MBB adds Gibb, Crick and Clemons
As his team prepares to begin the 2017-18 ACAC regular season tomorrow night against Briercrest, Kodiaks men’s basketball head coach Ryan Heggie is excited to announce three additional recruits to his squad this season.
Oct. 19, 2017 – As his team prepares to begin the 2017-18 ACAC regular season tomorrow night against Briercrest, Kodiaks men's basketball head coach Ryan Heggie is excited to announce three additional recruits to his squad this season.
The trio of newcomers include Cole Crick, Michael Clemons and local product Nick Gibb. Each comes with a unique skillset and will add a combination of height, shooting and speed to the Kodiaks roster. Together, the three will compliment a strong core group of returners looking to help the Kodiaks return to the CCAA National Championship tournament in March.
It will be a special season for the men's team, as they prepare to host the ACAC Men's Basketball Championships for the first time in Kodiaks history on March 1-3, 2018.
Originally from Quesnel, BC, Crick is a 6'7 forward that transferred to Lethbridge College to play his fifth season of eligibility with the Kodiaks.
"I've always respected the program and the style of game they [the Kodiaks] play," said Crick, who led the Kodiaks in scoring during their preseason Harvest Tournament.
"I'm an unselfish player. I get back to the basket and I'm big. I play below the rim and can shoot a bit, too. More than anything, I'm here to help the team win the ACAC championships and go to Nationals."
Crick said the opportunity to play for coach Heggie was a large factor in his decision to transfer to Lethbridge.
"He's a pretty serious guy but he's easy to get along with," said Crick. "He looks out for his players and he's tough. That's what you need."
Born in El Paso, Texas, Clemons is actually transferring south to Lethbridge after playing his first years of eligibility with the Grande Prairie Regional College Wolves.
Similar to Crick, his relationship with coach Heggie helped finalize his decision to come play for the Kodiaks.
"I met coach Heggie my first year in the league [with Grande Prairie] and we had a mutual respect for each other," said Clemons.
"He knew I could fit the program, so when the opportunity came up in the summer to transfer to LC I decided to take it."
Standing at 5'8, Clemons brings an element of speed to the guard position. He'll be counted on to distribute the ball, play in-your-face defence and hit clutch shots when necessary.
"I'm small so I have to be crafty," said Clemons. "I like to get in the paint, and on defence I like to be a pest. Generally, I try to be an [opposing] coach's nightmare."
A Lethbridge native that played for both LCI and CCH in High School, Gibb is a 6'0" guard that brings a dangerous shooting element to the Kodiaks offensive attack.
"I bring scoring to the table," says Gibb. "I like to find the open guy and overall I try to constantly work hard. I'm just looking forward to meeting the guys and helping the team."
For coach Heggie, Gibb's positive attitude and strong desire to win make him an ideal fit for the type of team he's trying to build.
"You can tell when he plays that winning is important to him, even in summer league," said Heggie. "That type of attitude will fit in well with our program."
Gibb's style of game might remind fans of Steph Curry, as he's shown the capability to drain huge shots from deep.
"He's a long-distance shooter, first and foremost," says Heggie. "He's got good range from the three-point line and even out a few feet. He likes to attack the rim as well. We're excited to have him."
For Gibb, playing for his hometown team is something he's wanted to do since he first picked up a basketball.
"I've wanted to go to Lethbridge College ever since I was a kid. I wanted to stay around town, so it's a good fit for me."
"I can't wait for the season to get going."