I am eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024/25 ACAC season so that I can watch and follow all the action. I have a deep history with the ACAC. I grew up in Edmonton, AB, and as a high school student, I regularly attended Grant MacEwan Community College games. Then, as a student at Concordia University College in Edmonton, I witnessed the school join the ACAC in 1999/2000 and was an active member, announcing all the home games. After graduation, I coached for one season at The King's University College. Then I had the privilege of joining the legendary Phil Allen to start the program at Lakeland College in 2003/04. I stayed on his staff until his retirement (he did return for 1 season to assist for Chris King) in 2009/10.
The league has been thriving and will be highly competitive. The last two CCAA national champions have been from the ACAC, with SAIT winning in 2022/23 and Keyano bringing home the championship in 2023/24. This year, the teams will compete for two spots at the 2025 National Championships hosted by Vanier College in Quebec.
I am very thankful for the league's coaches who responded with outlooks for their teams this season. I have ranked teams based on returning players, transfers, recruits, a couple of preseason games, and just my feelings about where they will end up at the end of the year. It was not an easy process. The north division plays 20 games and the South division 21. They play each team in the opposite division once and each team inside their division twice. The playoffs will see the top 4 teams in each the north and south traveling to the team that is in first place in the South at the end of January. The games will be tight, and one unexpected loss will see teams tumble down the standings and possibly miss the playoffs.
NORTH DIVISION OUTLOOK
Keyano Huskies
When you think of Fort McMurray, it's usually associated with oil and lifted trucks. However, Coach Jeremy Wielenga has built a powerhouse basketball program that happens to be the defending CCAA national champions. They finished the 2023/34 season with a 17-3 record, placing first in the north and hosting the ACAC final four.
It's quite easy to pick them to finish first since they are bringing back most of the team, including the top scorers Omeechi Williams (4th year; Hamilton, ON), DJ Haynes(2nd; Naple, FLA), Evan Meyer (2nd; Oshawa, ON) , and Nahshon Hurst(4th Markham, ON). Furthermore, with Keenan Caribou (4th; Pukawatagen, MB) returning from injury and NAIT transfer Yasser Abduallahi (5th; Edmonton, AB) joining the team, it seems like they are poised for another strong season.
I would have expected the team to start the 2024/25 season as the preseason #1 team in the national rankings. However, a couple of preseason losses to Mohawk, Humber, St. Mary's, and SAIT will likely lower their ranking. No doubt, these losses will motivate them, especially since they start the season playing against the South teams, where a couple more losses are possible. They will be focused and hungry to regain the #1 spot and defend their title at nationals.
2. Concordia Thunder
The Thunder had a mixed season in 2023/24, finishing 4th in the North with a 10-10 record. However, they were defeated by the 5th seed NAIT Ooks in the play-in game, ending their season earlier than expected. They experienced a coaching change, with ACAC legend Robbie Valpreda moving from the women's team to take on a new challenge.
The hiring delay posed recruiting challenges, but the majority of the team returned. Leading scorer Yaadvir Dhaliwal (5th; Sacramento, CA), along with O'Ryan Wallace (4th; Sacramento, CA), Alex MacLean (5th; Leduc, AB), and Mailton Lendein (5th; Edmonton, AB) are back. Although the loss of Nick Gibb will be felt, acquiring USport transfer Nash May (2nd; Leduc, AB) from McEwan should help. The Thunder also recruited guard Devon Weleschuk from Bev Facey High School in Sherwood Park, AB.
The Thunder have a seasoned team that understands their responsibilities. Coach Valpreda, although new to coaching the men's team, has been part of the ACAC for 25 years and has learned from some of the greatest coaches. They are ranked at #2 due to their experience and coaching, but they need to be cautious because I can see both teams below them improving and surpassing them.
Lakeland Rustlers
The Rustlers have been consistent since they joined the league in 2003/04, winning games and making the playoffs. In the 2023/24 season, they had a 12-8 record, securing 2nd place in the north, and then had a successful playoff run, earning the ACAC bronze medal. Coach Sheray Thomas has been at the helm for 11 years and has consistently risen to the challenge.
