MOUNT PEARL, N.L. — In this period of uncertainty, one of the finest high school basketball players from the province took a huge step this week to locking down his immediate future by committing to play for the Dalhousie Tigers university team starting next season.
Caleb Sooley of Mount Pearl, a 6-4 guard, just completed his fourth season at New Brunswick’s Rothesay Netherwood School (RNS). He joins a Dal squad that won a national U Sports men’s basketball silver medal this season, in their first finals appearance in program history.
The Tigers lost 74-65 to Ottawa’s Carleton Ravens.
That followed a third straight Atlantic University Sport men’s championship this season, the Tigers’ fifth in the past six years.
“I had a few options,” Sooley said, in terms of interest from other schools, “but I’m looking to do business and then law school after that, so Dal is a good avenue for that.
“It’s close to home,” he said of the venerable Halifax university, and, of course, it’s a great opportunity to play a high calibre brand of basketball.
“We’re talking among the elite in Canada here,” he said.
BREAKING: @USPORTSca Finalists @mbb_dal Scores a Commitment From Caleb Sooley.
— NPA (@NPACanada) March 23, 2020
Full story: https://t.co/Uh2PCS8Ecl pic.twitter.com/V5djZbJ9bl
Rothesay Netherwood performs in the National Preparatory Association, a 12-team Canadian prep school circuit which features three divisions — East, Central and West, with teams as far west as Alberta and Manitoba.
Although not widely known as a basketball power. RNS took steps this season to making its mark on the Canadian stage by going 12-0 before the season was postponed.
Sooley, 18, averaged 14.6 points per game, and 4.3 rebounds.
“That league definitely helped me develop,” he said of the Preparatory loop. “You have to consider Dal to be a pretty high standard in the country, and I think playing against a lot of high-calibre guys in that (prepatory) league – a lot of players leave that league and go to (NCAA) Division I – prepared me to get at that level to draw interest from Dalhousie.”
CONGRATULATIONS to our Senior, Captain and soon to be proud Alum Caleb ‘Carl’ Sooley on his commitment to AUS powerhouse Dalhousie Tigers! Dal is getting a believer, a builder and a humble hard-working young man. Our program and Alum are very proud of you. #RNStrong pic.twitter.com/UyjVtqCeCj
— RNS Basketball (@RNS_Hoops) March 24, 2020
In addition to Dal, Sooley also drew interest from other AUS schools Cape Breton University, UPEI and Saint Mary’s.
Ironically enough, however, he did not receive any overtures from Memorial University.
He is receiving scholarship money — both academic and athletic — from Dalhousie.
There are some openings on the Tigers’ roster following the graduation of four players. A fifth transferred out.
“Coming in as a freshman,” he said, “you’ll have to sit and watch a little bit, of course.
“Dalhousie is obviously pretty set with their guys, so I’ll be looking to contribute where I can.”
Everything is on hold now, of course, but he’s hoping to get to Dal this summer, and train for couple of weeks under coach Rick Plato, in addition to get a feel for the campus.
Twitter: @telyrobinshort | facebook.com/TelySports
