TORONTO (June 19, 2025) — The next generation of Canadian basketball stars are set to take centre stage this summer, as Canada Basketball announced Thursday the list of invited athletes for the under-23 men’s and women’s national teams ahead of GLOBL JAM 2025.

The international showcase returns to Toronto from Aug. 13 to 17, with all games taking place at TMU’s Mattamy Athletic Centre. Single-session tickets are available now at globljam.ca — starting at less than $21 per game.

The women’s pool features two Olympians from the Paris 2024 Games: Syla Swords, the youngest Canadian Olympian ever to compete in basketball, and Yvonne Ejim, both of whom made their Olympic debuts this summer.

“This invited group reflects the incredible depth we’re building across the women’s pathway — from Syla and Yvonne coming off their Olympic debuts in Paris, to the next generation of NCAA and high school stars,” said Steve Baur, General Manager and Vice-President, Women’s High-Performance. “There’s a high ceiling for this team, and we’re excited to compete in front of Canadian fans again this summer."

Swords also delivered a standout freshman season at Michigan, earning ESPN All-Freshman Team, Big Ten All-Tournament Team, and All-Big Ten Second Team honours while averaging 16 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

Ejim, recently drafted by the Indiana Fever, capped her NCAA career as Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer and earned West Coast Conference player of the year and defensive player of the year honours after averaging 14.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Also among the women’s standouts is Agot Makeer, a five-star recruit ranked sixth in the 2025 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Makeer is set to join the 2024 NCAA champion South Carolina Gamecocks after helping Canada earn a historic silver medal at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, where she was named to the tournament’s All-Star five team.

The men’s invited list features Xaivian Lee, who just transferred to the reigning NCAA champion Florida Gators, after averaging 16.9 points, 5.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game for the Princeton Tigers last season. Lee was featured on NBA Draft second-round boards and participated in the draft process last year before electing to return to college.

“With the depth of this year’s invited athlete pool, I’m excited to see how this group comes together on home soil,” said Rowan Barrett, General Manager and Executive Vice-President, Men’s High-Performance. “GLOBL JAM continues to be an important stepping stone in our national team pipeline, and I’m looking forward to watching these players seize their moment."

Aden Holloway and Michael Nwoko, both of whom represented Canada together at the 2023 Nike Hoop Summit as members of the World Team, also headline the list of invited athletes.

This will mark Holloway’s first time representing Canada internationally. The former five-star recruit averaged 11.4 points per game for No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide during their NCAA Tournament run, while Nwoko averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds this past season with No. 8 seed Mississippi State, helping the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament.

Lee and Nwoko also previously played together as key members of Canada’s U19 national team at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023.

Canada’s U23 Women’s National Team – Invited Athletes

Jasmine Bascoe – Milton, Ont.
Kyrah Daniels – Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Shy Day-Wilson – Toronto, Ont.
Yvonne Ejim – Calgary, Alta.
Delaney Gibb – Raymond, Alta.
Avery Howell – Boise, Idaho
Phillipina Kyei – Calgary, Alta.
Latasha Lattimore – Toronto, Ont.
Agot Makeer – Thunder Bay, Ont.
Merissah Russell – Ottawa, Ont.
Savvy Swords – Sudbury, Ont.
Syla Swords – Sudbury, Ont.
Tara Wallack – Surrey, B.C.
Serah Williams – Brooklyn, New York

Canada’s U23 Men’s National Team – Invited Athletes

Vasean Allette – Toronto, Ont.
Bubu Benjamin – Medicine Hat, Alta.
Enoch Boakye – Brampton, Ont.
Javonte Brown-Ferguson – Pickering, Ont.
Jordann Dumont – Montréal, Que.
Dylan Grant – Mississauga, Ont.
Simon Hildebrandt – Winnipeg, Man.
Aden Holloway – Charlotte, North Carolina
TJ Hurley – Pelham, Ont.
Felix Kossaras – Montreal, Que.
Xaivian Lee – Toronto, Ont.
Elijah Mahi – Toronto, Ont.
Michael Nwoko – Toronto, Ont.
Elias Ralph – Okotoks, Alta.
Justin Rochelin – Encino, California
David Simon – Windsor, Ont.

Final rosters and coaching staff for both teams will be confirmed ahead of the tournament. In the lead-up to GLOBL JAM, open tryouts will also be held to provide additional athletes with the opportunity to earn a spot on the national team.

For more information on Canada Basketball and GLOBL JAM, visit globljam.ca.