Busy Summer for CIS Hoops Players

‘Off-season’ is a Big Misnomer for Canada West Athletes

There was a day (in the previous century) when ‘CIAU’ players used to work summer jobs, or, if they were lucky, play golf, drop by the gym, or out-door court, and do some shooting or get in a pick-up game.  Today’s CIS athletes, for the most part, are more intensely engaged in training, teaching camps, playing summer games, and involved in full-on practice sessions.

David Kapinga , UC Dinos 3rd year point man.  photo- David Moll UC Athletics

In a conversation with Calgary Dinos point guard David Kapinga, we get a sense of the schedule many of today’s student athletes face in the ‘off-season’. “ It’s intense”, says the former Calgary high school star. “We’re here to start UC summer camps for junior high kids at around 8 am, and we go through 4:00 pm.  We’ll shoot at noon, and then shoot and scrimmage after 4.  We will do a physical training / weights session after that, and we’re not done until after 8 pm.  I’m bagged after a week of camps, and we have 3 weeks”,  says Kapinga.

The Dinos have chosen not to host NCAA teams in August, as they had done for many recent summers, however, several B.C schools will be geared up to play U.S. teams again this August.

Other teams will meet for a summer team camp, and, like UBC, may make an overseas trip for returning players.  The whole T-Birds squad will be facing NCAA  competition some time in August, and that means getting enough practice hours to be game-ready. No longer the standard 2nd week of September start;  it’s an 11 month team exercise for most very competitive programs.  These guys (and gals) earn their scholarships !

Mid-summer news briefs from Canada West –

• Former Bears star, Jordan Baker, has signed a contract to play in Japan next season.  He moves from the Portuguese League, where he was the team’s leading scorer for Galitos -Tiey.  Details in this Edmonton Journal article.

• Brandon signs Calgary (Churchill HS) high school post player , Kobyn Jopp, a physical player who will be challenged to at the CIS level to play against more mature big men.   Details from Bobcats Athletics’ Tyler Crayston

• The Winnipeg Wesmen add Winnipeg school stand-out , 6-4 guard, Josh Gandier of John Taylor Collegiate.  Coach Mike Raimbault also lands  a pair of  Junior College stars ; 6-5 wing, Sean Tarver (Baltimore, MD) UW news release     Home-grown forward,  6-7 Billy Yaworski,  returns home after 1 year in U.S.  Wesmen News

• Thompson Rivers adds 6-9 import, Malik Hazziez, from Sacramento, CA.  A 12 point / 10 rebound performer at  American River College  (Sacramento) will be going into his 3rd year of eligibility this Fall.  More in this Kamloops This Week article.

• The Wolf Pack also announced the addition of 3rd year import,  Derek Rhodes, a 6-5 guard who played at Sacramento City College, CA   .  More from Larry Read, Wolf Pack Athletics
  

• Manitoba’s Coach Kirby Schepp coached the Team Canada  U-18s,

  Bison’s Kirby Schepp with Canada Basketball Manager and NBA legend , Steve Nash – photo from The Winnipeg Sun

  and a key Bisons’ recruit, James Wagner, was a member of that team, as they made it to the finals of the FIBA America’s tourney in Chile, but lost a 99-84 decision to the U.S.

• Fraser Valley lands Anthony Gilchrist, a 6-4 guard from College of the Desert, CA

• The Saskatchewan Huskies sign 6-4 wing, Jaylan Morgan, Brampton, ON, who comes to the Huskies from Williston St College, ND

• Okanagan Heat have added Tristan Matthews, a 6-4 guard from Sentinal Sr Sec., West Vancouver

• UBC adds  Harry Liu, a 6-3 guard from Sir Winston Churchill, Vancouver

• UNBC gets a local star in Tyrell Laing, a 5-10 guard from Prince George.

• Victoria continues to sign members of the Charles family !  This summer, it’s Noah Charles, a 6-5 forward from Duncan’s Cowichan Sec. A more circuitous route brings 6-6 Jake Newman back to B.C. to play for the Vikes.  The White Rock Christian grad played 2 years at Lafayette College, PA, then red-shirting last year at Carleton.

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