Ontario Basketball announced Monday a partnership with Pretty River Sports & Entertainment to launch the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA). The league is part of an overall shift in Ontario high school aged basketball competition.
“Ontario Basketball is thrilled to partner with Pretty River Sports & Entertainment,” said Greg Verner, President, Ontario Basketball. “This new venture will provide an optimal development and competition model for elite athletes in the province and help stakeholders better understand the benefits and regulations for NCAA and CIS opportunities.”
The vision of OSBA is to identify, develop, and support targeted Ontario basketball teams and in turn athletes, to achieve the goals of developing Ontario athletes for post-secondary, national and international competition. In addition, this elite league will help increase the number and quality of Ontario athletes competing in the province at the Train to Compete stage of the Long-Term Athlete Development model. Ultimately, the goal of the league is to provide elite level competition and exposure to premier high school basketball programs and in turn it should raise the entire basketball environment in Ontario and Canada.
“This partnership with Ontario Basketball will provide high school-aged athletes the opportunity to train and compete in Ontario at the highest level,” Jesse Tipping, President, Pretty River Sports & Entertainment. “The focus and support for these athletes will be just as much on basketball as it will be on academics.”
In addition to partnering with sport schools or academies not currently served by Ontario Basketball, OSBA will provide proper periodized training, development and competition models for high performance athletes. OSBA will also focus on providing coaches with additional education and NCCP professional development, while increasing athletes’ exposure to talent identifiers from Canada Basketball, CCAA, CIS and NCAA.
Over the coming months, comprehensive proposals from interested programs will be accepted and participating teams will be announced. The first year will see eight (8) male teams competing in the league and the second year will see the inclusion of female programs and the possible expansion of the number of male teams.
For more information please visit www.ontariosba.ca.
About Ontario Basketball
Ontario Basketball is the sport governing body for basketball in the Province of Ontario. Created more than 70 years ago as the Ontario Amateur Basketball Association, the organization is a not-for-profit association and was incorporated as such in 1977. Ontario Basketball represents the province of Ontario’s amateur basketball interests. The membership is made up of athletes, coaches, officials, members clubs, camps, local basketball organizations, groups, leagues and basketball supporters. The most recent annual report is available at www.obaannualreport.ca.
About Pretty River Sports & Entertainment
Pretty River Sports and Entertainment is a privately owned organization dedicated to growing sport in Canada for over 15 years. With a primary focus on basketball academies, high performance training, and community recreation, PRSE is devoted to the development and success of the Canadian athlete.
