It's the last high school summer for three Surrey basketball players who will head to Newfoundland to represent B.C. at the 2025 Canada Games.
Pacific Academy's Judah Ashbee, Tamanawis Secondary's Luka Guzina and Semiahmoo Secondary's Jack Snead, who all start Grade 12 this September, have been selected for the U17 BC provincial team, a 12-member squad that will play in this year's Canada Games in St. John's, Nfld., which start Aug. 8.
The trio of talented athletes, all of whom have been awarded with many MVP titles over their careers 香蕉视频直播� some in more than one sport 香蕉视频直播� all just returned from playing for 10 days in Atlanta and Chicago with Canada West Hoops.
All are looking forward to the Games, and to contributing to the sport they love in different ways.
Guzina, at 6'11", is a forward who used to play football, but a principal at his school introduced him to basketball in Grade 8.
"I香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to playing a lot of good players ... there's going to be a lot of athletic guys from all over country there."
At 5'11", Ashbee's position is guard. A lifelong basketball player whose father helped "feed that love" of the sport, Ashbee is hoping to help make some major plays happen in the national tournament.
"I香蕉视频直播檓 expecting to just move the ball and push the pace ... I feel like that香蕉视频直播檚 the main reason I香蕉视频直播檓 on the team, is playmaking 香蕉视频直播� and also, to be able to just knock down shots and hit open threes and shoot well," he noted.
Snead, at 6'6", who initially played soccer before getting into basketball and also plays volleyball, is a forward but also, focuses on defence.
"I香蕉视频直播檓 more of a small forward 香蕉视频直播� kind of in the middle of these two guys 香蕉视频直播� I香蕉视频直播檓 kind of on the wing and I attack inside," he said. "I feel like a major reason I香蕉视频直播檓 on the team is defence. I bring a lot of energy on the defensive side ... I can be versatile on offence, but the main thing for me is defence."
All three athletes also travelled to Quebec a couple years ago as part of the U15 B.C. provincial team to compete at nationals, in addition to playing with Canada West Hoops and a Vancouver-based club as well as their respective high schools.
"It brings us together. It香蕉视频直播檚 a team sport, so you need everyone on your team 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 not like you can do it just by yourself," Ashbee said.
"The unity that it brings and the balance that it brings ... if it weren香蕉视频直播檛 for basketball, I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 really know these guys, so it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty cool that we can come together in our province and represent something bigger than ourselves, and then go and try to get a gold medal."
All three all-stars know they'll face some tough competition in Newfoundland, with B.C., Ontario, Alberta and Quebec being the perennial top four teams who nearly always end up in what is called the Power Pool at the Games.
Ontario always has a powerhouse team, Snead noted, but Alberta has a strong team as well and this year, that's who B.C. will play first in the Power Pool portion of the competition.
Maintaining their focus throughout will be key, they all said.
"I think it's being able to stay focused for the whole game, whether you're getting subbed off and sitting, or how many minutes you香蕉视频直播檙e playing 香蕉视频直播� being able to come in and impact the game right away is a big thing, and I think that always comes down to focus," Ashbee shared.
"The perseverance and mental toughness is important 香蕉视频直播� especially at Canada Games, you香蕉视频直播檙e playing six games in six days, so you香蕉视频直播檝e got to stay tough," Guzina added.
Snead pointed out that it can be physically and mentally challenging during any competition, especially coming back from playing a long, 10-day stint in the States.
"You香蕉视频直播檙e going to get sore, you香蕉视频直播檙e going to have bad games ... being able to stay composed physically and mentally 香蕉视频直播� it does definitely wear you down, having the mental toughness to play through that, and stay true to yourself and trust the work that you put in to carry you through. I feel like it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be more of the same in Newfoundland," said Snead.
While their focus is on the Canada Games prior to the start of the school year, all three athletes are already starting to think about hoops after high school, and playing basketball post-secondary 香蕉视频直播� and maybe, even beyond.
While Guzina is hoping to perhaps, play somewhere south of the Canadian border after Grade 12, Snead thinks he may stay more local, although nothing is yet set in stone.
"I see myself definitely playing post-secondary 香蕉视频直播� I don香蕉视频直播檛 know where it香蕉视频直播檚 going to go from there, but that香蕉视频直播檚 been the goal 香蕉视频直播� play basketball and get some education payed for, and hopefully and get a degree. We're fortunate enough to have basketball as an option to help us get where we want to go."
Ashbee see a future for himself in basketball and hopes to eventually, coach the sport he loves.
"I want to play somewhere post-secondary ... just try to get my education payed for, and then, in the future, I香蕉视频直播檇 also like to coach, because basketball is in my family."
Visit to find out more about the 2025 Canada Games and where to watch.
