TOP YOUNG HOOPSTERS MARK BLACK HISTORY MONTH WITH TORONTO TEENS
Last Updated: February 22, 2009
TORONTO - Canada Basketball visited Wednesday with more than 400 students at James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School as part of this year’s celebration of Black History Month. The event was highlighted by a panel of guests including Ontario Health Promotion Minister Dr. Margarett Best, Canada Basketball head coaches Leo Rautins and Greg Francis, and top Canadian male and female high school players in the 2008-09 graduating class.
The interactive assembly featured entertainment, trivia, prizes and free giveaways for every student, as well as a guest lineup of Canada Basketball speakers including:
•WAYNE PARRISH – Executive Director and CEO, Canada Basketball.
•LEO RAUTINS - Head Coach, Senior Men’s National Team, former NBA player and honoured member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame (1997).
•GREG FRANCIS – Head Coach, Junior Men’s National Team, former player and Olympian (2000).
•MANGISTO AROP – 2008 Junior National Team bronze medallist at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, No. 1 2008-09 high school male player in Canada.
•KAYLA ALEXANDER – 2008 Junior National Team silver medallist at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, No. 1 2008-09 high school player in Canada.
•SAM GIBBS – Head Trainer, Senior Men’s National Team, former Toronto Raptors trainer.
“It is an honour to visit with the students at James Cardinal McGuigan and celebrate Black History Month,” said Wayne Parrish, Executive Director and CEO for Canada Basketball.
“Knowing how passionate this community is about basketball, we welcomed the invitation to showcase contributions of prominent Afro-Canadian athletes, coaches and trainers as well as help promote the positive impact of our sport. Basketball has the power to build communities, improve the health of youth and provide opportunities for success both on and off the court.”
Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best kicked off the celebration with greetings on behalf of the province. An avid fan of sport including basketball, Best champions health and wellness for all Ontarians. She is responsible for a ministry that supports a wide range of programs and services including physical activity and sport participation.
“We celebrate Black History Month to recognize all those in the African-Canadian community for their contribution to society at large,” stated Best. “Congratulations to Canada Basketball and James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School for hosting this important event and keeping our young people active.”
The students at James Cardinal McGuigan have a great passion for the sport, and this assembly served as a platform to build on this passion for the future. Perhaps the most relevant speakers of the day were Manny and Kayla. Both hoopsters are still in high school, like the students in attendance, yet they are at the top of their game and have already represented Canada on the world stage.
Top Canadian High School Players
Kayla Alexander is a 6’4” centre from Milton, Ont., and has excelled at basketball at the local, provincial, national and international level. 2008 was a big year for Kayla as she was one of 12 female athletes selected to the 2007-08 class of Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy (NEDA). Kayla also played on the provincial team and helped Ontario to capture the gold medal at the 2008 U17 National Championships. She also earned a spot on Canada’s 2008 Junior Women’s National Team and earned a scholarship to attend Syracuse University this fall.
Mangisto (Manny) Arop is a Sudanese born 6'6" wing from Edmonton. His family immigrated to Canada when he was young to escape the civil unrest in his homeland. Settling in the Alberta capital, Manny quickly excelled in basketball at Ross Sheppard High School. In 2007, Manny was one of 12 young athletes selected to the inaugural NEDA boys’ program. Under the tutelage of head coach Greg Francis, Manny honed his skills enough to earn him a starting spot on Canada’s 2008 Canada’s Junior National Team as well as a scholarship to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., this fall.
Both Kayla and Manny will have a chance to represent Canada this summer at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships, after both 2008 junior teams medalled at the 2008 U18 FIBA Americas Championships (women–silver/men–bronze). The FIBA U19 World Championship for Men will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 2-12, while the women’s event will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, July 23-Aug. 2.
The Fastest Growing Sport in Canada
Basketball is the fastest growing sport in Canada, with the greatest growth at the grassroots level, in communities from coast to coast. Since the inception of the NBA in Canada in 1995, basketball has quickly evolved into one of the top three most played team sports in Canada. Recent studies by Solutions Research Group and Statistics Canada confirmed that basketball is the fastest growing sport for children aged 5-14, (an increase of 37 per cent between 1998-2005), and is the fastest growing and most popular sport amongst visible minorities, including African-Canadians.
