Canada Basketball released the roster for it’s senior men’s national team training camp on Friday.
| NAME | POSITION | HEIGHT | HOMETOWN | TEAM/SCHOOL |
| Shai Alexander | G | 6’4 | Hamilton, ON | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy |
| Joel Anthony | F | 6’9 | Montreal, QC | Detroit Pistons |
| RJ Barrett | G | 6’7 | Mississauga, ON | Montverde Academy |
| Sim Bhullar | F | 7’5 | Toronto, ON | Raptors 905 |
| Dillon Brooks | F | 6’7 | Mississauga, ON | Oregon Ducks |
| Chris Boucher | F | 6’10 | Montreal, ON | Oregon Ducks |
| Jason Calliste | G | 6’2 | Toronto, ON | Barons Kvartals Riga |
| Melvin Ejim | F | 6’6 | Toronto, ON | Reyer Venezia |
| Tyler Ennis | G | 6’2 | Brampton, ON | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Brady Heslip | G | 6’2 | Burlington, ON | Pallacanestro Cantu |
| Tyson Hinz | F | 6’7 | Ottawa, ON | Landstede Basketball |
| Cory Joseph | G | 6’3 | Pickering, ON | Toronto Raptors |
| Corey Johnson | G | 6’5 | Ottawa, ON | Harvard University |
| Owen Klassen | F | 6’10 | Kingston, ON | Phoenix Hagen |
| Levon Kendall | F | 6’10 | Vancouver, BC | Movistar Estudiantes |
| Naz Mirtou-Long | G | 6’4 | Mississauga, ON | Iowa St. Cyclones |
| Dyshawn Pierre | G | 6’6 | Whitby, ON | Dayton Flyers |
| Philip Scrubb | G | 6’3 | Ottawa, ON | Fraport Skyliners |
| Thomas Scrubb | G | 6’6 | Ottawa, ON | Giessen 46ers |
The program still has the option to add to the roster based on player availability (hi, Tristan Thompson), and general manager Steve Nash said in a release that they continue to talk to teams and players about suiting up. For now, we have to assume the eventual 12-man squad will come from that group of 19.
Notable by their absence aside from Thompson, who’s in the NBA Finals, are Dwight Powell (free agent), Kelly Olynyk (injured), Nik Stauskas (chose not to participate), Anthony Bennett (free agent), Andrew Nicholson (free agent), Jamal Murray (draft), Kyle Wiltjer (draft), Trey Lyles (a little strange), Robert Sacre (busy dancing), and Andrew Wiggins (that’s disappointing). Thompson remains on the fence, at last report, and only Wilter otherwise seems like a potential late addition from that group, now that Wiggins has officially declined.
Wiggins announces today that after much consideration, he will not play for Canada in July Olympic qualifier, says focus is on Wolves season
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) June 10, 2016
“As my third NBA season approaches, I understand my increased role with the Timberwolves and dedication to the upcoming season must have my total focus,” Wiggins said in a statement. “I fully support and wish Team Canada nothing but success this summer.”
Again, some additions can still be made (including for the Olympics, should Canada qualify), but those absences loom large. R.J. Barrett may ultimately lead the next great Canadian men’s team but won’t turn 16 until next week, Melvin Ejim has made really nice strides as a player, and there’s otherwise a nice mix of youth and international experience, but this team will need some additional high-end talent to make a serious run for an Olympic berth.
The tryout camp, which will last until June 15, kicked off today at Air Canada Centre, though the planned media summit was postponed (there is media availability Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday). From there, the team will head to Italy for a five-game exhibition tournament that includes some pretty good tune-up competition. The main focus, of course, is the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Canada’s final chance to punch a ticket to the Olympics for the first time since 2000. That tournament takes place July 4-10 in the Philippines and will require Canada to win outright in a tough group (and yes, the group remains tough even with France missing some key players).
Stay tuned for any changes or additions, and cross your fingers for those. And don’t, for your sanity, spend too much time thinking back on that FIBA Americas loss to Venezuela last summer.
