Wiggins, Olynyk, Murray Absent from Canada's Olympic Qualifying Roster | Zagsblog
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Friday / November 22.
  • Wiggins, Olynyk, Murray Absent from Canada’s Olympic Qualifying Roster

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    Canada announced the 12-man roster that will compete in the 6-team Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT), tipping-off July 5th in Manila, Philippines — and Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Olynyk and Jamal Murray are all absent.

    “Our goal is to qualify for the Olympics,” said JayTriano, head coach. “We are focused on one practice at a time and one game at a time.”

    Canada went 4-1 in a European exhibition tournament, taking on China, Croatia, Italy and Puerto Rico. Cory Joseph (Toronto Raptors) and Joel Anthony (Detroit Pistons) joined the group for the June 29th win over Puerto Rico, and Tristan Thompson (Cleveland Cavaliers) met the team in Manila.

    Wiggins and Olynyk played at FIBA Americas last summer, but Thompson did not as his free agency status was unresolved.

    “We are facing some of the top teams at the qualifier and have prepared by completing a rigorous preparation schedule in Europe,” said Steve Nash, general manager. “We have a tremendous opportunity to achieve an Olympic berth and our players and staff will be doing everything possible to achieve our goal of qualifying for Rio.”

    Murray, a one-and-done out of Kentucky who was the No. 7 pick of the Denver Nuggets, had hoped to play but is not on the roster.

    “That’s one of my dreams, and that’s something I want to do, so if there’s any way I can go and play in the Philippines or in Rio, I’d like to try and find a way to make it happen,” Murray said at NBA Draft Media Day.
    TEAM CANADA OQT ROSTER

    NAME # POSITION HEIGHT HOMETOWN TEAM/SCHOOL
    Shai Alexander 5 G 6’4 Hamilton, ON Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
    Joel Anthony 15 F 6’9 Montreal, QC Detroit Pistons
    Anthony Bennett 10 F 6’8 Toronto, ON Toronto Raptors*
    Khem Birch 9 F 6’9 Montreal, QC Olympiakos
    Melvin Ejim 7 F 6’6 Toronto, ON Reyer Venezia
    Tyler Ennis 11 G 6’2 Brampton, ON Milwaukee Bucks
    Brady Heslip 12 G 6’2 Burlington, ON Pallacanestro Cantu*
    Cory Joseph 6 G 6’3 Pickering, ON Toronto Raptors
    Levon Kendall 14 F 6’10 Vancouver, BC Movistar Estudiantes*
    Philip Scrubb 4 G 6’3 Richmond, BC Fraport Skyliners
    Thomas Scrubb 8 G 6’6 Richmond, BC Giessen 46ers
    Tristan Thompson 13 C 6’9 Brampton, ON Cleveland Cavaliers
      *2015-16 Team.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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