Looking to build off a strong performance last season, University of Victoria Vikes men鈥檚 basketball head coach Craig Beaucamp has added to his stable for the 2013-14 season.
Beaucamp announced three top recruits who will make McKinnon Gym their new home including local product Jordan Charles of Brentwood Bay, highly touted Junior Sesay of Winnipeg and Pat Pilato of St. Catharines, Ont.
Sesay 鈥� a six-foot-three shooting guard, heads west from Oak Park high school and is a two-time first-team All-Canadian at the under-15 and under-17 levels and a key player in Manitoba鈥檚 silver medal performance at this year鈥檚 U-17 national tournament.
Twice a provincial high school champion with the Oak Park Raiders, Sesay 鈥� who was also being recruited by Fraser Valley, Mount Royal and Winnipeg 鈥� was recently named Manitoba Basketball high school player of the year after averaging 28 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists per game.
鈥淲hat I really like about Junior is his competitiveness and his ability to defend the ball,鈥� Beaucamp said in a statement. 鈥淛unior is a special player and most importantly he is a great kid. He will make a great addition to the Vikes basketball program.鈥�
As will Charles, the six-foot-four guard who represented sa国际传媒 at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels, and who is coming off a season in which he was named a double-A Island and provincial all-star and Island most valuable player for the provincial finalists from Brentwood College.
鈥淛ordan鈥檚 physical size and development will enable him to compete right away,鈥� Beaucamp said in the release. 鈥淗e is a very smart player and he can really shoot the ball. Jordan had some great coaching in high school that has prepared him well for his university career.鈥�
Charles also stars in the classroom, where he recorded an 86 per cent average and was awarded the UVic鈥檚 prestigious President鈥檚 Entrance Scholarship.
Pilato, a six-foot-two guard, is from St. Francis Secondary and is a former national champion with the Ontario provincial team and a two-time Mr. Niagara Basketball award winner, an honour given to the top high school boys basketball player in the Niagara area.
Pilato 鈥� who played an extra year at the high school level 鈥� averaged 27 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists per game this past season.
鈥淲ith that extra year of high school play, Pat is going to be ready and physically mature for university basketball,鈥� Beaucamp said. 鈥淧at brings a variety of skills to the table and I look forward to seeing him perform as a Vike. He brings a maturity both on and off the court that you don鈥檛 often see in a high school player.鈥�
The Vikes are coming off their third appearance at CIS nationals under coach Beaucamp (2004-05, 2005-06, 2012-13), who is a four-time sa国际传媒 West coach of the year award winner.
