By Bilal Siddiqui
The wait is over. After a grueling layoff that spanned nearly 2 years, OUA Basketball is returning this winter. 18 schools primed and ready, with athletes hungry to chase titles. Among them are a group of veterans itching to get back on the floor to represent their school's crest, while continuing to showcase their own unique talents and skills for the scouts and the spotlight. After all, who wouldn’t be amped after missing a full season of their careers? We’ll break down the top 4 players that could make noise this winter.
There will always be bright new talents entering the OUA circuit, but a blossoming class of seniors and veteran graduates will share most of the spotlight this coming season. That doesn’t there aren’t a handful of players to keep your eye on.
Honourable Mentions
Before we get into the Top 4, here’s a list of players that were also worthy of consideration:
Jordan Henry – McMaster
Kali Pocrnic – Carleton
Aiden Warnholtz – Carleton
Thais Matte – Algoma
Evan Shadkami – Toronto
Tiffany Reynolds – Lakehead
Omar Shiddo – Western
Marin Scotten – Ryerson
Ali Sow – Laurier
Tesloth Simon - Windsor
Now, lets get into our Top 4 players to look out for in the 2021 OUA basketball season. For this list, we selected two women’s and two men’s athletes who are primed for big seasons.
4. Samantha Keltos
Position: Forward
School: Brock
It’s never easy stepping into the shoes of an MVP calibre teammate, but that’s what Samantha Keltos, forward for the Brock Badgers will attempt to do. After Melissa Tatti’s incredible final year, where she led the OUA in scoring and won MVP, many will turn to Keltos to lead this Badgers team on another run to the U SPORTS national championships.
She’s certainly capable of carrying the scoring duties. Keltos is a lethal shooter, which is how she gets the bulk of her points. She shot an absurd 44 per cent from three last season and is the type of player who can catch fire from deep at any time. Look no further than the opening game against Nipissing in 2019 where she went off for 16 in the third quarter, including 4/4 from deep. In a dominant effort, Keltos finished with a game high 23 and even added 14 rebounds, leading her Badgers to a double-digit victory.
Keltos’ elite shooting shouldn’t take away from her exceptional abilities as a big, where she can out-rebound opponents and control the paint with her devastating shot blocking skills. Keltos finished second in the OUA for blocked shots in 2019, averaging 2.0 per game.
She’s a big game player with a knack for filling up the stat sheet. In the U SPORTS Championship Semi-Finals, Keltos put up a ridiculous 23 points and 17 rebounds, to go along with five blocks as she flat-out dominated the UPEI Panthers, leading Brock to another big win on the big stage.
It’s hard to find players who can dominate inside the paint and outside the arc like Keltos can. The Badgers should be excited to watch the potential of another MVP calibre season happening right in front of them. To follow your teammates MVP season with one of your own, what an encore it would be for Samantha Keltos.
3. Prince Kamunga
Position: Guard
School: York
The 6’ 7 guard, is a long and athletic nightmare for opponents to match up with. Teams walking into the Tait McKenzie Centre expecting a walk in the park will be surprised when they have to deal with the shifty Kamunga on both sides of the floor. Doesn’t matter how big or fast the defender is, Kamunga will give them problems.
Despite being the main offensive threat on a very young York Lions squad, Kamunga still managed to produce, finishing with 18.7 ppg in 2019/2020, while also being among the OUA leaders in 3-point percentage and makes. It’ll be interesting to see how much Kamunga will progress as a shooter considering he doubled his per game averages across the board entering the pandemic halted season.
Drafted 11th overall in the CEBL draft by the Edmonton Stingers, scouts are already gushing at Kamunga’s limitless potential. It’s hard to find players of his size, who have range and can score. But, Kamunga’s flashiness extends beyond putting up points and slashing from the wing – he’s a great defender that finished the 2020 season in the top 3 in the OUA for blocks.
What the Stingers (and certainly York), are hoping they have is a versatile wing who’s strong at all aspects of the game. Some call this the prototype of the modern-day basketball player, and if Prince Kamunga continues to hit his potential, the York Lions will have a player worth watching – and an opponent worth fearing.
2. Sarah Gates
Position: Point Guard
School: McMaster
How about another insane scorer joining the new OUA West? Sarah Gates of McMaster isn’t a stranger to being a team’s number 1 scoring option – in fact she almost led the entire OUA in scoring. The point guard will be relied upon again this season to lead McMaster in a division many think they could be the favourites in. They certainly won’t have to worry about scoring when Gates is on the floor.
What separates Gates from other shot makers in the OUA is her consistency. In a tightly jammed 2019/2020 schedule, Gates managed to score double digits in 22 out of 24 games. Her performances only got better as the season wore on, including a scorching 5 game stretch after the new year where she averaged 21.4 PPG, and her Marauders secured key wins over Windsor and Queen’s. She even displayed adept defensive abilities, racking up multiple steals on numerous occasions. That production culminated in Gates winning the OUA Athlete of the Week honours shortly before Covid-19 wiped away the rest of the U SPORTS season.
Everyone is left wondering just how much better Gates was going to become if she hadn’t lost a season to the pandemic.
But now, on the dawn of a new OUA basketball season, Gates has the opportunity to show to the province – and the country – that her name is worth watching out for. Gates will be looked upon as the leader and the star for the Marauders this winter. How far this team goes and how much stronger Gates plays will largely be connected.
We know she can handle the pressure. Now, can Sarah Gates lead the OUA in scoring?
1. Thomas Kennedy
Position: Forward
School: Windsor
You want to talk about work horse? Look no further than Windsor Lancer star Thomas Kennedy. The 6’ 9 forward was an unstoppable force in 2019/2020. He led the OUA in rebounds per game with 11.7 and put up 18.6 ppg on efficient shooting. But that’s not the impressive part – he did all that while averaging the second most minutes for any player in the entire OUA. That’s called domination.
He’s also a plus defender who finished top 5 for blocks and top 15 for steals. All of this creates a tricky two-way game for opponents to figure out, on a star laden Windsor roster destined to go on a run.
Kennedy was re-selected 10th overall by the Hamilton Honey Badgers in the CEBL draft earlier this year (he was picked the year prior too but did not sign an official contract). This marked a significant moment for the 3rd year player who lost a huge developmental season due to the pandemic. He now returns to Windsor rested and ready for another long season. All that’s left is to bring home a championship.
A former OUA all-rookie, and current third team all star, Kennedy makes this Windsor team a must watch. It’s hard not to notice his presence on both sides of the court. Now the spotlight will be on him and the rest of the veterans on a stacked roster expected to deliver. The key will be for Kennedy to blossom into that MVP calibre player the Lancers will need to win the OUA West.
With his eyes set on going pro, there’s no doubt the hunger and motivation to deliver a national title will be oozing throughout the halls of the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse. Thomas Kennedy can be the star that leads the Windsor Lancers all the way.
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