Coach and national team player Chris Crumpler has named a Bermuda Basketball Association junior national select side that will go to Las Vegas in just over two months' time to compete in an international tournament.

Crumpler has run his eye over many players over the past month and admitted that the final draft was one of the hardest decisions he has had to make.

"It took us about three weeks of daily training at CedarBridge and Saturday morning runs at Horseshoe Bay to determine the team. This was the hardest team to pick, particularly the last three spots as we have a 12-man roster with reserves," said Crumpler.

Trials began in late September with pupils from all schools invited to take part.

Crumpler has been taking junior national teams to invitational tournaments overseas for the past two years and is looking to continue the trend.

This year's squad consists of 12 players and three reserves with Crumpler and Dale Jackson as coaches, and Rickey Watts and Mike Smith assisting.

Not only judged on their on-court performances, the players also had to meet strict academic standards and community responsibilities, conditions that Crumpler strongly believes in.

"We are proud of this team for the work and commitment they have shown on and off the court. Our entire roster has been on the honour roll at their respective schools, we also have multiple players that are in the Duke of Edinburgh programme and are active members in their church," he said.

"This is very important to me as a coach, as we build the programme we are building young men and have a major influence in their lives because we mentor the sport they love. I do not take this lightly. As we prepare them for this tournament we have to make this a team, and that comes through fellowship with one another off the court in a positive environment.

"We will be participating in more social gatherings as a team with community service, church functions and school functions over the next two months.

"We are better prepared to compete this year as players and coaches, we have more skilled players with more experience. On top of that we have great leadership.

"The challenge is bringing it all together as players have busy schedules to maintain a high standard in the classroom and in the community. We are committed as a coaching staff to make this experience something special and I think we will.

"We will have our first scrimmage with the players from the men's national team this Friday, so let the fun begin."

The squad will be leaving Bermuda to travel to Las Vegas on December 16.

National Junior Select: Kevin Minors, captain, (Warwick Academy) Anthony Furbert (CedarBridge), Tejour Riley (Georgetown Ontario High), Chris Corday (Saltus), Tere Robain (Berkeley), Jonathan Lowe (Bermuda College), Alex McLeod (Saltus), Kariim O'Conner (CedarBridge), Ra'ees Tankard (Warwick Academy), Erik Pearson (Saltus), Tevis Spence (Warwick Academy), Juron Tucker (Warwick Academy).

Reserves – Joshua Reid, Dion Easton, and Khavion Brown.