Digital media attention fuelling rise of Okanagan basketball

Within British Columbia, the vast majority of basketball media and recognition has primarily focused within the Lower Mainland.

However, Aden Vu and Chris Boessenkool, two young digital creators from the Okanagan, are attempting to challenge that notion.

Vu, raised in Salmon Arm, is the creator of , a burgeoning Instagram page made to highlight hoopers in the Okanagan.

香蕉视频直播淚 was sitting at home one night and was just angry at seeing so much recognition for Vancouver athletes and next to nothing for players out here in the Okanagan,香蕉视频直播� Vu told Black Press Media. 香蕉视频直播淪o, I decided to do something about it.香蕉视频直播�

After moving to Salmon Arm when he was 13, Vu began shooting videos and reels of his friend's teams at the junior high school level. Then, five months ago, he launched Okanagan Recruits to highlight players in the area who, although incredibly talented, weren香蕉视频直播檛 getting any recognition.

香蕉视频直播淚 had dreams of playing basketball at a high level, and when that didn't happen, instead of sulking about, I decided to do something and help grow the game in the area.香蕉视频直播�

Boessenkool can relate. The 20-year-old Kelowna transplant launched (pronounced Five) Hoops in the summer of 2023 to highlight Kelowna-based basketball players.

香蕉视频直播淚 was pulling up to City Park a lot, and I started recognizing faces and learning names, and from there, I decided that I wanted to start a community-based basketball account,香蕉视频直播� he told Black Press Media. 香蕉视频直播淲e started hosting tournaments but then switched to doing more promotional work for high school and university players.香蕉视频直播�

Vu and Boessenkool's pages are a means to give back to the community.

"For me, it's a non-profit as I just want to collaborate with hoopers and help push them towards (post-secondary) programs," Vu explained.

Boessenkool added that there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 a big platform, especially for high-school players in the area.

"I wanted to put the word out for Kelowna basketball," he said.

Vu, who graduated high school last year and is currently in university in Calgary, is the media director for , a preparatory program that pushes players towards post-secondary programs.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 great because my accounts are followed by the big schools like UBC Okanagan, UBC, and University of Calgary, and it has had an impact on some players."

Salmon Arm native , a freshman guard at the University of Northern British Columbia Timberwolves, was offered a spot on the team, helped in part by Vu香蕉视频直播檚 promotion.

"It was crazy; this dude was averaging 28 points per game his senior year, and he wasn香蕉视频直播檛 getting any looks from schools,香蕉视频直播� Vu said. 香蕉视频直播淲e pushed his tape to a bunch of schools, and he got an offer at UNBC after attending an ID Camp."

Vu cited as another example. Johnson also came from Salmon Arm and is currently a second-year on the University of Calgary Dinos basketball team.

香蕉视频直播淚 want to highlight players as much as possible, and I want to collaborate and show off who they are as people and keep it as non-profit as possible,香蕉视频直播� added Vu.

Boessenkool thinks that his page could be a recruiting tool as well.

香蕉视频直播淚 think that香蕉视频直播檚 another industry I could tap into, with knowing agents and coaches and showing them the clips of these guys,香蕉视频直播� Boessenkool said. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of potential.香蕉视频直播�

Women basketball players are an untapped market for Boessenkool, but he admits that it would be more time-consuming.

香蕉视频直播淚 work full-time, so this is what I do after I work, and it香蕉视频直播檚 all me doing it, but it is definitely something I want to do, potentially branch out and talk to coaches on that side.

Vu cited (Kelowna), (Salmon Arm), (Vernon) and (Kelowna) as female players he marketed the past few years.

香蕉视频直播淚 release rankings of the top players in the Interior," said Vu. "So that香蕉视频直播檚 a way of showing love to the girls."

As the high-school basketball season continues, with provincial championships more than a month and a half away, the potential for rapid growth of both brands is evident.

The two media minds brought up a slew of hoopers that they have been particularly impressed with this season, starting with guard Noah Watters from Mount Boucherie Secondary School.

香蕉视频直播淲atters is outstanding; he has to be the top one mentioned,香蕉视频直播� Boessenkool said.

A post highlighting Watters' 31-point performance against the perennial powerhouse Kelowna Secondary School Owls has been seen 7,700 times.

Vu singled out Dezi Ducheck, a guard for the Summerland Rockets, and Cason Scott, a 6-foot-7 combo athlete for Kamloops' Westsyde Whundas.

"Cason is just too good and will probably get scooped by a big university," Vu said. "Ducheck, I see being a massive stock-riser as well. His team just beat Westsyde by two, so I see his recognition rising. They both work so hard."