Children and youth represent the largest population of basketball players with almost 630,000 participants nationwide, according to a Statistics Canada study on sports participation. With the rise in health and fitness issues amongst youth (childhood obesity, diabetes), Canada Basketball and Ontario's Ministry of Health Promotion see basketball as a viable means to improve the quality of life for children, youth and families.
Parrish added, “We all know that basketball was invented by a Canadian, Dr. James Naismith, in 1891 and now 118 years later, it the fastest growing sport in our country. Today, we celebrate this rich sporting heritage created by a diverse mosaic of passionate Canadians who have contributed to the growth of the game.”
CANADA BASKETBALL SPEAKER PROFILES
Greg Francis:
Greg Francis is the head coach of the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team and the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA). Francis is also the new head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears. He played professionally for several years in England, Israel and Lebanon. A six-year veteran of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, Francis competed in 55 international games including the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Mangisto ‘Manny’ Arop:
Manny Arop is Canada’s top high school male basketball player and comes from Edmonton (originally born in Sudan). This 6’6” wing currently plays with the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) and was a member of the Canadian National Junior Team that won a bronze medal last summer. Manny will compete this summer in the FIBA U19 World Championships for Men July 2-12 in Auckland, New Zealand, and will attend Gonzaga University in the fall.
Kayla Alexander:
Kayla Alexander is Canada’s top high school female basketball player from Milton, Ont. The 6’4” centre is a NEDA Alumni as well as a member of Canada’s Junior Women's National Team that won a silver medal last summer. Kayla will compete this summer in the FIBA U19 World Championships for Women July 23-August 2 in Bangkok, Thailand, and will attend Syracuse University in the fall.
Sam Gibbs:
Sam Gibbs is the head athletic therapist of the Canadian Senior Men's National Basketball Team and has served with Team Canada for 13 years. Gibbs has worked with many professional and amateur athletes, and with national medical teams for a number of major international competitions including the Pan Am Games and Olympics. He has also served on the training staff of the Toronto Raptors.
Leo Rautins:
Leo Rautins is the head coach of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball team and an NBA analyst for the Toronto Raptors. Rautins started playing for Team Canada when he was only 16 and competed through the late 1970s, '80s and early '90s. He was picked 17th overall in the 1983 NBA draft by the Philadelphia '76ers and played professionally for almost 10 years in the NBA and in Europe. Rautins was inducted into Canada's Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1997.
The interactive assembly featured entertainment, trivia, prizes and free giveaways for every student, as well as a guest lineup of Canada Basketball speakers including:
•WAYNE PARRISH – Executive Director and CEO, Canada Basketball.
•LEO RAUTINS - Head Coach, Senior Men’s National Team, former NBA player and honoured member of the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame (1997).
•GREG FRANCIS – Head Coach, Junior Men’s National Team, former player and Olympian (2000).
•MANGISTO AROP – 2008 Junior National Team bronze medallist at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, No. 1 2008-09 high school male player in Canada.
•KAYLA ALEXANDER – 2008 Junior National Team silver medallist at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, No. 1 2008-09 high school player in Canada.
•SAM GIBBS – Head Trainer, Senior Men’s National Team, former Toronto Raptors trainer.
“It is an honour to visit with the students at James Cardinal McGuigan and celebrate Black History Month,” said Wayne Parrish, Executive Director and CEO for Canada Basketball.
“Knowing how passionate this community is about basketball, we welcomed the invitation to showcase contributions of prominent Afro-Canadian athletes, coaches and trainers as well as help promote the positive impact of our sport. Basketball has the power to build communities, improve the health of youth and provide opportunities for success both on and off the court.”
Health Promotion Minister Margarett Best kicked off the celebration with greetings on behalf of the province. An avid fan of sport including basketball, Best champions health and wellness for all Ontarians. She is responsible for a ministry that supports a wide range of programs and services including physical activity and sport participation.
“We celebrate Black History Month to recognize all those in the African-Canadian community for their contribution to society at large,” stated Best. “Congratulations to Canada Basketball and James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic Secondary School for hosting this important event and keeping our young people active.”
The students at James Cardinal McGuigan have a great passion for the sport, and this assembly served as a platform to build on this passion for the future. Perhaps the most relevant speakers of the day were Manny and Kayla. Both hoopsters are still in high school, like the students in attendance, yet they are at the top of their game and have already represented Canada on the world stage.