The team will face challenges due to the departure of its top three scorers: Andre McFadden, and Abdul Al-Tamimi. The coach will look to Allayasa Bray (5th;) Bahaeddin Salma 4th; Saskatoon, SK), Chance Samuel (3rd; Douglasville, GA), and Nathyn McDonald-Whitedeer (3rd; Saskatoon, SK) to step up and lead the new transfers and recruits. Additionally, the team is adding transfers Riley Rathwell (5th; North Battleford, SK) from Algoma University, Matthew Bryant from Briercrest, and Tyreik Lennox (3rd; Hamilton, ON) from Olds, hoping for a smooth transition and to fill the gaps left by the departing players. Coach Thomas is also optimistic about the abilities of the three incoming freshmen: Samuel Bergen-Isaac (Winkler, MB) from Legacy Prep, Israel Ogebor (Calgary, AB) from CTA West, and Ishmael Brown (Troronto, ON) from Oakville Prep, and expects them to adapt quickly to ACAC play.
This team will need to find roles early. The loss of so much leadership and scoring will be hard to overcome. However, I have them in 3rd place because of Coach Sheray Thomas' experience. Entering his 11th season, he has only had a losing record once. I think his familiarity with travel and the other teams will put them slightly above some teams. But he will have his work cut out for him, as some of the teams I have lower will want to experience playoffs and won't just give it to Lakeland.
4. NAIT Ooks
The Ooks had a mixed 2023/24 season, finishing 9-11 in 5th place. They managed to defeat Concordia in the play-in game but were then defeated by Keyano in the quarterfinals. There was also a coaching change over the summer, as Jordan Baker stepped down to focus on his duties with the Edmonton Stingers. His replacement, however, came from the Stingers family, as longtime player Adika Peter-McNeilly was chosen for the role.
The Ooks did lose a lot of their core players, but the coach is excited to have Gabriel Humilde (2nd; Edmonton, AB) and Kohl Wedman (2nd; Edmonton, AB) returning and stepping into bigger roles. The additions of transfers, forward Patrick Fisher (3rd; Edmonton, AB) from the University of Alberta and guard Omar Farrah (1st; Edmonton, AB), a red-shirt from Nipissing University, should provide them with the experienced minutes that they lost. The coach is also excited about adding Donovan Caldwell (Sherwood Park, AB) from Salisbury High School.
This team is really a wildcard and hard to place. With a brand new coach adjusting from playing to coaching and limited veteran presence on the team, I think they could finish as high as 2nd, but that will depend a lot on the impact their transfers can have.
Northwest Polytechnique Wolves
The Wolves had a very successful 2023/24 season, finishing with a 10-10 record and securing 3rd place in the North. However, they were defeated in the quarterfinals by Lakeland.
Coach Evan Lloyd is bringing back most of his squad, including key players Christian Liwanag (4th year; Edmonton, AB), Daniel Zandbergen (3rd year; Vancouver, BC), and Tony Kibonge (3rd year; Edmonton, AB). They will face the challenge of compensating for the loss of their leading scorer and rebounder, Emmanual Iloka. The team is pinning their hopes on the addition of transfer player Mitch Crosina (2nd year; Grande Prairie, AB) from CBC of the PacWest, as well as freshmen Nathaniel Backe, Makaia Lapa (Abbotsford, BC), and Chris Kinyage (Edmonton, AB) to make a positive impact and help the team return to the playoffs.
It may take some time for the team to adjust to the absence of Emmanual, but Coach Lloyd is committed to working them hard. With a strong finish, they have the potential to secure the 4th playoff spot.
