Tuesday 19 June 2007

CIS Meetings Recap plus FIBA U-19 News

Tonight's lead story concerns the recent CIS meetings as Tim Switzer of the Regina Leader-Post does a very job of summarizing many of the initiatives put forth in PEI. Among the motions that apparently have passed are "Letters of Intent" for student/athletes and a new 16 team format for CIS women's basketball. An attempt to bring the minimum average for qualifying for student/athlete bursaries from 80% down to 65% was rejected. Here is the entire story Pair of changes rejected at meeting

With the Canadian U-19 squad expected to be chosen within the next couple of days, we can begin to look ahead at some of Canada's opponents at the tournament which begins July 7th in Novi Sad, Serbia. Canada has been placed in Group C with Australia, Nigeria and Turkey. Coach Greg Francis's squad opens up against what should be a formidable team from Nigeria, which includes at least 2 players who will play NCAA Division 1 basketball next season including one of the top graduating seniors from U.S. high schools. Here is a look at the Nigerian team which includes 7'1" Solomon Alabi (Montverde (FL) Academy) who has been rated as high as the #4 graduating center from U.S. high school ranks, high school teammate 6'10" Joseph Katuka and Emmanuel Nedegu, another Nigerian attending high school in the U.S. Alabi has signed a letter of intent with Florida State while Katuka will attend George Washington beginning this autumn. Nigerian U-19 Preview

Trials for Team USA U-19 squad take place in Colorado Springs, CO between June 28th and 30th and as usual the Americans have a full array of stars rated among the nation's best prep ballers prepared to represent their country at the FIBA U-19 World Championships. USA did not medal the last time FIBA held an U-19 tournament in Greece in 2003, so expect current DePaul University Head Coach Jerry Wainwright to have his group ready to play this time around Team USA Tryout Preview

The Australian's have had their roster picked for a number of weeks already, drawing on their successful and powerful National Development program for elite players for the majority of their U-19 roster Australia U-19 Men's Roster

Argentina will take part in the Global Games in Dallas between July 3 and 8 before travelling to the World Championship in Serbia, where they will face Spain, South Korea and Puerto Rico in Group D.
Argentina U-19 Men's Roster

Brazil has been placed in Group A with France, Lebanon and Lithuania Brazil's U-19 Men's Squad

A nice introductory article by Raveena Aulakh from the Hamilton Spectator on Michelle O'Keefe, newest Executive Director at Basketball Ontario O'Keefe brings wealth of basketball knowledge to her new job

A note from SoonerSports.com on the University of Oklahoma's visit to Canada during the Labour Day weekend. The Sooners, led by second-year coach Jeff Capel, a Duke University grad, will play UBC, Simon Fraser and Trinity Western from Canada West (CIS). Oklahoma recently announced that 6'9" Ryan Wright from Mississauga, ON will be transfering to their program but will have to sit out this coming season as a transfer OU Bound for Canada over Labor Day

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