WOLFPACK MENS BASKETBALL SIGNS TWO FROM SFU June 18, 2010
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Kevin Pribilsky (courtesy SFU PR)
When Scott Clark coaches his first game as head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team, he’ll see two familiar faces. Two of his veteran players from Simon Fraser University have decided to follow Clark to continue their basketball and scholastic careers in the BC Interior.
Clark is pleased to announce the signing of 21 year old Chas Kok and 20 year old Kevin Pribilsky. Kok is a fourth year (Lynden, Wash) small forward who was a Second Team Canada West All-Star in 2009-10. Pribilsky is a 6’0” point guard out of Victoria, BC (Oak Bay Secondary).
“These players are quality individuals,” said Clark. “ These are the type of people that we want to add to our program. They are hard workers, good students and team players. Their approach is top notch. They are players that our school, our team and the community will be proud of.”
Both players are excited about the prospect of coming to TRU.
“TRU is a school and a basketball program on the rise,” says Pribilsky. “ Last year, they may not have had the best record but that didn’t reflect in their play. They played many of the top teams, even nationally ranked teams very close. They played UBC very well, us (SFU) very well, beat Trinity and UVIc. They were a good team and we look to build on that success this year. At the same time, they are building a foundation and that is quite intriquing.”
Chas Kok (courtesy SFU PR)
“My thoughts on joining the program are all about improvement,” stated the 6’5” Kok. “This team does have some key pieces to building a good team. Greg (Stewart, 5th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was a great finisher on the offensive end and had great hands. But, also could completely change the game defensively and rebound. Connor (Agnew, 5th year, Prince Rupert, BC) could really shoot the ball which is important in Coach Clark’s Princeton offense. Those are just two examples, but two guys I noticed right away.”
Kok and Pribilsky say Clark’s decision to come to TRU was the main reason why they wanted to follow him there.
“I do have a ton of respect for Coach Clark because of what he does for his players,” Kok explains. “ He teaches many different things both off and on the court. He can greatly help a basketball team win, but he has also helped many of his previous players win the game of life. He does a great job with all of his players and I loved playing for him last year. On the basketball court, he does a good job of getting guys to buy into the team. When they really buy in, good things happen.”
“He makes you a better person and in the end that’s the main goal,” adds Pribilsky, who plans to take mostly history courses as he enters his third year of eligibility.
Kok , plans to take courses towards getting a degree in Education at TRU. He believes his value to the team will not only come as a leader but from having the experience of winning. “ After winning football and basketball state championships in my senior year in 2007 at Lynden, I looked back and noticed all of the hard work that everyone had to put in. Day in and day out, guys would come and work hard, get better and overall made our team better. After each successful season, I would look back and notice how hard everyone worked. Last year at SFU, every one of our guys, from veterans to rookies put in a lot of effort. I believe that is a trend in being successful, and I can help bring that attitude into the team.”
Kok and Pribilsky become the fourth and fifth players signing onto TRU for the coming season. They join Rob Dhillon (North Delta BC-Everett Community College), Brett Parker (Langley BC-Walnut Grove Secondary) and Brett Rouault (Vernon, BC-Clarence Fulton Secondary).
DOUBLE DRIBBLES: Coach Clark has this assessment of his two new players. “Chas can do a lot of things. He can score: he is very dangerous from the post area. He can play point guard as well if he has to. Kevin is very unselfish. His work ethic is very strong. His ability to run the team’s offense has improved . He is slight physically but gets stronger every year.
VERNON BASKETBALLER COMMITS TO WOLFPACK June 15, 2010
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Brett Rouault
One of the top high school basketball players in the Interior of BC has decided to play his university career at Thompson Rivers University.
Brett Rouault , a 6’4” forward from Vernon’s Fulton Secondary has signed a letter of commitment to join the WolfPack starting in the fall of 2010. He becomes the second high school player to join TRU for the coming season, following in the footsteps of Brett Parker of Walnut Grove.
“I’m very excited to be part of a CIS program and to have the opportunity to improve as an athlete as well as student,” says Rouault, who will enter the Bachelor of Science program.
“He scored some big points when I scouted him at the 2010 BC “AA” High School Championships, “said WolfPack head coach Scott Clark. “ He is an outstanding individual. Not only is he athletic but an “A” student. He is the type of person we want to attract in our efforts to build a successful program.”
“I am a strong shooter, who has had no problems with taking the ball inside,” Rouault says about his play. “ I believe if that if I work hard enough, I can give almost everyone problems with my defensive play.”
