Portland, Ore – (BasketballBuzz) – The Road to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro for Canada’s Senior Men’s Basketball team has begun.
Head Coach Jay Triano and his staff are currently in Portland, Oregon with 16 of Canada’s finest collegiate basketball players taking them through rigors workouts in preparation for the upcoming summer schedule which feature an exhibition tournament in China and the 2013 World University Games, better known as the FISU games taking place in Kazan, Russia from July 6 to 17.
Canada’s Development team has become an integral part of the National team, specially now, with the abundance of upcoming talent, so much that Jay Triano decided he was going to shake things up and guide the Student (FISU) Team instead of giving the reigns to a Canadian Inter-University Sport Coach like previous years.
Although, not led by CIS leadership the coaching staff also boasts two the finest minds the country has to offer in Dave Smart (Carleton Ravens) and Greg Francis (Waterloo Warriors).
The roster features only three CIS Basketball players, Carleton’s Thomas & Phil Scrubb and Acadia’s 6’10 center Owen Klassen.
On the NCAA front the roster is stacked with talent, the point guard position looks to be in the solid hands of Gonzaga Bulldogs Kevin Pangos, with 2013 ACC Freshmen of the Year Olivier Hanlan also in the mix.
The wings feature a good mixture of guys with the ability to flat out knock down the open jumper and a core of athletic scoring guards who have proven they can get it done at the NCAA level.
Kentucky Wildcat Kyle Witjer and Standford’s Dwight Powell will look to anchor the middle which also features 7’2 Jordan Bachynski from Arizona State.
2013 Development Men’s National Team Tryout Roster
Point Guards
Kevin Pangos – (Guard/6-1, Holland Landing, ON)
Olivier Hanlan – (Guard/6-3, Aylmer, QC)
Philip Scrubb – (Guard/ 6-3, Richmond, BC)
Wings
Justin Edwards -(Guard/6-3, Whitby, ON)
Brady Heslip – (Guard/6-2, Burlington, ON)
Daniel Mullings (Forward/6-2, Toronto, ON)
Grant Mullins – (Guard/6-3, Burlington, ON)
Laurent Rivard – (Guard/6-5, Saint-Bruno, QC)
Mangisto Arop – (Guard/6-6, Edmonton, AB)
Forwards
Thomas Scrubb – (Forward/6-5, Montreal, QC)
Melvin Ejim – (Guard/6-6, Toronto, ON)
Murphy Burnatowski – (Forward/6-7, Waterloo, ON)
Dwight Powell – (Forward/6-9, Toronto, ON)
Kyle Wiltjer – (Forward/6-9, Portland, Ore)
Owen Klassen – (Forward/6-10, Kingston,ON)
Jordan Bachynski – (Centre/7-2, Calgary, AB)
2013 Development Men’s National Team Staff
Jay Triano – Head Coach
Dave Smart – Assistant Coach
Greg Francis – Assistant Coach
Phil Handy – Assistant Coach
Sam Gibbs – Therapist
Charlie Weingroff – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Marc Bubbs – Nutritionist
David Cox – Sport Psychologist
Chris Cheng – Team Manager
K.C. Beard – Video Coordinator
