Dillon, Egi top Canadian U19 Worlds roster with two 17 year olds

TORONTO (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Canada's roster for the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship will feature five players from last summer's FIBA Americas U18 Championship, a national team returnee and two 17-year-olds.

After helping Canada to a best-ever second place at the 2014 FIBA America U18s, Dillon Brooks, Christopher Egi, Corey Johnson, Nevell Provo and Drew Urquhart were named to Roy Rana's team for the U19 Worlds taking place in Heraklion (Crete), Greece from 27 June-5 July. 

Brooks led the team in scoring and was second in rebounding last summer in Colorado Springs, USA, while Egi was third in scoring and first in rebounds. 

Rana's team also includes four other 1996-born players, including nominal center Matthew Neufeld, Brody Clarke, Jadon Cohee and Jalen Poyser, who played at the highly regarded Orangeville Prep with Jamal Murray and the Makers Thon and Matur.

Rana also nominated 1997-born Justin Jackson, who played at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship but did not compete for Canada Basketball last summer. 

The other two spots went to a pair of 17-year-olds, Jordan Henry and Abu Kigab.

"It's an honour to take this group of young men and an incredible staff to Greece for the World Championship. The commitment and character of this group has been impressive," said Rana, whose team will take on Australia, Tunisia and Italy in Group C.

"We look forward to representing our country with great passion and developing the next wave of Canadian talent that will represent our men’s team in the future."

There are however a couple of notable omissions from the team. Jamal Murray was expected to be one of the leaders of the team but is working out with the men’s team for Pan American Games. Montaque Gill-Caeser, who was the second-leading scorer from last summer's U18 team, was included among the final 19 invitations to Rana's training camp but did not make the team. Also absent from the team is Eddie Ekiyor, who was Canada's second-leading scorer and top rebounder at the 2014 FIBA U17 Worlds.

No player from the U17 team last summer was picked for this team.

Canada final roster for 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship: Dillon Brooks, Brody Clarke, Jadon Cohee, Christopher Egi, Jordan Henry, Justin Jackson, Corey Johnson, Abu Kigab, Matthew Neufeld, Jalen Poyser, Nevell Provo, Drew Urquhart.

FIBA