He moved to the North Okanagan city in September 2009 this past season after playing for Team Alberta the previous two summers. All he did was lead Fulton in points, steals and was in the top three in rebounding. His club finished third at the BC Finals after entering as the number 12 seed. Rouault was named a tournament all-star.
Rouault becomes the third player from Vernon to join the WolfPack: following in the footsteps of Travis Beck (2009-10) and Charles Barton (2008-09).
He moved to the North Okanagan city in September 2009 this past season after playing for Team Alberta.
Rouault is looking forward to playing for new WolfPack coach Clark. “ It’s exciting to play for a coach who has had so much success in the CIS already. I am looking forward to learning from him and improving my game.”
“He has nothing but upside,” states the TRU bench boss. “ He scores from a variety of different areas. Once he matures physically, he should be an integral part of our future. First though, he’ll need to learn our system.”
Rouault was looking at both Alberta and UBC but decided to play at Thompson Rivers. “TRU is close to my family and they showed the most interest in me as a player,” he stated. “ And I love the almost brand new facilities.”
He joins Parker and Rob Dhillon (White Rock, BC-Everett Community College) as players committed to TRU for the coming season.
MENS BASKETBALL SIGN FIRST TWO RECRUITS FOR 2010 June 1, 2010
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Rob Dhillon with Everett
Barely two weeks into his tenure as head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball team, Scott Clark has his first two recruits. Clark and the WolfPack are pleased to announce that guards Rob Dhillon (White Rock, BC) and Brett Parker (Langley, BC) have agreed to play starting in the fall of 2010.
Dhillon, a 21 year old, 6’2” grad of North Delta Secondary is joining the WolfPack after spending the last three seasons with Everett Community College in Washington State. Dhillon red shirted the first year but played the last two years. He is a shooting guard, but can also play point guard.
“I am actually looking forward to playing for Coach Clark,”says Dhillon, who played on AAU Basketball teams in various tournaments in Washington State while going to high school.
“I have to thank Ted Murray for turning me onto Rob,” said the WolfPack head coach. Murray was a manager and then assistant coach for Clark for a time at Simon Fraser University before going to coach and teach at North Delta. “Ted contacted me and said Robbie wanted to come back to Canada. The rest is history. He is a guy who can spread the defence and knock it in from the perimeter. He has some great ball skills and is a great defender.”
Dhillon was looking at going to SFU before learning Clark was leaving to come to Thompson Rivers. “ I visited the campus at TRU last year and really liked the athletic facilties,” he said. “ Im looking forward to changing the basketball culture around the team and hopefully turn it into a success.” Dhillon had offers from some NAIA and NCAA Division II schools . ‘But I wanted to come back home and play for Coach Clark.”
Dhillon recently completed his Fire Science degree at Everett (which plays in the NWACC basketball league). He will take Education courses at TRU.
Brett Parker with Walnut Grove this season
The 18 year old Parker is 6’3” and is known as a dangerous three point shooter. He will graduate from Walnut Grove Secondary in Langley later this month. He was part of a team which finished 6th in the Fraser Valley and 14 th in the BC “AAA” high school league this past season. He is a gifted multi sport athlete going to the provincials in Cross Country along with Track and Field (Javelin, Discus and 4 x 400 meter relay). Add to that, he had an average of over 80 per cent in school while volunteer coaching in the Langley “Steve Nash Basketball League.”
Brett Parker
“He is a hard worker, a good athlete and a very good student. “ says Clark. He should know. That is because Parker is his step son. “ He is a player and a student of high character. I admit I’m a bit bias,” he said. “ But he has the qualities of what sort of athlete we want to bring into the community.”
Parker was the captain of his Walnut Grove basketball team in 2009-10. “ I really enjoyed the role and tried to lead by example.”
Having your step father as your coach might present some challenges. But Parker doesn’t see it that way ‘He has been coaching me my whole life,” he explains. ‘Not just in basketball but he has also been a big influence on who I am off the court. I have learned many things from my step dad, “Scoot” as we call him around the house. I am who I am today because of the lessons he has taught me.”
“I don’t think separating Dad and coach to be a big problem,” says Clark. “When you are practice, you don’t see a player as your son. Along with that, there are certain responsibilities that are either fulfilled or not fulfilled for all players. It doesn’t matter who it is. The bottom line is that if they don’t fulfill those responsibilities, we don’t have much of a basketball team and they don’t play. It’s very black and white. I don’t think an emotional relationship comes into play. Whether it be your best player or your not, everyone will have the same demands placed on them.”
