Strong Ontario and OSBA Representation at National Age-Group Assessment Camps
Last week was a busy one for Team Canada as Canada Basketball hosted women’s and men’s age-group assessment camps.
These camps provided a national training environment with an international focus to the top athletes born in 2000 or later. At the camp, national team coaches, sports scientists and technical staff identified athletes to invite to the next stage of the 2018 age-group programs.
Athletes born in 2000 or later were assessed for participation on the U18 teams competing at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship this summer. The men play on home soil in St. Catharines from June 10–16. Details about the women’s tournament are TBA.
Athletes born in 2001 or later were assessed for participation in the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup. The men head to Argentina from June 30 to July 8, and the women play in Belarus from July 21–29.
Women’s Camp
Fifty athletes from across Canada, including 26 from Ontario or the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA), were invited to participate in the Women’s National Age-Group Assessment Camps at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre in Scarborough from March 27 to April 1.
Some of the talent selected for the Cadette camp included Ontario-born athletes Maggie Besselink, Shayeann Day-Wilson, Aaliyah Edwards and LaTasha Lattimore along with OSBA athletes Rebecca Marzan Demeke (Durham Elite), Mide Oriyomi (King’s Christian Collegiate), Merissah Russell (Capital Courts), TRC Academy teammates Makayla Ennis and Aerial Wilson, and Lincoln Prep teammates Brynn Masikewich and Kaillie Hall.
Junior camp invitees included Ontario athletes Brianna Breedy, Naomi Ganpo and Justina King. The OSBA was represented by invitees Niyah Becker (Lincoln Prep), Tiya Misir (Bill Crothers S.S.), Christina Morra (King’s Christian Collegiate) and Durham Elite teammates Julia Chadwick, Kylee O’Hara and Keishana Washington.
The camp also gave NextGen athletes born in 2003 an opportunity to further develop their game in hopes of qualifying for future age-group national teams. The invite list included Ontario native Miranada Vander Wal and OSBA athletes Helena Lasic (TRC Academy), Teah Stupar (King’s Christian Collegiate), Isabella Zingaro (Caledon Basketball Academy) and Bill Crothers S.S. teammates Isaline Alexander and Abigail Jegede.
A number of OSBA coaches also attended the camp including Fabienne Blizzard (Capital Courts), Andre Desjardins (Louis Riel S.S.), Christa Eniojukan (Durham Elite) and Jodi Gram (Bill Crothers S.S.).
Visit the Canada Basketball website for a full list of athletes and coaches invited to the women’s camp.
Men’s Camp
A total of 62 athletes from across the country converged in Toronto for the Men’s National Age-Group Assessment Camps on Easter weekend at Humber College.
The majority of the participants were from Ontario, including a strong contingent of current and former OSBA athletes.
| Last Name | First Name | Y.O.B. | OSBA School (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akot | Lual | 2000 | |
| Ambrose-Hylton | Keon | 2001 | |
| Antwi | Kobe | 2001 | King's Christian (2016-17) |
| Bailey | Malcolm | 2000 | Ridley College |
| Bediako | Jaden | 2000 | Ridley College |
| Bediako | Charles | 2002 | Ridley College |
| Brooks | Ryan | 2000 | Vaughan Prep |
| Brown | Joel | 2000 | |
| Campbell | Jaden | 2000 | |
| Case | Matteus | 2001 | |
| Charles | Kordell | 2002 | Bill Crothers |
| Daudu | Anthony | 2000 | Ridley College |
| Djamgouz | Okay | 2001 | |
| Edey | Zachry | 2002 | |
| Edwards | Tre | 2000 | |
| Hemmings | Josh | 2001 | |
| Hendriks | Benjamin | 2000 | Athlete Institute |
| Houstan | Caleb | 2003 | |
| Ilumoka | Godwin | 2001 | |
| Kennedy | Thomas | 2000 | Southwest Academy |
| Latiff | Wazir | 2000 | Vaughan Prep |
| Lawson | Anthony | 2000 | |
| McNeilly | Cashius | 2001 | Thornlea (2016-17) |
| Miller | Emanuel | 2000 | Bill Crothers (2016-17) |
| Moncrieffe | Matthew-Alexander | 2001 | Orangeville Prep |
| Ndur | Malachi | 2001 | Southwest Academy |
| Neath | Jahcobi | 2000 | |
| Nembhard | Andrew | 2000 | |
| Nwagha | Alexander | 2001 | King's Christian |
| Panzo | Wheza | 2000 | |
| Patterson | Addison | 2001 | Athlete Institute |
| Rathan-Mayes | Shemar | 2001 | Orangeville Prep |
| Reath | Muon | 2002 | |
| Sakota | Luka | 2001 | King's Christian |
| Samuel | Tyrese | 2000 | |
| Scott | Jevonnie | 2000 | Athlete Institute |
| Shand | Paris Xavier | 2001 | Bill Crothers |
| Thomson | Sam | 2001 | King's Christian |
| Todd | Taryn | 2001 | Vaughan Prep |
| Vreeken | Connor | 2000 | |
| Warnholtz | Aiden | 2000 | |
| Wharton | Noah | 2000 | Ridley College |
Athlete Institute player Keeshawn Barthelemy (Quebec) also attended the camp.
Visit the Canada Basketball website for a full list men’s camp participants.