CIS Hoops.ca

Excellent piece on Edmonton native Jermaine Bucknor (pictured), who is a key member of Canada's National team program and who has a renewed appreciation for the level of play in international basketball and what he learned playing in Europe during his first season abroad. Bucknor says: "People don't really know, but basketball in Europe is huge. Every game was sold out, it was packed. I would say the pressure was even higher than it was in college because you're expected to win every game. And if you're not winning they can send you home at any time, where that's not going to happen in college." With the CIS producing at least 3 players headed to Europe next season in Casey Archibald, Garry Gallimore and Neil MacDonald (and hopefully more announcements to come), it is apparent that CIS can produce world class players who can play at a high level. Here is the link to the Edmonton Sun article by Derek Van Diest Bucknor's a man on a basketball mission

Canada's entry in the Pan-Am Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil has assembled today in Toronto in preparation for the basketball event at the games which begins on July 25th. To my current knowledge, the following players from the recent Durham College camp are scheduled to be part of the preparations for the Pan-Am games (there are likely a couple more who I am missing):
Point Guards: Jermaine Anderson, Osvaldo Jeanty, Ryan Bell
Wings: Olu Famutimi, Jermaine Bucknor, Andy Rautins, Aaron Doornekamp
Bigs: Sheray Thomas, Sean Denison, Vlad Kuljanin, Jesse Young.

Canada begins play at the 15th Pan Am Games on Wednesday, July 25th against Puerto Rico at 12:15 ET. Canada is in Group B with Brazil, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and needs at least 2 victories in the group to definitely qualify for the semi-finals so the Puerto Rican game is key right off the bat. Group A consists of U.S., Argentina, Panama and Uruguay.