Rana invites 19 to Canada training camp, Murray not available

TORONTO (2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) - Canada Basketball announced the 19 athletes who will compete for spots at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. While the preliminary squad is a strong one,

Canada head coach Roy Rana will be holding a training camp from 6-10 June at Humber College to determine the final 12 spots for the team for the U19 World Championship in Heraklion (Crete), Greece.

"We expect this to be a highly competitive camp," he said. "We have a strong group of athletes and look forward to preparing for the U19 World Championship."

The group features nine of the players who helped Canada reach the final of the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, including leaders Dillon Brooks, Christopher Egi and Montaque Gill-Caesar.

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The team also features Justin Jackson, who returns after not playing for Canada last summer following appearances at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship and 2013 FIBA Americas Championship; and Jalen Poyser, a highly-regarded guard who played at Orangeville Prep with Murray as well as Thon and Matur Maker.

For all the talent he still has on the squad, Rana definitely will have to rethink his team without having Murray, who was expected to be one of the stars of the U19 Worlds after dominating the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit.

Murray, who starred for Canada at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship, is currently visiting colleges in the United States and contemplating his future. He is also in contention to play for Canada at the Pan-American Games.

Also expected to make the team this summer but not part of the training camp are Eddie Ekiyor and Nolan Narain.

Rana and Canada Basketball made a public invitation to players to try out for the team before naming the 19 players to take part in the training camp.

Rana has nominated seven players who have not played for Canada in FIBA competitions. Besides Poyser, the others are Jadon Cohee, Jordan Henry, Elijah Long, Abu Kigab, Matt Neufeld and Shamiel Stevenson.

Canada have been drawn into Group C with Australia, Tunisia and Italy.

Canada preliminary squad for 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship: Dillon Brooks, Brody Clarke, Jadon Cohee, Stefan Duric, Christopher Egi, Jonah Fogg, Jordan Henry, Biniam Ghebrekidan, Montaque Gill-Caesar. Elijah Long, Justin Jackson, Corey Johnson, Abu Kigab, Benjamin Miller, Matthew Neufeld, Jalen Poyser, Nevell Provo, Shamiel Stevenson, Drew Urquhart.

FIBA