Canada Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in Canada. This national federation was founded in 1923. The organization is responsible for the selection and training of players who represent the Men's and Women's national teams and then represent Canada in international competition, including Olympic, Pan American

Pan American Games

The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...

 and FISU Games, as well as the FIBA World Championships. The current President is Therese Quigley, and the CEO is Wayne Parrish.

In addition to its international programs, Canada Basketball oversees programs at amateur and grassroots levels throughout Canada. Some of the influential Canada Basketball Alumni include Steve Nash

Steve Nash

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...

, Leo Rautins

Leo Rautins

Leo R. Rautins is a former professional basketball player, the former head coach of the Canadian national men's basketball team, and an NBA analyst for the Toronto Raptors.Rautins was a star in high school for St...

, Stacey Dales

Stacey Dales

Stacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...

, and Lars Hansen

Lars Hansen

Lars Erik Hansen is a retired Danish-Canadian professional National Basketball Association player....

. Canada Basketball launched the Steve Nash Youth Basketball Program in September, 2007. Basketball is the fastest growing sport in Canada, and attracts many young Canadians from all backgrounds. http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/canadabasketball_010909.html

On January 1, 2009, Canada Basketball announced the contract extensions of Leo Rautins and Allison McNeill. Also announced was the creation of The Council Of Excellence, which is designed to strengthen the game of basketball in Canada as to propel Canadian Basketball back to international prominence. The Council Of Excellence includes, Jay Triano

Jay Triano

Jay Triano is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984...

, Steve Nash

Steve Nash

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...

, Maurizio Gherardini

Maurizio Gherardini

Maurizio 'Mo' Gherardini is an Italian sportsman, currently vice president and an assistant general manager for the Toronto Raptors NBA club.-Gherardini changes basketball:...

, Glen Grunwald

Glen Grunwald

Glen Grunwald is currently the senior vice president for basketball operations of the New York Knicks of the NBA. He is best known as the former general manager of the Toronto Raptors, a role he filled from March 1998 until April 2004....

, Don McCrae, Kathy Shields, Ken Shields

Ken Shields (Canadian basketball)

Kenneth William Daniel Shields, CM is a basketball coach, the one with the most wins in Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's basketball history with the University of Victoria, and former head coach of Canadian national men's basketball team....

, Steve Konchalski, and Sylvia Sweeney

Sylvia Sweeney

Sylvia Sweeney is a Canadian Executive Television Producer and Olympian. Sweeney is the daughter of music teacher Daisy Sweeney and railway cook James Sweeney, and the niece of jazz musician Oscar Peterson....

.
http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=1&id=2629

Canadian Men's National Team roster 2008: Jermaine Anderson

Jermaine Anderson

Jermaine Anderson is a Canadian professional basketball player, currently playing for the KK Budućnost Podgorica in Montenegro...

, Tyler Kepkay

Tyler Kepkay

Tyler Kepkay is a Canadian professional basketball player, currently signed to the team Lti Giessen 46er's of the German first basketball league . Prior to this season Tyler played for ETB Wohnbau Baskets Essen...

, Denham Brown

Denham Brown

Denham W. Brown is a Canadian professional basketball player who currently plays for the Ciclista Olímpico in the Liga Nacional de Basquet.- High school :...

, Tristan Blackwood

Tristan Blackwood

Tristan Blackwood is a Canadian collegiate basketball player. He played guard for Central Connecticut State University . Blackwood was voted to the NEC First Team in 2007 along with teammates Obie Nwadike and Conference Player of the Year Javier Mojica. Blackwood is listed at 6 feet, 170 pounds...

, Jermaine Bucknor

Jermaine Bucknor

- Career :The 6 ft 7 inch Edmonton native played college basketball at the University of Richmond.Further, he gained experience with the French basketball teams Limoges CSP Elite, Étoile Sportive Saint-Michel Le Portel Côte d'Opale , Aix-Maurienne Savoie Basket and Stade Clermontois Basket...

