Two former HWCDSB students will represent Canada on the world stage as the Canadian men’s senior team is set to open the FIBA World Cup against Team France in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday.

Team Canada will be led by top NBA players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kelly Olynyk of the Utah Jazz. Gilgeous-Alexander grew up in Hamilton and attended Regina Mundi Catholic Elementary School and St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School before transferring to a prep school in the U.S. for his senior year. Olynyk, who lived in Toronto before moving with his family to British Columbia, attended St. Mary for Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) in 2009.

In World Cup qualifiers, Canada finished with a FIBA-best 11-1 record and a 3-2 record in exhibition action leading up to the tournament, including wins over world No. 1 and defending World Cup champion Spain and 11th-ranked Germany.

The tournament will run through Sept. 10. Games will be broadcast on Sportsnet starting August 25.