3 Canadians Selected to play in first-ever Basketball without Borders Global Camp

Eddie Ekiyor, Justin Jackson and Jamal Murray selected to play during NBA All-Star 2015

TORONTO, ON – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and International Basketball Federation (FIBA) have announced the campers and coaches for the first-ever Basketball without Borders (BWB) Global Camp during NBA All-Star. Eddie Ekiyor (New Hampton School), Justin Jackson (Findlay Prep) and Jamal Murray (Orangeville Prep) will represent Canada at the inaugural event, held February 13-15 at Baruch College in Manhattan as part of NBA All-Star 2015 in New York City.The top 39 players from 25 countries worldwide ages 16-18 were selected to play in this camp. With three of the players being Canadian, Canada Basketball Executive Director Michele O’Keefe was ecstatic. “I congratulate Jamal, Justin and Eddie for this extraordinary honour. It is essential that players learn the international game, and these three young men have a tremendous opportunity to absorb knowledge from some of the best in the world.”Along with developing their games, Basketball without Borders Global campers will take part in the NBA FIT All-Star Celebration, a city-wide event which brings fitness programming to kids throughout New York City. The campers will also participate in daily life skills seminars focusing on character-building and leadership development.“Basketball’s popularity in Canada is at an all-time high, in part because of the record number of Canadians in the league this year and in part due to the Raptors’ success,” said Dan MacKenzie, Vice President & Managing Director, NBA Canada. “These three athletes being selected exemplifies the growing talent base in this country and the growing popularity of the game internationally.”

One of the Canadian participants, Jamal Murray is grateful to be partaking in this event. “It’s always an honour to represent my country and to see my generation fulfilling their dreams. I’m looking forward to playing against the best in the world. It’s great to see my dreams become realities and my hard work paying off.”

The athletes have all had a taste of the international game, as part of the 2013 Cadet team that finished 3^rd at the U16 FIBA Americas in Uruguay. Ekiyor and Murray also represented Canada at the 2014 U17 World Championships in Dubai.

Ekiyor, Jackson and Murray continue to pave the way for other Canadian athletes, much like their Canadian predecessors, Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Olynyk. Both NBA talents were recently selected to play in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2015 – representing Canada in the newly reformatted game that pits first- and second-year NBA players from the United States against first- and second-year NBA players from around the world.

For more information, contact:
Bailey Williams
Manager, Communications
Canada Basketball
Tel 416.614-8037 ex 206
bwilliams@basketball.ca

About Canada Basketball:Canada Basketball is a private, not-for-profit corporation committed to excellence in leading the growth of the game domestically and in pursuing medal performances on the international stage.