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Inaugural Cadet(te) National Basketball Team

Published by CROWN staff on May 15, 2009

(Toronto, ON) Canada Basketball recently announced the official rosters for the inaugural 2009 Cadet(te) Men’s (CMNT) and Women’s National Team (CWNT). These select athletes represent the nation’s best players under 16 years of age. The talent includes 2008 U15 National Championship first team all-stars, David Wagner from Kamloops, BC and Ontario’s Karly Roser from the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA), as well as National Championship MVP’s, Kevin Pangos from Holland Landing, ON and Nirra Fields from Lachine, QC.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to provide the top young Canadian athletes with an international experience that will open their eyes to a new level of basketball,” said Wayne Parrish, CEO and Executive Director for Canada Basketball. “These athletes have developed through the Centre for Performance and provincial team system and it will be exciting to watch them join together to represent Canada as they begin their quest to qualify for the FIBA World Championships.”

Canada Basketball and the provincial sport organizations worked together to select athletes from the Centre for Performance program, a regional training centre concept intended to identify and develop elite-level Canadian basketball players at a young age. A key component of Canada Basketball’s national player and coach identification and development strategy, top male and female players were chosen from each of the six sites across Canada (BC, AB, Prairies, ON, QC, Atlantic).

The national teams’ first competitions will be the FIBA Americas zone championships leading to the first-ever world championship in 2010. The FIBA Americas U16 World Championship Qualification Tournament for Men takes place June 17-21 in Mendoza, Argentina. In total, eight countries will participate including Canada, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Venezuela and Mexico, with the top three nations advancing to the first ever FIBA U17 World Championship next year.

The training camp roster for CMNT consists of 16 players, with 10 athletes that have been pre-selected to the final team. The remaining six athletes will vie for the two remaining spots on the final roster. “I am thrilled that we have been able to bring together the top players from across Canada in our CP program and development system, said Roy Rana, Head Coach for the CMNT. “We are excited to include six additional athletes in the training camp experience, who have the possibility of making the team. Ultimately we believe strongly that they will represent Canada with passion and pride.”

On the women’s side, the CWNT roster is complete, made up of 12 young players from across the country.

“I am excited about the depth of talent at every position,” said Jacquie Lavallee, the newly appointed Head Coach for CWNT. “Our provincial partners across Canada have done an excellent job in identifying and developing talented athletes through our regional Centres of Performance program. This tournament is a great opportunity for our country’s young players to compete against the best in FIBA Americas.”

The FIBA Americas U16 World Championship Qualification Tournament for Women takes place August 5-9 in Mexico City, Mexico. Eight countries will compete, including Canada, USA, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Likewise, the top three nations will advance to the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women next year.

Help Send Canada’s Youth on the Road to the Worlds

Canada’s basketball community is invited to get involved and support these young athletes as they begin their journey on the road to the FIBA Americas U16 Championships. The Canadian Basketball Foundation, the registered charitable arm of Canada Basketball, is currently collecting donations to fund critical areas such as travel, meals, and training. Special “giving pages” has been created to designate funding specifically for each of the Cadet(te) National Teams and all contributions are 100% receiptable.

To make a donation to Cadet Men’s team, please visit www.canadahelps.org, select “giving pages” and enter “Cadet Men’s National Team” or log on to http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=4112.

To support the Cadette Women’s team visit www.canadahelps.org, select “giving pages” and enter “Cadette Women’s National Team” or log on to http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=4113.

The provincial/territorial sport organizations have worked closely with Canada Basketball, not only in assisting with athlete selection but also in financial support. Ontario Basketball has played an integral role, as several players on both training rosters reside in this province. “We are pleased to support the Canadian national cadet boys’ and girls’ squad, stated Michele O’Keefe, Ontario Basketball’s Executive Director. “Many of the young athletes have been developed through the Ontario club and development systems and we’re very proud to have them representing Ontario and Canada in the next step of their development.”

Please see attached for a complete rosters of the CMNT and CWNT including players and team staff. For more information on the Canada Basketball, CNT and the Canadian Basketball Foundation visit www.basketball.ca.

CADET MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER 2009

NamePositionHeight HometownSchool / PTSO Club (2008/09)
Alexander, Jon **Forward6’6Scarborough, ONBlessed Mother Teresa Catholic SS / Scarborough Blues
Bennett, Anthony **Forward6’5Brampton, ONHarold Brathwaite SS / Brampton Hype Sports
De Ciman, Joe **Guard6’3Regina, SKDr. Martin LeBoldus HS
Downey, MandrezGuard5’9North Preston, NSCole Harbour HS
Duke, Fergus **Guard6’3Dartmouth, NSAstral Drive JHS / North Preston Bulls
Dunlop, Keegan Centre6’10St. Catharines, ONSt. Francis Catholic SS / Newman Youth
Evans, RyanCentre6’10Kanata, ONEarl of March HS / Ottawa Guardsman
Jacobsen, MitchGuard6’7Calgary, ABSir Winston Churchill / TSBC
Jankovic, StephanForward6’9Mississauga, ONSt. Francis Xavier HS
Lewis, Nick **Guard6’1Scarborough, ONPope John Paul II Catholic SS / Scarborough Blues
Notice, DuaneGuard6’2Vaughn, ONSt. Michaels College / BJC Magic
Pangos, Kevin ** Guard6’0Holland Landing, ONDr. Denison HS / York Region Avengers
Stauskas, Nik **Guard6’4Mississauga, ONLoyola Catholic SS
Taylor, Brin **Guard6’4Edmonton, ABJasper Place HS
Wagner, David **Forward6’9Kamloops, BCSouth Kamloops SS
Webster-Chan, Negus **Guard6’6Scarborough, ONPope John Paul II Catholic SS / Scarborough Blues

** Denotes pre-selected athletes
CADET MEN’S TEAM STAFF:
NamePositionSchool / Club
Roy RanaHead CoachCentre for Performance – ON
Kirby ScheppAssistant CoachCentre for Performance – MB
Krisjon VargasAthletic Therapist
Sefu BernardCP Head CoachCentre for Performance – National HC
Steve KonchalskiCouncil of ExcellenceSt. FX University

CADETTE WOMEN’S TEAM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER 2009
NamePositionHeight HometownSchool / Club (2008/09)
Der, LexieForward6’0″Burnaby, BCSt. Thomas More H.S.
Dheensaw, ShalieCentre6’3″Victoria, BCClaremont Secondary H.S.
Fields, NirraGuard5’7″Lachine, QCLoyola H.S. / D.J. Sports
Halvorson, KayleeGuard5’7″Regina, SKLuther College H.S.
McDonald, JoryForward / Centre6’1″Kingston, ONRegiopolis-Notre Dame / Kingston Impact
Nieuwenhuizen, EmmaGuard/ Forward5’11″Strathroy, ONStrathroy District Collegiate / London Ramblers
Pickard, VanessaGuard5’11″Riverview, NBRiverview H.S. / Riverview
Purkovic, IsidoraGuard5’11″Calgary, ABElboya Junior H.S. / Outwest
Ring, KellieGuard5’9″Ottawa, ONLouis Riel / Ottawa Shock
Roser, KarlyGuard5’9″Hamilton, ONNational Elite Development Academy (NEDA)
Rusk, AlexandriaCentre6’3″Baie d’Urfe, QCJohn Rennie H.S. / Lakers West Islands
Traore, TiyeForward5’11″Sudbury, ONLockerby Compostie School / Sudbury Lakers