CIA Bounce boss admirably advocating to grow grassroots basketball.

NBA all star week in Toronto provided fans in Canada a first-class entertainment experience highlighted by a series of exciting events leading up to the feature presentation that was the 65th NBA All-Star Game.

Tough to find a busier Canadian basketball ambassador that week then CIA Bounce Co-Founder and Athlete Institute Director Of Basketball Operations Tony McIntyre. Also known as Tony Mac the Brampton, Ontario native is also the Director of the BioSteel All Canadian Game.

TUESDAY – JORDAN PREP RALLY

Orangeville Prep traveled to Rexdale,ON for a league game versus Father Henry Carr. The host Crusaders, sponsored by Jordan Brand & is where Jordan Brand athlete Tyler Ennis started his high school career. No better intimate venue in the country then a jam packed Ted McLean Gymnasium that saw the Bears and Crusaders go down to the wire in a game decided by a late Eugene Omoruyi and 1 play.

THURSDAY- JORDAN BRAND SHOWCASE

Henry Carr & Orangeville Prep returned to the hardwood 48 hours later. This time at historic Maple Leaf Gardens now called Mattamy. Henry Carr squared off versus California powerhouse Redondo, HS. Followed by Orangeville Prep locking horns with no.1 ranked high school in America Oak Hill from Virginia, featuring the top ranked 2017 point guard in Canada Lindell Wigginton of North Preston, NS.

This double header gave Canadians an opportunity to witness the cream of the crop from America versus the cream of the crop from Canada. Two marquee match-ups, the later televised nationally on TSN in Canada and across ESPN in America. The Orangeville Prep and Oak Hill tilt was the 3rd time in a year McIntyre, advocating behind the scenes, pulled strings to showcase high school games on National TV in Canada on TSN. 2nd in a span of 30 days on ESPN! Unprecedented for network programming and high school hoops north of the border.

ACTION PACKED SATURDAY

Another busy day for the CIA Bounce boss. McIntyre appointed judge for the NBA All Star Challenge dunk competition at the Enercare center. From there to Mississauga, ON the home of the Raptors D-League affiliate Raptors 905. An event that featured high profile high school talent, NBA talent and celebrities. Post Snoop Dog and 2 Chainz celebrity game, Orangeville Prep and Clarkson Prep went head to head to wrap up the True Snoop Hoop event. Another opportunity seized by McIntyre to showcase Canadian high school hoops.

Last but not least to wrap up the wild weekend , several players from the CIA Bounce program were out and about throughout the weekend participating in various Nike events across Toronto.

GROWING GRASSROOTS BASKETBALL 

Will amateur basketball ever be received by Canadians in  the same fashion amateur hockey is? More power moves from McIntyre and high ranking basketball officials among the Canadian basketball community can spearhead the sport in that direction. McIntyre speaking to Hoops Hype Canada at the Jordan Brand Showcase said he didn’t feel an obligation, more a sense of patriotism to portray the passion and enthusiasm his city and country have for grassroots basketball,

“Just want to make sure we have staple stuff in Canada that people are proud of. I didn’t put this on but being a part of it is great for everyone in Canada, basketball in Canada…Athlete Institute Orangeville Prep to play Oak Hill, such a storied program from the States. To have them even come up here and then have the game on national TV is huge,” McIntrye said.

About the type of dividends showing high school hoops on national television can provide long term,

“It gives everyone in Canada the opportunity to see the level of talent and competition we have. Were not far behind and in most cases were not behind at all. We have to keep representing, change the mentality that we don’t have to take a back seat to everyone else, instead we need to grab the wheel and push the gas,” McIntyre added.

Will Canadians one day gather around televisions in the future to rally our Junior national basketball teams like they do our hockey teams? At this alarming rate it is not far fetched.