DRIVE Basketball :: Top Underclassmen : Freshmen

(Pictured: Left to Right, Freshman standouts Andrew Mcguinness, Luke Braund, and Will Campbell. The list of Top Freshman are in no particular order.)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN: FRESHMAN

Tibi Banica: 6’1’’ Wing Forward (Tery Fox)
Simply put, Tibi is a man child. He’s simply too strong for everyone his age. He’s big, athletic guard that can really defend players at multiple positions. He’s tough as nails. Tibi is an excellent rebounder for his size. Tibi is great in the full court and can finish in numerous ways at the hoop. He wants the ball in crunch time to take and make big shots. Tibi is an all out hustler who plays with the kind of intangibles that coaches love.

Luke Braund: 6'3’’ Wing Forward (St. Georges)
Luke is considered the best post in BC for his class. Last season he was named to the all-star team at the Gr. 8 provincials. He’s an extremely versatile player capable of playing several positions on the court. He has an old school flavor to his game. He’s a great player in the half court because he's so good at holding his position in the post. He’s a very good scorer in the paint keeping the ball high when he catches it. Luke has great intangibles on the court, he competes and always plays hard. He’s fundamentally solid, does all the little things to help his team win. Luke’s a true competitor that has the potential to be a special player for the Saints.

Andrew Mcguinness: 6'2’’ Combo Guard (Handsworth)
Andrew is an all-around talent. He’s the best shooter in the province for his class. He received an all star at the gr. 8 provincials last year and represented BC on the U-15 development team this past summer. He has great form on his jumper. Andrew posses solid fundamentals for his age. You can tell he’s been well schooled in the game of basketball. Andrew has a beautiful outside stroke that creates nightmares for players guarding him. He keeps defenders on their heels because of his ability to shoot the ball and his quick release. Andrew is another special player from the north shore powerhouse Handsworth that looks to make a run at the Junior Provincial banner.

Adryan Hansen: 6'3’’ Forward (Terry Fox)
Adryan is a very good athlete. He has all the fundamentals of a player that has works hard on his game. He can score in multiple ways on the court with ability to finish with either hand. He uses his athleticism to get to the foul line. He's at his best when he is in the full court or a numbered advantage. He already has a good leaping ability and his body hasn't fully developed so there's room for improvement. Terry Fox has another special player blossoming in the mix.

Will Campbell: 5’11’’ Point Guard (Vancouver College)
Will is a scoring guard. His best assest is his ability to play multiple positions. With his ability to shoot from outside allows him to play the off guard. He has a high basketball IQ that allows him to play the point as well. He's an extremely tough player that is willing to do anything for the win. Will is competitive, smart, a leader and team player that will look to take the Irish back to a provincial powerhouse.

Kelly Olynyk: 6’3’’ Forward (Kamloops)
Kelly possesses solid fundamentals from both the post and the perimeter. He has a very nice back to the basket game and can be very crafty. Kelly can also face up and knock it in with proficiency. He uses good positioning to grab a nice share of rebounds. A hard worker, Kelly hustles after loose balls, dives on the floor, and will get physical in the paint. He’s very coachable, a player who knows his role on the team. With time he should turn into a very nice overall player.

Adam Chin: 5’11’’ Point Guard (Burnaby North)

Adam is a mature player for his age. He has a great body for a point and he uses it to create advantages for himself when he’s playing. He owns a variety of offense weapons, but is at his best when breaking down defenders with his lethal crossover, or feeding a teammate for an easy basket. He has incredible quickness and ball handling ability. This kid has a world of talent, and the desire to develop to become the best.

Dallas Norrie: 6’3’’ Forward (Pitt Meadows)
Dallas plays like he owns the paint. He’s a physical, yet smooth scorer around the basket He combines skills, strength and athleticism to collect high-percentage of rebounds in traffic. He really crashes the boards with authority. Dallas will be a terror down the road as long as he continues to work on extending his game. Legendary Coach Rich Goulet has another talent to develop into a top player.

Dave Park: 6’8’’ Center (Fleetwood Park)
Dave is a legitimate 6’8’’ and 230lbs. He moves surprisingly well for a player who has gone through some serious growth spurts at such a young age. He displays what can be considered the beginning of a low post game, but improvement is needed. If he is close enough to the basket he will get you the bucket. Effectiveness diminishes as he gets further from the goal. Dave is still working on maximizing his talent but has the potential to be a BIG-Time talent.

Harrison Mair: 5’11’’ Point Guard (Vancouver College)
Harrison teams up with Irish back court partner Will Campbell to form one of the most talented guard combinations in the province. Harrison can get anywhere on the floor whenever he wants because of his speed and athleticism. He has heart and passion for the game and is a true competitor. He’s a duo sport athlete excelling in football as well as on the hardwood. His reputation as a winner is unparalleled and his will to win is as strong as they come. Has the ability to be a special player if he continues to develop his all around game.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Kurt Milton: Combo Guard (Pitt Meadows)

Tyler Tanabe: Wing Guard (Killarney)

Dillon Hamilton: Combo Guard (St. Georges)

Josh Robertson: Forward (St. Georges)

Nicholas Lung: Forward (Kitsilano)

Arun Cheema: Forward (Tamanawis)

Ashaunti Hogan: Guard (Notre Dame)

Matthew Chow: Wing Forward (Killarney)

Aurel David: Guard (Vancouver College)