MEN’S BASKETBALL HEAD INTO SEASON OPENER WITH HIGH HOPES
The Humber Hawks Men's Basketball Team will open the 2014/15 season this Thursday when they play host to the Mohawk Mountaineers in the Humber Athletic Centre.
The Hawks head into the year with high hopes; they are coming off a 15-3 season that saw them tie for the Western Division Title while taking a bronze medal at provincials. The team outscored opponents by nearly eighteen points per game, had a rebounding margin of a plus-twelve on a per game basis, and shot eight percent better from the field than the opposition. Nearly all indicators point to Humber being among the provinces elite, and the blue and gold have added some of the country's top recruits to a group that returns the majority of its core pieces.
Headlining the returnees are reigning OCAA Rookie of the Year RJ Ramirez, who averaged over ten points per game and nearly two steals a contest in his freshmen season, and Tyrone Dickson, an OCAA Tournament All-Star who averaged a tick under nine rebounds a game and holds Humber's single season rebounding record. Power Forward Chad Bewley, who averaged over eight points, two and a half assists and shot over ninety percent from the line, should also continue to be an important contributor.
In terms of back-court play, point guard Gibson Eduful and small forward Junior Davis will provide stability on both ends of the court. Eduful, one of the team's veterans, has looked impressive during the team's exhibition slate; he took MVP in the Hawks tournament win at the Dawson Classic and was among Ontario's top rebounding guards last year. Davis, in his first season at the college level, was the squads best high volume three point shooter and will be relied upon to continue to spread defenses and open up the post.
Key among the incoming class of recruits are 6'10″ big man Vule Grujic and swingman Kenny Ejim; the two should make what was already the divisions third highest scoring offense that much more potent. Grujic has looked impressive in the pre-season; at last weekend's Dawson Classic, he combined to put up thirty-six points and twenty rebounds in the squads final two games, and was perhaps the biggest reason for the tournament win. His ability to protect the rim should be a boon to what was already a stingy defense, while Ejim will bolster an already strong set of wings.
Tip-off is set for 8pm on Thursday night, check back for updates throughout the night.
For 2013/14 standings, statistics, schedules and more please visit http://www.ocaa.com/sports/mbkb/2013-14/standings-include.