Over the next two weeks, talented young basketball players from coast to coast will compete to be called the country's best at the 2016 Canada Basketball National Championships.

The Girls 15U and 17U Championships run July 25-30 at the University of Regina, followed by the Boys 15U and 17U Championships at the University of Winnipeg from Aug.1 to 6.

For many players, the opportunity to represent their province at a national event is a pivotal step towards one day representing Canada on a global scale.

This year alone, Canada Basketball's senior, development, junior, and cadet team rosters combined to include dozens of players that have competed at the National Championships.

"At that point if you're playing with all the best players in your province, you're playing for a great coach, and it's the highest level you can play at at that age," says Canadian Olympic team forward Michelle Plouffe, who won silver with Team Alberta and was a first-team All-Star at the 2008 17U National Championships. "So it's just a great learning experience to try and really take what you can have out of it." Here are just a few of the many proud Canadians that got their start at Nationals:

Natalie Achonwa, Women's Olympic Team (Guelph, Ont.)

A member of the SWNT since 2009, Natalie competed at the 2012 London Olympics and won back-to-back gold at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games and FIBA Americas Championship for Women in Edmonton.

Natalie was a three-time gold medalist with Ontario at National Championships, winning 15U in 2006 and 17U in 2007 and 2008. She was named MVP in both 2006 and 2008, and was selected as a first-team All-Star in 2007.

Rowan Barrett Jr., Men's Cadet Team (Mississauga, Ont.)

Rowan made his international debut this summer, helping Canada finish fifth at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Spain while ranking sixth overall in scoring with 18.4 points per game.

RJ led Ontario to gold and was named MVP of the 2014 15U National Championships after averaging 26 points. Last summer at the 17U National Championships he was part of Ontario's silver medal-winning team and a first-team All-Star.

Nirra Fields, Women's Olympic Team (Lachine, Que.)

Nirra joined the SWNT in 2013 and like Natalie was part of the double-gold medal performance in 2015. She made her Team Canada debut with the CWNT in 2009 and was the leading scorer, averaging 22.4 points, at the 2010 FIBA World U17 Championships.

In 2008 Nirra was named MVP of 15U National Championships in Kamloops where she averaged 19,2 points, 15.8 rebounds, 2,3 assists and 1.7 blocks to help Quebec win bronze .

Cory Joseph, Men's Senior Team (Toronto, Ont.)

A fixture on the SMNT since 2011, Cory has played in three FIBA Americas Championships, including 2015, when he hit a memorable buzzer-beater to win the bronze medal game.

Cory led Ontario to gold with an MVP-winning performance at the 2006 15U National Championships. Two years later at the 17U National Championships, he helped Ontario earn bronze and was named a second-team All-Star.

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