With a veteran-laden lineup that includes six rotation players in their fourth or fifth year of eligibility, Laval Rouge et Or Coach Jacques Paiement Jr. has made it a priority to retool his lineup, especially adding some size up front and on the wing. Thus, the recent announcement of the commitments of a pair of Cégep stars to Laval shows that Paiement's efforts are paying off. Laval welcomes 6'6" forward Gabriel Barriault (Cégep de Ste-Foy) and 6'3" guard Thibaud Dezutter (Collège Édouard-Montpetit) to the Rouge et Or, shoring up the front line and the big guard/wing spot with a pair of top players.
Paiement feels both are among the "five or six best players in the Cégep circuit" and is pleased to be able to obtain their commitments so early, adding that he believes both are rotation-ready for next season. Laval has only one fifth-year senior (J.F. Beaulieu-Mahieux) however five others (Jerome Turcotte, Etienne Labrecque, Xavier Baribeau, Kevin Crevant and Christian Trottier) are in the fourth year.
Barriault currently averages a double double in the AAA Quebec college league, leading the entire conference in rebounding at 11.9 per game while scoring at 12.3 points per night for the Dynamics, currently in second place with a record of 5-3.
Dezutter is a versatile, athletic big guard who is third in scoring in AAA Cégep at 19.5 ppg and also hauls in about 10 rebounds per game. Dezutter is also an excellent student, being honoured with athletic/academic merit by college AAA league last season.
Laval sits tied for first place in QUBL at 4-1, is ranked in the Top 10 and continues their 2010-11 season later this week at the 20th annual Rod Shoveller Memorial tournament at Dalhousie with a first-round match-up with Acadia Axemen.
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