KAMLOOPS — Months after he played out his CIS eligibility with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, Gerard Gore is again experiencing high level basketball.
Gore is currently a member of the Antigua and Barbuda National team which is playing in Centrobasket 2016. The tournament is a qualifier for the 2020 Olympics.
“I knew the tournament was coming up so I came home to practice with the squad in order to make the team,” said Gore, who is a native of St. John’s Antiqua. “It was a struggle to get my body ready since I only played a half season for TRU this past year. But, with no school, I was able to train hard three times a day in order to get my body prepared. I took the momentum of a successful season into tryouts and it helped me get a competitive edge.”
Gore had a strong second half of the year and was one of the team’s most solid players at the CIS nationals in March.
“It is one of the highest honors that a guy can have is to wear his country’s jersey,” said WolfPack head coach Scott Clark about Gore making the national team. “I am proud and happy for Gerard. Being able to represent his homeland means a lot to him. It’s great for Gerard and great for us. This shows that Gerard improved during his time here. He had a great senior year.”
Gore will be returning to TRU in the fall to finish his Computer Science Degree but says so far, playing for his national team has been a positive experience. “I am coming off the bench at the 3/4 position, bringing some leadership to the team and celebrating my teammates successes. Practices were tough because I had to adjust to playing on a concrete surface again. At times, I had to use more energy than usual just because of that.”
Gore started his university career in the U.S. but played his last three seasons at Thompson Rivers.
Antigua has a 0-3 record at Centrobasket 2016, losing 88-66 to Cuba on Tuesday. In Monday’s 74-62 defeat to Nicaragua, Gore played 14 minutes, scoring four points and having six rebounds. In the team’s loss to Panama to open the tournament, Gore had seven minutes of court time and five points scored.
Antigua faces Puerto Rico to close out round robin play Thursday, June 23.
