CAN - Five double-digit scorers return for Canada, 7-footer Bhullar added

TORONTO (FIBA U17 World Championship) – Canada are returning five double-digit scorers and their full top nine players from last summer’s U16 continental team and adding a 7-foot-2 center to their squad for the upcoming (29 June-8 July) FIBA U17 World Championship in Kaunas, Lithuania.

New coach David DeAveiro takes over the balanced and deep team that will have back a handful of players who scored more than 10 points a game in Kevin Zabo (12.4), Marial Shayok (11.4), Patrick Steeves (11.4), Malcolm Duvivier (10.4) and Tyrell Bellot-Green (10.2).

Shayok (7.8), Steeves (6.0) and Bellot-Green (5.2) all averaged more than five rebounds as did fellow returnees Jordan Robinson (7.0) and Chris McComber (5.2).

The biggest addition to DeAveiro’s team is the Indian-Canadian 7-foot-2 center Tanveer Bhullar, whose brother Sim Bhullar played for Canada at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and last year's FIBA U19 World Championship.

“It was an extremely difficult process selecting our final roster. We feel fortunate to have depth at the cadet age group,” said DeAveiro, whose team will play Argentina, Croatia, Korea, Lithuania and Spain in Group B as they look to repeat at least their bronze medal from the inaugural U17 Worlds in 2010.

“Our final roster will reflect the depth, combining size and speed. We are comfortable playing multiple players in each position in many of our games.”

The other two new players compared to last summer’s team are guards Jake Babic and Justin Jackson.

Canada booked their place for Kaunas by placing third at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.

Before arriving in Lithuania, the Canadians will have a final training camp in Douai, France (19-25 June) and will play in the 26th World Douai Tournament (21-24 June) along with teams from Argentina, China, Croatia, Egypt and the host nation.

Canada squad for FIBA U17 World Championship: Jake Babic, Tyrell Bellot-Green, Tanveer Bhullar, Malcolm Duvivier, Chris Egi, Justin Jackson, Chris McComber, Anthony Pate, Jordan Robinson, Marial Shayok, Patrick Steeves, Kevin Zabo

FIBA