2012 Boys Summer Camps Announced

In an effort to build on the positive momentum of the Kyle Julius High Performance camp in May as well as the ongoing Pizza Hut Spring League, Lakehead Basketball is pleased to announce the line-up for the 2012 Boys Summer Basketball Camps.

There are four sessions to chose from including:

Session 1:  July 9 - 13  (Mornings only ages 6-13)

Session 2:  July 23-27  (Mornings only ages 6-13)

Session 3: August 13-17 (Mornings/Afternoons Ages 9-16)

Session 4: August 13-17 (Evenings for Senior HS Players)

For More Information on the Camps Click HERE

To Register Directly Online Click HERE

For Questions Please Email Coach Morrison

Individual Post Workout Lakehead Basketball

In an effort to add a developmental aspect to our website we will begin to post some drills and workouts that we utilize from time-to-time.

Below is our interpretation of a video tutorial for an individual post workout.



FOLLOW ALONG HERE WITH THE WORKOUT PLAN

'Wolves Release Tentative Schedule For 2012-13 Season

While there are still a few uncertain tip-off times, the base of the 2012-13 Thunderwolves schedule is set.
The team will host an NCAA program for an international tour for the first time as long-time rival UW-Stout will spend 5 days training in Thunder Bay and competing with the Thunderwolves.
Lakehead will also make an extended trek to the western part of the country as they compete in the Saskatchewan Invitational against teams such as USask and Concordia.  That tournament is followed by four games against the top teams in B.C. including UVic, UBC and Fraser Valley, who eliminated the 'Wolves from the CIS Final 8 last March.
Lakehead's non-conference schedule also includes Zanatta Weekend games hosting Brandon in late September as well as a return to the Wesmen Classic tournament in Winnipeg.

Click Here for the Full (Tentative) Schedule

Thunderwolves Ink Stand Out Guard Joe Hart

Lakehead University Athletics is pleased to announce the commitment of 6’4” shooting guard Joe Hart to join the men’s basketball program for the start of the 2012-‘13 basketball season.  Hart, a product of Southend, England, will graduate this week from Blair Academy in New Jersey where he has played for Coach Joe Mantegna for the past three seasons.  

“We are very excited to welcome Joe to our basketball program and the Thunderwolves family.” Said Lakehead Head Coach Scott Morrison. “It did not take long for us to see that he has an excellent skill-set on the court as well as the type of work ethic, character and leadership qualities we are looking to add to our line-up. We expect Joe to play a major role this coming season and make a smooth transition to being a ‘core’ player for us to build around in the future.”

Known at Blair Academy for his quick release and shooting accuracy from long range, Hart captained the Bucs to an 18-7 record and their 8^th MAPL (Mid-Atlantic Prep League) Championship in 2011-‘12.  Blair made it to the prestigious NJ State final where they fell short to powerhouse St. Benedicts who were the #5 high school team in the United States last season.  Hart was also a key member of the 2010-‘11 team that won the N.J. State Prep ‘A’ Championship; one of two such titles during Coach Mantegna’s 13 year tenure.

Coach Mantegna, who has produced three NBA stars and more than 30 NCAA D1 players, believes Morrison and the ‘Wolves have themselves a blue-chip recruit: “Joe has been everything I would want in a Blair student-athlete.  He is diligent and driven both on the court and in the classroom.  Moreover he is a winner, a leader, and a role model to our younger players.  Joe will be missed but I am thankful he is in such great hands with Coach Morrison and his fine program.”

Hart, an honor roll student at Blair Academy, joins Lakehead as one of the more experienced and well-travelled freshmen in the Coach Morrison era.  He has played competitive basketball in fourteen countries throughout the world, adding Canada to the list this coming September.  Prior to enrolling at Blair Academy, Joe was a member of several age-group national teams from England including 2009 when he was the captain of he English U16 squad that won a bronze medal at the European championships. In June Hart will try-out for the Great Britain Under-20 team that will compete during the summer culminating in the European U-20 Championships in July.  He will get some bonus exposure to the CIS as the head coach of the GB U-20 team is Dave Smart of the Carleton Ravens.  The teams’ assistant coach is John Campbell of Dalhousie.

Big Weekend of Basketball Development in Thunder Bay

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2012

Kyle Julius Bring *A* Game to Lakehead Basketball Development

THUNDER BAY, Ont. -

Local basketball legend Kyle Julius returned to the cradle of his basketball beginnings, the C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse, to direct a group of 50 local aspiring basketball players through a 3-day High Performance Basketball Clinic. He was also directing the Lakehead men’s basketball team through a series of workouts over the weekend.

Kyle, son of former Lakehead women’s basketball coach Stu Julius, made a name for himself in Canadian University basketball as a Guelph Gryphon (2nd all-time in scoring), and progressed from there to compete and excel in professional European leagues, and as a member of Team Canada. In addition to his paternal connection to Lakehead, Julius was also a teammate of current Lakehead assistant coach, Matt Erdman in their high school days (Cathedral Gaels, Hamilton ON).

These days, Julius is a professional basketball trainer for elite high school players, and athletes in the CIS, NCAA, and NBA with **A** Game Hoops, a company he founded over a decade ago. His development system combines traditional basketball fundamentals with nutrition, goal setting and film analysis to get the most out of teams and individuals.

One particular point of emphasis for Julius is the importance of being a good teammate. A routine he prescribes for his students is setting daily and weekly goals and reflecting on those to evaluate one’s progress. For Julius, being a good teammate unlocks the potential for athletes to become better individually and develop together to accelerate improvement as a team.

Coach Julius summarizes his development strategy with one simple mantra: “Practice hard so that the game is easy.”

As a shooting guard, Kyle was not the tallest player on the court, but instead relied on his athleticism and conditioning to bring his game to higher levels, a lesson that is drilled to his students. He also incorporates ‘game type situations’ and intensity into every drill and workout he runs to push his athletes out of their comfort zone and on the road to steady improvement.

From warm-ups with skipping ropes and medicine balls, to form shooting drills with white cotton gloves (to develop players’ touch with the ball), Coach Julius’ innovative approach to basketball development is one that engages athletes and produces results.

Coach Scott Morrison has had his eye on coach Julius for some time with intentions of bringing him into the Thunderdome to work with his players and local youth. “I have always admired Kyle as a player and competitor,” begins Morrison. “Since the inception of *A* Game Hoops I have gained a great respect for his training methods and philosophies. We jumped at the chance to bring him back home to Thunder Bay where he has had a major impact on the future approach to our basketball development as well as striving to have a championship mentality 24/7.”

Says Julius, “I love coming back here to Thunder Bay, I wish I could do it more often.”  

For more information about Kyle Julius and *A* Game Hoops, check out his website; www.agamehoops.com

-- 

Hugh Mullally

Sports Information Director

Lakehead University Athletics

Facebook:  Lakehead Athletics & Hugh Athleticinfo

Twitter: @LakeheadSID

Office: 807 766 7157Fax: (807) 343-8203 
www.thunderwolves.ca