High hopes for Manitoba hoopsters – Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba received’t be favoured to win all of it at subsequent month’s Canada Summer time Video games 18U males’s basketball competitors however Waqo Tessema and his teammates simply may need a shock in retailer for the event heavyweights.
The 18-year-old level guard is considering massive. Large canines like Ontario and Quebec higher be careful.
“For us, it’s not that massive of an upset,” stated Tessema not too long ago. “Manitoba has that fame the place they’re type of all the time in the course of the pack however I really feel like we’ve one thing coming on this yr that we all know goes to be fairly good however others might not see it.”
JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
“Manitoba has that fame the place they’re type of all the time in the course of the pack however I really feel like we’ve one thing coming on this yr that we all know goes to be fairly good however others might not see it,” says Waqo Tessema (proper).
The talent out there to go coach Jonathan Janzen is appreciable, with maybe the deepest expertise pool in provincial historical past.
All 12 gamers on the roster and four-man teaching employees come from Winnipeg and the crew has spent the final eight weeks working diligently in apply whereas taking part in 10 video games and two tournaments within the U.S.
Janzen’s group will play a handful of native exhibition video games earlier than leaving for the Video games, that are being hosted by Ontario’s Niagara area (Aug. 6-21).
JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
The group will play a handful of native exhibition video games earlier than leaving for the Video games, which run Aug. 6-21 in Ontario’s Niagara Area.
“We’ve bought depth at each place and we’ve bought guys who do various things at each place,” stated Janzen. “We’ve bought guys who can defend, guys who can rating, guys who can shoot and we’ve bought guys who can play massive and rebound the ball. And we’ve bought we bought guys who perform a little little bit of all the things.”
An anticipated beginning 5 that features guards Tessema and Lorence dela Cruz and forwards Elijah Mensah, Brendan Amoyaw and Ryan Luke is an effective place to start out.
Mensah, at 6-8, and the 6-7 Luke are each heading to the College of Winnipeg this fall after stellar highschool careers, whereas dela Cruz, the province’s high graduating highschool participant from St. Paul’s, signed not too long ago with Central Wyoming, a junior faculty the place he hopes to draw NCAA Division I recruiters.
JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Coach Jonathan Janzen (in gray) offers tips to the group.
In the meantime, Amoyaw, a 6-9 energy ahead who not too long ago suited up for Canada’s 18U squad on the Pacific Cup, and Tessema, a late lower from the 18U nationwide group, are coming off glorious seasons at Lincoln Prep in Hamilton, Ont.
Tessema, who left Glenlawn after Grade 11 to hone his expertise in Ontario, will transfer to Fort Erie (Ont.) Worldwide Academy in September to additional refine his sport however insists he’s already made massive strides taking part in in opposition to powerful competitors in Ontario.
“I really feel like one in all my roles on the group can be to be a pacesetter,” stated Tessema. “So, there are occasions when it might probably get fairly hectic and since I’ve been by means of that, it’s my duty the place if a few of the guys really feel a bit rushed or face one thing they haven’t seen, it’s my job to calm them down… to type of lead by instance and lead vocally.”
JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Fifteen-year-old prodigy Ramogi Nyagudi (in black) is a 6-8 ahead who enters Grade 11 at St. Paul’s in September.
Marco Guaring, dela Cruz’s backcourt accomplice at St. Paul’s and a current recruit to Canadian Mennonite College, will probably be a part of a reserve wave coming off the bench that additionally contains 15-year-old prodigy Ramogi Nyagudi, the 6-8 ahead who enters Grade 11 at St. Paul’s in September
“I believe we’ve a extremely proficient group,” stated Guaring. “By way of our present play, I believe we’ve numerous sturdy guards and it’s the identical factor with the bigs and wings. We’ve bought numerous peak.”
Janzen expects Tessema and dela Cruz to hold a lot of the scoring load. Tessema received’t shrink back from expectations.
“Properly, I’m some extent guard and numerous the decision-making, the IQ and all that type of stuff comes with expertise,” stated Tessema. “The extra expertise I’ve gotten I really feel like I’ve turn out to be a greater participant. I’m loads stronger and I exploit my physique higher.”
Manitoba performs its preliminary spherical opener on the Canada Video games in opposition to Prince Edward Island on Aug. 8. Janzen hopes his group is taking part in for the gold medal on the finish.
“The highest two are most likely going to be Ontario and Quebec and in apply (we’ve) talked about our highway to gold right here and the place we see our path,” he stated. “And sure going by means of one in all Ontario or Quebec (or) even two of them goes to most likely be what’s hardest.”
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter @sawa14
