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The Canada Basketball Junior Academy in Manitoba will hold an Identification Camp Weekend on September 19-21, 2025, at the Sport Manitoba Courts. This identification camp weekend is open to males and females born in 2011, 2012 and 2013. A small group from each birth year will be selected to train in Winnipeg over 5 training weekends from September to early December. Throughout these training sessions, the athletes will follow a curriculum provided by Canada Basketball, designed to prepare potential athletes to perform in the age-group National Team camps and competitions.
PROGRAM COACHES
Canada Basketball's Michael Meeks and Jodi Gram will be in Winnipeg to lead the male Identification Camp and select athletes for the training group. A team of experienced Manitoba coaches will lead the Junior Academy Manitoba Sessions.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Junior Academy is designed as an early identification and training program to complement the current club basketball system. The training sessions are scheduled around the Peg City Showcase weekends to minimize club conflicts. The Junior Academy will not compete in any leagues or exhibition games and is strictly a training model designed by Canada Basketball.
IDENTIFICATION CAMP
The camp fee is $20.00 per person to attend the ID sessions on September 19, 20, and 21. Selection decisions will begin during the first day of the identification sessions, and selected players will be invited back to attend the following session(s) as the weekend progresses. All players must first register below to attend the ID camp sessions.
PROGRAM FEE
Those selected for the program will pay a $325.00 program fee. The program includes 14 sessions of on-court training from September through early December, a Canada Basketball Junior Academy gear package and player insurance. This program is KidSport funding eligible, with details found HERE.
ALL BELOW SESSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SPORT MANITOBA COURTS
(See the below map)
Male Junior Academy Coaches:
DAN BECKER - The current Technical Director of Basketball Manitoba is a four-time alumnus of Team Canada, representing the Red & White in the FISU games and 2 Jones Cups. Dan is a former NCAA Division 1 basketball player and a 12-year professional player. Dan is an NCCP Level 4 Coach who won Gold with the 17U Manitoba Provincial Team in 2014 and has over 20 years of experience coaching in programs ranging from grassroots to university. He has been the Basketball Manitoba Technical Director and High-Performance Coach since 2010.
STEPHEN TACKIE - The current head coach of the Sturgeon Heights Huskies varsity boys basketball program, Stephen is a 2-time Silver Medal winner at the 17U boys level with Team Manitoba at the 2012 National Championships and 2013 Canada Games. Stephen is an NCCP Learning Facilitator, Evaluator, and a past Center For Performance (CP) coach. Stephen has extensive experience coaching youth development programs throughout North America, including with the Point Guard College camp program and this year's 15U Provincial Team. Coach Tackie was an assistant coach with the 15U Male Provincial Team this past summer.
SUKHVIR SINGH - Suk has been involved in basketball as a player and a coach for the past 30 years. Coach Singh played his high school basketball with the Kelvin Clippers and then went on to play for 5 years at the University of Winnipeg. Sukhvir began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the Red River Rebels College program. After two seasons, he was promoted to the Head Coaching position. He led the Rebels to 7 straight MCAC Championships. Coach Singh was an assistant coach with the University of Manitoba from 2015-2017, where he helped guide the program to back-to-back CanWest Final 4 appearances. In 2015, Sukhvir Singh Co-Founded the Attack Basketball program, where he is the Head Coach and Program Director. Suk has represented Manitoba as both a player and the head coach of the 17U Male Provincial Team. 
PATRICK MART - Currently the head coach for the Junior Varsity Sturgeon Heights Huskies, Pat has experience coaching the Team Toba 17U and Canada Games provincial teams and in the Targeted Athlete Program (TAP). Pat was a standout high school and Provincial Team player and suited up for the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. Pat just wrapped up a successful summer as the 15U Male Head Coach with a 5-1 record at the 2025 National Championships.
KEENAN BENARROCH - Has been involved in basketball for nearly a decade, both as a player and a coach. He played for the University of Manitoba Bisons from 2014 to 2017.
Keenan served as an assistant coach for the University of Manitoba Men’s Basketball team during the 2017-2018 season. He then joined the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Women’s Basketball team as an Assistant Coach from 2019 to 2023. In the 2021-2022 season, Keenan played a key role in helping the team achieve a perfect 20-0 record, securing both the OUA and U SPORTS National Championships. In 2021, he was the Head Coach for the Downtown Toronto Centre for Performance and served as an Apprentice Coach with the Ontario 15U Provincial Girls team.
Currently, Keenan is pursuing a Bachelor of Education at the University of Manitoba while coaching the Churchill Junior High Boys team. He finished the summer as the 14U male head coach.
To view this information properly on a smartphone, rotate your device to a 'landscape' position to see all the data.
MALE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Girls Junior Academy Coaches:
Since 2019, Leslie has been the Head Coach of the 2010 Junior Bisons Boys Gold Basketball club team. She has also been working hard to promote girls' basketball in the province, starting grassroots female basketball programs at the Lindenwoods Community Centre for Novice players and more Experienced basketball players aged 8-12. This has led to Leslie joining the TAP team, where she will work with some of the best talent in the province.
EMERSON MARTIN - a passionate and dedicated basketball coach with a strong background as both a player and mentor. A graduate of Dakota Collegiate and a former player at the University of Manitoba, Emerson brings high-level playing experience, deep knowledge of the game, and a team-first mentality. Her coaching journey began with the Junior Bison program. Emerson is committed to developing well-rounded players, emphasizing skill development, basketball IQ, and confidence both on and off the court.
Tianna began to make her mark as a coach, fostering a deep passion for developing young athletes. During her time with the University of Manitoba, she coached for the Junior Bisons Girls Basketball Club and contributed to the 17U Female TAP Basketball program and 14U Provincial Team. Currently, Tianna continues to coach at Miles Macdonell Collegiate, now in her fifth season. She also serves as an assistant coach with the Junior Wesmen program.
To view this information properly on a smartphone, rotate your device to a 'landscape' position to see all the data. FEMALE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
MAP TO SPORT MANITOBA COURTS - 145 PACIFIC AVENUE
QUESTIONS
- Questions about the program can be sent to Dan Becker at dan@basketballmanitoba.ca.
- Questions on the registration process or fees can go to Tiara at tiara@basketballmanitoba.ca.
IDENTIFICATION CAMP REGISTRATION FORM
Can't see the below registration form? CLICK HERE to view it in a new window.