, Rowan Barrett

Rowan Barrett

Rowan Barrett is a retired Canadian basketball player.Barrett played in high school for West Hill Collegiate Institute and collegiately for St...

, Carl English

Carl English

Carl Jerome English is a Canadian professional basketball player. He stands 6'5" tall and weighs 205 pounds and he plays at the shooting guard position. He had unsuccessful tryouts for the NBA, with the Indiana Pacers and the Seattle SuperSonics...

, Olu Famutimi

Olu Famutimi

Olumuyiwa Famutimi is a Canadian professional basketball player for Gloria Giants Düsseldorf in Germany....

, Levon Kendall

Levon Kendall

Levon Maxwell Simon Kendall is a Canadian professional basketball player. He plays at both power forward and center. He is 2.09 m in height. He currently plays for the ACB league in Obradoiro CAB...

, Juan Mendez

Juan Mendez

Juan Mendez is a professional basketball player who played for the Niagara University men's university basketball team from 2001 to 2005...

, Andy Rautins

Andy Rautins

Andrew Jay "Andy" Rautins is a , 205 lbs. guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He was born in Syracuse, New York. He is a Canadian citizen and played for the Syracuse Orange and Canadian Men's National Basketball team...

, Aaron Doornekamp

Aaron Doornekamp

Aaron Doornekamp is a Canadian professional basketball player from Odessa, Ontario. Currently playing for Italian team Juvecaserta as of August 2009, he was one of the greatest players in the history of the Carleton University Ravens men's basketball team.Doornekamp is also a member of the...

, Paul Larmand

Paul Larmand

Paul Larmand is a male basketball player from Canada, who is a resident of Victoria Harbour, Ontario...

, Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas (basketball)

Dave Thomas is a Canadian professional basketball player. He has played 34 times at the senior level for the Canadian men's national basketball team...

, Jesse Young

Jesse Young

Jesse Wade Young is a Canadian professional basketball player. He also holds Irish citizenship. He played 2008-09 for Spain ACB league club CB Murcia. He signed for Bancatercas Teramo Basket for 2009/2010 season...

, Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Davis Dalembert is a Haitian Canadian professional basketball player who most recently played center for the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Dalembert began playing in Montreal, Quebec and played college basketball at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, United States...

, Joel Anthony

Joel Anthony

Joel Vincent Anthony is a Canadian professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently a member of the Miami Heat. He is also a key member of the Canadian national men's basketball team.-High school career:...

, Head Coach: Leo Rautins

Leo Rautins

Leo R. Rautins is a former professional basketball player, the former head coach of the Canadian national men's basketball team, and an NBA analyst for the Toronto Raptors.Rautins was a star in high school for St...

 Assistant Coaches: Dave Smart, Wayne Yearwood

Wayne Yearwood

Wayne Yearwood is a former professional and Olympic basketball player from Canada, who was with the Canadian national team...

, Mike Malone

Canadian Women's National Team roster 2008: Jordan Adams, Kelsey Adrian, Uzoma Asagwara, Chelsea Aubrey, Amanda Brown, Kaela Chapdelaine, Sarah Crooks, Teresa Gabriele, Lizanna Murphy, Chanelle St.Amour, Alisha Tatham, Tamara Tatham, Head Coach: Allison McNeill Assistant Coaches: Lisa Thomaidis, Mike McNeill

Mike McNeill

Michael McNeill is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 63 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Chicago Blackhawks and Quebec Nordiques.- External links :...

Canadians who are currently playing in the NBA include: Steve Nash

Steve Nash

Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...

, Jamaal Magloire

Jamaal Magloire

Jamaal Dane Magloire is a Canadian professional basketball player who last played for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . The , center was selected out of the University of Kentucky by the Charlotte Hornets with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, after withdrawing...

, Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Dalembert

Samuel Davis Dalembert is a Haitian Canadian professional basketball player who most recently played center for the NBA's Sacramento Kings. Dalembert began playing in Montreal, Quebec and played college basketball at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, United States...

, Andy Rautins

Andy Rautins

Andrew Jay "Andy" Rautins is a , 205 lbs. guard for the New York Knicks of the NBA. He was born in Syracuse, New York. He is a Canadian citizen and played for the Syracuse Orange and Canadian Men's National Basketball team...

, and Joel Anthony

Joel Anthony

Joel Vincent Anthony is a Canadian professional basketball player in the NBA who is currently a member of the Miami Heat. He is also a key member of the Canadian national men's basketball team.-High school career:...

. There are several Canadians playing professionally for minor league basketball organizations throughout North America. The more prominent minor league basketball organizations in North America include the NBA Development League

NBA Development League

The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...

, Premier Basketball League

Premier Basketball League

The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States...

, American Basketball Association (2000-), Continental Basketball Association

Continental Basketball Association

The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...

, International Basketball League

International Basketball League

The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...

, and the United Basketball League

United Basketball League

The United Basketball League is a spring professional minor basketball league in the Southern United States. Originally founded by Mac Claire in 2006 as the Regional Basketball League, the UBL is scheduled to begin its inaugural season in the spring of 2008...

. Many young people in Canada may continue to play basketball in college and university. University and college options within Canada include Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport

Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...

 http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=191&id=1643, and the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association

Canadian Colleges Athletic Association

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is the national governing body for organized sports at colleges in Canada. It was formed in 1974. The CCAA hosts nine annual national championships. The CCAA's name in French is l'Association canadienne du sport collégial .Its equivalent body for...

 http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=197&id=1678. There is also a growing number of both Canadian men and women playing in the NCAA.
http://basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=10&id=1671

Many Canadian men and women playing basketball after university and college choose to play professionally overseas. http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.php?sid=11&id=1640. Canada was once home to the National Basketball League (Canada)

National Basketball League (Canada)

The National Basketball League that was based in Canada lasted only one and a half seasons in 1993 and 1994. It rose from the ashes of the World Basketball League which folded after the 1992 season, which had teams in various Canadian and American cities. The NBL's first game was played on May 1,...

. The league lasted one and a half seasons from 1993–1994. A new league, the National Basketball League of Canada

National Basketball League of Canada

The National Basketball League of Canada is a Canadian professional men's basketball league founded in 2011. For the first season, three teams formerly of the Premier Basketball League have joined, with four expansion teams officially joining to form the NBL's "Original Seven".-Current:These are...

 was formed in 2011, but has yet to play its first season.

CB Classic Collection

In collaboration with Toronto artist Terence Chung and JUZD Streetwear's lead designer, Jing Liu, Canada Basketball released a new apparel line featuring featuring limited edition bamboo graphic tees in November 2009. Launched under the new label, "CB Authentic," the five-shirt series serves to commemorate the milestones of the organization, which began in 1923.

The line features shirts with a distinctive look and feel, and the use of various techniques, such as flocking

Flocking (texture)

Flocking is the process of depositing many small fiber particles onto a surface. It can also refer to the texture produced by the process, or to any material used primarily for its flocked surface. Flocking of an article can be performed for the purpose of increasing its value in terms of the...

 and plastisol

Plastisol

Plastisol is a suspension of PVC particles in a plasticizer; it flows as a liquid and can be poured into a heated mold. When heated to around 177 degrees Celsius, the plastic and plasticizer mutually dissolve each other. On cooling the mold below 60 degrees C, a flexible, permanently plasticized...

. Each shirt is creatively named: "CB Club," "Game Night," "The Kid," Seven," and "Olympic."

10% of the proceeds from each shirt sold is donated to the Canadian Basketball Foundation, which is committed to promoting basketball to all Canadians.

External links

• Canada Basketball official website