Top Canadian High School Players
Kayla Alexander is a 6’4” centre from Milton, Ont., and has excelled at basketball at the local, provincial, national and international level. 2008 was a big year for Kayla as she was one of 12 female athletes selected to the 2007-08 class of Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy (NEDA). Kayla also played on the provincial team and helped Ontario to capture the gold medal at the 2008 U17 National Championships. She also earned a spot on Canada’s 2008 Junior Women’s National Team and earned a scholarship to attend Syracuse University this fall.
Mangisto (Manny) Arop is a Sudanese born 6'6" wing from Edmonton. His family immigrated to Canada when he was young to escape the civil unrest in his homeland. Settling in the Alberta capital, Manny quickly excelled in basketball at Ross Sheppard High School. In 2007, Manny was one of 12 young athletes selected to the inaugural NEDA boys’ program. Under the tutelage of head coach Greg Francis, Manny honed his skills enough to earn him a starting spot on Canada’s 2008 Canada’s Junior National Team as well as a scholarship to attend Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., this fall.
Both Kayla and Manny will have a chance to represent Canada this summer at the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championships, after both 2008 junior teams medalled at the 2008 U18 FIBA Americas Championships (women–silver/men–bronze). The FIBA U19 World Championship for Men will take place in Auckland, New Zealand, from July 2-12, while the women’s event will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, July 23-Aug. 2.
The Fastest Growing Sport in Canada
Basketball is the fastest growing sport in Canada, with the greatest growth at the grassroots level, in communities from coast to coast. Since the inception of the NBA in Canada in 1995, basketball has quickly evolved into one of the top three most played team sports in Canada. Recent studies by Solutions Research Group and Statistics Canada confirmed that basketball is the fastest growing sport for children aged 5-14, (an increase of 37 per cent between 1998-2005), and is the fastest growing and most popular sport amongst visible minorities, including African-Canadians.
Children and youth represent the largest population of basketball players with almost 630,000 participants nationwide, according to a Statistics Canada study on sports participation. With the rise in health and fitness issues amongst youth (childhood obesity, diabetes), Canada Basketball and Ontario's Ministry of Health Promotion see basketball as a viable means to improve the quality of life for children, youth and families.
Parrish added, “We all know that basketball was invented by a Canadian, Dr. James Naismith, in 1891 and now 118 years later, it the fastest growing sport in our country. Today, we celebrate this rich sporting heritage created by a diverse mosaic of passionate Canadians who have contributed to the growth of the game.”
CANADA BASKETBALL SPEAKER PROFILES
Greg Francis:
Greg Francis is the head coach of the Canadian Junior Men’s National Team and the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA). Francis is also the new head coach of the University of Alberta Golden Bears. He played professionally for several years in England, Israel and Lebanon. A six-year veteran of Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team, Francis competed in 55 international games including the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Mangisto ‘Manny’ Arop:
Manny Arop is Canada’s top high school male basketball player and comes from Edmonton (originally born in Sudan). This 6’6” wing currently plays with the National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) and was a member of the Canadian National Junior Team that won a bronze medal last summer. Manny will compete this summer in the FIBA U19 World Championships for Men July 2-12 in Auckland, New Zealand, and will attend Gonzaga University in the fall.
Kayla Alexander:
Kayla Alexander is Canada’s top high school female basketball player from Milton, Ont. The 6’4” centre is a NEDA Alumni as well as a member of Canada’s Junior Women's National Team that won a silver medal last summer. Kayla will compete this summer in the FIBA U19 World Championships for Women July 23-August 2 in Bangkok, Thailand, and will attend Syracuse University in the fall.
Sam Gibbs:
Sam Gibbs is the head athletic therapist of the Canadian Senior Men's National Basketball Team and has served with Team Canada for 13 years. Gibbs has worked with many professional and amateur athletes, and with national medical teams for a number of major international competitions including the Pan Am Games and Olympics. He has also served on the training staff of the Toronto Raptors.
Leo Rautins:
Leo Rautins is the head coach of the Canadian Senior Men’s National Basketball team and an NBA analyst for the Toronto Raptors. Rautins started playing for Team Canada when he was only 16 and competed through the late 1970s, '80s and early '90s. He was picked 17th overall in the 1983 NBA draft by the Philadelphia '76ers and played professionally for almost 10 years in the NBA and in Europe. Rautins was inducted into Canada's Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1997.
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