July 30, 2009

CANADA’S TOP YOUNG HOOPSTERS TIP OFF AT U15 NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — More than 200 of Canada’s most talented young basketball prospects will take to the courts August 2-9 for the 2009 Canada Basketball U15 National Championships.  The tournament, being held for the second consecutive year in Kamloops, BC, brings together the top players from Canada’s provinces aged 15-and-under for a weeklong competition to determine the best U15 squad in the country.

"It's an honor for the City of Kamloops and Thompson Rivers University to host this championship for a second straight year," said Tournament Chair Ken Olynyk. “It’s a great chance for local fans to see players who could someday wear the maple leaf on the world stage. Others could wind up playing in the NBA or the WNBA."

The event features both boys and girls divisions and historically has been a proving ground for future Canadian basketball stars. The talent has included 2008 U15 National Championship first team all-stars, David Wagner from Kamloops, BC, Vanessa Pickard from Riverview, NB, and Ontario’s Karly Roser from the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA), as well as National Championship MVPs, Kevin Pangos from Holland Landing, ON and Nirra Fields from Lachine, QC who are all members of the 2009 Cadet National Teams.

Other notable names who have competed at past National Championships and are current members of Canada’s Junior National Teams are Ty Nurse (British Columbia, 2005), Mangisto Arop (Alberta, 2005) and Taryn Wicijowski (Saskatchewan, 2006) to name but a few.

This year, Ontario will seek to uphold its championship stature on both sides of the tournament.  The U15 girl’s team is looking to capture its fifth consecutive win, while the boy’s team will strive to defend last year’s gold medal performance.

“As the national governing body for basketball we are focused on the development and growth of the sport at all levels,” said Canada Basketball executive director and CEO Wayne Parrish. “The U15 National Championships is an exciting showcase of the future of Canadian basketball and is an excellent opportunity for athletes to gain recognition and competitive experience.”

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  or on the official tournament website at https://websites.mygameday.app/assoc_page.cgi?c=11-7278-0-0-0.

Single day tickets and tournament passes are available at the Thompson Rivers University Office at the Tournament Capital Centre starting as low as $5. For more ticket information call 250-377-6117.

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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:

Tanya Phillipps                                                             Larry Read              
Manager – Marketing & Communications                        Sports Information Officer                    
Canada Basketball                                                         Thompson Rivers University                  
Tel:   416.614.8037 x 219                                             Cell: 250.819.5255        
e-mail: tphillipps@basketball.ca                                     e-mail: lread@tru.ca
Website: www.basketball.ca