Canada Basketball Finalizes Development Men’s roster for 2011 Universaide

TORONTO,ON – Canada Basketball, in partnership with Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) announced today the final roster for the 2011 Development Men’s National Team (DMNT) that will travel to Shenzen, China and compete at the Summer Universiade from August 12- 23, 2011. Hosted by the International University sports Federation (FISU), this summer marks the 26th edition of the Summer Universiade, which is the second largest multi-sport games in the world, next to the Olympic Games.

The roster representing Canada is made up entirely of CIS athletes as part of a partnership between Canada Basketball and the CIS.

“Canada Basketball should be commended for their great support of CIS basketball,” says Team Canada head coach Kevin Hanson, who was also at the helm of the red and white squad at the 2003 and 2005 Universiades. “The selected athletes had to be eligible for the 2011-12 CIS season, which means we are taking over a fairly young team but it is great to see the commitment that Canada Basketball has made to CIS and what a great opportunity this is for the athletes and coaching staff.” 

The team includes two former members of Canada’s Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT), Boris Bakovic (Toronto, ON) and Jordan Baker (Edmonton, AB). Bakovic was a member of the JMNT that competed in the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, where Canada placed 10th. Bakovic, who will play for the University of Calgary Dinos next fall, is also the only returning member from the last world university games in 2009, when Canada finished ninth in Belgrade, Serbia.

Baker, a 6-foot-7 sophomore at the University of Alberta, helped Canada to a seventh place finish at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, which was Canada’s highest finish since 1987 in Bormio, Italy.

The DMNT also features two members from the reigning national champion, Carleton University Ravens, Tyson Hinz (Ottawa, ON) and Cole Hobin (Ashton, ON), who captured their seventh national title in the past nine seasons.  Hinz enjoyed the most successful season of any CIS athlete this season, leading the Ravens to their seventh national title in the past nine years. The sophomore was named CIS championship MVP and CIS all-around Male Athlete of the Year.
“The team has great representation from across the country as we have players and coaches from literally coast to coast,” adds the UBC bench boss, who guided Canada to a bronze medal in 2003 in Daegu, South Korea, and to an eighth-place finish in 2005 in Izmir, Turkey. “We are excited to begin the process of building our team and we look forward to representing Canada at the FISU Games.”

Canada was assigned to Pool B, where they will play Turkey, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, and defending Universiade champion, Serbia in the preliminary round. A total of 24 countries will compete for the FISU gold this summer in Shenzen.

“We find ourselves in a very strong pool that includes the FISU champion and always very tough Serbian team. Every game will be a tough test for our team but we are looking forward to the challenge,” says Hanson. “The crowds should be very big as Serbia always has a large following at these Games and with Hong Kong located right next door to Shenzhen, that game will be packed as well. It will make for some great atmosphere. Every team in our pool has a large talent base for this age group so we will get a true flavour of international basketball.”

Since basketball was included in the FISU games in 1959, Canada has enjoyed a total of eight medals, with the only gold medal coming in 1983, when the event was in Edmonton – the only time the event was hosted by Canada. To go along with the gold, Canada has won three silver (1991, 1993, 1997) and four bronze (1985, 1995, 2003, 2007).

Team Canada will hold a training camp in Vancouver from August 2-6 before travelling to Shenzhen to continue its preparation and play some exhibition matches from Aug. 7-12.

Attached are the full rosters, coaching staff and pools for the 2011 Universiade.  To follow the event and Team Canada, visit http://www.sz2011.org/Universiade and www.basketball.ca.

2011 DEVELOPMENT MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
Name /Position /Height /University /Hometown
Jordan Baker /Guard6-7 /AlbertaEdmonton, Alta.
Kyle Desmarais /Guard6-3 /ConcordiaMontreal, Que.
Cole Hobin /Guard /6-6 /Carleton /Ashton, Ont.
Jahmal Jones /Guard /6-0 /Ryerson /Mississauga, Ont.
Warren Ward /Guard /6-5 /Ottawa /London, Ont.
Nathan Yu /Guard /6-2 /UBC /Prince George, B.C.
Boris Bakovic /Forward /6-8 /Calgary /Toronto, Ont.
Kale Harrison /Forward /6-5 /Wilfrid Laurier /Stratford, Ont.
Tyson Hinz /Forward /6-6 /Carleton /Ottawa, Ont.
Owen Klassen /Forward /6-10 /Acadia /Kingston, Ont.
Michael Lieffers /Forward /6-8 /Saskatchewan /Saskatoon, Sask.
Lien Phillip /Forward /6-8 /Windsor /Toronto, Ont.

2011 DEVELOPMENT MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM STAFF
NamePositionUniversity
Kevin Hanson /  Head coach /UBC
John Campbell /Assistant coach /Dalhousie
Barnaby Craddock /Assistant coach /Fraser Valley
Sandy MacIntosh /Team manager  
Geoff Mabey /Athletic therapist