joining Kelly Olynyk (13th) to become the first two Canadian lottery picks in the same year.

• Thirty-six Canadians participated in the NCAA tournament known as March Madness.

• Kayla Alexander drafted eighth overall by the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA.

• A silver medal for the cadette women’s national team at the FIBA Americas under-16 tournament.

• A bronze for the cadet men’s national team at the FIBA under-16s.

• The developmental men’s national team just missing a medal (fourth) at the World Student Games.

• The Canadian junior men’s national team placing sixth at the FIBA under-19 world championships, their highest finish in the event.

For the sake of some brevity, the achievements must end there.

Yet, as Nash mentioned later, Canadian basketball is sailing into a “golden age” -- one thathe helped promote more than 20 years ago as a student at St. Michael’s University School in Victoria. From MVP at the 1992 B.C. high school boys basketball tournament, to Santa Clara University, to Phoenix Suns draft pick, to two-time NBA MVP, to general manager of the Canadian men’s national team … Nash has been a charismatic trailblazer, pulling along others in his slipstream and raising the consciousness of basketball in Canada.

“Steve has been absolutely tremendous,” Parrish said. “He is the catalyst for all that’s happening. When Steve and I first discussed him taking this (senior men’s) program on, it was based on his own experience. He is absolutely compelling for athletes and corporate sponsors, high net worth individuals in a program we call The Sixth Man. He