Wednesday 20 June 2007

FISU Games Squad to take next step

Canada's representatives at the FISU (World University) Games in Bangkok, Thailand in early August are coming to the end of their Durham College training camp and coaches Chris O'Rourke (Guelph), Darrell Glenn (Humber) and Dave DeAveiro (Ottawa) are busy trying to finalize their roster for the event in which they begin play on August 7th against the host Thailand side. While no official decisions have been made, chances are good that several CIS players will represent their country at this event. The team has several top point guards remaining in camp including uOttawa's 6'4" Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto, ON; Jarvis C.I.), who has been impressive when right but at times has struggled with his consistency. A big guard who can score, lead the break and distribute, Gibson-Bascombe (pictured) has a chance to earn major minutes for the FISU squad. Also at the point are 6'3" Jamie McNeilly (Toronto, ON; Mother Teresa and University of New Orleans) who logged major minutes this season for the Privateers and 6'0" Central Connecticut State star Tristan Blackwood (Toronto, ON; Eastern Commerce) who has been a loyal National team program member for many summers including a couple of summers ago when Canada upset the USA 93-90 at the 2005 FIBA U-21 World Championships in Argentina. The FISU squad appears deep and talented at the point with a triumverate from downtown Toronto. A pair of CIS stars headline a potentially solid group of wings as Canadian National team program veteran 6'3" Garry Gallimore (pictured - Ottawa, ON; Woodroffe H.S. and St. FX), a lock-down defender with the strength and aggressiveness to rebound in traffic and get to the rim in transition and 6'3" Casey Archibald (Salmon Arm, B.C. and UBC All-Canadian), a classic scorer who knows how to use screens to get open and can also slash to the rim and hammer it when necessary. Gallimore and Archibald are perfect complements for each other and should be in a position to get significant minutes in the rotation. 6'5" Max Gosselin, a lanky, hard-working wing from Montreal via St.Lambert CEGEP, should be in the mix as well with his ability to defend and rebound supported by his experience in playing in the NCAA tournament last season. Another Toronto product, 6'5" Jevohn Sheppard from Scarborough West Hill and the University of Michigan, where he just finished his sophomore season, is likely to round out the FISU squads set of wing players. Up front, the club could draw from a combination of strength, finesse and athleticism led by 6'8" Theo Davis (pictured - Toronto, ON; Gonzaga), who has been a pleasant surprise with a tremendous team-oriented attitude and out-of-sight athleticism that should see him log minutes in the rotation. Improving 6'8" Willie Galick (Naniamo, BC; Pepperdine last season, transfering to Cal State-Northridge) has tremendous leaping ability and was also part of Canada's U-21 team that defeated the USA in 2005 and 6'11" Scott Morrison (Vancouver, BC; Argyle S.S.; Portland State University) should complement Davis up front and a wealth of CIS stars including 6'8" J.P. Morin (pictured - Gatineau, PQ; Montmorency CEGEP, Laval University), who has been hurt for some of the camp, 6'8" Ross Bekkering (Taber, AL, University of Calgary), 6'6" Jacob Doerksen (Abbotsford, BC; Rick Hansen H.S. and University of Victoria) and 6'10" Neil MacDonald (Sydney Mines, NS; St. FX), who also participated in the 2005 U-21 World Championships during which Canada defeated the USA. The FISU squad, which will next reassemble in late July at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. for a few days of training before moving on to Thailand for another week of training in early August, has a significant CIS presence and expect the players from our league to display their talents to the world at these games. Stay tuned for the official announcement of the roster in the coming weeks.

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