#RepYourRegions: Shooting Stars aiming for the top of Bballnationals
A local returnee, the Shooting Stars basketball club out of Richmond BC will be back at Bballnationals starting August 2nd. They’ve got three teams in it this time — two U16 teams and a U18 team — and are excited to return to the tournament.
“We were in the tournament last year because it was a nice way to end the year” said Joey Dhillon, head coach of the Shooting Stars. “Seeing all these different teams from across Canada, it’s going to be a good experience for the guys. We got five or six games over the course of the tournament and it was a great weekend. It was probably the most memorable of the local tournaments [we played in].”
In its third year of existence Shooting Stars started when Dhillon coached an excellent Richmond and Delta zone team, but wanted to continue to play together into next year. Since its inception, the program has grown to multiple teams who compete in various tournaments.
Dhillon, who was also a former basketball BC coach, is pumped to put his teams to the test against some of the top competition in this country.
“Just the overall talent from all over Canada,” he said on what his kids are looking forward to. “I remember Grassroots coming out and putting on a show. Even some of the U17 teams, a couple of the teams from Alberta were very, very good and the team from Toronto, North Stars, they were very good. It’s cool to see the different talent levels from across Canada.”
He also recognizes the importance of having a national club basketball tournament for club basketball in Canada.
“It allows everyone to come and be together for a weekend, and the LEC is such a great facility to do it out of” he explained. The gyms are there and you can just walk into a different building and pick and choose some other talent. It’s a good way to end the year and it’s something to build towards.
If nationals were in May, it would be different because it would just be in the middle of the summer. But it being in August, it’s like having a provincial championship at the end of the year and it’s something to build towards with your team. All of our players get super excited for it.”
Spots are still available for Bballnationals, with the deadline for registration being extended until July 15. Visit their website to learn more.
Written by: Nick Bondi