Chris Crumpler is running the rule over potential players for the junior national basketball team at tryouts throughout the next two weeks as they prepare for international tournaments this winter.

Trials began last Friday with the agenda being to get the very best young players on the team to gain valuable experience.

Crumpler, a vital cog in the senior national team, has been taking junior national teams to invitational tournaments for the past two years and is looking to continue this trend.

"The trials were for the team to participate for the Bermuda Basketball Association (BBA) national select U-18 at the Amare Stoudemire Each one Reach one high school basketball tournament in Las Vegas this coming December 18-23 at Durango High School.

"The turnout for tryouts was ok, but we have high expectations for these players and we are still evaluating which 12 players we will be taking as we want to take the best possible team to represent Bermuda.

"With that said we will not be selecting the final 12 players until October 9th as a weekend is not enough time to evaluate a team that we are looking for.

"Plus a couple players contacted me and said that they couldn't make it and we want to give everyone a opportunity to try, so Monday to Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. we will be holding trials at Cedarbridge.

"We will start practise October 12 and meet with parents of the selected players on October 10th."

Crumpler is grateful for having a knowledgeable backroom staff to help with the evaluating and identifying players who possess qualities to excel on the big stage.

Once selected, the team will prepare for the upcoming fixtures, including going back to Las Vegas to battle the best from that region.

With a few overseas players also coming into the fold, Crumpler seems pleased with the pool of talent he has to choose from.

"I have a great coaching staff this year with Dale Jackson, Rickey Watts, and Mike Smith and we all have extensive backgrounds in the game and we are giving these young men our best.

"We have played in Las Vegas every Christmas and Florida every summer for the past two years.

"I am currently working on a proposal for the 2010 thanksgiving Classic in Bermuda that will see a 16-team tournament with some of the best High Schools in North America coming here so the Bermuda players will get a good basketball experience with the BSSF league and also a summer league.

"Players to watch on this team is Kevin Minors Jr., a 6'3" 195lb point guard.

"He is a big guard who is very smart and takes good care of the ball.

"Also Tejour Riley, a 6'4" guard who can do it all is currently playing in Georgetown Ontario and studying aboard.

"I would like to thank the Bermuda Basketball Association and President Allen Walker, David Mutch, Department of Youth and Sport for their support and Alicia Zuill," our Treasurer."