#RepYourRegion: VanCity Basketball Academy ready to play teams across the country.

One of Vancouver’s premier basketball academy is headed to Langley for Bballnationals.

VanCity Basketball will be sending boys to compete in the Under-14 and Under-16 divisions and the club’s Executive Director, Jamie Oei, is excited about the prospect of facing new competition.

“This gives an opportunity to play some different teams throughout the country, teams that we wouldn’t see normally throughout the year,” said Oei.

As for the boys filling out the VanCity Basketball’s roster for the tournament, Oei said they are focused on taking things one day and one event at a time. Still, with one eye looking forward to Bballnationals, Oei expects his teams to compete and try to get better in their return to the tournament. Overall though, the opportunity for his teams to play tournaments such as Bballnationals is a welcome one.

Jaime Oei, head coach of Vancity Basketball Academy. (Photo courtesy of Vancouver Basketball Academy.)

For Oei, who spent much of his playing career in British Columbia, watching Vancouver’s own Brandon Clarke be drafted to the NBA by the Memphis Grizzlies is a reminder of how much things have changed since his playing days.

“When I was growing up, we didn’t have anything like this [club basketball]" he explained. "This is kind of a new thing for the last ten years, for kids to be able to play club basketball and be able to play throughout the spring with teams, rather than just training on their own or playing with their friends."

The rising growth of club basketball in Canada is not lost on Oei.

“It’s just a great opportunity to get more basketball.”

Spots are still available for Bballnationals, the premiere club basketball tournament in Canada. Visit their website to find out how to register. BC Sports Hub will have exclusive coverage of the tournament.

Written by: Mohak Sood