A Celebration of Basketball, Community, and Mentorship.
Christmas always brings lots of excitement, and that is very true for Sun Youth. Not only do we prepare and distribute 5,000 food hampers to people in need but we host a most exciting basketball event. This year marked our 43rd Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament.
Sports has always been at the core of Sun Youth’s identity. It keeps kids busy, healthy, it builds their confidence, their leadership skills, it motivates them to do well in school, it teaches them about perseverance, and, for some, it may open the doors to higher education with bursaries and scholarships.
Getting our kids out there, competing in front of university coaches and scouts is only one of the objectives of our Holiday Classic basketball showcase. It also serves as a platform to reconnect with our basketball alumni who shine across the province and showcase the spirit of mentorship and community.
The event’s success lies in its ability to inspire the next generation of athletes. High school and even elementary students are motivated by interacting with alumni (such as Don Mensaya from Dawson, in the picture below) who have walked the same path and succeeded—showing them the value of hard work and perseverance both on and off the court.
The weekend event was packed with our alumni playing and coaching at all levels. Dawson coach Rodney Skerritt, Lennoxville Prep coach, Djibril Ngom, and Vanier coaches Andrew Hertzog Scott Mawhinne, Craig O’Brien and Ernie Rosa were back once again this year. McGill University coach John Dangelas, was on-site coaching Helisis Prep.
Also in the crowd, Sun Youth Alumni and Concordia University coaches Rastko Popovic and Damien Buckley, as well as Laval University’s coach Nathan Grant were there to spot talent and hard work.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this event a success, and especially our young players for whom the event is a way to learn through giving back. It takes a community to put on such an event and our young Hornets raised to the challenge.
For more information and all the results, visit the Holiday Classic page.
