Alumni and Testimonials
NBN Alumni
Since 2001, NBN has helped countless young athletes improve their basketball skills. Many have gone on to successful high school or college careers, and a few have gone on to university, international, and even professional basketball! Here's a few of our most successful NBN Alumni:
- Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (pictured). SFU and Team Canada star, NY Liberty (WNBA).
- Jas Gill. Provincial Champion and MVP (SOSS), UBC and Waterloo star guard. Academic All-Canadian.
- Mark Jacobs. Worcester Wolves (UK).
- Greet Gill. UBCO Heat and Cap U.
- Ashley Mcginnis. UVic Vikes.
- Emily Jentsch. UVic Vikes.
Testimonials
Here are just a few quotes from NBN campers, parents, and coaches:
- "Spencer was in charge of all of our UBC summer basketball camps. Most years we ran 5 different types of camps for boys and girls. Spencer was in charge of curriculum development and the delivery of that curriculum. The feedback that we received back from parents and the kids was excellent. He is very good teacher and very good communicator. Without a doubt he is the best coach that I have witnessed, run a camp." - UBC Thunderbirds Head Coach Kevin Hanson
- "Spencer and the other coaches gave me the proper skills I needed to get to the next level. I highly recommend NBN to anyone who wants to become a complete player." -Former NBN camper, provincial MVP and Waterloo Warriors star, Jas Gill
- "NBN is an amazingly unique experience for kids in the Okanagan. Where else can you get a basketball camp run by pros?" -NBN Coach and former Team Canada star Joey Vickery.
- "The camp is super fun and I learned a lot. The coaches are all really nice and they're also really good players!" -Dana (camper).
- "The coaches are really fun. They teach us skills and we play games but they are always happy. I also made lots of friends." -Serena (camper)
- "NBN is the best basketball camp I've ever been to. They make it really fun and we play lots of different games. The pizza on the last day was also really cool." -Jacob (camper).
- "My kids loved NBN! We're coming back next summer!" -Parent from Vancouver
- "We stumbled on the NBN camp while vacationing in Penticton. What a find! Our kids had a blast and we can't wait till next summer. Thank you!!" -Parent from Alberta
- "Our boys have been in a lot of sports camps. They said this one was the best. Thank you so much for this!" -Parent from Penticton.
- "Worth the drive from Keremeos. This is our 3rd straight year at NBN!" Parent from Keremeos.
Support Youth Basketball
Why Support NBN?
Supporting us helps keep the cost down for the kids we teach. Without the generosity of our local sponsors, NBN would not be possible.
We offer three levels of support (cash or equivalent product). Your corporate logo will appear on the backs of our camp t-shirts, our website and our social media. Also if you have a banner, we will be happy to display it in the gym!
Your generous donation will help offset the essentials of running a proper program: quality basketballs, t-shirts, training equipment, special guest coaches, and ever-rising gym rentals. It also ensures that we keep our camp tuition affordable to everyone.
*NBN Basketball has never turned away a camper because they could not afford tuition.
Support Options
NBN Supporter Options:
- Gold Supporter: $1000 or more
- Silver Supporter: $500
- Bronze Supporter: $250
Please call 250-498-9408 to support youth basketball and become part of the NBN team!
About Us
About NBN Basketball
Camp Director and Coach Maurizio (Mo) Basso
Head Coach Spencer McKay
NBN Basketball was established in the summer of 2001, when co-founders Spencer McKay and Mo Basso decided to start something special: a basketball camp in McKay's home town of Oliver, BC featuring professional basketball players as coaches.
This model was the first of its kind in western Canada, and since 2001 NBN has brought 16 profess
NBN Basketball was established in the summer of 2001, when co-founders Spencer McKay and Mo Basso decided to start something special: a basketball camp in McKay's home town of Oliver, BC featuring professional basketball players as coaches.
This model was the first of its kind in western Canada, and since 2001 NBN has brought 16 professional basketball players and 5 university coaches to Oliver to share their knowledge with the youth. NBN has also helped produce many players that have gone on to play university or college basketball, including Jas Gill (UBC and Waterloo), Greet Gill (UBCO and Cap U), Mark Jacobs (Worcester Wolves, UK), Ashley Mcginnis (UVic) and Emily Jentsch (UVic).
