Prince Rupert’s Liam McChesney has been named to the Team BC U17 basketball team.
The six-foot-seven baller made the team after attending tryouts at Douglas College in New Westminster last week. What makes his spot on the team even more special is that he is a 15-year-old on a 17-year-old team, which doesn’t happen often.
“Liam brings some things to the table that not a lot of 15 and 16-year-olds can do,” said U17 head coach Joe Enevoldson.
The coach, who also is the skipper of the Douglas College men’s basketball team, said McChesney played very well at the tryouts.
“He can really shoot the ball, he’s long. He can defend pretty well using his length. Liam has a ton of upside,” Enevoldson said.
McChesney was one of the bigger guys in camp and Enevoldson said his length is one of the main things he brings to the court, as well as his ability to shoot threes and “he’s got a calm demeanour for a 16-year-old, which is great to see.”
Players on the U17 team will compete at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg at the end of July, but they have a pretty extensive schedule for the summer. McChesney and the team will also play in three U.S. tournaments and against several colleges and universities in B.C. as well.
The Charles Hays star is the only boy from the north who made the team, which is made up of players from Victoria and the Lower Mainland.
McChesney’s dad, Rick, said Liam showed his game well at the tryouts.
“He’s a really strong defender, I think he’s a strong driver and rebounder and his three-pointer is strong,” he said.
Rick said Liam’s back, which kept him out of most of provincials, is 100 per cent now, or else he wouldn’t be playing basketball.