The Kings' Eagles
Last year was a challenging one for the Eagles as they finished with a 0-20 record. Coach Jay Ouellette sees it as a year of growth and learning. The team will have 11 returning players, with the only significant loss being leading scorer Cornelius Mingo Jr. Coach Ouellette is expecting significant progress from players like Jonathan Barweger (4th year; Lethbridge, AB), Brock Stupar (3rd year; Spruce Grove, AB), Josh Povhe (5th year; Saskatoon, SK), and Evan Castle (2nd year; Surrey, BC). He is particularly excited about the return of Logan Den Oudsten (5th year; Lacombe, AB) who graduated and is returning to play his final year and complete an Education degree.
In addition to the returning players, Coach Jay has secured the transfer of Daniel Park (1st year; Air Ronge, SK) from Providence in the MCAC. He is also bringing in 9 new recruits to form a team that will compete in the Edmonton Legacy League, aiming to further develop the program. Coach Jay anticipates that freshmen Toney Nguoth from M.E. LaZerte and David Loki from Smithers, BC, will see playing time in the ACAC this season.
I see significant improvements coming for this team, and I believe they will be aiming to make the playoffs in 2025/26.
University of Alberta Augustana Vikings
The Vikings had a tumultuous season in 2023/24 after long-time coach Dave Drabiuk departed and an interim coach was appointed late. They finished with a 7-13 record, placing 6th in the north.
This year might be challenging as new head coach Etienne Jacquet wasn't hired until late August and inherited the team and recruits left behind. The Vikings lost their two leading scorers from last season and will rely on returning players Jack Smilski (4th, Cochrane, AB), Brett Marlow (4th, The Pas, MB), and Cooper Nelson (4th, Strathmore, AB) to step up and lead the 12 incoming freshmen.
According to Taffe Charles, head coach for the Carleton Ravens at the recent U of S Huskies tourney, Coach Jacquet is a hard-working and intelligent coach who will build a competitive program. I anticipate that they will surprise some teams in the second semester and pose challenges for teams vying for playoff seeding.
SOUTH DIVISION OUTLOOK
1. St Mary's Lightning
After finishing 19-2 in the previous season and earning ACAC silver, this team is returning one of the best backcourts in ACAC history. Coach Nathan Ruff has built a program that has consistently grown, and I expect them to take the next step this season and make some noise in Quebec at nationals.
The team will welcome back Caleb Jibb (5th; Calgary, AB) , the reigning CCAA player of the year, along with his running mate, the electric Brock Dewsberry (5th; Raymond, AB). However, the loss of Johnpaul Okudua, who averaged almost 13 rebounds a game and did a lot of the dirty work, will be felt. Returners such as Pelumi Ajayi (4th; Calgary, AB) , Noah Steingart (2nd; Carstairs, AB) , and Josh Castro (3rd; Dumaguete City, PHIL) will need to take on bigger roles.
In addition to the returning players, they have added Patrick Dujmovic (5th; White Rock, BC) from UBC-O to provide an inside presence and rebounding. Incoming freshmen Cley Perret (Okotoks, AB) from PSA Prep, CJ Peters from Calgary, AB, and Lucas Barlow (Okotoks, AB) from Holy Trinity Academy are also expected to contribute throughout the season.
SAIT Trojans
SAIT entered the 2023/24 season as the reigning national champions but faced tough competition throughout the season. They finished with a 17-4 record and placed 2nd in the South division. Unfortunately, they were defeated by Keyano in the semi-finals, ending their hopes of securing back-to-back national championships.
The Trojans are dealing with significant changes this season. While they retain their leading scorer, Marcus Masters (5th; Kitchener, ON), they have lost key players such as Akol Yuol and Geoffrey James. However, Coach Daley is counting on returning players Will Tong (2nd; Calgary, AB), Jaden Matthews (5th; Edmonton, AB), and Tutu Akol (2nd; Calgary, AB) to maintain the team's winning tradition.
Although I prioritize experience and continuity in my rankings, I cannot ignore a program that is bringing in 6 transfers, all of whom played significant roles in their previous teams. Coach Daley has put in a lot of effort during the off-season, adding Johnny Mims (4th; Los Angeles, CA) from Lakeland College, Matejc Vukic (3rd; Serbia) from Ambrose, Awer Awer (3rd; Edmonton, AB) from South Plains College, Nhial Kuech (3rd; Calgary, AB) from NAIT, Killian Yupa (2nd; Leon, France) from Mount Royal University, and Mina Ogot (3rd; Edmonton, AB) from the University of Regina. This is an impressive recruitment effort, and if the team can establish chemistry early, they will certainly pose a challenge to St. Mary's for the top spot and aim for a spot in the national championships.
