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Raptors 905 look for diamond in the rough at open tryout

By Chris Mckee

MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - APRIL 27: Members of the Raptors 905 celebrate after they defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Game Three of the D-League Finals to win the championship at the Hershey Centre on April 27, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - APRIL 27: Members of the Raptors 905 celebrate after they defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in Game Three of the D-League Finals to win the championship at the Hershey Centre on April 27, 2017 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NBA hopefuls were competing for a chance to play for the Toronto Raptors minor-league affiliate as Raptors 905 held their third annual open tryout at the University of Toronto Goldring Centre.

The Toronto Raptors minor-league affiliate Raptors 905 held their third annual open tryouts today at the University of Toronto Goldring Centre. The tryout was open to anybody who thinks they’re good enough to compete for a roster spot on Raptors 905 and is willing to pay the $225 tryout fee.

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Raptors 905 are the defending champions of the G League which is the NBA’s minor-league system. They play their home games out of the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, ON.

Many of the Raptors youngsters spent time with Raptors 905 last season including Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl who were both first round draft picks in the 2016 NBA draft.

"Ability is of little account without opportunity – Napoleon"

Cue the intro for Eminem’s Lose Yourself………

Somewhere in the range of 100 players showed up for their opportunity to showcase their talent in front of the Raptors 905 coaching staff including head coach Jerry Stackhouse who played 19 seasons in the NBA and was twice named an All-Star.

Raptors 905 assistant coach Nate Mitchell was on the court running drills for the NBA hopefuls and said there may have been a few diamonds in the rough who could compete for a roster spot.

Mitchell said:

"Surprisingly, we have a lot of guys competing to get into camp so it’s going to be really interesting how we figure out and divide the guys that we really want to bring in and get a closer look at."

The vast majority of players who attended the tryout have no hope in hell of getting an invite to the 905 training camp and they were simply looking for their opportunity to tell their friends and family that they played against professionals; even if it was for just one day.

There were a few guys who at least looked the part of an NBA player and may have a shot of an invite to training camp including former University of Oregon player Richard Amardi.

The 6-foot-9 Amardi played last season with the Niagara River Lions of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL) and competed for the Canadian Men’s National Team just a few weeks ago in the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 in Argentina.

Following his impressive tryout, Amardi said:

"I’m trying to make the most of this opportunity and continue to build on the success that I’ve been able to have this summer."

Last year’s open tryout did bear some fruit for the Raptors 905 squad as Scarborough’s Negus Webster-Chan ended up making the team and played in 23 games for the G League champs.

Webster-Chan bounced around the NCAA from Missouri to Hawaii before eventually taking of advantage of his tryout opportunity last season earning a roster spot with Raptors 905.

905 training camp will take place in early November following the big clubs camp Sept 26-29 in Victoria, BC.

Next: September news and notes from the Toronto Raptors.

This is the part of the article where you start to hear the opening guitar riff for Eminem’s Lose Yourself and I close by saying that you only get one shot do not miss your chance to blow this opportunity comes once in a lifetime yo.

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