Things just keep getting better for Carleton Ravens men’s basketball star Philip Scrubb.
Canada Basketball held its senior men’s national team training camp Aug. 24-28 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, and Scrubb was among 27 players who attended the camp.
Two years after earning Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) rookie of the year honours, and just months after being named the league’s most valuable player, the third-year guard has come one step closer to achieving one of his childhood dreams.
“Ever since I started to take basketball seriously, I’ve made that a goal of mine,” said the 19-year-old Richmond, B.C. native.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity and hopefully I’ll come out and play well.”
Although this was his first experience with the senior national team, Scrubb has represented Canada in the past at the junior level. Most recently, he competed in the 2011 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Under-19 World Championships in Latvia.
Scrubb was one of only three current CIS players who participated in the five-day training camp.
It was a star-studded roster that included six NBA players and many more highly-touted National Collegiate Athletic Association prospects.
“I’m just going to come out and play,” Scrubb said. “I don’t think it really matters what level you’re playing at, just as long as you can play. As long as I stay confident, I think I can compete with these guys.”
And he deserved the opportunity to do just that, according to Ravens head coach Dave Smart, who was also named to the national team alongside Scrubb as an assistant coach.
Smart said being in a professional environment will help Scrubb improve from a leadership standpoint, but he’s already a “great talent” with a bright future.
“The thing is, he’s only 19 years old,” Smart said. “I don’t think anybody recognizes just how young he is because of everything he’s accomplished. As long as he keeps improving, he can go as far as he wants to go.”
And just like every other player who competed in the training camp, Scrubb said he’d love to represent Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“It’d be an amazing experience, but there’s a long way to go,” Scrubb said.
“I have to make the team, and the team has to qualify.”
After failing to qualify for this summer’s Olympic Games in London, Canada sits 26th in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) world rankings. The goal will surely be to turn things around in time for 2016, but that may be pushing it, Smart said.
“That’s obviously the goal and there’s certainly enough talent to have an opportunity, but it’s going to be tough,” Smart said. “They’re still very young. The program has a chance to be very good, but it’s going to take a while.”
With eight CIS championships and previous experience with the senior national team under his belt, Canada Basketball felt Smart could help get them there.
For his part, Smart said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Canadian basketball star Steve Nash, who also happens to be the team’s general manager, and Jay Triano, who was introduced as head coach at a Aug. 23 press conference.
“Obviously there are issues with being away from my family and my team in the summers and those played into my decision making,” Smart said. “But being able to work with Steve and Jay, there are not many opportunities you get like that. You have to take advantage of it.”
Former Ravens forward Aaron Doornekamp, a three-time CIS champion and senior national team veteran, also attended team Canada’s training camp. Doornekamp currently plays professionally in Italy.
