Sophomore Joe Hart Making Waves With British U20 Team

Essex trio bid for Euro basketball glory
(Link to original story)

12:39pm Thursday 4th July 2013 in SportBy Chris Phillips

Romania bound - Joe Lockwood, Rikki Broadmore and Joe Hart are part of the Great Britain under 20 team

A SOUTH East Essex trio will be spearheading Great Britain’s bid for glory at the European Under-20 Basketball Championships in Romania next week.

Shoebury’s Joe Hart and Rayleigh’s Joe Lockwood have both been selected in the 14-man squad, while Canvey’s Rikki Broadmore will also play a key part as the team’s performance analyst.

And Hart, a former St Thomas More School pupil, believes the GB team has what it takes to win the Division B title.

“I was in the squad which finished sixth in these championships last season and I think we’re much stronger this year,” said Hart, 20.

“We’ve played something like seven warm-up matches in the space of 12 days, but it’s been a great schedule and I honestly think we can go to the Championships and win it with the players we have.”

Hart was in the starting five for Great Britain’s latest game, an 87-66 win against Holland, which made it seven successive victories for his side.

Ex-FitzWimarc School pupil Lockwood also played a part in the triumph and, as the youngest member of the squad, he is relishing his first taste of international basketball.

“I really didn’t expect to get in to the squad, so it’s brilliant to be involved and I’m still ecstatic about it all,” said the 18-year-old.

Britain play their first game against the Slovak Republic on Friday, July 12, before also facing Luxembourg, Romania, Poland and Hungary in quick succession.

Morrison Named Assistant Coach With U19 National Team

Lakehead University men's basketball coach Scott Morrison (Morell, PE) will serve once again as an assistant coach with Canada Basketball’s Junior Men’s National Team (JMNT) this summer. Last year Morrison was an assistant coach with the U18 JMNT, earning a bronze medal at the FIBA Americas event in Brazil, and a berth in this year's U19 FIBA World Championships in Prague, June 27-July 7.

Says Coach Morrison, "It is a great honor to once again be selected to represent both Lakehead University and my home province of PEI as a member of the Junior National Team. After going into last summer's training camp a little wet behind the ears, I am excited to have a year under my belt and the experience that comes with it." Adds Scott, "I am looking forward to contributing in whatever way I am asked and am proud to help the team reach its goals this summer."

In preparation for the World Championships, the U19 team has a training camp in Toronto from June 8-19, followed by exhibition/training games versus the USA and Brazil in Prague (June 19-26).

At the U19 FIBA World's, Canada will be in Pool A, along with Spain, Croatia and Korea. Coverage of the event shall be available via FIBATV.COM

The U19 Canadian JMNT training camp roster (released yesterday) includes such U18 returnees as Matthew Attewe (Auburn), Tyler Ennis (Syracuse), Trey Lyles (Top Ten 2014 Recruit), Duane Notice (South Carolina), Xavier Ranthan-Mayes (Florida State) and of course the Vaughan, Ontario phenom Andrew Wiggins (Kansas).

Coach Morrison rejoins the JMNT program and continues his journey with head coach Roy Rana (Ryerson), and fellow assistant coach Jamie McNeilly (Marquette). Canadian university veteran coach Steve Konchalski (St.FX) once again serves as the mentor coach, while Jesse Young is the team's apprentice coach.

Morrison, who competes against coach Roy Rana during the OUA regular season, gives respect to his  Canada Basketball coaching colleagues and accepts the opportunity with honor. "We are blessed with a great staff and group of coaches which will make each day a world-class coaching clinic," Morrison says, adding, "We are also fortunate to select from an elite group of young athletes, many of whom arrive with extensive international experience already. I expect that together, coaches and players will form a tight unit that the Canadian basketball community can support with pride."

Links for more info:

Canada Basketball

FIBA U19 World Championships