Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's high school coaches say his success is inspiring young people in Hamilton

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's former coaches in his hometown of Hamilton say his star performance for team Canada at the FIBA Basketball World Cup is a source of pride for the city and its basketball community.

Gilgeous-Alexander, a guard with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, has led Canada to its first-ever semifinal spot at the tournament. The team also qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics on Sunday, ending a drought that dates back to the 2000 Games.

Before he transferred to a school in Tennessee, Gilgeous-Alexander played high school basketball in Hamilton, where coaches recalled his work ethic and commitment to improving his game.

Tim Francis, who coached Gilgeous-Alexander in 2012 and 2013 at Hamilton's Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School, said there is a lot of "pride in having someone come out of the Hamilton ranks and to reach really the highest level of competition."

Francis said Gilgeous-Alexander's meteoric rise in Canadian basketball "shows for everyone in the city and in Ontario and in Canada what hard work can do."

"Shai wasn't known internationally when he was 15 years old, but through hard work, dedication and the time spent on his craft, he's gotten himself in a position where he's one of the best players in the world ... For a lot of young kids in lots of communities, knowing that's possible is an access point," Francis said.

Dwayne Washington taught and coached Gilgeous-Alexander at Sir Allan MacNab. He also founded UPLAY — an organization that aims to help young Canadians excel academically and athletically — where Gilgeous-Alexander also played.

Washington said the guard's rare poise and physicality were evident at an early age, highlighting his seven-foot-seven-inch wingspan and 45 inch vertical jump.

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