TORONTO (July 23, 20223) – Canada Basketball announced today the men’s and women’s rosters set to compete at the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League 2023 Americas in Rancagua, Chile from July 24-30.

The Americas conference will feature six three-game tournaments in seven days, including daily pool play and a final. Teams earn tour standing points after each one-day event. The best-ranked team in the standings after the sixth day are declared winners of their conference and qualify for the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations League Final taking place September 13-15 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Representing Canada on the U23 3x3 women’s roster are Carly Ahlstrom, Taya Hanson, Kiyara Letlow, Tara Wallack, Keishana Washington, and Jessica Wisotzki.

In terms of recent achievements, Hanson and Wallack come into the squad with a winning track record, leading Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – the first time the 3x3 event was introduced at the international event. The pair also represented Canada at last year’s inaugural GLOBL JAM tournament where Canada also captured gold.

Wallack was a returnee to GLOBL JAM this past season, joined by fellow 3x3 teammate Keishana Washington who is coming off the most successful campaign of any Canadian at the collegiate level. Washington – who recently graduated from Drexel University – rewrote the record books, becoming the all-time leading scorer among Canadian players in the NCAA with 2363 points.

Ahlstrom also brings her own 3x3 pedigree to the team, having recently represented Canada for the first time on the FIBA 3x3 women’s series circuit for the national team in Fribourg, Switzerland.

Dave Waknuk will serve as head coach for the women’s squad. Waknuk is currently Head Coach of the Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball team, and has previously coached 3x3 women’s national team mainstay Kacie Bosch with the Pronghorns.

Meanwhile, the men’s roster will be represented by Gus Goerzen, Justin Ndjock-Tadjore, Aaron Rhooms, Yohann Sam, and Cole Syllas.

Of the bunch, Rhooms is the lone athlete with national team experience.

Rhooms most recently represented Canada at the 2023 GLOBL JAM tournament in Toronto. Entering his third-year with the TMU Bold, the Toronto native had a tremendous start to his collegiate career, being recognized as the 2022 U SPORTS Rookie of the Year.

On the 3x3 circuit, Syllas has put in the most work. Having already competed in four tournaments for club team Old Montreal, Syllas also represented Ontario at last summer’s Canada Quest Cup Final falling short in the semifinals to eventual winners, Quebec. Syllas currently plays for the CEBL’s Ottawa Blackjacks following an outstanding season with the Queen’s Gaels. The fourth-year guard helped his collegiate program put together their best record in more than 50 years culminating in a second-straight appearance at the U SPORTS Final 8 championship.

No stranger to competing overseas, Ndjock-Tadjore rocks the red & white for the first time in his career after spending two seasons with NCAA Division I side St. Bonaventure – the Ottawa native returns home this summer, transferring to the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The team will be led by Head Coach, Aprille Deus. Deus currently serves as the Coordinator, 3x3 Basketball Operations, and carries a wealth of experience in video coordinating with the men’s high performance program.

The 2023 3x3 U23 Nations League will stream live on YouTube each day on the FIBA 3x3 YouTube Channel. Canada kicks-off the competition tomorrow afternoon at stop 1 of the tournament with the women's national team taking on Chile at 2:50pm ET and the men's national team facing USA at 3:15pm ET.

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