’ division.
The success of Ontario athletes at this camp is another example of the province’s contributions to Canada’s continued influence and growth in the development of promising youth basketball prospects.