Looking for a few good Lions
The Niagara River Lions’ first open tryout has a twofold purpose.
“We’re trying to find that hidden gem that for whatever reason we haven’t located yet, and it’s also an opportunity to tell people a little more about what our team is all about,” said Ken Murray, the coach/general manager of the newest franchise in the National Basketball League of Canada.
As of Tuesday, 30 players had already paid the $150.45 to register for Saturday’s 1 to 5 p.m. camp at Niagara College’s Welland campus.
“Out of that 30, there are a good 12 to 15 guys that I would label as top prospects and three or four of the guys have played in the league before,” Murray said. “It’s going to be really interesting to see how things unfold and I wouldn’t be surprised to see 40 guys on Saturday.”
Murray’s goal for the first tryout camp is to sign one or two players.
Among the list of registered players are: a couple of Canadian players who competed on NCAA teams in the States; a former NCAA Division 1 player from Tennessee; two former NCAA Division 1 players from Illinois; one former Canisius player; a former University of Buffalo athlete; a former Eastern Michigan player; three former standout Canadian university players; and four players with local connections; Tshing Kasamba, C.J. Smith, Anto Raic and Ryan Christie.
Kasamba, a former St. Francis star, started his post-secondary career at NCAA Division 1 Chicago State before ending up at Brock. Smith played at Brock and Niagara College. Raic, a Welland Notre Dame product, played for Murray at Brock and is a former third-round pick after attending the National Basketball League of Canada combine. The 6-foot-7 Christie played at Niagara College, McMaster and Windsor.
Murray feels all four have a chance to be invited to the team’s main camp in December.
“C.J, is very athletic and with Tshing it depends who shows up. Some days he looks good and other days he doesn’t look as good,” he said.
The 26- year Kasamba plays with a semi-pro team, Toronto 3D, and a number of his teammates are attending the tryout. He feels his game is continuing to improve.
“I’m getting back to more of where I was before I tore my ACL,” he said. “That has taken some time to get over and I have to take care of it and strengthen it.’
The tryout with the River Lions is Kasamba’s way of keeping his options open. He hopes his agent can land him a position overseas.
The River Lions have already signed a couple of players, but Murray isn’t ready yet to release their names.
“We want to put out a proper news release on them, but one of the kids was a three-time NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) All-American and another kid who at one time was the NAIA player of the year.”
Murray is excited about the calibre of players available to him.
“This is nice when I can go out recruit and actually pay them money,” Murray said, with a laugh. “I’m a little spoiled and it’s amazing how many players are available right now.
“The old adage was ‘Let’s go to Europe and make some money’, but the European teams are cutting back and there’s not as many kids going over to Europe.”
When he was introduced as the team’s coach/general manager, Murray stated his No. 1 priority was a point guard. That quest is ongoing.
“I’ve got a couple in mind that are very, very good and if I get the OK from one kid, you will be familiar with him,” he said. “You will have seen him play which means he’s a Canadian.”
Murray he believes his knowledge of Canadian university players gives him an advantage over the other coaches.
“I know where they are and I know what their capabilities are,” he said. “Some of the other coaches may use Canadians as a second thought, but Canadians to me are my first thought.”
Each team must have four Canadians on its roster.
“I want to have more than four Canadians on the team if possible,” he said.
Murray expects to bring 18 players to the December training camp and from there whittle down his roster to 12. Players are inked to non-guaranteed league contracts until they make the team.
C.J, is very athletic and with Tshing it depends who shows up. Some days he looks good and other days he doesn’t
look as good.”
Ken Murray, coach/general manager of the newest franchise in the National
Basketball League of Canada