Like Dhillon, Parker is looking forward to being a role model, a community leader and a valued member of the WolfPack Athletic Family. “ I think joining a growing program will provide a challenge for the whole team,” he says. “We will need all the support..from ourselves and the community to help turn things around.”
Parker will take Business courses while attending TRU. “ I’ve been told by everyone who has attended TRU that it is an amazing place and I look forward to starting there in the fall.”
STEWART TO REPRESENT CANADA WITH NATIONAL SITTING VOLLEYBALL TEAM May 24, 2010
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Greg Stewart (A. Snucins photo)
Greg Stewart has had a memorable 2010 and the year is not even half over. The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack basketball player was first named the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year.
Now, he has been selected for a third tour of duty with the Canadian Men’s Sitting Volleyball Team. The 7’2” Stewart is in Calgary to prepare for the first ever World Championships in Oklahoma which take place the second week of July.
“We have two more camps in June before the Championships, I’m very excited.” He says.
Stewart is one of ten players on the National team, who are directed by Ian Halliday. He has played with the club at the last two Pan Paralympics Games. Canada placed third.
“This is volleyball unlike any other,” he says. “ The nets a lot shorter, the court is a lot smaller. You are sitting on the floor. By far, this is the hardest volleyball I have ever played.”
And that is saying something. Stewart played high school volleyball at South Kamloops in the late 1990’s and on the National Standing volleyball squad . He has also played CIS volleyball for a time two years ago with the WolfPack before switching over to basketball.
Stewart is optimistic of Canada’s chances at the World Championships. “ I think they look promising. I’m not saying we will finish number one but we have a very talented team. A lot of the guys have volleyball backgrounds. We have a lot of depth. It’s all about experience. We are a young team. We just have to go out and explore how we play together.”
Training for this event has taken him off his routine in preparing for the 2010-11 Canada West basketball season. “ There are some similarities,” he explains. “You have to be quick in both sports but basketball involves more cardio work. You still have to be in shape. This volleyball involves a lot of upper body work—moving yourself around. You definitely get tired at the end.”
Stewart hopes that the experience this summer with the National Team will help him become more of a leader when he steps onto the basketball court with TRU in the fall.
“I’m sure they will be looking for me to kick them in the butt, when its needed,” he said. “Although whether it be basketball or volleyball, everyone needs to rely on each other to be successful.”
WolfPack Vets Keen To Play For Clark (KDN Article) May 21, 2010
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Charles Barton (A. Snucins)
Greg Stewart (A. Snucins)
By Mark Hunter
Kamloops Daily News
Greg Stewart has seen some of the centres that Scott Clark has helped develop, and it’s safe to say that the big man is excited.
Clark was introduced as head coach of the TRU WolfPack men’s basketball team on Thursday (May 20, 2010). He takes over from Thom Gillespie, the interim head coach the last two seasons.
Stewart, a 7-foot-2 centre for the WolfPack, was at Thursday’s press conference, along with teammates Connor Agnew, Gerry Brown, Travis Beck and Charles Barton.
It isn’t hard for Stewart to get excited at the prospect of a new coach, especially one with a reputation of getting the most out of his big men.
“He had Gregg Wallis . . . and Aaron Christensen,” said Stewart, a South Kam grad. “The success he got out of them, that’s what I’m really excited about.
“I plan on going bigger and better next year, and to have him is huge for me.”
When Stewart started with the UCC Sun Demons, in 2004-05, Nevin Gleddie was head coach.
Stewart played last season under Gillespie, who had taken over in 2008-09 after Gleddie was reassigned.
“Technically this will be my third coach,” Stewart said. “I’ve heard many good things about him. I think this program is looking up.”
Clark was quick to downplay the role he had in helping some of his big players develop. One of them, Peter Guarasci, started for Team Canada at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a number of good, big players, starting with Peter Guarasci,” Clark said. “After him, I had Richard Anderson, who also was a national team player. Aaron Christensen, Greg Wallis —we’ve had a number of post players that have been good. “I’ve been fortunate to have a number of big kids who have made me look like a good coach.”
For Barton, a third-year guard from Vernon, with a new coach comes a whole lot of excitement. He can’t wait to get the season started, and hopes his team can do better than the 3-15 record it put up in 2009-10.
“I’m excited, especially after the hard-nosed speech he gave at the start (of the conference),” Barton said.
“We’ve been on a really big losing streak lately, and having a new coach who has an excellent record really excites the players.”
(re printed by permission)
mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca
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