Basketball Manitoba is pleased to announce it will be offering new expanded programming for females in its Centre for Performance program this coming season. The one-year pilot project will now extend the training season for the Center for Performance to add tournament and exhibition play to allow the athletes to develop against elite level competition. The Centre For Performance teams will play in select tournaments and exhibition play in Canada and the United States during the fall and spring seasons. A pause in regular programming for the school basketball season will allow athletes to fully commit to their school programs.INFORMATION ON MALE PROGRAM
The program will include support from Canada Basketball and the Women’s National team program in the form of curriculum and special training sessions led by National Team coaches. Regular speed and strength training will be provided by McDole's Gym and the Strength and Conditioning department of the Sport for Life Center. Athletes will also participate in special training sessions with guest coaches and instructors over the course of the program.
The Program will see a group of females born 2000, 2001, or 2002 train approximately three to four times per week from September to early December and from late March to late May. The focus of the program is to develop fundamental skills, athletic ability, universal concepts, and the Canadian Women’s National team style of play. Approximately 18 girls will be selected to the group for training. The group will divide into two teams for tournament play to allow for quality playing time during games.
The training group will be led by Basketball Manitoba High Performance Coach Randy Kusano and 15U Provincial Team Coach Alyssa Grant.
A player identification camp for the program will take place Sunday, August 24 at the University of Winnipeg from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The second phase of the identification camp will take place Sunday, September 7 at the University of Winnipeg from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. A $25 tryout fee will be collected at the first session. Athletes selected to the program will start training early September.The total program fee will be $750.00 per player and will include...
- twice weekly regular on-court training sessions during fall and spring seasons
- weekly dedicated shooting practices from September to May
- weekly strength and conditioning training sessions from September to May
- Sport Science sessions
- Special guest coach sessions
- All tournament entry fees
- Russell Athletics Gear Package
- Full accident and liability insurance coverage
Tryout Notes
- $25.00 tryout fee (cash or cheque payable to Basketball Manitoba) due at the first tryout.
- All players are to complete the proper tryout form - CP Tryout Form (PDF) either in advance or on-site at the first session.
- Show up at least 20 minutes before the first session to register.
- No preregistration required
- Basketballs will be provided at all sessions.
- Players are to come dressed ready to play!
- Athletes are expected to be ready to attend both try-out dates as selections and cuts will be made after the first try-out and continue on to the second try-out.
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COACH BIOGRAPHIES
Randy KusanoRandy Kusano was the winningest coach in the history of high school basketball in Manitoba. His high school teams won three MHSAA (Manitoba High School Athletic Association) AAAA Provincial Championships provincial titles, 11 conference titles and he coached in 15 AAAA Final Fours in his 34 years coaching with the Oak Park Raiders in Winnipeg before retiring from teaching in 2010. A University of Manitoba graduate, Kusano is a current fully certified NCCP Level 3 coach with nearly 25 years of CIS coaching experience as an assistant with the Bison men’s and women's basketball program.
Randy has been involved in basketball as a player and coach for over forty years. He developed his love for basketball at Norberry Junior High in St. Vital playing for Hall of Famer, Dennis Alvestad. He moved on to Glenlawn Collegiate and finally to the University of Manitoba. Randy was a member of three consecutive Canadian Junior Men’s championship teams from 1971-1973. In 1976 he was a member of the first Manitoba team to win a National University championship in basketball, the University of Manitoba Bisons.
After his university years were done he continued playing with the Nicolett Inn Senior men’s team that captured their first National Senior Men’s Championship in 1979. The University of Manitoba Junior Men and Nicolett Inn Senior men’s teams were later inducted into the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame.
Randy’s coaching career began with the University of Manitoba Junior Bisons in 1974 and continued there until 1976. He has coached high school basketball for the past thirty-four years, thirty two as head coach of the Varsity Boys program at Oak Park High School.
Over his 34 years at Oak Park, Randy developed the dominate high school program of it’s era, going to 15 Final Fours and winning 3 AAAA Provincial Championships. During this time he has helped to develop more than twenty five players who have gone on to play at the Canadian College or CIS level. Randy has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Manitoba for fifteen years.
Randy has also coached numerous Manitoba Provincial teams as head coach and as an assistant coach at the Canada Games, Western Canada Games, and National Championships.
Alyssa Grant attended Oak Park high school from 2006-2009 where she was named team MVP two years in a row. In her grade 12 year she was named to the All-Manitoba team and also received the Carl Ridd Award for excellence in school, community and sport involvement. In her graduating year at Oak Park she was named Athlete of the Year and left to play for the University of Winnipeg Women’s Basketball team. Alyssa is has just completed her 5th and final year playing for the University of Winnipeg. Throughout her career she was been a leader on and off the floor and was a co-captain of the team for three of her five years.
In addition to playing, Alyssa has also been heavily involved in coaching. She is currently in her fifth year assistant coaching for the Oak Park Raiders varsity girls’ basketball team. In that time the Raiders have made appearances at four consecutive provincial championships, capturing the title in 2013. Alyssa has also coach summer camps for both the University of Winnipeg and Basketball Manitoba’s High Performance Camps. While at university Alyssa has also volunteered her time coaching with the Inner-City Jr. Wesmen, ‘I Can Score’, and Athlete Initiative programs.
Alyssa is currently working towards her Bachelor of Education with a major in kinesiology and minor in psychology. She is hoping to one day teach Physical Education/Health Education at the high school level. Alyssa is also an MFC certified personal trainer and hopes to continue coaching and training this summer and into her career as an educator.
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