They grow up fast.
In Justin Sambu’s case, that robust growth is already bearing fruit.
Cochrane High School’s 15-year-old, two-sport athlete has parlayed a dominant junior-varsity basketball season into a spot on the provincial Under-15-year-old (U15) boy’s basketball team.
Sambu, currently playing offensive and defensive line with the Cochrane Lions midget football team, was also a force on the Cobras’ junior-varsity football team in the fall.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Grade 10 basketball centre has grown into his frame and broke out this season on the JV hardwood, helping guide the Cobras to the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association South Central Zone JV boys title in Okotoks. His determined, physical play under the hoop at both ends of the floor was pivotal to his team’s success all season. The Cobras ran the table in the league and in playoffs, losing only in exhibition tournament play to larger schools.
Sambu was selected to Team Alberta’s U15 boy’s squad April 5 following three tryouts held in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. The team plays a July national U15 tournament in Edmonton. He’ll be travelling regularly to Alberta’s capital to train and prepare for the tourney with the 11 other players selected to the team.
“My size really helps me a lot because I’m usually bigger than the other kids who are 15 years old,” Sambu related. “I’ve matured as a player a lot. When I was in Grade 8, I really didn’t know much about the game. Now I’ve started understanding the game more.”
He attributes his knowledge to coaching and a lot of time on the floor.
“Very important. Very important,” he says of the coaching he’s received as a Cobra under Jim Forrest. “I’ve basically learned all my skills and stuff from my coaches. I didn’t have a lot of basketball experience. Coach Forrest and other coaches have really helped me out. I definitely have my mind on the game more.”
Forrest is impressed with his student’s understanding of the game and the schemes he drew up on the board.
“I’m obviously very pleased that Justin made the U15 team, quite an accomplishment for someone who’s only played two years of really competitive basketball,: Forrest related. “It will be a great experience for him on and off the court, both because of the time he’ll spend in the gym and because of the level of competition he’ll face.
“I expect that we’ll see a much more fully rounded and confident player with the varsity Cobras next year, where he will need to be a key contributor.”
The experience of playing high-level U15 basketball at a national tournament this summer should help that cause.