NBN Basketball is also VERY proud to have Team Canada and WNBA star Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe on our amazing list of alumni!!
NBN is now partnering with Penticton's Lake City Basketball to provide the South Okanagan youth the complete basketball experience.
Head Coach Spencer McKay
Camp Director and Coach Maurizio (Mo) Basso
Head Coach Spencer McKay
Born and raised in Oliver, BC, Spencer McKay has compiled one of the most impressive basketball resumes in the country. After leading his SOSS Hornets to a 1986 Provincial Championship and having his number (#15) retired, McKay turned down numerous NCAA Division 1 offers and chose to stay in Canada to play for legendary coach Ken Shield
Born and raised in Oliver, BC, Spencer McKay has compiled one of the most impressive basketball resumes in the country. After leading his SOSS Hornets to a 1986 Provincial Championship and having his number (#15) retired, McKay turned down numerous NCAA Division 1 offers and chose to stay in Canada to play for legendary coach Ken Shields and the UVic Vikings.
McKay began to leave his mark on the UVic basketball program immediately, leading the team in scoring and rebounding in his freshman year and earning the first of five Canada West conference all-star awards, both UVic firsts. McKay became a three-time All-Canadian while at UVic, and finished his career as the program's all-time scoring leader with 1682 points in conference play, a record which stands to this day.
McKay played for the Canadian national team program for ten years, making appearances in major international tournaments such as the 1987 FIBA U-19 World Championships (Bormio, Italy), the 1991 and 1993 FISU World University Games (Duisberg, Germany and Sheffield, UK), the 1993 Pan American Games (Havana, Cuba),and the 1994 FIBA World Championships in Toronto. He was teammates with two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, as well as other NBA stars such as Rick Fox and Mike Smrek. McKay was a member of the historic FISU Silver Medal-wining team in Sheffield, UK, where Team Canada became the last basketball team to defeat the Soviet Union in international play.
After a 16-year professional basketball career, McKay transitioned to coaching, where he led his ISB Raiders (Brussels, Belgium) to consecutive ISST European high school titles before returning to Victoria, BC to study at the esteemed National Coaching Institute. Complementing his studies at the NCI, McKay was an Assistant Coach at UVic before being hired as the Lead Assistant Coach for the powerhouse UBC Thunderbirds, where he spent five successful seasons under the guidance of Head Coach Kevin Hanson.
In 2014 McKay was inducted into the Basketball BC Hall of Fame, and in 2017 he was inducted into the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame.
McKay brings his incredible knowledge and unmatched international basketball experience to the South Okanagan, where he continues teaching basketball skills through his NBN Basketball academy, and also as a Youth Development Coordinator with Lake City Basketball in Penticton. An expert in talent identification and widely regarded as one of the nation’s top skill developers, McKay will give you the necessary tools to help you and your team get to the next level.
Camp Director and Coach Maurizio (Mo) Basso
Camp Director and Coach Maurizio (Mo) Basso
Camp Director and Coach Maurizio (Mo) Basso
One of the most successful high school basketball coaches in BC, Mo has guided his Oliver Hornets to 2 Provincial Titles, 3 Valley Titles, and 10 Zone Titles. Additionally, 10 of his players have gone on to play university or college basketball, an amazing feat for a small town program. A native of Prince Rupert BC, Basso played for the
One of the most successful high school basketball coaches in BC, Mo has guided his Oliver Hornets to 2 Provincial Titles, 3 Valley Titles, and 10 Zone Titles. Additionally, 10 of his players have gone on to play university or college basketball, an amazing feat for a small town program. A native of Prince Rupert BC, Basso played for the legendary Rainmakers, leading his team to several provincial championship appearances.
After a season of college basketball in Alberta, Basso committed to the UBC Thunderbirds, before transferring to UVic to join legendary coach Ken Shields, All-Canadian Spencer McKay, and the powerhouse Vikes.
In order to focus on youth development, Coach Basso has handed over the Hornets head coaching position to long-time NBN Basketball camper and coach, Ryan Baptiste. Coach Basso now resides in Penticton, BC.