National Preparatory Association Announces TBA as 2nd Member of the League
The National Preparatory Association is proud to announce its second official member, playing out of Toronto, Ont. the Toronto Basketball Academy.
The TBA, formerly known as BTB (Bigger Than Basketball), is run by Adeel Sahibzada, a former CIS player and assistant coach at the CIS level.
The program originated as a training program run by Sahibzada, providing inner-city kids with an opportunity to develop their basketball skills. From there, the natural progression was to start a team and start competing, which is what happened with BTB. The next step in the process was to combine the athletics with academics and provide these young men with an opportunity to develop not only on the court, but in the classroom.
“Our program is a community-based program, catering to some of the more disadvantaged youth from around the country,” says Sahibzada. “TBA is a reflection of that growing vision, to support the inner-city, and kids that come from all walks of all and have had difficulties in their lives.”
TBA is run out of John Polanyi Collegiate Institute, a school in the Toronto District School Board. This provides Sahibzada the chance to instil the importance of being a Student-Athlete, with the first emphasis being on ‘Student’.
BTB has graduated 16 players over the past two years to the post-secondary ranks with basketball scholarships, and the club provided Sahibzada a chance to refocus some of his players on their academics. Instead of coasting through college courses, his players starting gearing their course loads towards University.
“If you haven’t done well in the classroom, the chances of you finding a lifelong career are very slim,” says Sahibzada. “Which is why the emphasis on academics is integral to our operation. At John Polanyi, we have a very invested staff, an academic advisor meeting with the kids regularly, as well as study hall and tutors.”
The Toronto Basketball Academy has an ambitious schedule, looking to fill out their year on both sides of the border and involving themselves in the highest level of competition possible, while looking to have a very similar work load to last years BTB Program.
Returning players include Cordell Veira, Jace Colley, and Lascel Tyndale, while Jamal Mayali has been confirmed on this seasons roster.
Outside of their core, TBA is looking to address one of their glaring holes from last season, which was the lack of big men on their roster. The squad will be holding tryouts at Ryerson University’s Mattamy Athletic Centre on Thursday, June 30 at 5pm.
The tryout is open to elite caliber players in grades 9-12 (Born in 1998-2002). Parents are welcome to attend and find out more about Toronto Basketball Academy. There will be a guided tour and Q & A session, where you can address any questions you have.
For further information contact Adeel Sahibzada at 416-788-5900 or adeel.sahibzada@deenupathletics.com
