Nembhard Brothers Highlight Gonzaga Alumni in Canada’s National Team Pool

On June 1, it was announced that four former Gonzaga basketball players, including brothers Andrew and Ryan Nembhard, are set to join the Canadian men’s national team player pool ahead of the upcoming qualifying matches for the 2027 FIBA World Cup. These matches are scheduled to take place next month in Hamilton, Ontario.

The 23-player pool also features notable athletes such as Kelly Olynyk and Kyle Wiltjer, along with several Canadian players currently in the NBA. Gordon Herbert, a standout from North Idaho College and former Idaho forward, will lead the team after his appointment by Canada Basketball last spring, following a stint with the German national team.

The Canadian squad will resume its World Cup qualification journey on July 3, competing against Puerto Rico at TD Coliseum in Hamilton, followed by a matchup against Jamaica on July 6. They will also have two additional games in August as part of the fourth qualification window.

Both Nembhard brothers are well-known for their contributions to Gonzaga's basketball program, with each holding spots among the top ten assist seasons in the school's history. Andrew, who just completed his fourth NBA season with the Indiana Pacers, previously represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and is set to compete in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. This past season, he achieved career-high averages of 16.9 points and 7.7 assists, all while shooting 36.1% from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Ryan Nembhard has participated in various international competitions for Canada’s youth teams and may soon make his senior national team debut. After excelling at Gonzaga, where he set single-season assist records, Ryan went undrafted last summer but signed a two-way contract with the Dallas Mavericks, which was later upgraded to a standard multiyear deal. He started in 27 of 69 games, averaging 6.6 points and 5.3 assists per game.

Olynyk, who is also part of the pool, is fresh off an NBA championship run with the San Antonio Spurs, marking his second Finals appearance. The 35-year-old forward has averaged 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this season, and he previously led Canada to a bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup as captain for the upcoming Olympics.

Wiltjer, who last represented Canada in a major competition during the 2019 FIBA World Cup, has just completed his third season with Reyer Venezia in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A after transferring from Kentucky to Gonzaga.