CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - For the last two seasons, you’ve known Brad States best for his above-the-rim antics. the Eastlink Centre rims will once again take a beating after the Island Storm re-signed the athletic forward for a third year
The National Basketball League of Canada club placed States on its protected list and said Storm head coach Tim Kendrick, all things considered, the Bathurst, N.B., native’s defensive upside and raw athleticism was too attractive to ignore.
“It’s great to have Brad back with us. He can be an exceptional defender at multiple positions and his athleticism makes him a very difficult matchup to contend with,” Kendrick said.
After spending the last four seasons on the Island - two with the UPEI Panthers and two with the Storm - States said he grew accustomed to calling Charlottetown his home.
“The Storm have been very important to me,” States said. “P.E.I. feels like home to me now and I’ve developed some great relationships here. It always gives you a boost when you play for such supportive fans.”
In his second year with the club, the 24-year-old improved upon his rookie campaign, averaging 5.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in 2017-18. This season, he’s hoping to take another step forward in his development, while trying to shed the label as just a slasher.
“I consider myself an energy player that focuses more on defence and team success rather than individual accolades. But I’m working on getting better offensively for the upcoming year. I want to be a more consistent shooter and not just a slashing type player.”
It won’t come easy though, as he admits the league is only getting stronger, leaving little room for error.
“In college you could make certain mistakes and recover, but in this league if you make a mistake you’ll pay for it. There’s some great talent in this league and it seems to get better each year.”
Kendrick took notice of the changes his six-foot-seven forward made to his body and is anxious to see how States now stacks up against guys his size, especially in the post.
“He added some muscle in the off-season and he looks great, and he tells me he feels great,” Kendrick said. “So we expect him to come in and have a very good season for us.”
States has accomplished much during his time on the Island where he made a name for himself as an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) all-star and a professional.
But, he said, couldn’t have done it without the die-hard fans who’ve supported him along the way and the opportunities this community presented to him.
“It’s nice to play for people who genuinely want to see you succeed and stick behind you win or lose. So it was a no brainer to want and come back here and play for them. Now I want bring a championship to the Island.”
The regular season begins Thursday, Nov. 15 with the Moncton Magic, led by former Storm coach Joe Salerno, in Halifax, N.S., facing the Hurricanes, guided by Salerno’s former assistant Mike Leslie.
compiled by Thomas Becker for the Storm
