Aug. 11, 2001
Fortune smiles on Saint Siena's Karangwa makes Canadian national team
By TIM REYNOLDS, Albany Times Union Staff writer First published: Saturday, August 11, 2001
As a high school player, he had the opportunity to represent his home city in the Quebec Games. Then, a year later, he played for his province in the Canada Games.
And now, Siena junior guard Prosper Karangwa has taken the next step. He will play for his country against elite national teams from around the world.
Karangwa, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound native of Montreal, has been told that he is a member of Canada's senior men's national basketball team. He will leave with the 11 other senior national teamers, including NBA players Steve Nash (Dallas) and Todd MacCulloch (New Jersey), for the Tournament of the Americas on Sunday night.
Karangwa will return to Canada on Aug. 28, then leave for the Goodwill Games (scheduled for Sept. 3-9 in Brisbane, Australia) two days later.
``This summer has been great for me,'' Karangwa said. ``It's a tremendous experience. I don't know how to explain it. From really not being part of the national program at all, and then to be on the national team, is something that's unheard of.''
Already this summer, Karangwa has played in Vancouver in an exhibition series against Japan's national team, in the Los Angeles Summer Pro League alongside NBA players, and in Mexico in a series for college players.
He was expected to be named to Canada's entry for the upcoming World University Games, scheduled for Aug. 22-31 in Beijing, China. But he wound up with a bigger opportunity.
``I haven't been around Prosper as long as you all have,'' Siena coach Rob Lanier said. ``But since I've gotten this job, I've been extremely impressed with the young man.''
Officials from Canada Basketball will not comment publicly about the national team selections until they are formally announced.
Niagara's Michael Schmidt also was in line to make Canada's roster, but he injured his knee during recent tryouts in Toronto. Schmidt should recover before the start of the college basketball season.
``I picked the right time to come around,'' Karangwa said. ``They were in need of wings. And I played well, so that kind of helped when I went on the first trip with them. I've shot the ball well, and I'm feeling pretty good.''
Karangwa is not scheduled to return to Siena's campus by the time fall classes begin in early September, but he will miss only a few days of school time and has the school's blessing.
``He's got to chase this,'' Lanier said. ``He's a good enough student where he'll be able to come back and take care of his business.''
In 63 games at Siena, Karangwa has averaged 5.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
``Before I got this job, I probably wouldn't have expected him to make a team like this,'' Lanier said. ``But this truly is a very significant accomplishment.''
The Tournament of the Americas will begin Thursday in Neuquen, Argentina, and continue until Aug. 26. Canada has pool-play games against the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Panama and Mexico, and needs to finish among the top six teams in the eight-team field to secure a spot in the 2002 World Championships in India? napolis. Pool B for that tournament comprises of the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuela.
At the Goodwill Games, Canada will play round-robin games with Australia, Brazil and New Zealand. The U.S. team, consisting entirely of NBA players, will face Argentina, Cuba and Mexico in its pool- play series at Goodwill.
Karangwa said he cannot believe his good fortune.
``I'm going to the Goodwill Games, the same competition that (U.S. track and field star) Michael Johnson is going to have his last run in,'' Karangwa said. ``Can you believe that?''.
