CIS Hoops.ca

On the heels of our Saskatchewan Huskies preview which touched on the successful Andrew Spagrud era in Saskatoon, it is fitting that the 6'7" former All-Canadian continues his playing career as a professional in the Swedish Elite League. Spagrud was away from basketball last season while completing his engineering degree and this past July signed with Sundsvall Dragons, the defending Swedish champions, where he has started all 4 games this season, averaging 11.8 ppg, 8 rpg in 30 minutes per game... Laurier Golden Hawks had the makings of a very strong recruiting class led by 6'3 1/2" Max Allin, a big, strong rotation-ready wing/forward and 5'9" backup point guard Osman Omar (London, ON) plus a pair of local Waterloo recruits. However, Taylor Allan, who battled hip problems for the past couple of seasons culminating in major hip surgery, apparently found the long-term effects from the injury too much to handle and has decided to focus on school. As well, 6'3" Justin Tomas, who arrived at Laurier amid much fanfare as a former Ontario Provincial team player decided to pack it in after just one game as a Golden Hawk and focus on his academics. Another Waterloo product, 6'6" Phil Blumel, continues to rehab from a knee injury he suffered last spring and is not expected back into the Laurier lineup until after Christmas. Still, the Hawks can go at least nine deep with returning 5'10" sophomore guard Travis Berry (St. Catharines), 6'2" fifth-year vet Jesse MacDonald, 6'5" Evan Schwantz, reigning OUA West All-Star 6'5" Kale Harrison, 6'8" shot-blocking whiz Andrew Pennycook, versatile 6'5" Matt Buckley, plus Allin, Omar and 6'3" soph Sharif Wanis... McMaster Marauders roster may be as deep as it has been for several years with the addition of 6'6" Keenan Jeppesen and a tremendous recruiting class that includes 6'7" Ryan Christie, 6'3" Victor Raso and 6'1" Jordan Tew who missed last season due to injury. The newest class follows up Mac's previous two solid classes which included rotation forwards 6'7" Cam Michaud and 6'4" Scott Laws from last season and 6'2" Tyrell Vernon, 6'6" Matt Wilusz and 6'4" Brett Day two seasons ago. With big 6'10" Geoff McLaughlin finally making strides toward becoming an impact CIS post player, which is all the more important given the injury to 6'8" Mouchtar Diaby (out until at least Christmas) and 5'10" Jermaine DeCosta being pushed at the point position, coach Joe Raso has as more depth and talent than any Marauder group in recent memory. Also as mentioned previously, potentially waiting in the wings for possible arrival in the new year is 6'9" Terry Licorish... Memorial Sea-Hawks, a program we have yet to feature a preview for on this site (my bad), went 3-0 over the weekend to capture the championship of the inaugural University Showcase tournament in Miramichi, New Brunswick. Memorial Sea-Hawks downed Crandall Univeristy Blue Tide (formerly Atlantic Baptist University from Moncton, NB) 94-67 as Steve Earles threw in 15 points for the Sea-Hawks. Later, Memorial defeated St. Thomas Tommies 77-46, jumping out to a 48-10 halftime lead as Mike Helsby connected for 16 points and Earles added 15. Finally, MUN defeated Holland College Hurricanes (PEI) 78-68. All three teams of the Sea-Hawks opponents were Atlantic Canada college teams.