(Toronto, Ont. / Winnipeg, Man.) — More than 400 of Canada’s most talented young basketball prospects will hit to the hardwood August 2-7 for the 2010 Canada Basketball National Championships. The two tournaments bring together the top male and female athletes from the 13 provinces and territories, ages 15-and-under and 17-and under, for a weeklong competition to determine the best 15U and 17U squads in the country.

The event features both mens’ and womens’ divisions, and historically has been a proving ground for future Canadian basketball stars.

The men’s 15U/17U tournament takes place at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Man. Notable players include Olivier Hanlan (Gatineau, Que.), Joseph De Ciman (Regina, Sask.) and David Wagner (Kamloops, B.C.), members of the 2010 Cadet Men’s National Team that captured the bronze medal at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship.

"Basketball Manitoba is very proud to be partnering with Canada Basketball to co-host this illustrious event in Winnipeg this August at the University of Manitoba,” said Adam Wedlake, Executive Director of Basketball Manitoba. ”Our nearly 200 volunteers and organizing committee are ready to showcase our province and to have the top male basketball players from around Canada battle for a national title in our backyard!"

The women’s 15U/17U tournament takes place at Humber College (north campus) in Toronto, Ont. Humber College (North Campus) in Toronto, Ont. The talent pool includes 2010 Cadette National Team members Kaylee Halvorson (Regina, Sask.), Vanessa Pickard (Riverview, N.B.), Emma Niewenhuizen (Strathroy, Ont.) and Tiye Traore (Sudbury, Ont.).

“Ontario Basketball is very excited to host the 2010 National Championships in Toronto in partnership with Humber College,” said Michele O'Keefe, Executive Director of Ontario Basketball. “The opportunity to bring such high calibre girl’s basketball to Toronto and Ontario is an honour and we look forward to the start of the games.”

This year, both the Ontario 15U women’s and men’s teams will attempt to defend last year’s gold medal performances. The 15U women’s team is looking to capture its sixth consecutive title, while the men’s team will strive for a third straight championship banner.

Last summer at the 2009 Canada Summer Games, the Alberta U17 women’s and Quebec U17 men’s squads both took home gold medals.

Full team rosters, tournament schedules, daily game summaries and box scores of all tournament matches will all be available on the Canada Basketball website: www.basketball.ca.

The official tournament website for the 15U and 17U men’s National Championship can be found here.

The official tournament website for the 15U and 17U women’s National Championship can be found here.

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Canada Basketball (www.basketball.ca) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to the growth of the sport in Canada. Canada Basketball is focused on the development and preparation of Canada’s national teams for the Olympic, Pan American and FISU Games as well as the FIBA World Championships. The aspiration of Canada Basketball is to instill the pride, commitment, passion and respect that Canadians personify into the development of basketball across the country and internationally. 

For more information please contact the following:

Women’s 15U/17U National Championship:

Shawn McPhee
Nationals Tournament Director
Manager, Club and League Development
Ontario Basketball
e-mail: smcphee@basketball.on.ca
Website: www.basketball.on.ca

Men’s 15U/17U National Championship:

Adam Wedlake
Tournament Chair
Executive Director
Basketball Manitoba
Cell:  204-227-5844
e-mail: adam@basketballmanitoba.ca  
Website: www.basketballmanitoba.ca

Canada Basketball:

Tanya Phillipps 
Manager – Marketing & Communications
Canada Basketball
Tel:   416.614.8037 x 219
e-mail: tphillipps@basketball.ca  
Website: www.basketball.ca