Briercrest Clippers
Coach Shane Sowden has been slowly building this program and I predict this will be a breakout year for the program. They finished last season with a 14-7 record good for 4th place in the south but were disappointed to lose at home to Red Deer in the play-in game.
The Clippers are returning almost their entire team with the only key loss being Asher Elstad. Leading Scorer Oroma Bongomin (3rd; Regina, SK) returns to once again lead his team. Jude Shepperd-Hills (5th; Saskatoon, SK) was a rebounding machine who added a lot to his game over the summer and will be a tough cover. I expect the breakout star to be big man Zach Martens (4th; Dalmeny, SK), I saw him play in the exhibition season against the University of Saskatchewan and he looks ready to fully use his size and strength to make this season a memorable one.
With a deep roster, the three freshmen that Coach Sowden brought in will face a challenge to find playing time. However, Markus Glaspell (Regina, SK), Will Stiason (Saskatoon, SK), and Hunter Barnstable (Hafford, SK) were all standout high school players in Saskatchewan last season. They are expected to be valuable long-term assets for the Clippers.
On top of my placing Briercrest in 3rd, I will predict that Coach Sowden will win Coach of the Year. He has put in the work over the years with the program and it will all come together this season.
4. Medicine Hat Rattlers
Under the guidance of Head Coach Rich Humphrey, who has led the Rattlers for over a decade, the team is looking to improve on their 4-17 record from last season where they finished 8th place. The campaign plagued by injuries. Despite the setbacks, the Rattlers bring back six key players and welcome a promising group of recruits.
Coach Humphreys is bringing back a lot of the squad and expecting much better results A healthy Cooper Ward (5th; Ipswich, AUS) will lead the charge along with Keiran Isnor (3rd; Camrose, AB), Ethan Robinson (3rd; Ipswich, AUS) and Jordan Bigger (4th; Toowoomba, AUS). They are bringing back David Hamilton (3rd) who took a year off last year and adding transfers Colby Anderson (2nd; Camrose, AB) from Augustana.
Coach Humphreys also found some impact players on the recruiting trail that he is excited to add to the roster Eli Kohler (Saskatoon, SK) from WCPA, Cooper McKechnie (Regina, SK) from Miller High School, and Marek Andres. Local recruits Trey Watson and Kyle Bertram stayed home from Medicine Hat High and they are dynamic athletes that set the Alberta High school scene on fire last year.
While it is tough to see a team going from 8th to playoffs in what you can see is a loaded division is not an easy prediction but Medicine Hat was not a normal 8th seed last year. I am not sure I have seen injuries affect a team more than they did Medicine Hat last season. In fact, I am again going out on a limb and predicting Cooper Ward will be the ACAC player of the year in his final year. He can truly do it all and will lead his team into playoffs where they will give someone planning on going to nationals a real scare.
Lethbridge Kodiaks
Lethbridge finished the 2023/24 season with a 14-7 record, securing a 3rd place finish in the South division. This led to a quarterfinal match against SAIT, where their season came to an end. Coach Heggie has been a mainstay at Lethbridge, entering his 13th season, making him the longest-serving men's head coach in the ACAC.
They will face challenges as they have lost several players to USport transfers, including Dray Walburger, Declan Peterson, and Filip Karanovic. While there isn't much information available about Lethbridge, it is known that they have added Coleson Lake (from Eagle, Idaho), who is transferring from Division 1 Weber State.
Red Deer King's
I have noted the following text:
Red Deer has a strong tradition in men's basketball, and Coach Jedell Foster has done an excellent job during his time there. In the 2023/24 season, they finished with a 12-9 record and secured 5th place in the South. Unfortunately, their playoffs ended with a quarterfinal loss to St. Mary's.
