CANADA BASKETBALL SKILLS SESSION: U OF T OCT 31, 2010 PART 1

Newly appointed Canada Basketball Technical Director Renato Pasquali was in full-out coaching mode on Halloween night this past Sunday October 31st as he and some highly respected Toronto-area coaches sought to teach some of the young up-and-coming studs what it means to "think" basketball and not just play basketball!

The players on hand included:




Kevin Pangos-Newmarket, Dr. Dennison

Duane Notice-Toronto, St. Mike's

Agunwa Okolie-Ajax, Dennis O'Connor

Isaiah Watkins-Toronto, Oakwood

Malcom Duvivier-Toronto, St. Mikes

Raynold Kasongo- Scarborough, Mother Theresa

Brody Clarke- Toronto Oakwood, Jr.

Justin Jackson Grade 8

Kemar Alleyne- Scarborough, Pope John Paul

Kevin Blake-Toronto, Oakwood

Most of the participants were in high school but a kid like Justin Jackson, shows that there is considerable Canadian talent burgeoning at the younger levels and that getting them up to speed on how to "think" the game instead of just playing the game will only serve to get them ready for higher competition levels like what the U17 Canadian team faced in Germany this past summer en-route to a bronze medal!

In a few years several of these youth players will graduate to the Canadian Junior Men's National team and the Men's National team and they will undoubtedly look back on these workouts fondly as they apply what they learned while taking on the best the world has to offer. Canada Basketball is clearly on the right track and needs to continue to build rapport from the grassroots upwards to build the program to the lofty heights to which it aspires and I firmly believe Canada is truly on it's way!
Check out some of the action at U of T's upper gym:

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Renato Pasquali
• Roy Rana
• Kevin Pangos
• Duane Notice
• Raynold Kasongo
• Malcolm Duvivier
• Agunwa Okolie
• Isaiah Watkins
• Brody Clarke
• Justin Jackson
• Kemar Alleyne
• Kevin Blake
• HD Video
• Crown Magazine
• Drew Ebanks

[DUNKUVERYMUCH4LIFE]

Yes...it's easier for the GTA players because these workouts are held in Toronto brianidaly. I usually attend them on Sunday evenings and they are an excellent way for young players to improve their skills and fundamentals. With Rowan Barrett now on board as Canada Basketball's Director of youth development, Canada Basketball hopes to have these workouts going on across the country in the next little while. So rest assured Canada Basketball will discover talent not just in the GTA, but all over!

[clevebutters]

check out Selena Benz OGBR Basketball Skills Camp 2011

[brianidaly]

No wonder there are so many GTA players on the National team. They get personalized, in-season camps while Montreal and Vancouver get nothing, unless you count the plane ticket to tryouts.

[IvanMaster13]

Where is this? I remember I saw this team playing in a tournament...