CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – The UPEI Panthers will have a new look when they hit the hardwood this fall.
The men’s basketball team has added six players to its lineup, including Charlottetown Rural standout Jack MacAulay, who played two seasons with the Cape Breton Capers before sitting out last year as a transfer student, the Georges twins and three more players.
“We really felt we needed to add a little bit more size, a little bit more athleticism and a real emphasis on guarding the ball,” head coach Darrell Glenn said.
UPEI (3-17) missed the Atlantic University Sport playoffs for the second straight season. They begin play at home by hosting the Memorial Sea-Hawks on Saturday, Nov. 3.
Glenn said the team was young last year and will be young again this season but noted the important growth for some of its freshmen last year like Vernelle Johnson, Marcus Cusinato, Dakelle Brooks and Moshe Wadley.
“Everybody has come back better,” Glenn said. “Our strength and conditioning coach has outlined a number of areas where these guys needed to get better and has given them programs. When we've done testing, we’ve seen everyone has come back better.”
UPEI also will have veterans in Milorad Sedlarevic, Amin Suleman, Logan MacDonald and Matt Brar.
The bench boss sees MacAulay playing a big role in the revitalized Panthers attack.
“We really struggled from the field last year,” Glenn said. “He’s that lynchpin, that thing we’re missing that can hopefully take us to another level offensively.”
The Panthers have 17 guys in camp and plan on getting down to its core 15 players after the exhibition season.
Glenn said he is excited by what he sees early in training camp.
“We’re growing daily,” he said. “How that translates into wins and losses who knows? The one thing I know for sure and can speak confidently about is the kids are working really hard.”
Here’s a look at some of the Panthers new players:
Samuel Campbell
A six-foot-five forward is a true freshman who attended Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Toronto last year.
Glenn said he is a good defender and rebounder, who competes hard and has a soft touch around the rim.
“We really like his size, his athleticism.”
Jamesley Jerome
A six-foot-seven small forward out of Dawson College in Westmount, Que.
“Athletic, strong, moves really well,” he said. “These guys are going to allow us to play an up-tempo game.”
Jean Clairemond Junior Ceasar
The five-foot-nine guard led Cegep in steals last year while playing for Edouard-Montpetit in Longueuil, Que. The coaching staff is looking for the true freshman to bring speed, strength, defence and outside shooting to the squad.