The King's will have their leading scorer Jose Maura Barrozo Jr (3rd; Sao Paulo, BRA) returning, but they will be without Eduardo Crespo, Efe Iyamu, and Keyon Wisdom. Coach Foster is hopeful about the addition of Cole Wicker (4th; Chilliwack, BC) who sat out last year. Additionally, returning players such as MacGregor Manyluk (5th; Red Deer, AB), Bernardo Amponsa (3rd; Sao Paulo, BRA), Lucas Kuprowski (2nd; Red Deer, AB), and Lado Lodo (2nd; Edmonton, AB) are expected to take on bigger roles this season. The team will also welcome three strong freshmen recruits: Zayne Vernon from Hamilton, ON, Sam Idemuclia from WCPA (Leduc, AB), and Felix Webb from Leduc Composite High.
It's difficult for me to imagine a program as historically strong as Red Deer missing the playoffs. The competition in the South will be tough, and I'm sure Coach Foster is not planning to end up in this position. He will be eager to lead the team to a strong playoff run.
Olds Broncos
Another program that made a coaching change in the summer, after a 5-16 record that saw them finish in 6th place in the South last year, they hired David Kapinga to lead the team forward. Coach Kapinga joins Olds from the University of Calgary staff where he was assistant coach after a stellar 5 year playing career there as well. He led Alberta U15 program this summer and has been heavily involved in the Genesis Club program.
He brings back a strong core of Gurech Gurech (3rd; Calgary, AB) , Logan Bennett (2nd; Langdan, AB) , Alonzo Tan (3rd; Calgary, AB) and Isiah White (3rd; Courtice, ON) but also loses Nate Akade and Kenny Bates. He has brought Matteo Kells (1st; Calgary, AB) with him from the University of Calgary and added freshmen Tong Akol from Calgary, Oliver Kristofferson from Denmark and Kevin Mvemba from Calgary.
The squad looks like they are heading in the right direction and they will cause some very tough nights for all the above teams that are fighting for the playoffs. I predict that just like Briercrest having slowly built into a powerhouse program, we will see the same from Olds in the next several years, making the South look like it will be a battle for a long time to come.
Ambrose Lions
Our team will have a lot of changes this year. Coach Neil Nystrom will focus only on the men's program as they have hired a new women's coach. Our team had a 4-17 record last year and finished in 7th place.
We lost our top scorers, Kieron Burgess and Mateja Vukic. Coach Nystrom is ready to rebuild and is counting on returning players: David Mubagwa (3rd year; Calgary, AB), Guilherme Lacenda Ferreira (4th year; Rio de Janeiro, BRA), Ty Schenk (3rd year; Lumsden, SK), Jackson Earle (4th year; Sarnia, ON), and Hunter Snyder (4th year; Calgary, AB) to lead the team. He has also been busy recruiting freshmen: Paulo Cuesta (Cochrane, AB), James Censon (Calgary, AB), Jarom Walton (Calgary, AB), and Dylan Pearson (Calgary, AB).
I believe Coach Nystrom has done a good job and has built a great team culture. However, the competition in the South division will be tough this year. I expect our team to make an impact in the standings and show grit throughout the season.
I don't think I could have picked a tougher year to begin writing about the ACAC and making preseason predictions. The South will be a fight every night for the teams hoping to make the playoffs, and though the North may not be as deep, they will be battling to finish as high as possible and avoid some matchups in the playoffs.
If you haven't followed the ACAC, I will do my best to keep my Twitter feed (@david_harmon) updated with all the results and actions every weekend. Even better, you can listen to Lakeland women's coach Chris King and Tori Dugan's amazing podcast, "Hold My Clipboard," that breaks down all the ACAC action each Tuesday.
I highly encourage high school players who follow the Maple Minute to become familiar with all the leagues so you know all your options. Stay tuned next week for the ACAC women's preview, followed by some Saskatchewan high school and player rankings later in the month.
Comments