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

Lakehead Basketball Hosts Top Trainer for High Performance Clinic

Lakehead to Host Elite Basketball Trainer Kyle Julius of *A* Game Hoops

 

Lakehead to Host Elite Basketball Trainer May 11-13

During the May 11-13 weekend, Lakehead Thunderwolves will be hosting - Kyle Julius and *A* GAME HOOPS - for a three-day high school aged clinic focusing on developing; a) on-court skills b) mental toughness and training c) strength and agility d) goal setting and long term development.

*A* Game Hoops is now providing a tremendous opportunity for teams to run a unique community and team development camp training at the highest level.

Our experiences playing at a high level have allowed us to build  intricate training plans based on nutrition, time management, rest and pushing your skills and endurance to the highest level possible.

Athletes will receive, off-season Nutrition Plans, Goal setting packages and a very unique off-season training plan that will take every aspect of your game up 10 notches.

*A* Game Hoops can make teams, players, coaches and the community tighter and better in one of our Team Camps!!

Cant wait to go back home and be on the floor in the Thunder Dome!!!

 

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwqrGQrz9o9_cS1sbG5IaDFTTldncnVsTTlSLWYxQQ/edit?pli=1

Morrison Selected National Junior Men's Assistant

Morrison Selected National Junior Men's Assistant

April 19th, 2012

Basketball - Men's

General News

Author: Hugh Mullally

(With files from Basketball Canada)

The 2012 Junior Men’s National Team will participate in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Brazil from June 16-20^th. The event will serve as a qualifier for the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship, with the top four finishers in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship securing a berth in the prestigious world event.

The team will be led by head coach Roy Rana (Toronto, ON). Rana served as the cadet head coach from 2009-2011 and was an assistant coach with the senior men in 2009. During his tenure as head coach of the cadet team, Rana led Canada to three consecutive podium finishes, including capturing a bronze medal at the inaugural 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship. Rana is the head coach at Ryerson University where he led the Rams to a berth in the 2012 CIS Final 8.

Assisting Rana will be Jamie McNeilly (Toronto, ON) and Scott Morrison (Morell, PEI). McNeilly previously served under Rana as an assistant coach in 2011 with the cadet team and currently works as a Student-Athlete Development Specialist with the men’s basketball program at Marquette University. McNeilly represented Canada as a player in two Summer Universiades (2005, 2007). Morrison, in his first year as an assistant coach in the national team program, is the head coach at Lakehead University where he has led the Thunderwolves to three consecutive appearances in the CIS Final 8 and was named OUA Coach of the Year in 2010.

"I am very honored to have been selected by Canada Basketball and Coach Rana to be a part of the Junior National Team staff," say Morrison. "This opportunity would not be possible were it not for the years of support I have received from my family as well as my coaching staff, players, and supervisors at Lakehead. It will be a great life and learning experience to be involved with the coaches and players at this high level while representing Canada Basketball in Brazil. I am looking forward to working hard and doing whatever I can to contribute to the team`s goal of winning a medal at the FIBA Americas and qualifying for the 2013 World Championships."

The coaching staff was selected by a 10 person committee made up of the senior leadership of the men’s national team program, including Managing Director, Maurizio Gherardini, Council of Excellence members, Steve Konchalski, Jay Triano and Director of Youth Player Development, Rowan Barrett.

“The growth of the game and of Canada Basketball is possible with the commitment of our entire basketball community. Canada has quality coaches to support such growth and success at every level on the international basketball stage. We are thankful that so many coaches take great pride in developing our Canadian basketball players,” commented Maurizio Gherardini.

The teams begin their respective 2012 schedules with open tryouts being held Thursday, May 17^th at Ryerson University (Toronto, ON) and invitational tryouts from Friday, May 18^th to Monday, May 21^st.

Pizza Hut Spring League Tips Off May 1

BOYS Pizza Hut Spring Basketball League

Tuesdays & Thursdays starting May 1st and ending June 14th

DIVISION 1:

AGES: Boys 6 - 9

TIME: 5:00 - 6:00 pm

DIVISION 2:

AGES: Boys 10 - 13

TIME: 6:00 - 7:00 pm

DIVISION 3:

AGES: Boys 14 - 18

TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 pm

PLACE: C.J. SANDERS FIELDHOUSE - MAIN GYM

COST: $90.00 includes t-shirt and all taxes & fees.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

TheSpec - Cathedral basketball products join forces in Thunder...

TheSpec - Cathedral basketball products join forces in Thunder...

Lakehead to Host Elite Basketball Trainer Kyle Julius of *A* Game Hoops

Lakehead to Host Elite Basketball Trainer May 11-13

During the May 11-13 weekend, Lakehead Thunderwolves will be hosting the top individual basketball trainer in Canada - Kyle Julius - for a three-day high school aged clinic focusing on developing; a) on-court skills b) mental toughness and training c) strength and agility d) goal setting and long term development.

Coach Julius is a former pro and national team player who, since retiring from competitive play, has developed his basketball training business (*A* Game Hoops), and his reputation as a trainer as one of the best in Canada. He has worked with some of the top young players at all levels of basketball. Included in his client list are NBA star Andrea Bargnani, NCAA star Kevin Pangos, as well as NCAA women's stars May Kostopoulous from Vermont and Michigan's Stephanie Skrba who both play pro in the Greek 1st Division.

Registered players will receive 15 hours of instruction as well as a t-shirt and dvd of the camp (to be mailed in late May). Coach Julius will also be distributing information on the drills worked on in camp as well as some material designed to help players reach their off-season goals for months and years to come. Cost for players is $125 + HST and registration information is listed on the attached brochure.
Coaches can also attend the clinic for a cost of $50 + HST, with registration on Friday or by emailing Coach Morrison (contact listed on attached brochure)

A brief note on Kyle from Coach Morrison

Kyle Julius was born and raised in Thunder Bay and was a self-made success story on the basketball court. He put in hours training his game and also the physical attributes necessary to play at the top levels in the world. Many of the drills he used as a young player he still incorporates into his workouts along with a massive amount of basketball knowledge that he has acquired since his days shooting in Sanders' Field House. Since leaving Thunder Bay near the end of his HS career, Kyle worked his way to a division 1 scholarship at NCAA school Furman where he was named a Southern Conference all-star. With a goal of developing a more "pro" game, Kyle returned home to the CIS and Guelph University where he quickly became the school's 2nd leading scorer of all time and a CIS All-Canadian. Kyle then realized two of his ultimate goals by playing in the top professional division in Italy as well as the Canadian Senior men's basketball team.

There is no person who relates better to both the local players in Thunder Bay as well as the top players in the world. This is a great opportunity for all girls and boys high school players in Northern Ontario.

Related Links:

Home Site – *A* Game Hoops

*A* Game 250 Test Featuring Kevin Pangos

Sample Drills & Preview

Media Story on Coach Julius

For Registration Please click on the link "2012 High Performance Clinic" under the Camps section on the right side of this website.