Anyone wishing to catch-up on many of the top high school basketball players to come out of Richmond in the past decade or so only needs to drop by the Cambie Community Centre on Thursday nights.
The Cambie Basketball League recently wrapped up its spring/summer season with the Runnin’ Rebels holding off the Wildcats, 86-85, in a thriller for their third straight title.
The Rebels were paced by former Burnett star Elliot Mason who averaged nearly 30 points per game as he prepares to play pro ball overseas. His teammates included Vijay Dhillon who earned MVP honours in leading RC Palmer to the 2011 provincial title. He is returning the University of the Fraser Valley for his final season of collegiate eligibility.
The appropriately named Wildcats featured some of the greatest players to ever come out of McMath including UBC grad Kyle Watson and 2014 Canadian College Player of the Year Brody Greig.
The Cambie League talent extends well beyond Richmond too as it ironically has travelled a similar path to the Dolphin Classic — Richmond’s 4-on-4 outdoor summer tournament — that also began with local players wanting get together to play some ball.
Lanagra was one of 12 entries in the spring/summer league, while UBC and SFU have also participated in the past.
“When we started, it was basically a bunch of street ballers with six teams,” recalled league coordinator Jared Hulme, who took over the helm six years ago after Paul Brar launched the league in 2004. “The guys just wanted to get indoors and find some regular space. Now it’s really grown and it’s awesome.
“I would say, right now, it’s one of the premier leagues in the Lower Mainland for sure. When you look at the championship game, everyone on the floor has played either college or university ball.”
The fall/winter season will launch at the end of the month. Last year it featured eight teams in the league and another five in a Masters Division.
“We have both gyms going here in the winter,” continued Hulme. “In the fall, there are less college guys since they are with their teams. The Masters is mostly guys between 40 and 50. It’s really good quality of ball with guys like (former Richmond Colts star) Ron Putzi and (national team alumni) Howard Kelsey.”
Fall season for both the Cambie and Masters Basketball League is set to tip-off Thursday, Sept. 22. For more information about the Cambie Basketball League email Jared Hulme at [email protected] or visit the league website: www.cambiebasketball.com
