VICTORIA –Shadynn Smid and Ethan Boag are heading back to the international stage. The University of Victoria men's basketball standouts will suit up for Team Canada at the FIBA 3x3 Youth Nations League in Punta Arenas, Chile, from July 21–27, marking their second national team selection this summer.

The U SPORTS national champions will line up alongside Mason Krause (Manitoba), Owen Kenney (Ottawa), Tate Christensen (Simon Fraser), and Yohann Sam (Windsor) on a roster built for pace, grit, and size.

Smid and Boag head to Chile with momentum, coming off a strong showing at the 2025 FISU America 3x3 Championship in Brasília, where they finished fourth alongside UVic teammates Griffin Arnatt and Renoldo Robinson. The trip provided both players with a crash course in the fast-paced, physical style of international 3x3, and they're bringing that experience with them.

"I had a great experience [in Brazil], obviously playing 3x3 for the first time made it difficult, but forced us to adapt. A main takeaway from Brazil was definitely the physicality at the international level," says Smid.

Smid is coming off a breakout year, during which he started the first 15 games of the season before missing the final 10 due to injury. However, he returned when it mattered and showed out in the U SPORTS semifinal, where he dropped a season-high 18 points on Ottawa. Two days later, he hauled in a career-high 17 rebounds in the gold medal game against Calgary, helping UVic secure the national title.

At 6'7", Smid is one of the most explosive forwards in the country and believes his skill set is well-suited to the 3x3 game because of his length and mobility, combined with his ability to drive to the hoop and also stretch the floor.

"I am excited to experience a new place with a group of new people, and I am also excited to have the opportunity to wear my country's flag and colours while playing basketball," continues Smid. 

Boag is another stretch forward with a tremendous skill set for his height. A 2024-25 Canada West Second Team All-Star, the 6'6" forward started all 24 games for the Vikes this past season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.2 rebounds. He delivered clutch performances when it counted—none bigger than his 24-point night against UBC, capped by a buzzer-beating game-winner.

Canada enters the tournament as the No. 5 seed in Pool A, grouped with host Chile (1), the United States (2), Argentina (3), and the Cayman Islands (4). The team opens play on July 21 against Chile at 2:55 p.m., followed by a quick turnaround game against the Cayman Islands at 3:45 p.m.

This year's Nations League also doubles as a qualifier for the FIBA 3x3 U23 World Cup, set for September in Xiong An, China. Only the winners of each conference earn a ticket to the global stage.

Launched in 2017, the FIBA 3x3 Nations League was built as a proving ground for U21 and U23 talent.