The MSA Outdoor Classic tips off again today (Friday), marking its second consecutive year back in Abbotsford after a 30-plus year absence.
A total of six teams with professional, college and high school basketball talent are set to hit the outdoor courts near the MSA Arena.
Pro players Marek Klassen and Joel Friesen are both expected to appear. Klassen, a Yale Secondary grad, spent last season with the Worcester Wolves of the British Basketball League. He previously played NCAA basketball for the Point Loma Sea Lions.
Friesen is fresh off a championship win with the Canada Basketball League’s London Lightning. He also helped Team Canada earn top spot at the William Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan back in July. Friesen played high school basketball with Yale, and also starred with the UFV Cascades and the University of Alberta in CIS play.
JJ Pankratz from the SFU Clan will also be suiting up at the event.
Current CIS players attending the event include: University of PEI product Matt Brar, newly signed Cascades guard Kenan Hadzovic, TWU’s Patrick Vandervelden and the University of Calgary’s Sunny Johal.
Other familiar names to Abbotsford basketball fans include: Rick Hansen grad and Douglas College product Josh Dhillon and Yale’s Noah Nickel.
Event organizer Matt Brar said if rain hampers the event’s plans, then games will be held at Abbotsford Senior Secondary.
Games run till Sunday at the outdoor courts by MSA Arena.
For more information on the event, visit twitter.com/msa_classic.