By Adam Beauchemin

There must be something in the water in Ottawa’s western suburbs, and it seems to be generating a big taste for high-performance hoops.

Five friends who live within 10 minutes of one another in Barrhaven and Kanata are all members of Canada Basketball’s Junior Academy, a program for players in Grade 7 and 8 to train and develop in a high-performance environment.

Sullivan Istead Awde, Keenan Clarke, Jonah Rampersad and brothers Jordan and Caden Frimpong all grew up playing together and now travel to Toronto on weekends to take part in the Junior Academy.

“It’s a really cool experience being with all of them,” says Caden Frimpong, 14. “It’s always a fun time to be able to share the court with them.”

Caden Frimpong, Awde and Rampersad currently play together for Ottawa Elite, while Jordan Frimpong and Clarke are with Ottawa Next Level.

The Frimpongs’ father Michael says Ottawa’s strong basketball infrastructure from the youth level up to university and beyond is the real potion behind the group’s success.

“Ottawa definitely has a basketball culture,” he underlines.

Boys from both age groups spent time being coached by former Carleton University head coaches Dave and Rob Smart. Michael says this time under the tutelage of the Ottawa legends helped set the group on the right path.

“Once you gain momentum and you really appreciate playing the sport with high-level competition, the other kids that you play with are also like, ‘Oh, cool, you’re doing this. If I practice, maybe I can do this too,’” he highlights. “So it serves as a goal to shoot for.”

Growing up in such close proximity to one another, also helped to push the group to the next level.

“In the summer those who wished to keep practicing, could call on each other and practice in the park together,” Michael notes.

Now, after competing with one another for years, the Ottawa group is getting to learn alongside other elite talent.

“It shows just how much chemistry can help and improve you,” says Caden, who’s now in his second year attending the academy.

Part of Canada Basketball’s targeted athlete strategy, the Junior Academy features eight weekend training sessions between November and May. The selected players spend eight hours each weekend honing their craft both on and off the court.

“It’s a really competitive place. There are no easy plays that you can take off,” signals Caden.

On Saturdays, players run drills, cross-train and participate in video sessions. On top of their regular training, the junior players often stay overnight in a hotel to replicate away tournaments.

“They tell you basically everything you need to do to get better,” explains Jordan, who is in his first year at the academy.

At only 11 years old, Jordan is playing a year up in the camp, but he’s no stranger to playing older competition.

“In the summer when I go outside with Caden, I usually play against him and his friends that come over. It helps me to play against bigger and older people. It makes it a lot easier when I play against people of my age,” indicates Jordan, who’s learned how to get his shots off faster or in different ways when needed.

Jordan’s father Michael says the Junior Academy is a big jump for an 11-year-old to make. He says he likely wouldn’t have felt comfortable letting Jordan participate if he hadn’t had his older brother to lean on.

“If Caden wasn’t in there right now, we wouldn’t have put Jordan in just because it’s a lot for a kid that’s 11,” Michael refelcts. “In Grades 6, 7 and 8, there’s a huge difference in size and maturity. Those are some crucial years, so it’s definitely been a blessing to have Caden there to kind of assist him through the whole process.”

While playing at an elite level has required considerable commitment from his children, Michael says it’s one they’ve never shied away from.

“My whole thing was to get involved in a whole bunch of things, and whatever you gravitate towards, we’d back it,” he details.

While Caden and Jordan took language classes and learned instruments, the pair always landed back on basketball.

“With basketball, it’s never been ‘I want to stop.’ It’s often been their safe haven,” Michael recounts.

Now, after years of playing for different teams, the Frimpong boys get to go through the Junior Academy together.

“Not often do you get to experience something at that high a level, and to do it with your brother,” Micahel adds.

After attending the Junior Academy last year, Caden was invited to a fan send-off for the Canadian Olympic team. Caden, Jordan and several of their friends attended the event and sat front row in a small capacity gym to watch Canada’s best. Michael points to this moment as one of many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities tied to the camp.

“That experience in itself was totally unique — you were close enough to touch them at any given time,” he marvels. “Seeing those things first-hand makes it more achievable, as opposed to when you’re only seeing these Olympians on TV.”

No matter what lies in store for his children’s basketball futures, Michael believes the camp has been worthwhile.

“I definitely feel that regardless of which direction things go, it’ll be an experience they remember as they get older,” he says.

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