Brandon’s Keith Vassell was named recipient of the Moser. The 24-year old led the Bobcats to the GPAC title, averaging 23.2 ppg (9th best in the country) and leading the nation in field goal percentage (77-104, for .740). He also finished 9th in the country in rebounding with 8.7 rpg. The 6-4 swingman, a native of Scarborough, paced the Bobcats in scoring during 21 of their 31 regular season games. Finished 8th in the country in free throw percentage (.800) and ninth in rebounds (8.7 per game). The fourth-year physical education student was the CIAU rookie of the year in 1992 and a second-team All-Canadian in 1994. “He is basically the heart and soul of our team this year,” said Bobcats coach Jerry Hemmings. “I think anytime you look at a team that is No. l in the country, you look at who is that player that helped put them there and helped keep them there. And that player, day in and day out, was Keith Vassell.” Vassell was the only player in the country to finish in the top 10 in each of the CIAU’s four main statistical categories.
Toronto’s Ken Olynyk was named winner of the Aberdeen. In his sixth year at the Blues helm, Olynyk guided Toronto to its first OUA title since 1958.
Victoria’s Eric Hinrichsen was named the Mullins winner. The national junior team member led Canada West in rebounding (6th in the CIAU) with a 9.1 rpg. The 6-6 forward also scored 13.1 ppg. The 6-6 forward said his rebounding prowess was the product of pick-up games in Campbell River with older brother Chris. “When we were growing up, we’d go outside to shoot the ball. I mean Chris would shoot the ball. He would stand there and shoot and say: ‘Eric, rebound for me.’ He would take about 100 shots and I’d just rebound. And then he let me take about 20 shots before saying: ‘Let’s go inside now’.” Hinrichsen led the Carihi Tyees to a provincial AA title and the semis of the Triple-A division was a senior, pulling down 36 boards in one game. He started 40 games for the Vikes and led Canada West in rebounding, while also garnering 3 assists, 2.1 blocks and 0.5 steals per game. With the Mullins, he earned a $2,500 scholarship. “A lot of us on the team had never seen Eric play y before he joined us,” said Vikes fourth-year guard Andy Wilmott. “I had no idea he’d have this big an impact right away. He’s had an impact on the whole league and what’s really impressive is that he’s done it as part of a winning team.” Vic coach Guy Vetrie said “Nothing seems to bother Eric. He’s just like this – level right across. He’s always the same – consistent. Bad games don’t seem to bother him and good games don’t seem to get him very giddy or excited. He’s a rookie with the composure of a veteran, which is what you like to see.” Hinrichsen said “it’s a great feeling. It’s a real honor to win this. But a lot of this has to do with my teammates and coaches. They’ve really helped me this year.”
Joining Vassell as 1st team All-Canadians were: Richard Bohne (Calgary); Clint Holtz (Brock); Norm Froemel (Winnipeg); and Greg Devries (Alberta). …………………………………………………… Bohne was Canada West player of the year after leading the country in scoring with a 34.2 ppg, a CIAU record. His efforts included a 64-point outburst against U.B.C., which fell just short of a Canadian record held by Brian Heaney of Acadia, who tossed in 74 for Acadia in 1968. In the 110-107 loss to U.B.C., Bohne (pronounced Bonny) hit 11/18 from the floor, 8/14 from the arc and 18/19 from the line despite being double and triple-teamed by the Thunderbirds. “It was one of those nights when you get that feeling that everything you do is right.” He scored 54 earlier in the season against Saskatchewan. A 6-1, 165-pound skinny kid who’s a pure shooter, Bohne played high school ball in Raymond, where he once scored 69 points and attracted the attention of Oregon, Brigham Young and Hawaii before opting to go on a Mormon mission to Brazil. His weight was down to 137 pounds when he returned and decided to enroll at Calgary, where he led the Dinnies to a Canada West title and made the CIAU all-tourney team as a rookie in 1993. Calgary was rebuilding and dreary but Bohne said he endured the season by reading through his Brazilian journals to remind himself of harsher times in the past. “Before the mission, basketball was everything in my life,” the sociology student said. “I’d really get down when we lost or if I didn’t play well, but now I think I have things in better perspective. I play basketball because I love it, but it’s not everything to me.” …………………………………………………… Holtz, a 6-7 centre, paced the CIAU in rebounding with a 12 rpg. …………………………………………………… Froemel, a 7-0 centre, averaged 24.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg. He was selected MVP of five tournament during the season. The education student was the Wesmen’s all-time leader in rebounds and third in scoring. “For a high school kid that nobody wanted to recruit five years ago, Norm has become one of Canada’s most recognizable university basketball stars,” said Wesmen coach Bill Wedlake. “Whether Norm stays with the national team program or is teaching school in Winnipeg next fall, somebody will have added an outstanding person to their program.”
…………………………………………………… Devries averaged 24.8 ppg and finished third in the nation with an .866 percentage from the line.
The second team selections were: Curtis Robinson (U.P.E.I.); Emerson Thomas (Concordia); Brad Hann (Laurentian); Titus Channer (McMaster) and Alex Beason (Ryerson). …………………………………………………… Robinson averaged 25/3 ppg and 8.7 rpg. …………………………………………………… Hann also received the TSN Award for outstanding achievements in basketball, academics and community involvement. …………………………………………………… Thomas was elated to make the team after two successive years as an honorable mention. “It’s been a cloud hanging over my head for a while, but now it’s more goal I’ve reached. The next is to win a national championship,” the 6-5 Thomas, a 24-year-old from LaSalle, Que., told the Montreal Gazette. He averaged 16.7 ppg. 6.3 rpg and 5.5 assists while being named MVP of the Quebec University Basketball League. …………………………………………………… Beason earned his second consecutive second-team status after finishing third in the country in scoring with a 26 ppg average. Ryerson finished third in league at 7-5 and defeated Laurentian in semis to advance to the OUA East final against Toronto.
Honorable mentions were: Michael Woods (Memorial); John Ryan (Cape Breton); Ken Morris (U.B.C.); Sean Vankoughnett (Waterloo); Shawn Swords (Laurentian); and David Picton (Brock)