Oak Bay High’s Myka Tang-Blumenschein will play for the B.C. U17 team this season in hopes of garnering post-secondary attention and in preparation for his best possible senior year next year.
He already brings sensibilities and skill beyond his 17 years (he only recently celebrated a birthday) to the Oak Bay High senior boys basketball team.
“He really reacts well to pressure,” said coach Chris Franklin. “He’s quite smart, he’s quite steady. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Tang-Blumenschein’s work ethic played out as he made the climb into the provincial program, first missing the cut to try out for the U14 team. The year he was 15 he got to tryout, which was an experience in itself. Last year he made the U16 team where the team “ended up winning Western Canadians so it was a really great experience.”
Earlier this month the Oak Bay High student earned a spot on the U17 team where he looks forward to playing against some of the top players in the country to improve his skills and plan ahead for his senior year at Oak Bay High.
“I want to improve my ball handing and explosiveness, and get better in everything,” he said.
“He’s obviously open to learning,” said Franklin. “In both his actions and his words, he’s probably one of our best leaders, especially for someone in Grade 11.”
The U17 season features tournaments that culminate with a national competition; he remembers seeing university representatives at Western Canadians last year.
“To play post-secondary and get my education paid for is the goal,” Tang-Blumenschein said. “So it’s definitely good exposure playing on a provincial team.”
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
